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Rectovaginal fistula from IBS?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 5/31/2016 5:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I am 21 and have suffered from IBS ever since I was little. I used to have IBS-C when i was younger but the past three years I've had IBS-D. I am not sure how long this has been going on but when I wipe the front area down below, poo appears to be on the toilet paper especially when I have diarrhea. Also, after this happens my vagina is very itchy. I went to the doctor 1 year and 7 months ago and the nurse practitioner told me it was very unlikely that I have a rectovaginal fistula as I don't suffer from IBD. She inspected me down below but I have never had penetrative sex, so she would not look inside because my hymen would still be intact and she said that is something my partner should do. But I am not interested in finding a partner as I would not let them go near me knowing that poo is coming from that hole. She said it seemed like there was a bit of thrush so I used thrush cream. Ever since then, I am scared to go back to the doctor and I am just sick with this situation. I don't know how I could have a rectovaginal fistula, I am only 21 years old and I have never had a baby. I did have a colonoscopy 2 years ago and the guy who performed it was a trainee. I was in severe pain from the colonoscopy and it had to be stopped because I was nearly sick from the pain and the guy wasn't able to look into my small bowel. I am maybe wondering if this is related to my symptoms? I just know something isn't right...

Any answers or input or advice would be greatly appreciated and I hope you guys understand.
Thank you
Posted 6/1/2016 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
It could also be a funky yeast infection. I had one of these for years, intermittent brown discharge with a rotting smell. Nothing would clear it up. Finally, my new GYN ran me through yet one more course of all the yeast treatments with no success. She decided it must be an atypical yeast, which would thrive in an alkaline environment. She prescribed boric acid vaginal suppositories, and it cleared up completely in two weeks.

Like you, I thought I had a fistula and even went so far as to have a barium enema study. I was shocked to be told there was no sigh of a fistula.
Posted 6/2/2016 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply @jujub.
What you went through sounds plausible to me and has relieved me a bit. However, if does only seem to be there after I have been to the toilet for a number two? Also can I ask how you went about treating it, so did you go the doctor and explaining that you thought you had a recto-vaginal fistula and the real cause was discovered?
Thank you
Posted 6/2/2016 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cloudy,

I've had a rectovaginal fistula, I have IBS and Crohn's, my crohn's caused mine (it's not linked to IBS, it's linked to IBD, I just happen to be unlucky enough to have both issues along with lactose intolerance)

I really think you need to find a specialist, at gastroenterologist to send you for proper testing, an MRI is what confirmed my fistula, its not something to mess around with, the sooner you get it confirmed and treated the better, so don't let fear or a bad doctor lead you on the wrong path. Get a referral for a GI and go from there.

Good luck!
Posted 6/2/2016 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there pb4, thank you for your reply.

Sorry to hear you have IBS, crohn's and lactose intolerance! Did you rectovaginal fistula recover?

That's what I don't understand, I have IBS so it doesn't really make sense that I would have a fistula as they are caused by either IBD or childbirth. Thank you for your advice, I think I'll see the nurse practitioner who saw me last time at the doctors (easier as she is already aware of my problem) and see if I can get referred and then get it confirmed by an MRI or another method. It's just so scary for me to speak about this subject.

Thank you very much for your reply, I appreciate it.
Posted 6/2/2016 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, it's recovered (the tract is closed up but once it's there it's forever and can reopen again or new ones can occur) my GI put me on Humira for it, that's what healed mine....it's not linked to IBS, it's either IBD that can cause them or as you mentioned child birth, but the child birth ones are a bit different from the IBD ones and can usually be repaired depending on the extent, by surgery.

You really need to get it looked after, and be prepared that your IBS may in fact be IBD instead, sadly the two conditions are often misdiagnosed because they are often very similar.

Here's a link you can check out;


www.healthline.com/health/crohns-disease/ibs-vs-ibd#Treatments6
Posted 6/3/2016 9:31 AM (GMT 0)
@pb4 I'm glad to hear it recovered. I had a colonoscopy 2 years ago to confirm it was IBS and my bowels showed no signs of IBD and I have had various other tests indicating it isn't IBD. This is why it doesn't really make sense to me, perhaps something else is going on. I think I will head over to the doctors next week and see what they say. Thank you for your reply and the link, I will check it out!
Posted 6/3/2016 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cloudy,

I'm glad you're going to get it checked out some more...a colonoscopy alone doesn't rule out all IBD's, since crohn's often affects the small intestines so a small bowel follow through test is needed cuz a c scope doesn't reach all the way through the small intestines. I hope it's not an IBD but it's very suspicious that you have bowels issues (labeled as IBS) along with a fistula....there's also microscopic colitis (biopsies need to be done to rule that out since it can't be seen by the naked eye with a C-scope either) best of luck to you!
Posted 6/3/2016 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
@pb4 I had a follow up test of my small bowel after my colonoscopy, and it came back clear. Aren't IBD's much more severe aswell? My IBS was pretty bad and was affecting my life three years ago but now it flares up every week but I can deal with it. I was referred to a specialist at my local hospital aswell after my IBS was confirmed, I would have thought they would have picked up that it wasn't IBS. But you're right, I should get it checked out.
Thank you very much for your replies, I appreciate it.
Posted 6/3/2016 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
It very well could have been missed or may have been the start of IBD and not easily detected possibly so it's good you are going to get it checked out again since it's very odd for you to get a rectovaginal fistula due to IBS alone, they may see inflammation going on somewhere inside (more likely the colon with you having a rectovaginal fistula) I hope it's not an IBD but it's best to get it checked again, lots can change in 2 yrs.
Posted 6/3/2016 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
@pb4 yeah that makes sense, I'm trying to think if it could be anything other than a rectovaginal fistula, i'm praying that it isn't one. Thank you so much for your replies, hopefully I'll get up the courage to phone my GP again very soon!
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