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now an abscess --- UPDATE

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Posted 11/8/2014 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
As anyone had success healing an abscess with only antibiotics? Went back to the colo-rectal surgeon yesterday because of all the issues and I have an abscess. He put me on flagyl and amoxicilin and said if no better by Monday I will be back in OR on Tuesday to drain it. UGH.
The worst part of the visit was he acted like he was humoring me and completely ignored the fact that the rv fistula isn't closed.

Post Edited (lamb61) : 11/18/2014 10:13:23 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/9/2014 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Have no personal experience but from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons:
"Antibiotics alone are a poor alternative to drainage of the infection. The routine addition of antibiotics to surgical drainage does not improve healing time or reduce the potential for recurrences in uncomplicated abscesses. There are some conditions in which antibiotics are indicated, such as patients with compromised or altered immunity or in the setting of extensive cellulitis (spreading of infection in the skin). "
Posted 11/9/2014 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ides, that's what I've been reading. BIG SIGH. The PA will be calling tomorrow so I guess we'll make a decision then.
Posted 11/9/2014 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about your abscess with your fistula, thankfully I didn't get an abscess with mine, but I feel for you, having the fistula(s) alone is bad enough...Humira seems to have healed my recto-vaginal fistula up (getting another MRI in a few months to confirm but I don't feel any symptoms of the fistula anymore)...so in a nutshell Humira did great for my fistula, can your GI put you on it to aid with yours as well as the abscess?
Posted 11/10/2014 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Pb4, I didn't develop this until after my surgery. And the humira hasn't helped, I've been on it since May. The surgery was supposed to take out the stricture and close the fistula. But only the stricture is gone. I'm angry & upset now. The PA called I have to go back in the OR tomorrow.
Posted 11/12/2014 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Oh that's awful lamb!! I know that when I saw my GI for the followup from my colonoscopy, he said that it does tend to take longer for perianal issues and fistula issues to completely clear with using Humira or any biologics compared to how quickly it can clear up intestinal inflammation, but May is a very long time to be on it, the good news I guess is that it healed up your stricture, where is your fistula?
Posted 11/12/2014 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
My GI told me that there were no studies showing Humira closing fistulas as of 2010 and that's why we went with remicade instead. It closed the fistula from May 2010 to January 2011, but then it reopened up again and has been draining every since despite remicade at the maximum dose. I've seen two surgeons and neither one was willing to operate. To quote the first one, "If I take out your fistula, I may just create 10 more." The second one said that, of the surgical procedures to remove fistulas, only one would be applicable to me and the success rate was very poor. Despite a draining fistula, I've got a decent quality of life and don't want to risk incontinence with a surgery that won't work.
Posted 11/12/2014 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
Aw lamb...hoping things are improving now.  I only had experience with the antibiotics on a fistula.  It worked wonders on that...after about a week....but I had to stop the flagyl.  Wish it worked that well for you.

Let us know how you are doing.

Posted 11/12/2014 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the well wishes. I had another EUA yesterday. It seems part of the sutures from when he did the flap procedure 3 weeks go cme undone. I have no idea how that happens! Needless to my my rectum is hurting bigtime today, fot crying out loud it hs never even healed. Maybe that's why the rv fistula reopened. Again thx for all your good thoughts.
Posted 11/14/2014 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
I had positive experience with the antibiotics healing absces once. Flagyl. Humira kept fistulas away for 3 years, after 3d year I started developing anti body to Humira and fistula came back. 6 months now on Cimzia - better with general belly issues - less urgency and less dria, no help for fistula.
Posted 11/18/2014 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Wow! DH dropped a bomb on me once we got to talk about what the doctor told him after my surgery. Apparently I never had an abcess at all, it was all due to the sutures coming loose. This gives me zero confidence in this doctor....i will be finding a new colo-rectal surgeon soon!
Posted 11/18/2014 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
It may be that the sutures came loose because of your immune system being suppressed by the Humira. I had a surgery while on prednisone and my sutures gave way and came untied due the tissue not healing. I had gaping holes that I had to pack with antibiotic ointment. Thankfully it was a laparoscopic surgery. So it may not have been the surgeon's not doing a good job. At least that's what caused mine to fail.
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