Synchronous flare and perianal abscess

After being in remission for the summer, last week my body decided to have a perianal abscess and start a flare on the same morning. Is this synchronous occurrence something that would happen to someone with Crohn's disease?

I was diagnosed with UC eleven years ago and this past May my body decided to have its first ever perianal abscess. My body kept healing over so I had to be cut open three times in total (along with lots of antibiotics) before things got back to normal.

I had a flex sig today and my GI was very confident that it showed only UC (ulcerative proctosigmoiditis). He was very surprised that I claimed that my symptoms were minimal (some blood, little mucus, no urgency, no pain, and 3 stools a day). He wanted me to have additional treatment for the flare and I declined since I have never had such a mild flare and it seems to be going away very swiftly. He did note that he had encountered a number of patients with UC and fistulas. He suggested the blood test to check for CD (based on his information, the blood test seemed like a waste of money to me) but after he consulted with another GI he decided to go with a Small Bowel Video Capsule Study instead which I will experience next week.

My rectal surgeon said that he had never seen a UC patient with a fistula in his 15 years although he did claim to know a number of CD patients that had synchronous flare and abscess symptoms. I now have surgery planned to occur in about two weeks to determine if I have a fistula and if so then do a fistulotomy and seton. None of this sounds pleasant. I continue to read through the "Dealing with an abscess or fistula: a guide for novices" posting...

That is correct; there was no healthy looking tissue until after 30cm and then it looked like a beautiful disease free colon.