Has anyone ever heard of...

[hannah-rose]

... using a temporary 'ostomy to let anal disease heal? I'm sure I read somewhere on this fprum of someone who mentioned they had a temporary colostomy whilst a chronic anal fissure healed - anyone heard of this?

 

[Mark63]

Hi,

It's certainly been suggested as a possibility if my fistula does not heal with a seton and Humira. I would have thought it was a bit severe for a fissure? Both the Medics and Surgeons have said that this is a good way to get difficult cases to heal, but the trouble is that there is a high likelihood that the problem will return after reversal. Under those circumstances there would be little option but to go for a permanent colostomy.

Mark

 

[hannah-rose]

Hi,

I would have thought it was a bit severe for a fissure?

Mark

Hope it's ok to post this photo, I've seen worse photos on the forum so I hope this doesnt offend anybody, it'll get removed if it does, but as you can see it's more than just a fissure

 

[Mark63]

It may be ok on the forum, but it looks like photobucket didn't like it!

 

[hannah-rose]

There you go, hope everyone's finished their dinner!

 

[Mark63]

Yep, that must be painful. My backside has only looked like for a month or so after surgery. I really feel for you.

Are the antibiotics helping at all? Have any other treatments been suggested?

 

[DustyKat]

I see from your signature that you don't have a definite diagnosis.

If you had a definite diagnosis I think the first course of action would be to put you on one of the biologics as they have proven to be quite successful in treating perianal disease.

Dusty. xxx

 

[Ithinkimafigher]

oh my goodness. im so sorry you have to go thru that. i will not complain about the burning i feel sometimes when i have a BM anymore. i just prayed for you.

 

[hannah-rose]

Yeah it's not the best lol, it can be painful and it's very hard in terms of hygeine.

Thanks Kaniela that's really sweet it actually looks a lot worse than it is. I mean, that is what it is, but its not painful most of the day and when im sitting etc its not laid open like that because the bottom naturally goes 'together', if you get what I mean.

DustyKat, Im waiting for my doctors to arrange an appointment and they'll be deciding whether they start me on Remicade/Infliximab or do reconstructive surgery. Fingers crossed they hurry up...

 

[Jefferson]

I had something similar when I was first diagnosed; in fact, my fistula led to my crohns diagnosis. My Dr packed my fistula with an iodine soaked material that I had to unmercifully pull out 6 inches or so a day and snip letting the fistula/ulcer heal from the inside out while allowing it to drain if that makes sense. It took a while, but eventually worked

 

[hannah-rose]

Yeah that was kinda the idea with my ulcer, that it should heal from the inside out. It did initially but it's done nothing for 5 months

 

[chinton]

Just a quick note to say that yes, there are such things as temporary colostomies which are used to let the lower part of the colon heal.
I did catch a glimpse of your photo before photobucket removed it and it looks very painful.
I can see that you are still officially undiagnosed, what tests have you undergone in terms of trying to get a diagnosis?

 

[hannah-rose]

Aw my bum is too gross for photobucket

I've had blood tests, abdo CT, colonoscopy, examination under anaesthetic, and biopsies - Im due to have another examination under anaesthetic by a new surgeon soon hopefully.

None of the tests point to crohns really, so it could just be a chronic infection that led to a wound that wont heal, caused by an anal fissure, and seeing as Ive had no treatment for the fissure, that might explain why its not healing.

 

[chinton]

It might be worth asking for a referral to someone who deals with skin problmes like burns and bedsores. Unfortunately our NHS departments tend to operate in silos and once you are assigned to the gastro department they might not think of talking to specialists outside of the department. At the same time as addressing the underlying cause of the fissure / abscess you could get some proper advice about keeping the tissue hygeinic from a specialist. The damp warm environment of this part of the body means that the wounds are notorious to keep clean and difficult to heal.

They might even get to the bottom of the problem - No pun intended!!

Good luck with your appointment with your new surgeon!