Did anyone get an MRI before a fistula surgery?

[firsttime]

Hi so I've had an abscess which formed near my anus that has been first drained then when the doctor realized there was a fistula, had a seton placed. However recently I've had two new abscess/fistula form with extreme pain. Now my doctor wishes for an MRI to see what is exactly going on. My question is why didn't he just perform an MRI before doing my first surgery? Wouldn't an MRI have shown other fistula tracts before I have to suffer?

 

[Sunione]

In my experience fistulas are often missed during an MRI. A lot depends on the training and experience of the individuals administering the MRI and the radiologist reading the MRI films. In my case I had two CT Scans and 2 MRIs before the location of my fistula could be pinpointed. A CT Scan is cheaper and quicker to get done but is often a waste of time. An MRI is very expensive and not always effective in finding fistulas
so for that reason insurance companies may insist that other less expensive tests be done first.
Hope that helps.

 

[firsttime]

Oh thank you for replying. It's just been frustrating for the past few months. I hope the MRI can bring up the fistulas since my doctor doesn't seem to understand whats going on down there. I've never been diagnosed for any IBD or IBS but I'm guessing I may have some sort of problem there also. How does one get diagnosed for Crohn's Disease or any other IBD? I've always been pretty healthy, never really had any trouble going to the bathroom.

 

[Sunione]

Getting a DX of Crohn's can be complicated. Are you having other symptoms such as diarrhea or pain (cramping or sharp) in the area of your intestines or anywhere in your digestive track? Fistulas between the rectum or colon and vagina can be caused by a difficult birth but if an IBD is suggested than Crohn's is most likely as colitis does not include fistulas (I am not a dr and my information is based on my own research and experience).

I hope that your MRI is done properly. You should be given a roll of gauze (about 1" thick) or something similar to hold between your butt cheeks during the test and you should be given contrast by IV toward the end of the procedure. If these things are not done then the results may not be of reliable and may not find fistulas that are truly there. Additionally the experience of the radiologist who reads your films may also effect the results as fistulas are extremely illusive.

Please keep reading in this forum, there is so much information and let us know how you are doing.

Hope this helps

 

[firsttime]

Thank you for the information! I do get bloated stomach often but there is hardly any pain in the stomach area or intestine area. I hardly get constipation or diarrhea. My stools are very mushy and seems to fall apart in the toilet but that may be due to my fiber supplements.

I'll be sure to look and try to see if they do the MRI procedure correctly. Thank you again for your helpful insight!