HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Fistulas

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/31/2008 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone! 

My brother is doing somewhat better.  His kidney numbers are coming down and he's off dialysis.  Some of you may remember he had an abscess (from the 2 bouts of peritonitis) and had a catheter/drain put it.  The dr's said a fistula formed from the colon to the catheter and I'm not sure what that means.  There was still fluid draining into the bag but they said it's just a mucous type fluid so it's ok if it leaks into the abdomen a little.  So they removed the drain and hooked up a small drainage bag (like an ileostomy) until it heals.

Can anyone tell me how long it normally takes for fistulas to heal?  My brother is extremely worried that the leak will develop into another peritonitis situation and never heal. 

Posted 2/2/2008 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Wendy88,
Really no one can tell you how long it takes for a fistula to heal. My husband also has two fistulas in his small intestine and is getting ready for surgery. They are going to remove the bad colon and reconstruct and give him a new spot for his ileostomy. My husband fistulas went through his back muscle and exited out his lower back. He is wearing a ileostomy bag on his back for the drainage. He also hasa catheter on his side for one of the abcess area's he has four abcess area in his lower back, one is sitting on his spine and they don't know if he a bone infection. It's really hard for them to go through this because they are both have so many problems with them. We were told that no doctor would touch my husband for surgery so they sent us up to the University of Washington to see a surgeon there and finally we got another appointment to schedule the surgery. Well I hope and pray that your brother get's better soon. Dancerpeg
Posted 2/5/2008 1:07 PM (GMT 0)

Dancerpeg,

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's condition.  I hope he is able to keep his spirits up amid all of this.  Hopefully the surgery will help and the fistulas will heal quickly.  The waiting game is so difficult on everyone.  Thank you for your feedback and I hope everything goes well with your husband.  Please keep us posted!

Wendy

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply