Anyone had a LIFT procedure done for a fistula??

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum, and I have some questions....

A little more than a year ago, I developed an abscess that was misdiagnosed as a Bartholin's, which led to a recto-vaginal fistula. I've tried remi, but can't tolerate it, and I'm on Humira now. The original abscess drained and healed well, leaving only the fistula. A month ago, I developed a new abscess, that makes an L shape from my perineum around the side of my anus. My surgeon went in for EUA, and found the spot where I had some spontaneous internal drainage, widened that hole, and put in a mushroom catheter, which lasted 4 days. It is still draining, and the lump, while somewhat smaller, is still painful at times, and gets bigger with BM's, then drains out from both ends....

At any rate, I went back for my follow up, and the surgeon thinks that doing a LIFT procedure is the best way to go, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this? He seems to think that cutting off this branch (I think I have a branch here, as well as the original area, based on pain and drainage) will help the whole deal. I'm scheduled for next month, and I was wondering what to expect, and if anyone has had good results....

Thanks for any help/advice you can give!!

Thank you Nanners, I hope so too! It turns out that this opening they made may have closed up, the lump has gotten bigger, and now I'm back on Cipro (which has to me the most evil antibiotic I have ever encountered, I feel like I got hit by a bus).

From what little I understand, the basics of it are that the surgeon will go in through the perinuem (to avoid cutting the sphincter) then surgically tie off both ends near their respective openings, and cut the fistula itself in half, and clean it out. The idea is to cut off all fluid to it, and hopefully, the branches will collapse and go away. I'm just worried that since I have not only the original openings, but also 2 surgically created ones, this will leave me open to reinfection from all that....

On a good note though, it seems that I am so far, so good on the Humira...no cramping, and no signs of flare so far (I've only been on it since March), now if we could get the BM's under control completely, I'd be happy as a clam!

On another note, I spoke with the nurse today, and my surgeon is allowing me to email him any questions I might have, so hopefully I can get some ideas on how this will all go. I've never had any kind of medical procedures, other than childbirth and the Crohn's diagnosis/fistula dealings/EUA, and never had any kind of surgery in my life, so I'm pretty anxious, not only about this, but about the future. It does my heart good to see a site where I note that many of us have dealt with this for years and are still going strong. :)


Thanks again,

-Courtney