Anal Crohns

[Mejay07]

Hello Everyone.

I just saw my colo-rectal surgeon on Friday, I have another abscess that has to be drained which is a big Boo! But he also said to me that I have anal crohns. I had heard the term perianal disease before but not anal crohns, are they the same thing?
Has anyone else been dx with this? What does it entail?

I have had a previous abscess that had to be surgically drained, and I have at least one fistula, and 2 anal fissures. I am currently having some leakage as well (I know it is gross but I am sure you have all seen or heard worse) but I don't know if that is due to the abscess, but my doc said it could be due to the crohn's too.

I really hope this all clears up with this abscess, if I really do have anal crohn's I don't want to have to worry about continence problems earlier in life than I have too.

Anyone know anything about this? :sign0085:
Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all

 

[Cookie]

Hi Jayme,

Welcome. I haven't actually heard the term "anal Crohn's", but Crohn's disease can be anywhere in the digestive tract from mouth to anus, so I am guessing that your doc was referring to the fact that you have, well, Crohn's in your anus. Have you been diagnosed with Crohn's anywhere else? You can have Crohn's in more than one location, and it's not always continuous.

I have a very similar situation to yours. My initial dx was in my colon, but since then, all of my problems have been in my rectum. As far as my experience goes with Crohn's in that area, it's been problems with fistulas/abscesses, drainage, fissures, etc. I do not have a lot of problems with diarrhea these days, I think because things have already been through the normal processes before they get to the affected part, if you know what I mean. I have had two surgeries for rectovaginal fistulas/abscesses. My surgeon told me that 16% of Crohn's patients have CD confined to the rectum.

I get a lot of leakage too. Even since my last surgery. I am not sure if it is drainage from another fistula or that I am slightly incontinent from my last surgery. But I do know that I will try to avoid another surgery at all costs.

I'm not sure if this has been any help at all, but at least you know you are not alone. If you have any other specific questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[exit4]

I am diagnosed with Crohn's Colitis and my issues are also mainly in the rectal/anal area. Had an abscess drained 2 years ego that turned in to fistula, had fistula plug put in that failed, developed another abscess, had a drain seton in then had a fistulatomy. SO mad at my GI and colorectal docs for not exploring other non surgical ways – Remicade, Cypro, Flagyl. Fistulatomy took 1 year to heal, but it did not heal properly and left a keyhole deformity in my anal area that leaks post BM. Please leave surgery as a last resort!..

 

[peterh88]

I too have Crohns in the anus but I also have it in other parts of the colon and the terminal ileum. I have had a fistula that would not heal and finished up getting surgery to open it up to the anus but all that did was create a hole just the right size for annoying drainage problems. I used to suffer from constant diarrhea, going around 20 times a day which caused a very sore and swollen anus. Hope that is not to graphic for you all. Anyway I have been following a diet in the book called "Life without Bread" for the last couple of months and my symptoms have progressively gotten better to the point where the diarrhea has almost stopped and I am only going to the toilet 3-4 times a day and only in the mornings when I first wake. Because I don't frequent the toilet as much my anus has healed and the leakage has stopped. woo hoo. How good it is to take my time to go to the shops without having to plan a route that includes toilet stops on the way. :shifty-t:
I only just joined this forum a couple of days ago and I suppose I should write my story in the "My Story" section soon.

 

[Mejay07]

Yes, I have Crohn's in the small bowel and had a touch of Gastritis on my diagnosing colonoscopy. I have had perianal issues since May of 2009, when I was first diagnosed, I didn't know I could have these types of issues. Thanks for all the personal stories and advice.
My doc doesn't want to do a fistulatomy unless it gets really bad and I don't want to do it unless I have to. The abscess i have to have drained. In the month since my MRI that indicated I had the abscess that was about 1-2 cm in size. And at my visit with the colorectal surgeon a week ago, he said it was significantly bigger. but luckily it not affecting me too much in the the way of being uncomfortable sitting (I have a desk job, not the perfect combo), just can't wait until it is drained and the infection is gone and I can go back on my remicade and feel somewhat normal again.

thanks all

 

[CrohnsNYC]

I just got through my first abscess and am on Remicade as well. Sounds like we are a bit similar. Just curious why they didn't drain it already? When I went in for my abscess, they immediately drained it and said they needed to take care of it right away. That was two weeks ago, and I was just cleared for another Remicade infusion (thank god because without it I am freaked out that I will get another fistula - something I definitely do not want). One more quick unorganized thought - when I did have a fistula it did a lot of draining or leaking. Sounds like what you described. Good luck. Hopefully they can take care of it quickly and get you back on your meds.

Best,
Beth

 

[Mejay07]

I am not in a lot of pain, my fevers have subsided for now and he said even though it has increased in size it is still not too large, and scheduling factors came into play. I had already booked plane tickets to go to Florida to visit family so I couldn't do it this week, he only does them on Thursdays so next week is Thanksgiving so it had to be the week after. He told me if I start to experience extreme discomfort or pain to call right away and he will get it done sooner, but I am on the Flagyl and that seems to be helping along with sitz baths.

 

[s.a.m.]

I have had multiple abscesses, and a fistula, and of course surgery for both. I have been on Remicade for about a year and a half, its been a life saver.

 

[peakey 1553]

Hi I have crohns I have just had mouth ulcers even my lips blistered,but I also have perianal desease. I had never heard of this before and went to see the consultant and at the end of the meeting he started to speak into a dictophone and said this patient has perianal desease but never explained what that meant. since then I have found that I have an abcsess and a fistular and have probably had this for 2 or more years and with pain sitting and walking, I am now being sent to see the surgeon,I also have crohns in my colon and the athritis that goes with it. hope you get on ok.xx

 

[girn]

When I was diagnosed, my Crohn's was terminal ileum and colon. I've now had a rectovaginal fistula for 17 months, I have a huge anal skin tag that appeared; and I also have had sores on my vulva biopsied that come back consistent with Crohn's. Isn't that lovely?!