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Posted 8/26/2009 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday afternoon, I stood up, and passed gas, but from the front, not the back.

I called the doc, and the nurse I spoke with said that this may be the fistula acting up again. They are concerned and said that I may need to be re-catheterized. They're going to call me today and let me know.

Has anyone else ever experienced gas such as this, and if so, what happened? It doesn't hurt, but just feels weird.

-Charlie

 

Posted 8/26/2009 2:05 PM (GMT 0)

Had to look that one up:

"In medicine, a fistula (pl. fistulas or fistulae) is an abnormal connection or passageway between two epithelium-lined organs or vessels that normally do not connect. It is generally a disease condition, but a fistula may be surgically created for therapeutic reasons."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fistula

So what's the rest of the story with you and "fistula?"

Posted 8/26/2009 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
Steve,

about a week after I had the DaVinci surgery (June 16), I was experiencing some stool in the catheter. (This was BTW terribly painful and distressing.) The cystogram indicated a fistula, which the doctor explained may have been caused by an internal suture that leaked. Consequently, I kept the catheter in for a whole month. I've been off catheter for about five weeks now, but am still incontinent.

The gas just occurred yesterday. I stood up, felt kind of a bubbling, and then out it came. I not only felt it but heard it. Good thing no one else was around!

-Charlie
Posted 8/26/2009 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
A penis fart? That is the most bizzare thing I have heard in a while. Did it hurt any, or just feel weird? See you did some long catheter time too. Hope things improve for you.

David in SC
Posted 8/26/2009 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
David,

Yes, a penis fart is exactly what it was. Didn't hurt, but just felt really strange.

-Charlie
Posted 8/26/2009 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hard to imagine that happening, but then going number 2 through that would be unsettling too, but have heard of a case or two involving that. Hope they can pin down a fix for you soon.

david in sc
Posted 8/26/2009 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Let us know what the Doc says.

I had my cath in for five weeks and did 3 cystograms..

Posted 8/28/2009 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Well, the catheter's back in. After discussing it with the PA yesterday, we agreed to do this. Because of my PF (penis farts), they suspected that the fistula may have returned, and they wanted to send me for another cystogram.

So we went for the cystogram, and sure enough, though it's only a subtle appearance, it has returned. I've now gone back to the low-residue diet (no seeds, no nuts, low fiber, only canned fruits and vegetables, meats only well cooked).

I'll revisit the doc on Monday, we'll discuss a plan, and I hope remove this appendage to my appendage.

The one good thing about catheters is that you don't have to worry about pads while wearing one.

-Charlie
Posted 8/28/2009 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
A cheerful attitude about the cath sure won't hurt tongue
Posted 8/28/2009 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Charlie, sorry your deal is still lingering on, but hopefully, there will be a practical solution soon.

david in sc
Posted 9/3/2009 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,

It looks like I'm going to have to live with the catheter again. The doc says that the best way to treat this fistula is to allow it to heal on its own, with the cather in place, and with a low-residue diet. With the first go-round it did heal, but the gas indicates that it hasn't completely closed up.

He wants to leave the cath in until the end of the month, when we'll do another cysto and evaluation. If this doesn't do the trick, he'll probably recommend colorectal surgery by another specialist. That would probably mean a temporary colostomy bag in addition to the cath. So I'm rooting for this approach to win, and avoid a second surgery if at all possible.

I'm trying to just take it a day at a time right now, without getting too depressed over it.

BTW, does anyone have a solution for the pinching and twisting of the cath tube? Mine is extremely annoying right now. I can't seem to sit for more than a half hour without it acting up.

Thanks to everyone for all the kind encouragement so far.

-Charlie
Posted 9/3/2009 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
As I recall - they use something like 15 (i want to say 15ml's) worth of solution to keep the cath in place. My doc drained out one third of the fluid and it helped a LOT with sitting in an office chair like I do all day.
Posted 9/3/2009 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Be sure to use lube on the tip of the penis-- my doc recommended KY and I used a Q-tip to apply it.

I also used jockey shorts to immobilize the catheter and added tape if needed. But nothing can make the cath fun.
Posted 9/4/2009 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Greetings, Charlie.  Sorry you are having to go through all this.  Sounds like they have a plan - we'll trust that it will close off on its own and you won't have to have another surgery.  Hang in there my friend. David

Posted 9/4/2009 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
Charlie,
So sorry to hear about your problem. I asked my wife who is a nurse working in Labor and Delivery about Fistula's. She was very aware of them and says it happens often in women after child birth.

Good luck and heal well fast.

Larry
Posted 9/5/2009 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Charlie, I just happened upon your post. Pete had a fistula after his salvage surgery....He had a catheter in and all of a sudden we noticed that the bag was blown up like a balloon. Also it had a brown color... We called the doctor, and they suspected a fistula. This happened because he had had radiation before, and the healing did not take in that place. Luckily it was at the lower end, and we went to a wonderful colorectal surgeon, Dr. Wong at Sloan Kettering. He was an expert at fixing fistulas..Pete then had to keep the catheter in for several months , but no need for a colostomy bag...It healed and never came back...although he is afraid to have a colonoscopy, fearing that it will open again. Good luck to you. It sounds like you are on the right track. Diane
Posted 9/5/2009 9:17 PM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone, thanks to all for the encouragement. I'll keep you posted.

Diane, thanks for the info on Pete. It's good to know that I'm not alone. The doc first suspected fistula after the second cystogram, when I was having the symptoms you described for Pete. The third one showed that it was gone, but now it's back, only less so, as I felt the gas coming from #1.

This second catheter is something I'll just have to get used to for the next few weeks. With my first catheter, I hated the leg bag and just dragged around the overnight bag most of the time, while at home. Now I'm only wearing the big bag to bed.

Although I don't think I'd go all the way to S-K for fistula repair, there are a number of good colorectal surgeons here in the Rochester area, if necessary. There's a Dr. Chang at the U of R hospital who specializes in these also.

Thanks again.

-Charlie

Posted 9/5/2009 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
I heard of this happening once before, but with my sister. She had difficulty at childbirth and required a surgery in her ueterus wall. And she had exactly the same issue and it required another surgery to fix it.

I hope that is not the case for you, but it does sound like a surgical intervention will be necessary...

Tony
Posted 9/5/2009 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
divo,
Good to hear from you as always. I see the updates and great news. Tell Pete wa say hi...

Tony
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