I need some information

[vcobin]

Hi. I have had crohns for about 12 years. I am 36, married and have two children ages 6 and 3. I had alot of flare-ups when first diagnosed but got under control with 6-mp. After the birth of my second child I started having symptom and had some of my colon taken out. After that surgery I was put on Remicade and in remission for about three years. Recently I had a perforation in my colon requiring two surgeries one to resect and one to connect. After the second surgery I had complications and have developed a fistula from my colon to my stomach. It is currently draining. Has anyone had this before and if yes how long will it take to heal. I feel like I am never going to get better. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Val

 

[DannyB]

Hye Val,

Welcome to the forum here and all our family. It's really not unusual for crohns sufferers to be getting fistula's and I can't answer for other people with them but from what I can gather it requires your crohns to either go into remission and settle down or treatment can clear up a fistula, I have had a fistula for years and it comes and goes but still there, sorry I can't be any more positive about it.

 

[ruthymg]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I too have had problems with fistulas. In my experience time will tell. My doctor put me on antibiotics an 2 occasions, I had them surgically drained and 4 setons fitted on another 2 occasions and eventually had to have surgery to remove an area of really bad fistulation from my small bowel to my rectum. I still have anal fistulas that are almost healed, I have had a stoma fitted so that nothing passes through that way if you know what I mean. Hopefully they will heal some time soon. Basically if they don't seem to be getting better then there are a number of things they can do especially if they are really painful as mine were. Apparently Remicade is good for fistulas, maybe thats worth trying? I am due to have it so I will let you know


Ruth

 

[mikeyarmo]

Welcome to the forum Val.

Unfortunately I can not provide any personal recommendations to deal with fistulas. Antibiotics can be tried (like Flagyl) and I think even immunosuppresents. Also remicaide, but it may not help if you have already been on it before.

Your doctor should be able to help in this department though.

Good luck and hope to see you around the forum.

 

[DiNozzos_Chick]

to Crohn's!