Which perianal fistulas are common w CD/colitis which are not?

Hi, I recently had my third surgery for a transsphincteric horseshoe perianal fistula. The staged fistulotomies appear to have been successful and I no longer have the severe drainage or pain that I had prior to surgery. I still have small abscess nodules that form. My surgeon is pleased with the results and he thinks recurrence would be less than 10%.

I have not been diagnosed with Crohn's disease or colitis although I was hospitalized last October for infectious colitis.

My questions:

Can you have a fistula of this kind that is unrelated to Crohn's or colitis?

What kind and percentage of perianal fistulas are associated with those diseases?

Has anyone in this forum experienced only a fistula without CD/colitis?

Thanks so much for you help!

If you search through healing well crohns forum, you'll see that every once in a while we get a post from some unfortunate and usually femal soul who has abscesses and/or fistula and no Crohns diagnosis. And like yourself, that lack of an official Crohns diagnosis usually coincides with multiple rounds of surgeries to remove the fistula, which are often unsuccessful.
For many with Crohns caused fistulas, surgery is not recommended or attempted because the risk of causing further damage and fistulas is too great.
Unless you or they have had a colonoscopy showing no evidence of Crohns inflammation, I strongly believe that Crohns is the cause of your fistula.
Step 1 stop messing around with surgeries
Step 2 heal up and get a colonoscopy
Step 3 get on remicade if you're inflamed or curse the gods for being so unlucky if you're not inflamed

MOUSE, no offense, but your surgeon sounds like a bit of a moron. He is not qualified to make that kind of determination without further testing. I would make an appointment with a GI and get checked out.

I have a pretty awesome CR surgeon who DOESN'T like to cut, lol. He does all he can to help me avoid surgery unless it's necessary.

Remember that YOU are the client and YOU hire THEM! I would go back to your primary care doctor and ask for a referral to a GI. You definitely need a colonoscopy. If your surgeon tries to do any more surgeries, I would get a new one.

And @gidget2, sorry we hijacked your thread. I don't know exact numbers, but it is not very common to just randomly get abscesses and fistulae without something being the cause of it. It could be that your infection colitis triggered your CD to start acting up. Or it could just be the infectious colitis that caused it. Again, however, it is pretty rare to just randomly get abscesses and fistulae.

Thank you so much, JaSanne, gypsyfp, Mouse, & scifigal2k! You have given me a lot to think about and I really appreciate your insights. My very best wishes for your improved health!

I'm sorry for your latest health problems.

I think it would be helpful for us to follow up on this symptoms
to try to get to the bottom of things.

My first gastroenterologist had given me a preliminary diagnosis of perianal Crohn's disease & sent me to specialists who determined no CD. My Gastroenterologist has been indecisive on what is going on and lacks the ability & knowledge I think to address what is happening with my perianal issues.

I'd like to hear more about how you decide to move forward with addressing your abscess problems.

Best wishes for improved health!

Thanks so much for this information! I don't have a vaginal fistula but a transsphincteric horseshoe fistula.

Thank again for your help.