How do you know you have a fistula?

I saw my GI yesterday to discuss his plan of treatment. He asked for a complete blood picture in order to decide whether to raise Imuran's dose or not. Also, he wants me to undergo an MRI as he suspects I might have a fistula. This in turn, might change the line of treatment.
Based on googling fistulas and my reading of this topic in this forum, one should feel stool coming from abnormal places like the vagina, for example or am I mistaken? My rectal pain is constant, the rectum itself is very swollen and I can't sit down even w a doughnut. As for d, it is nonstop. I started to take enemas regularly: colifoam 2 times/week and pentasa enema daily before bedtime. A couple of months ago, pain subsided when I took the enema, now it doesn't. Does this mean I have a fistula or any other perianal problem?
Any advice is highly appreciated.

Hi there,

I had a fistula that they said was blind ended. It went off my colon and off to no where. The only reason I found out I had one, was eventually an abscess formed at the end and filled with infection, which when it filled up would travel back up the fistula tract and into the rectum and out my anus (sorry for the TMI). Thats is how I found out I had one and was referred for and MRI to get the exact location to make it easier for the surgeon. I may have noticed it sooner but I have per anal crohns that has cause numerous fissures and some skin tags so the discomfort I was feeling I attributed to that.

I am not sure if there is a for sure way to tell but and MRI, if anything, can for sure determine if you have one.

Hope this helps..

 

Our son's fistula's were first discovered on the MRI, but they were also able to see them on an ultrasound, if this is any help.

Hey Minnie - even though my fistula was out through the skin in my rectal area, I still did not have stool exit through it.  My only sign was leakage of semi-clear fluid.  That was the abcess that had formed draining and it could be quite a lot or next to none.  After it was found I realized I had some tenderness in the area that i had jsut lived with.  Hope they find yours if you have one....good luck