r/v fistula

     I've had some very distressing symptoms lately and after reading about the symptoms of an r/v fistula, it fits my symptoms like a glove .

     I was never diagnosed with Crohn's but had a very diseased rectum, so says my colorectal surgeon.  I've had two CT scans of the abdomen and pelvic area which were negative.  In September the surgeon drained a hematoma in my anus and placed me on a regimen of antibiotics.  However, the same feeling has come back again.  I sure don't want any more CT scans but how would the surgeon determine if I have an r/v fistula?  Wouldn't he see it with the anuscope???

my surgeon said in his forum in answer to someone that the best way to reveal a r/v fistula is with an MRI. ask your surgoen to have it. good luck! let us know.

I'm not sure. With mine, there was absolutely no denying it. It was draining FAST and was the most painful thing ever (having all the stomach acid and stool coming out of the vagina). I had emergency surgery the next day. I had to sit up all night and the whole day just soaking rags and towels. They had to bring a laundry bin into my room and I filled it more than once with all the dirty towels. It was insane. When they did the x-ray, they never did find the fistula though. After putting the ostomy back in, it healed on its own.

that is so frusrtrating they can't see the fistula :( did they also do you an MRI pam? i wonder if even with the MRI they can't always find it.

there's no doubt that with an ostomy the fistula is less symptomatic, but i guess, from what ppl say here, the only way to really get rid of it is having your whole rectum and anus removed. did you have your rectum and anus removed pam?

Christine, most likely you do have a fistula, and even with an ileostomy, it sounds pretty active and symptomatic. i mean, with an ostomy it's supposed to calm down a bit, but it sounds active enough even though you have an ostomy. it's quite a nasty situation and i can totally understand your worry. and i can only imagine how horrible this is for you. i just hope they can sort it out soon. but either way, i think you should have your anus removed - only that way you'll be able to get this whole issue over with, as many on here did.

hummmm..... i'm not sure, Christine.. isn't the anus a bit more than just an opening..? frankly, i don't know much about this - like you, i'm just now learning about this whole fistula situation.. you mentioned a hematoma, so i went and read some about this. from what i understood it's an internal bleeding of the tissues, so it makes sense and i guess it could be that's what it is and it's not a fistula at all, esp now that i'm finally assimilate that you in fact don't have a rectum..

for me, after 2 mons of lots of mucous and gas from my vagina and while i get my cycle - the blood goes from my vagina to my rectum (i still have my rectum), i asked a colorectal surgeon (my BIL's friend - a colorectal surgeon at UCLA), so he said it sounds like a fistula. but all of a sudden my symptoms have stopped almost completely, so he said it could be b/c i have an ileostomy, stools are not passing through the rectum, that's why my symptoms are minor.. (i'm in israel and i only consult with him through my BIL/sister by phone, so he can't really examine me).

so since you also have an ileostomy and esp since you don't even have a rectum, it makes more sense the cause for your symptoms is a hematoma and not a r/v fistula, i mean after all, if you don't have a rectum, then you can't have a recto-vaginal fistula....

gosh, there are so many deseased and conditions.... it's confusing, isn't it..? :/ but i'm sure your dr and you will figure it out eventuall!

     I didn't know you were in Israel.  My school friend worked on a Kibbutz (did I spell that right?)  in Israel after she graduated and married a guy (she is Jewish he Catholic) who also worked at the Kibbutz.   Anyway..lol...I sure do hope it is just the hematoma but wonder why it keeps coming back .  I am sooooo glad I go to the surgeon on Tuesday.  Hoping and praying I don't  have to undergo more surgery.  My hair is still falling out from the anesthesia.

Christine~could you have an abscess as a result of surgery? I would suggest a second opinion.

The best thing might be to have the rest taken out and closed up...or a least, if it is an abscess, have it cleaned and packed to let it heal?

Christine~I think they are different...an abscess has bacteria/inflammation and a hematoma is more like a bruise on steroids.

I have had abscesses without a fever in fact I didn't have a fever with the worst one I had a few years ago

An abscess needs to be surgically cleaned and is usually done under anesthesia (at least with my docs it is).