Fistula forming in lady parts??

[hetzbaby]

Hey all,
I've a perianal fistula currently with a seton in it. Still fairly new to Crohn's. I've been noticing lately that sometimes when I have a BM, I feel pressure somewhere in my bladder or vagina, not sure. But tonight (after having a bm earlier), I've constant pressure and feel pike I need to pee, even though I know I don't. Its so uncomfortable and I'm freaking out. has anyone experienced this? Could this be another fistula forming somewhere??

 

[Jennifer]

I'm honestly not sure. Can you make an appointment with your GP and maybe get a referral to a urologist if needed (your GP may want to do some testing, like a urine sample to check for infection, before giving you a referral)? It may also be worth mentioning to your GI in case they would like to run any tests.

I started having urges to urinate at bedtime even though I didn't need to go. My GP found microscopic blood in my urine and sent me to a Urologist. They did a scope of my bladder (Cystoscopy) and found nothing. Now I'm taking Vesicare for a supposed "overactive bladder," even though I'm 30. It worked for the first couple months but the symptoms have been returning this past month. I'll be seeing them again this week to check for blood again and go over the medication. Honestly I'm still not sure of the cause but no fistula was found in the scope.

Edit: With a bladder fistula you may notice gas passing through when you urinate or have frequent bladder infections. Here's info on the different types of fistulas: http://ibdcrohns.about.com/cs/relatedconditions/a/fistula.htm

 

[SarahBear]

Just wondering if you had this checked out and what happened. :hug: I hope all is well with you!

 

[hetzbaby]

I was due for my CRS to check my seton anyway so I talked to him about it but he said he really didn't think that he could do anything for me unless a fistula actually presented itself by passing excrement through it or something. Idk. The pressure thing has passed but I've been peeing like a pregnant woman and drinking a lot of water so its all just a big mess any more. :/ I feel like nothing gets resolved with any doctor I go to!

 

[SarahBear]

:hug: I'm sorry you haven't found an explanation! Have you seen another about it? A GYN might be helpful at this point.

I actually have a similar issue as Jen - I sometimes get a lot of urgency, that feels like a UTI. At this point, my GYN is thinking it may be endometriosis in the urinary tract. I also get a lot of pain / pressure in the ovarian region when having a BM or peeing during my period. Are you having any symptoms that could indicate something like that?

 

[hetzbaby]

No, I haven't; unfortunately, I don't have insurance so I'm always battling with myself on what's worth the visit or not. I've thought about seeing a gyn at this point but I haven't since I was dx'd in august & honestly I'm a bit terrified! I used to have UTI's all the time when I was younger but the only thing they've found in my urine recently is protein (which after a 24 hr collection they said was in normal amount). I didn't even know you could get endometriosis of the urinary tract! I'm not really having any pain, except maybe an occasional twinge in the area of my urethra that lasts not even a full second probably, not even reoccuring enough to be bothersome. I suppose my periods might be a bit worse as of the past year---but that's just because I have cramps now where I never did previously (damn you, CD!).

 

[SarahBear]

Are you on birth control? If not and you are able to get it, that would probably help if it is endometriosis. I haven't been formally diagnosed yet, as the only way to do so is through surgery, so my GYN is just trying me on various birth control options and hoping to find one that works at controlling the symptoms. If you're able to find an affordable B/C option, whether or not that helps might give you some idea of which direction you need to go in when you can pursue treatment.

:hug:

 

[mish2575]

ME! ME! ME! I HAVE THIS!!!
I am confident that i have a fistula from vagina to right under my urethral openning between my lips. I know that it is open when I get UTI symptoms and then the sensitive skin between the lips gets enflamed. It generally starts a few days before my next Humira dose. I am scheduled for an MRI on 7/12 - if the symptoms dont manifest i will have to postpone for 2 weeks and then cancel if after 3 times they don't reappear (this happened a few months ago but the symptoms started resurfacing a week ago). Tylenol and Marijuana helps. I also take Uristat but i dont think it helps. Also i put my super homemade diaper cream (aquaphor and cornstarch) in between my lips when they are raw and that really helps.

It happened to me years ago and i kept going from urologist to pc (who was also my GI at the time) to gynocologist and everyone kept saying it wasnt their issue. The UA results came back negative. Luckily, at that time, it went away for years. Now i'm with a wonderful GI out of Boston who will follow this through for me. She is not hopeful that we'll find it with the MRI though. She says if the MRI shows nothing we'll do some antibiotics (although i'm not hopeful about that as i was on 2 antibiotics for my HS when this developped) and then we'll try changing from Humira to Cimzia. . . she's already increasing my Humira dose based on my description/confidence at what it is.