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Fistula update

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Posted 10/4/2011 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
I saw the colorectal surgeon again yesterday regarding my fistula.  He thinks that it may be starting to close up, as he wasn't able to fully track it, whereas he was when I saw him in late August.  I also think that it's oozing a bit less than it was and I haven't had any super brown junk coming out in the past week or so (meaning there's a lot of poop in it), whereas I did every few days before...the discharge has all been cream to white lately. 

I go back again in mid-November, and if it hasn't closed by then, he'll do surgery at that point.  He wants to do the LIFT procedure, as there is basically no risk of incontenince with it, and since my fistula is anterior, it's not a good idea at all to do a fistulotomy. 

Posted 10/4/2011 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
I was thinking about you this morning, wondering how that was healing! Sounds good- I'll cross my fingers that it keeps up, with no surgery needed!
Posted 10/5/2011 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Eva. I really hope so too!
Posted 10/6/2011 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Good for you that poop has stopped coming out of it. Heal, baby, heal. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC;presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 10/7/2011 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
Got a question...how do you know if you have a fistula?

I also see brown or white discharged..alway though this was just mucous?  May explain my pain and bleeding too!

Posted 10/7/2011 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
Do you have an abnormal opening on your bum? That's a fistula...well, an anal fistula. Mine, as most do, developed because and abscess did not heal properly. It happens about 50% of the time after one has had an abscess. Fistulas can develop w/o an abscess, but it's pretty rare.

Unfortunately, I have had brown gunk coming from the fistula again. So I think I'm going to call the surgeon and see if we can go ahead and schedule surgery. I can't do it until mid-November b/c my husband is on the road a lot for work until then and we have a 3 year old; I know I can't take care of him on my own after fistula surgery. But I don't have another appointment with him until the 17th, so I think I'd rather go ahead and schedule something, so I can get it done ASAP.
Posted 10/7/2011 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have to have my GI check. I know I have an outside skin tag which has also been called a hemmie.  I though they could also be well within the rectum too?

Thanks for th einfo and good luck with the surgery!

Posted 10/7/2011 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
An abscess and fistula is nothing like a hemmie or skin tag. The external opening of the fistula is on the skin surrounding your anus. Not actually on it.

Just do some googling, read, and look at photos. It really is obvious. As is the extreme pain from an abscess and the mess it makes when it bursts.
Posted 10/7/2011 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
No way, it isn't obvious to see if you have a fistula- I knew I had mine for over a year before it was finally confirmed. Neither my GI nor my Gyn could find it, even after an ultrasound. Finally a different gyn in the same practice was able to feel it, the the surgeons I met with could feel it too. If you have had an abscess that burst on it's own, & you have discharge that you're not sure about, mention it to your GI- it may take awhile! The first sign I had that made me know it was a fistula was passing gas thru it- there is no way gas is coming out without you knowing about it. It doesn't have to be in or around your rectum either, mine is practically inside my vagina! But anyway- fruitgirl- that sucks! I hope you can get the surgery scheduled, & let us know what the surgeon says, etc- I'll be following your progress with bated breath, I swear the fistulas are one of the most distressing things about IBD.
Posted 10/7/2011 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Actually, Eva and Fruitgirl, you're both right. Fistulas that open onto the surface of the skin are pretty obvious. Other fistulas can connect to the vagina or even the bladder; these can be hard to diagnose at times. I ended up having a cystoscopy once because I'd had a bad bladder infection and my PCP wanted to make sure there wasn't a fistula there.

Fruitgirl, I hope all goes well with your surgery, and that this is your last fistula ever!
Posted 10/7/2011 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yeah, I was talking about a garden-variety anal fistula. If you've got one of those, it's pretty obvious!

I decided to hold off on calling the surgeon. I was supposed to have a c-scope on Tuesday, but the GI, upon hearing that I have a fistula, decided to cancel it and see me in the office on Wednesday instead. I'm extremely irritated, because they have known since early August that I had an abscess (I called them to see if they could drain it, and they sent me to a general surgeon) and then I called them in late August to cancel the c-scope I had for Sept 1, on the recommendation of the colorectal surgeon. I am beyond done with the crappy office staff. If there were another GI's office in town, I'd switch, and I'm contemplating doing it anyway, even though it'd be an hour-ish drive to any other. At any rate, I'm definitely going to complain to him on Wednesday about the office staff.
Posted 10/7/2011 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
I drive about an hour to my GI's office, and for me it's worth it.
Posted 10/7/2011 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
you wonder why they cancelled it anyway- I mean, having a fistula doesn't affect a colonscopy in any way, you know? Your GI knew the abscess developed into a fistula, right? Did they give you a reason for the cancellation? Why do they want to see you in the office, they must know you're under the care of a colorectal surgeon by now! Frustrating. I drive half-hour each way to my GI, it's definitely worth it to me.
Posted 10/7/2011 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Eva, I have no flipping idea. I called the GI on Monday to make sure my doc knew I had the fistula. He *should* have known I had it, because I called when I had the abscess (and was told "Gee, we don't take care of those. Go see this surgeon.") and I called to cancel the c-scope scheduled for Sept 1 per the colorectal surgeon's advice. I specifically told them WHY I was cancelling/rescheduling and to please let my doctor know. So anyway, I have no idea why they cancelled it. I apparently had an appointment scheduled for Wednesday, anyway; I guess it was scheduled after I had my initial appointment with him in the spring. They didn't call me this week to remind me, which I find irritating, as it was scheduled so long ago.

Anyway, I'm supposed to call them on Monday morning (I had a message from them this afernoon when I got home, and the office had closed) and I'm going to ask if I can just have the freaking scope and get it over with. I *do* want to talk to my GI and see if he knows how good this surgeon is and stuff, but I really don't want to cancel the scope. I'm hoping that he might be able to find the internal opening and report to the surgeon.
Posted 10/9/2011 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Just an idea-- but maybe if you ask on the Crohn's forum there would be a member in your general area who could comment on G/Is & surgeons practicing nearby, or even treating fistulas. Sorry that office staff is adding to your problem. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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