Fistula healing?

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PaulsPain

Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
75
Location
Minnesota
I have a peri-anal fistula that goes thorough 1/2 the sphincter muscle. Currently have a seton in place for almost a year now.

I just finished my 3rd dose of Remicade yesterday.

The fistula seems to be bleeding more and draining less. This started after my first infusion. So I am thinking that it may be healing and the seton is tearing it open? Trying to figure out if the bleeding is a good or bad sign.

But I am still getting drainage in general but it definitely is less. I think it may still be from a fissure I have open....... I see my GI next week to determine if Remicade is working.

So I am kind of wondering if the Remicade is working and what to really expect if it "works". I have had these peri-anal issues for 6 years now so I kind of forget what normal is. For those that had fistula's close with meds - did it just stop draining and hurting? Was it a gradual process?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
 
Gradual process from what I remember of mine. I was lucky in that after 6months of having the seton the surgeon thought it was worth trying to fill the tract, which had shrunk, with fibrin glue. It had stopped weeping pus all the time, but still had a little bleeding occasionally. The seton itself still irritated and the knot would get in the wrong place...

Good luck with it.
 
Thanks Beth.

I have read several stories here where it seems they close over night. So I have been feeling a little discouraged. I resisted going on Remicade for awhile trying Aza alone first. Both my GI and CRS told me Remicade is the "best" for peri-anal disease. So now that I finally took the plunge I feel like it is my only hope........
 
I saw my CRS last week and he thinks the Remicade is working and wants to pull the seton. I was to chicken to have him pull it now since I still find the drainage a little unsettling plus I am under so much stress at work that I couldn't handle another butt surgery at the moment if the fistula would close and form another abscess.

But his position is that we have to try getting the seton out. As I suspected I also have a fissure :( so maybe the drainage is from that.....

He also told me that the bleeding can be an indication of healing and he wasn't to concerned about it.

So I will probably try to pull the seton late dec at my next infusion. He wants to pull it right before an infusion.
 
i have a fistula, but don't have a seton. started remicade 4 weeks ago. like you, it seems to be draining less/less stool coming through, but not closed up. the outside hole is starting to heal, but i can still see the tunnel. i was hoping mine would just close up right away too, but i'll take a gradual healing. it probably took awhile to form, will probably take a while to heal.
 
what's the difference between an abscess and fistula? my GI doc thinks my perianal abscesses are fistulas but i've never passed any fecal matter from them. they just drained puss and blood. they close for months and sometimes come back. does that sound like a fistula?
 
That's what one doctor says but MRI didn't show fistula and when they recur they only fill and drain with blood now with. I fever or sepsis. They go away and come back in a few months.
 
Flowergirl-

I just had my 4th infusion of Remicade on Monday this week. I was hoping for the instant closure that I read about sometimes on here...... But it sounds like it can also be a long slow process.

At least this infusion has been the best in terms of side effects afterwards - none so far. My first 3 infusions it seemed like I felt pretty krappy for almost a week afterwards. The 3rd infusion being the worst so I was really nervous for the 4th.

Good luck with the Remicade hope it helps.
 
My fistula stopped draining and hurting gradually after I started remicade. They've never checked to make sure it was closed or anything, but it stopped bothering me completely after about maybe 6 weeks or so, I don't remember exactly since it was gradual. Hope you get some relief!
 
i have crohns, fistulas & HS and go back for my 4th dose of remicade dec 2nd....after all 3 doses within 3-4 days of getting my infusions my HS has come back (the bump/lump) in full force, grows to almost the size of a golfball hurts like h*ll but always opens/drains on its own. dont know if this is a sign of healing??? and my fistula has sometimes burned...honestly thats the best way to describe it. it burns & itches so bad, isn't itching a sign of healing?? when i met with the remi nurse after my 3rd dose she said the fistula looked "wonderful" and is healing but said she never heard of the burning before?? has anyone else ever felt this way?? my GI dr now has decided my next dose on dec 2nd he will send me home with a scrip for pain meds & probably flaygl for the infection to help with the HS. was just wondering if anyone else feels burning or itching sometimes after receiving remicade with fistulas?? and has anyone ever heard that remicade helps HS as well?? ive had seton drains in the past but ive never had any luck with them, honestly if anything they made it worse. after the 2nd time i had the drain my skin was actually healing almost growing over top the drain it had to be removed...i thought it would be very painful to have her remove it but she did it right there in the office (i was knocked out when she out them in) and it felt so much better after she pulled it out. then a few months later during an colonopsy i woke up with 2 more....after a few weeks of them bothering me i actually cut & pulled them out myself, now thank goodness my dr doesnt even bother with them anymore!! ive too had blood alot with my fistula but my dr too didnt think that was a big deal. thanks so much for taking the time to read this!!
 
mine burn and itch before they close over. i'm not on remicade though. mine don't even hurt now after a few years. they just fill and drain blood and then close up. no pus, infection, loss of appetite, or fever. it's the weirdest thing ever. my doctor thinks it's a fistula but doesn't know. MRI did not show fistulas.
 
mine's been itching. i'm hoping that means healing. it would make sense. maybe it's the scar tissue? i have skin scars that itch...
 
So I am kind of wondering if the Remicade is working and what to really expect if it "works". I have had these peri-anal issues for 6 years now so I kind of forget what normal is. For those that had fistula's close with meds - did it just stop draining and hurting? Was it a gradual process?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]

I know your post is very old, but I am curious how things ended up??? I seem to be experiancing similar sirtuation and it kinda has me freaked out.
 
Mine have been gone for over a year. They seemed tO get worse on imminosuppresants
. I've been off all meds for 16 months excePt antibiotics twice a year for a flare .
 
i too am med free! the remicade was not working and my doctor wanted to double the dose...i said no way and feel so much better after stopping. while taking remicade my HS seemed to really flare from it as well. both the crohns & skin disease are under control with no meds, i do sometimes take a pain pill the HS comes and goes. my doctor says it is easier to remove the mass after it has burned out. i have 3 fistulas as well and they are bothersome but im ok with where i am right now and i guess im afriad to start any meds or another treatment for them in fear of rocking the boat!? myriahdawn, are you currently on remicade? how are things going?
 
Mine was healing a little while on antibiotics. I went on Humira every two weeks and it was starting to heal a little more. After 5 months on Humira and still no closure, although it was healing very well with the seton removed.

I went to H every ten days and bingo, it went away in a few days.

Good Luck
 

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