donut...or other's with closed fistulas

It took about a month for it to stop draining, but with my last x-ray, it is completely closed at just about 3 months...about 11 weeks. I have not had any real problems with it once it stopped draining. There was no pain, but I just needed to keep the stoma until the hole was completely closed. I have not been on any medication. I just have rested a lot, ate plenty and have been taking Centrum liquid vitamins. I have a lot of sick time at work, so I have not returned since I am waiting for my reversal. As an elementary teacher, I was concerned that I would get strep or stomach flu and it would just delay my reversal. Can't wait to have it all over!

Everything I read said that fistulas don't close on their own, that they have to be repaired surgically. My doctor said that she would do that if it would not close, but with nothing moving through my colon, I guess it finally just dried up and then healed. She said that she was confident that it would heal and I guess she was right! Now we will see how everything works once I have the reversal. i would have to say that to me, the colovaginal fistula was worse than the ileostomy. I didn't feel like I could go anywhere because of the constant drainage and odor and I didn't even want anyone coming over to visit. I had never even heard of that kind of fistula, so it was such a shocker to me. Good luck to you..you will be healing and before you know it, you'll be so much better. Two months ago, I didn't think I would feel this good. I have tried to have a sense of humor about the whole thing and that has helped a lot.

My fistula occurred because I developed an abcess from my colon resection. I have had a hysterectomy, so I think I did not have periods to complicate the healing process. I did not have anything done(plugs or otherwise) to heal the fistula. my reversal is scheduled for 2 weeks from now...can'twait.