Hi everyone,
I'm so pleased to have found this site and forum. I have just read the spoon theory and cried my eyes out, I have been trying to find a way to describe that for years and will be sign posting people to it whenever I can!
My story is long, 10 years worth, and am after some advice for when I next see my GP.
So today I have just had my 6th operation for anal fistula.
2007- abscess drained
2010- fistula laid open
2011- seton stitch inserted in fistula for drainage
2012- seton removed and fistula laid open
2016- fistula laid open
2017- seton stitch inserted in fistula for drainage
????- assume at some point the stitch will be removed
When I have asked why they keep occurring I never really get a definative answer, I've been told I've just been unlucky, or it can be hard stools or straining.
About 4 years ago I looked at the symptoms for IBS, IBD, Crohns, colitis etc... and asked my GP whether it could be one of those. He basically laughed at me and said no, so I've never asked again.
This is taking over my life and I think I do have other symptoms:
Diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal cramps (often these make me feel sick and dizzy especially before a movement), tiredness and fatigue (I work but this is all I can do, as soon as I'm home I just flop), skin abscesses around the bottom, I have also had my gall bladder removed, a hiatus hernia; and don't know what to eat from one day to the next, I've had to rule diary out, but too much fresh stuff can set off bowel issues, one day I can eat spice, the next I can't.
The only symptom I don't have is weight loss, but I think it's because I live of carbohydrates at work because I know these don't affect me and doing too much exercise increases the fistula pain.
I'm determined now to question my GP and consultant and try to get them to take me seriously as this is effecting my life. I'm 41 and feel like I'm 81, my employer is sympathetic to a point but because of my sick leave I'm now on probation as per the sickness policy, and because I don't really have a diagnosis of anything they can't treat it as a disability in the workplace. They ask me what they can do to make it easier for me, but every day I feel different and don't really know what they can do.
I would love some feedback as to whether you think I have cause to think I could be undiagnosed, how I can best broach this with my GP and Consultant and what sort of tests I should be asking for.
I apologise this has been quite an essay, let's blame it on the anaesthetic as I'm only 12 hours post op and can't sleep.
It's just been really nice to find a place to plot all this out, I look forward to any response, help and advice.
Vikki. Xxx
I'm so pleased to have found this site and forum. I have just read the spoon theory and cried my eyes out, I have been trying to find a way to describe that for years and will be sign posting people to it whenever I can!
My story is long, 10 years worth, and am after some advice for when I next see my GP.
So today I have just had my 6th operation for anal fistula.
2007- abscess drained
2010- fistula laid open
2011- seton stitch inserted in fistula for drainage
2012- seton removed and fistula laid open
2016- fistula laid open
2017- seton stitch inserted in fistula for drainage
????- assume at some point the stitch will be removed
When I have asked why they keep occurring I never really get a definative answer, I've been told I've just been unlucky, or it can be hard stools or straining.
About 4 years ago I looked at the symptoms for IBS, IBD, Crohns, colitis etc... and asked my GP whether it could be one of those. He basically laughed at me and said no, so I've never asked again.
This is taking over my life and I think I do have other symptoms:
Diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal cramps (often these make me feel sick and dizzy especially before a movement), tiredness and fatigue (I work but this is all I can do, as soon as I'm home I just flop), skin abscesses around the bottom, I have also had my gall bladder removed, a hiatus hernia; and don't know what to eat from one day to the next, I've had to rule diary out, but too much fresh stuff can set off bowel issues, one day I can eat spice, the next I can't.
The only symptom I don't have is weight loss, but I think it's because I live of carbohydrates at work because I know these don't affect me and doing too much exercise increases the fistula pain.
I'm determined now to question my GP and consultant and try to get them to take me seriously as this is effecting my life. I'm 41 and feel like I'm 81, my employer is sympathetic to a point but because of my sick leave I'm now on probation as per the sickness policy, and because I don't really have a diagnosis of anything they can't treat it as a disability in the workplace. They ask me what they can do to make it easier for me, but every day I feel different and don't really know what they can do.
I would love some feedback as to whether you think I have cause to think I could be undiagnosed, how I can best broach this with my GP and Consultant and what sort of tests I should be asking for.
I apologise this has been quite an essay, let's blame it on the anaesthetic as I'm only 12 hours post op and can't sleep.
It's just been really nice to find a place to plot all this out, I look forward to any response, help and advice.
Vikki. Xxx