Rectal inflammation/fistula?

Hi,

I am currently teetering in remission with a few small niggles, daily does of Pentasa, for TI and several meds for sickness and Gerd (Which is not in remission lol ) My last colonoscopy was a year ago but my consultant is happy for me to wait a little longer for my yearly as I'm doing alright bowel wise.

In January I started losing blood during BM, accompanied by pain which felt like it was up inside, but not too far. It lasted a few weeks, and I lost around two table spoons of blood each time. I ended up a bit 'bunged up' so to speak as it was painful to go the toilet and any strain made it worse. My GP did a quick exam but couldn't complete as I was bunged up I have had this problem on and off but never to the extreme, it was a little like a horror film some days!

This passed, and I wasn't overly worried as I was certain it was low down, and presumed a tear (although I wasn't C when it started)

I'm not losing blood now, but have loose BM, but dont feel I have completed when I go. This is now being met with a burning pain just inside, plus a really deep (In nature not location) pain when I go to the toilet. I am also noticing leakage, so despite cleaning my self with thoroughness I am staining my underwear and will need to wear liners.

I hadn't overly thought about this until this week with the leakage becoming obvious, but I'm uncertain about visiting my GP , in the years I have been ill I have been told its because I'm a women, if the pain was that bad I would be happy to take daily strong painkillers (not actually find out why it hurt) and it was in my head. I had lots of negative tests, and felt like a hypochondriac for years. Now I finally have a consultant, and meds and someone who belives me Iam still nervous that if I go in i wont be taken seriously, but the leakage and pain are getting worse

Do these symptoms sound like the crohns could have spread to my rectum, with a small fistula? My last MRI and 'oscopy showed narrowing to the ilium, and patchy inflammation in my large bowel. My biggest problems at the moment are pain in my upper right stomach and back/shoulder plus bad regurgitation (thoughout the day every day) and heartburn. I consider myself tired but so much better than I was a year ago!!

Oh yes,, I also have a vvery sore tongue but thats fine

Sorry to ramble, I feel in RL people are so fed up of hearing it, I am so glad of how my Husband deals with all this, but its great to be able to talk to you guys! xx

I'm not sure I'd rush to the conclusion that you have a fistula - if you have fistulizing Crohn's, it seems to me you would already know this. I don't know how often people develop fistulas after years of "regular" Crohn's, but my GI says that if you have gotten a fistula once, you're always at risk, if not, not.

But inflammation in the rectum can cause all of what you're experiencing, and is not uncommon in Crohn's. A flexible sigmoidoscopy can determine what's going on there. I have successfully used mesalamine enemas to treat proctitis. I think it's time for a call to the doc.

Thank you all for your replies :) we have had a few family days, so I haven't been online.


I definitely have a shift in symptoms over the last month or so, and I need to take my LO to the drs tomorrow so will book in too. I'm not due to see my consultant til September as I have been rolling through things quite well up til now. I also have a really sore throat, had been just mild for a week or so, but since yesterday has been really painful. Think maybe its time to slow down (even more lol) and let my body work out what its doing!

Minnie - I notice from other threads and this that we have very similar symptoms/areas affected. I saw a specialist from London who wanted me to do a capsule swallow, as I get the regurg and pain and he thinks its inflamed in the small intestine nr my stomach, but despite his recommendation going to my surgical team it hasn't happened. Is this how yours was diagnosed? I'm tempted to pay for it privately. (May have to sell a few bits first lol)

Thank you again for your replies