Cyst, hemorrhoids, fistula, or abscess?

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My colonoscopy was early August and since that time, I've been on Prednisone & Lialda. My symptoms immediately got better once I started the Pred, however, I'm now tapering. I started on 40 mg, and was on that for about a month, took 30 mg for a week, and as of today, I'm on 20 mg.

I'll start Humira once my insurance approves things.

About four days ago, I started to feel a soreness somewhere between my vagina and rectum. I feel is the most when I sit down, stand up, or tighten (like a kegel). It's very isolated, in that it feels like the size of a marble or smaller, but I can't actually "feel" it with my fingers. In fact, when I try to investigate, I can feel the area where it's sore (as in, I know I'm there because it's sore), but I don't feel a hardness or lump or anything.

I've used hot compresses, but it hasn't helped.

In 2006 I had a fistula that was surgically treated by my CR, and with that, there was no pain, but just a large lump that I went to have checked. I only knew it was there because I could feel it when I wiped after using the bathroom.

So...thoughts on this? My CR can't get me in until Oct 2, but the NP at my GI is going to squeeze me in tomorrow. I've searched for information about how to know whether you have an abscess, but I'm coming up empty-handed.

Thank you.
Cathy
 
Call doc. Sometimes tapering off Prednisone can cause some unexpected things to happen. One time I had my knee begin to swell and within days it was swollen so tight it was almost popping open the skin. Doc changed tapering and it immediately went away. One thing to consider is to also consistently use a water bottle to squirt that area clean after using the toilet. Use whenever at home. It will help keep the area clean and can help avoid any infections, etc...
 
Update:

Whatever it was ruptured independently today around 11:00 a.m., which was good timing since my appointment with the GI was at 11:30. He took a look, said everything was fine, and sent me on my way. I called the CR and she still wants to see me Oct 2, but said it's always best when they rupture on their own. So, I have no idea what it was, but there was a LOT of drainage - it looked like I wet my pants and it felt like my water broke. GI suspects an abscess, so I guess we'll see if anything else "pops up".
 
Hmm, it sounds very curious. I wonder what it was, and how big it actually was beneath the lump. Was the drainage clear or discoloured? Keep us updated on what the CR says.
 
I saw the CR today. She confirmed that it was an abscess, based on my description of the color (beige'ish) and smell (foul foul foul).

The pain has come back again, so she did an exam. She didn't see/feel anything, but she put me on Flagyl and said that if the pain gets worse, she'll do an EOA to make sure nothing is hiding.
 

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