Bowel-to-bladder fistula

TO GB1983

I have no advice unfortunately but I wanted to give a hug as I am currently experiencing similar symptoms, I'm on my 7th course of antibiotics (since July) for the infections and am in line for more tests at the hospital - another mri and ultrasound. I so loathe the air, for the embarrassment and for the pain that brings.  Luckily I have sympatheric work companions but on that front for you, try and ignore the looks and comments.  If only these people had half an understanding as to how this can affect both physically and mentally they would be off the the disabled toilets in a second!  I do understand how hurtful this is though.

Look after yourself, and again big supportive hugs.

Debbie  

My surgery for crohns was in 2004 with a colon to bladder fistulae along with ulcerative colitis and diverticulosis and diverticulitis. I lived in the central san juaquin valley of california. The doctors there were complete idiots i had the fistula for 3 years in and out of the hospital with the crohns and the other conditions, they couldnt figure it out. The doctors had no clue to what was going on.i spent 3 years screaming in pain. The fistulae was so bad what ever i ate would come out through my penis noodles corn what ever. I would even piss out crap in the form of my ureathra. Not to mention the first time i herd my dick fart it tripped me out Lol lol well onetime one of the doctor surgeons suspected he knew i had all of this but he didnt want to do the surgery because he said it was to risky... Yeah yeah he was a quack. Well any way i was in so much pain with no treatment i was doing heroin to take the pain away ended up getting caught went to jail then had to do a prograhm well that prograhm took me to riverside ca were i was almost at the point of death by this time some 4 years since i first developed the fistulae crohns diverticulitis ect ect so when i get to loma lind hospital the world class doctors there identify all problems and i have the fistulae repaired 3 feet of small intestine removed 5 feet of colon removed total stay in the hospital was 3 months. The doctor said i was luck if i was a few days later coming in i would have died....

Welcome to the forum, buster. I am not sure why your mother has developed fistulas; Crohn's is not the only cause of these problems. Does she now have a Crohn's diagnosis? Why has she taken so much prednisone?

There are ways to manage recurrent UTIs without abx, but if there's an open fistula I don't know how to advise you. Look up cranberry capsules (IDK brand name) and/or macrobantin (which may be an abx). She can help her situation by staying extremely well hydrated, but that might have its own issues in a geriatric patient. Does she have bladder control?

A low protein diet should help protect her kidneys. Her nephrologist should be able to recommend a dietician to work with you on this.

Quit worrying what they think about you in the bathroom. Many people wish they could go to the bathroom instead of using a bag to do the same.

BTW.. I don't ho you are but, I'm sending up a prayer that a fix for this problem will find you.. and you are brave enough to pursue it.

I have a sm bowel to bladder fistula. It hurt so bad, I had to sit to pee and bang my head on the wall to distract myself from the pain. I have never had surgery. Since being on the SCDiet for 4 months now, the pain is greatly reduced.

Hi everyone. I was Recently diagnosed with a colon To bladder fistula. I've had it for about 2 years now. It's so miserable! UTI's and urgency to urniate with incontinence and I abhor the gas from my penis after urinating! I am scheduled for a colon resection on 9/26/13. My fear is is related to having chronic diarrhea post procedure. Has anyone here who have had the procedure have this problem? Also if anyone has any suggestions that will help me through the surgery, please let me know. Thanks

Need guidance regarding a bladder colon fistula. I am a male and have had 4 bladder infections the last 18 months. The most recent was 7 months ago. When I had my followup visit to the Urologist he found a small amount of E. coli in my urine sample. I had no other symptoms. He performed a cysoscopy and felt I had a fistula. I then had a ct scan and the fistula was confirmed though I was told it is so small it was surprising it showed up on the scan. I have a colonoscopy scheduled in the next 6 weeks. Surgery has been recommended but I am unsure if it is needed at this time. If it is needed I will do it but want it done lapriscopically since the pain and recovery period are shorter. I live in NC and not sure how to find a qualified surgeon if needed. Of course I am very apprehensive about all this stuff. Any advice or information would be appreciated.

CJ102 said...
I have had Crohn's for 35 years, and a bowel-to-bladder fistula for 15 of those years. Have treated resulting UTIs with antibiotics (treatment of Crohn's has been Remicade, imuran, small dose of prednisone).

My Crohn's symptoms are under control but the fistula symptoms have recently gotten worse and surgery (resection) is being recommended again.

Has anyone treated this particular complication w/o surgery? Or, if you've had surgery, what were the results? Thanks.

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Hey there! I am in the same boat you could say. Question. What part of the bowel is the fistula coming from? Mine is coming from the TI to the bladder. I have fistula to my sigmoid also but it's not all the way thru. My surgeon said the sigmoid likes to flop over there in the way. So he will pull it off there and stitch it. But I am scheduled for surgery on July 27 2017. Two months. He is taking out my TI, valve, appendix and cecum. My TI is narrow but my Crohn's is doing fine with Humira and Imuran. But it's the fistula that is causing a constant UTI. IVE HAD 4-5 hospital stays over the last year and half. Sooo I know what a fistula to the bladdder feels like. I'm excited to not have UTI's anymore. And from all the forums I read people would recommend the surgery. And if you think it will close on its own or with meds. There is a small and I mean small chance it will. But, surgery is the only thing that will fir sure fix it.