Abscess? Fistula? Help?

[Mehita]

I will try to describe this as best as I can...

DS asked me to look at his bottom tonight. That NEVER happens.

Between his anus and scrotum on the sort of flat area of skin, he said it hurts on the left side. The right side is soft and normal feeling, but the left side is hard and he says it hurts to put pressure there. Then he tells me that after he poops, it always feels like a little more always sneaks out after he's done wiping. He showed me and it doesn't look like poop. It almost looked like a light yellowish pus, but there was very little so it was kind of hard to tell.

What does this sound like to you? Possibly an abscess? If I take him to see his GI, what will they do? How do they determine abscesses and fistulas? How do they get treated?

And, if this is an abscess, which is new for him, does this mean the Azathioprine isn't working well enough? Can you have abscesses and not be flaring?

Any input and advice would be appreciated...

 

[my little penguin]

I would put a call into your go in the am.
They would be able to tell by looking and depending on what they see they will determine what he needs.

 

[Brian'sMom]

I agree, have the GI look at it.
In our case, flagyl was prescribed and helped pretty quickly both times...2010 and just last saturday. Both times Brian was flaring and having a lot of diarrhea before. Also, abscess seems to come with a fever. (This last one we reacted so quickly, I think he hadn't developed the fever yet).
(Often flagyl is combined with cipro)

 

[Gmama]

Just wanted to say I hope this all resolves quickly for him! Lots of hugs your way too...I know how hard it is to see your son go through this. We are still dealing with a darn fistula, it's so frustrating! And i'm always thinking of all places...seriously!?!

 

[Mehita]

Thanks, guys. I have double threads going... oops. Details from the GI visit today at
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=50529&page=6

 

[Sascot]

If it is an abscess, Flagyl is the way to go. We were treated with antibiotics for 3 months before they finally operated. If it doesn't go away with the Flagyl - keep nagging. The only way to know if it's a fistula is to do an MRI. I would say if it keeps draining pus/mucous even after the abscess looks better, it could be a fistula. Hopefully the Flagyl will do the trick!

 

[Mehita]

Thanks, everyone.

We had a rough night. Couldn't start the Flagyl until after a stool sample for c diff. He spent an hour and a half on the toilet for the stool sample with lots coming out. Finally got off and went right back in a few minutes later. Said he felt the need to pee, but couldn't and sat for another hour. I immediately thought UTI. Still no fever, but he's more of a chills kid than fever.

Finally went to bed around midnight but was up again at 1:30am. Poop, nausea, stomach ache, chills. He asked for Zofran which took the edge off and fell asleep on the toilet. I convinced him to go to bed and he slept through. Almost 8am now and still sleeping.

I'm off to drop off the stool sample and pick up the Flagyl. I hate nights like this. So tired.

So far all labs are normal. Can you have a UTI or abscess with a normal WBC?

 

[ronroush7]

Call his gi. I had an abscess that the doctor let go for three months before he drained it. He had to do it twice and the second time I had to be in the hospital for a week with intravenous drugs. Whatever it is, make sure your doctor jumps on it right away. Best to you all.

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