Fistulas?

[diddi47]

I have had crohns/colitis since september 2008 and tried every medication available to me to find none of it worked so this december i had the operation and had my large bowel removed and now have an illeostomy. But on this site ive heard alot of "fistulas" and im not sure what this is, ive just read up on it a little on google, and this has not been made known to me as of yet so im guessing ive not experienced it. But as i read up on it, its got me a little worried i might get it now i have an illeostomy as i had my rectum left in...or does having the operation mean ive got a better chance of not getting it? its just something new to me, im pretty clued up on the alot of stuff related to crohns but his ive no heard of and like to know everything i should need to know if someone could inform me and put my min at rest :ysmile: it would be much appreciated. x

 

[AbdoAlien]

Hello...I have not had alot of surgery only my appendix removed...supposedly due to a crohns flare.. I have been dx only since May'10, but I have a few friends who have crohns and I work within the hospital...all of the serious adverse effects of crohns is pretty scary. A few of my friends have experienced fistulas, though I fortunately have not. Also, at work seeing lots of patients with fistulas from crohns is heartbreaking...From what I understand there really is no rhyme, no reason for certain people to get fistulas..one of my friends had on from her bowel to her bladder and just recently had Sx..she now says she wishes she did something different like change of diet, try holistic things etc to calm her crohns to reduce the flares, so she didn't get the fistula...I am very nervous about the whole thing and since talking to her I've been trying different diets, nutionists,etc to get healthier with little meds as possible...was very tough for a while, but now I follow a strict gluten free, sugar free and lactose free diet and my flares have definitely dimished in numbers...wish I could help, good luck