Do I have a fistula ? My Crohn's getting worse ?

[monmon218]

Hello Everyone..

I am not new to this forum since I was diagnosed with crohn's 1 year ago.. but have decided to go against all medication and went with Chinese Medication. As I was quite symptom free I didn't go on this site as much (trying to avoid).

I am not sure if chinese med has helped me or not but I am mostly symptom free. I rarely have any body pains. I have watery stool for a while but recently I have been having firm stool with only occasional lose stools.

Now my main problem:

I have had two bums on my left side prior to my disease and had something on the right side of my butt (comes and goes) before I was diagnosed but the MRI came back as no fistulas. I have not worried to much about those because it haven't gotten worse.

Now i know that my left side bums (abscess ?) have decreased in size.. but recently my Right side bum has been acting up. I believe it's an abscess but I'm not so sure.. It does not hurt too much but it's bumpy at times (it comes and goes).

Now last night as I was showering I found that on my right side of my anus area (the bumpy part) have a small hole"ish" feeling. I've asked my girlfriend to look at it and she said it seemed like it was a hole. Does that mean that it's a fistula ? It does not hurt but i think it has some blood leaking when i press on it - nothing else (no pus or anything)

Can anyone let me know if that's a fistula ? I am hoping to see my family doctor tomorrow but I would like to find out more now so I am prepared. I am soo depressed that I haven't slept all night...

I have some pictures but I am not sure if it'd be too grose to upload it.

Does that also mean that my crohn's is getting worse ?

Please help me... i am confused..

 

[Traumanurse]

See the Doc for sure. Sure sounds like a fistula or at least an open abscess.

 

[monmon218]

I am hoping to get to see my family doctor today.. but I'll probably have to wait a while before I get to see my specialist.. sigh.. :frown:

Will that fistula start to hurt and stuff soon ? is it difficult to heal ?

Could it be possible that my Crohn's is getting worse though ?

I'm just so confused. :confused2:

 

[monmon218]

Hello All..

I just came back from my family doctor visit and apparently I was told that it is a Fistula.

The doctor mentioned that it is a small one. What does that mean ?

I have asked if it would heal on its own but he said most likely not.

He just told me to be gentle of it and not to make scratch any other areas around that fistula.

Now what do I do ? What can I do ? I am trying to schedule an appointment with my Specialist but in the mean time is there anything that I could do to see if I could make it better ? I don't think there are any discharge coming out from it... it doesn't hurt or irritates me at all (maybe if I think about it then it'll affect me a bit)

I am very worried. I am currently not on any formal medication as I have been only relying on my Chinese doctor, probiotics, mutli-vitamin, fish oil.

Will my fistula go worse ?

What can I do? What should I do? Please help me. =(

 

[Sailorluna]

Can't go wrong with a sitz bath or hot bath in a regular tub. Lot's of people use epsom salts in it, I have not for a while but only because I don't have any. Be sure to tell them what is going on it may help you get an earlier apt.

 

[Traumanurse]

I also believe there is a fistuly/abscess forum on this website. I bet you could get lots of help there!

 

[monmon218]

Thanks for all your responses..

Upon reading back at my MRI results.. apparently I had a fistula on the left side already...

So this is my 2nd one..

I am just so frustrated with this.. I don't know where my first one is.. but I can feel the 2nd one now.

What will happen if I just leave it as it's not bothering me now ? Will it heal at all ?

I just take good care of my bum when i use the washroom and shower.. I make sure I wipe clean and i wash with soap while i shower.. it doesn't hurt at all so...

Am I on the right path ? What else can I do ?

 

[MikeinBklyn]

monmon,

Fistulas (due to Crohn's) are not really known to heal by themselves.

First course would be Cipro/Flagyl antibiotic therapy, and possible biologic meds if you still exhibit symptoms of Crohn's.

Do you have discomfort now? Any bleeding or discharge?

Keep the area spotless.

Best of Luck

 

[monmon218]

Hello MikeinBklyn,

Thank you for your response. Apparently I had one fistula already since I was diagnosed with Crohn's - however that fistula never gave me any problems.

This one that I currently have does not give me any problems as well. I don't feel different and it doesn't seem to bleed that much (very seldom) and i haven't seen it with any discharge (can you explain what discharge is with a fistula ?)

I am trying my hardest to keep that area clean - but how will I know if it's healing/closing ?

Also - Can you explain more about the Cipro/Flagyl antibiotic therapy ? When do I know if that is needed ? Cause right now I don't feel anything at all.. and what does Cipro/Flagyl antibiotic therapy help me with ?

 

[MikeinBklyn]

The discharge is pus. The pus is from infection. Your fistula tract is open and allowing drainage, that's a good thing.

The antibiotic combination of Flagyl/Cipro have been proven to help heal some fistulas and prevent the reoccurrence of abscesses.

If it heals it will close as any wound to the skin would, but fistulas are insidious and really do not like to heal.

You colon-rectal doctor, who I suppose you do have, would make the determination as far as treatment. The first and most common treatment is antibiotic and seton placement.

Do some searching around on the bulletin board, there's plenety of info.

Good Luck

 

[monmon218]

Hello MikeinBklyn,

So you're saying that the yellow ish color stains that i get from my underwear is pus ? I thought pus was more thick and more yellow ish in color.

I only have a GI specialist i think - but when she told me my results the first time when I was diganosed with CD, she never put me on Flagyl/Cipro - she just advised me to go take Remicade/Humira.

When you say Flagyl/Cipro have been proven to help heal some fistulas and prevent the reoccurrence of abscesses.. normally how long would i have to take it for ?

I want to gather some of these information and speak with my GI specialist if I ever get to see her anytime soon...