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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/14/2009 12:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've been reading alot of posts here and it seems that alot of you have either Fistulas or Abcesses or both.
My question is: Where do they come from?Does surgery have anything to do with them?Are they cured or just treated?
Thanks, I'm having surgery soon and was wondering if after having surgery that I would be prone to any of these aliens. They really sound horrible.

Thanks!
Wolfie
Posted 1/14/2009 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning Wolfie!

I am only familiar with peri-rectal abscesses and fistula (not abdominal). From what my doctors ahve told me, thay aren't the result of surgery. So don't worry!! The crohn's causes inflammation in one of the many glands in the rectum. Fecal matter gets trapped in there and the body walls-off the growing infection. Which is a good thing becasue otherwise the infection would be loose in your body, but bad because your immune system and drugs can't reach the walled-off infection. So it grows and grows. Ick!! The body forms a tube -- fistula -- to drain the abscess.

Non-crohn's folks get these too. My surgeon said about 50% of the population will get one in their lifetime. I wondered about this high number, but he said you don't hear about it because it isn't exactly dinner party conversation material (!!). Treatments vary. Check out some of the recents posts and search the Medline.com website too.

Hope your surgery is sucessful! Take care.
Posted 1/14/2009 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Wolfie not everyone has fistula's and abscess ,it is something that is fixable, or at least mine got fixed. I think mine came from years of not getting proper medical help sort of things left unintened I guess ,the old intestine just sprung a wee hole and then the fistula track and abcess. If you don't have one then I wouldn't worry to much since they will take out your bad section. Surgery for me was good not only did I get my large fistula taken out but the stricture as well .If you are worried about abscess you could ask to have a CT maybe.How are things going for you? lol gail
Posted 1/14/2009 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Generally folks that get fistula's usually have the type of Crohns called fistulizing Crohns. So don't worry that you are all of sudden going to develop one just because you have a resection. I have the stricturing type of Crohns, that means I tend to have more problems with scar tissue and obstructions. Hope that helps.
Posted 1/15/2009 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all of the insight. I've just heard so many of you talk about these and I didn't understand why and how you get these aliens.

gachrons:
I have been off the Pred for about 2-3 weeks now. I had a terrible time with pain in my joints and bones, but it is getting better. Monday night I was watching some TV and all of a sudden I got this pain in gut a solid "10" . It lasted for about 5 seconds and went away. A couple minutes later it came back again. My stomach was making weird noises through out all of this. I went the bathroom to force a BM and all was better. I'm wondering if the immflamation is coming back?
I'm going on vacation at the end of the month on a cruise to the Virgin Islands for a week. Time to get away from all of this snow and cold for a while. I talked to my doctor about having any problems while on the trip and he suggested that I take along my Pred in case anything starts to develop.The real test is going to be with all of the food on the ship, I hope all goes well.
When I get back from my lovely vacation, I go back to work for a week and then on Feb 18 I go for surgery for my resection.
Thanks for your concerns, I don't know what I would do without all of you.Your like family (without faces) to me.
Thanks again!!
Wolfie
Posted 1/15/2009 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Wolfie the vacation sounds like fun and hope the pred keeps you well enough to enjoy it. Never went cruising so no idea as to what the food may be like but hope it's eatable. Yes it would be nice to go and get rid of the cold we are in a freeze here and going down to -30 tonight. Yes on the family, we get to know and care for each other here ,it makes a difference..lol gail
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