Fistula Help without Surgery

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry that you have so much on your plate! Have you talked to your GI about Humira or Remicade? I developed a recto-vaginal fistula last year and got it under control with Humira (same as Remi but more convenient to do myself at home, as it may be for you) it's even put my crohn's in clinical remission and seems to have healed up my fistula (getting an MRI to check that in about 5 months) as I too have been sick (flaring with no remission until recently) for the last 24 years (DX at age 23). Unfortunately the sitz baths will not help heal the fistulas, so I strongly urge you to discuss biologics with your GI.

HUGS

Thanks for you suggestions! Does the oregano oil burn? Just trying to prepare myself. I'll also try some antibotics to help. I was on Remicade when it first came out & I had a bad reaction on my second infusion. I had also been on Humira for some time before I got pregnant. I hope to get a course of meds son to try to avoid surgery. Wish me Luck!

I was diagnosed in 2007 with CD in the colon after having two massive rectal fistuals that surfaced about an inch from my anos.  Docs wanted me to go on remicade saying fistulas as large as I had never heal on there own.  I did a lot of research, and I decided to try first the SCD diet along with pentassa first and if that didn't work, I could always revert back to the remicade. 

After 4 months of 100% obsessed and fanatical dedication the diet, both fistulas where healed up to the point the cetons had to be removed so they could heal completely.  By 7 months, both fistulas were completely gone.  Surgeon said he had never seen fistulas as large as I had heal by themselves without hardcore drugs like remicade or humira, so he said what ever yiou are doing, just continue with it.

To this day, I have been fistula free and symptom free and I still take the pentassa 1000mg 3 x day and I still follow the SCD diet, but not so fanatical as before.

I suggest you read the book, "breaking the vicious cycle" which goes into detail on what foods you can eat, what you can not eat.  This is not an easy diet to follow and without fanatical dedication it seldom works for people, but if you are willing to give it a try, you have nothing to loose and all to gain if it works for you.  There are many people on this site and other sites just like myself who have had great success with this diet, but also, there are many who haven't success. You just don't know till you try.

The one thing I seem to see with this diet is that it works best in people who are newlly diagnosed like I was, who have little damage to thier intestines and colon.  People who have had crohns for many years and have a lot of damage, the diet does not seem to work as well. 

The fistula has a huge abscess that is making it difficult for me to walk. I was hoping that the sitz bath (with salt & oregano oil) would help me to at least maintain for a bit before going to the surgeon for setons. I tried last night it helps a very little bit. Anyone have any experience with applying the oregano oil directly to the abscess site?

Thanks for your response @dinkley! I did go to the surgeon on Friday and he was able to drain both of the abscesses that I have. After taking a culture, he told me that I have 3 different bacteria and the only combination of antibiotics that kill the bacteria require me to stop nursing my almost 5 month old baby. I'm really upset & distraught over the whole situation, but I have no choice if I want to get better. The kids need me to be healthy, right? Whatever it takes. Anyhoo, i'm still in a lot of pain while pooping & sitting. Still running a fever. Starting on the new antibiotic combo today. Wish me luck!

Thanks for your response @kzbern. I actually went to an infectious disease specialist for advice on this medication. He gave me two other options that were just unbarely (either a pic line with daily antibiotic infusions or a combo that may cause more severe issue with the crohns & does not have a cure). I will try to keep my supply up for the next three weeks in hopes of returning my son to my boob after the course of antibiotics is out of my system. What a project!