HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Fistula?

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/7/2009 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
My husband was diagnosed with Crohn's about 2 years ago.  During those 2 years, he's gotten a few large pimples on his butt (we always called them boils).  They are about the size of a quarter, show up and last about a week or two then go away on their own.  At first we thought they were really just pimples (which he has a tendancy to also get on his face and back--though not nearly as big as the ones on his butt).  Is this related to his crohns?  Is it a fistula?  I know those are a symptom of crohns but from what I've read online those don't go away on their own.  And I didn't think fistula's looked like pimples.   

Any help is appreciated.  We're still new to all this crohn's stuff and trying to adjust to it.

Posted 8/7/2009 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
The pimples / boils sound like abscesses. I remember when my abscess came through my mom kept referring to it as a boil until we learnt what it really was – they are essentially the same thing, but abscesses are less likely to drain on their own like boils do (boils tend to ‘pop’). He is lucky that they have been going down on their own. My abscess drained on its own externally but kept growing inside and getting trapped and when it was drained properly a fistula was left. If this happens it will be extremely painful and he may also get nauseous, fatigued and feverish as the infection spreads.

Does he have one of these pimples at the moment? If so I would sat definitely get it checked out by a crohn’s specialist or crohn’s colorectal surgeon – or at least a doctor, and mention that he has crohn’s – abscesses are common amongst us chronnies.

Hope this helps a bit 
Posted 8/7/2009 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
If there is a fistula there - it won't be showing until after the abscess has drained..... just thought I'd add that!! :)
Posted 8/7/2009 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, he has one now. It just popped up a day ago. We decided his GI should probably take a look at it. I was just hoping it was something minor and not related to crohns. I guess we're not that lucky.
Posted 8/7/2009 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
It could be something minor, and it doesn't sound like its giving him the excrutiating pain/fatigue/fever that comes with serious abscesses, so I would say don't worry until you get an expert opinion! Just because I had a hellish abscess doesn't mean that you will too! Fingers crossed and let us know how you go!
Posted 8/7/2009 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
fistula usually start off as a boil or an abscess..but once drained..after about 6 weeks continue to drain...and the person who has them will notice air passing through those areas....thats the sign that really lets them know...if it fills up drains and continues the process its a fistula...i have a fistula and had it for like 8 years..i will pray for him he doesn't get one of these..because they are horrible...sometimes under the skin leading up to the area that drains..it looks like a little blood vessel sticking out the skin..that is a fistula really close to the surface..i just got of those recently...
Posted 8/7/2009 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
ok, I guess we'll have to keep an eye on it. In the past, they drain and that's the end of them. Hopefully, the same will happen this time. He has no fever, just a little pain if he sits the wrong way. All of this is what happened the last two times. Hopefully it will clear up on its own, but we'll go get it looked at just in case.

He's also getting mouth sores now. Hopefully this all doesn't mean we're headed for another bad flare up. His last flare up (which was less than a year ago) couldn't be kept under control. His colon ended up perferating and he spent a month in the hospital. Neither one of us has the strength to go through that again so soon.
Posted 8/7/2009 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Husbandhascrohns! Welcome to the Forum!

A fistula is formed by the body to allow infetcion to drain out of the abscess. Antibiotics can't get in the abscess so the only way to treat them is to surgically open them up. If the fistula plugs, the abscess will turn very nasty, very fast. The smaller the abscess the easier it is to treat. You really don't want to wiat until they get big. It takes so much longer to heal. Believe me!! I know no one like to have to treat these wretched things, but delaying is really not the smart thing to do. A big abscess is so hard to heal and, like me, you can get additional abscesses in the damaged area. So please go see a good colo-rectal surgeon who knows Crohn's (not a general surgeon) and get this treated! Also, is your husband on any Crohn's medications? The meds can reduce his body's infammatory process which will calm everthing down.

Here are good wesbites that explain rectal abscesses and fistulae:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anal_abscess/article_em.htm

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/190234-overview


Take care!
Posted 8/7/2009 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

We can also get ganglion cysts sometimes and they will act much like you describe your husband is getting, so wanted to put that out there too. With his mouth sores flaring again it might be a good idea to get into the GI sooner than later, it could very well be the beginning of a flare. Its best to catch them earlier rather than later.

Good luck
Gail*Nanners*
Posted 8/7/2009 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, he is on medication. He is currently taking colazal and a probiotic (can't remember the name right now). The doctor has talked about Humira but he can't start that until his surgical wound heals up completely. That was previously infected so they don't want to take a ny risks with Humira until we're out of the woods with that. Right now we're kind of in a stand still. He's going to see his GI next week. We had told him about these nasty things on his bum and he said next time he gets one to come in so he could see it.

Also, just wanted to mention I love this site. I've been reading past posts for about 2 weeks now. I've learned so much.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply