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Anal abscess with UC?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/4/2016 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Is it common for you guys to have problem with anal abscess during a UC flare? Had one with my last flare two years ago, now flare again, and feel it coming again.

Reason I am asking is, last time there was no fistula and I had to endure a week of hellish pain until it was big enough for surgery. Did you have similar experiences, or is there any way to locate and surgically remove the abscess earlier, even without a fistula that points to it?

Thanks!

Robert
Posted 2/5/2016 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I used to get them all the time. Usually they would resolve on their own or pop (leak) on their own. I've never had much pain with mine except when it was close to my hemmies.
Posted 2/5/2016 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I had one develop after my first and only flare. Others on this forum have had them too. With UC, you are at an increased risk for them, although they are much more common in Crohn's.

Many people jump to the conclusion that they have Crohn's because of them but that's not the case all the time, according to my GI and colorectal surgeon. You may have an underlying fistula if it's in the same spot as the last one. My surgeon thinks I had a fissure where the bacteria collected and eventually abscessed then became a fistula. Mine were very painful, right under the tailbone where my buttcrack curls into the anus, midline. Had two drainage surgeries then a fistulotomy for a simple fistula. Surgery was painless, recovery was rough for a couple days.

Still healing two months later but the pain is gone, thankfully. These things are tough to deal with. I wish you luck.
Posted 2/5/2016 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
To answer your other question, I don't believe there is a way to "get them early." Can't hurt to make an appointment with your surgeon now though. Make sure you tell them you are in pain.
Posted 2/6/2016 10:50 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info, good to be not alone with that. My GI also said he does not think it points to Crohns for me. Currently I just feel it a bit, no real pain, so no urgency. Was not able to get a short notice appointment in a specialized/private place, but have one there for next Friday for them to check it.

Hope it does not get acute till then, otherwise I'll have to go to normal public hospital for it. That's what I did last time, treatment was not bad, but long waiting times and staff always a bit in a rush, so I'd prefer the private place.
Posted 2/8/2016 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
I had an anal abscess and resulting fistula a few years ago. Because my UC was in complete remission when it happened, my GI and colorectal doc saw no reason to question my diagnosis with UC. The colorectal doc told me that plenty of people who have no IBD at all get anal abscesses and fistulae. And I seem to have a family history of them as my grandma and uncle have both had more than one (and I'm the only person in my family who has an IBD).
Posted 2/8/2016 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Fruitgirl, did you have surgery? Just wondering if you could offer some insight on how long healing should take.
Posted 2/9/2016 8:57 AM (GMT 0)
When I had the surgery, it took many weeks to heal. Basically they made a cut, 1 cm or so, and left it open to heal from inside out. But after a few days it was totally painless, just needed to shower/rinse it after every stool. Was even on the bicycle again two weeks after surgery. So for me, the healing process went really well.
Posted 2/9/2016 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Was that a fistulotomy, Robert, or just abscess drainage?
Posted 2/10/2016 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Mostly drainage. They told me that there was a fistula leading somewhere inside and that they cleaned it up, but it was short and not yet leading to any cavety. My abscess opened up from itself, and I think I was lucky, that the channel it took to do so lead directly to the outside.

Hope I am using the right English words to explain this ...
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