Is this a possible fistula?

[lady m]

Hi, I have had this horrible leakage happen to me overnight, I woke up about an hour ago and had fecal matter in my pants it was pretty disgusting and this has happened to me about 4 times, each time there seems to be a bit more. It only seems to happen overnight though! I did not get woken up to go but both this time and last time I did not feel very well and have been suffering with bloated swelling pains and feeling sick. The last time this happened was about a month ago but I have been feeling pretty crap in between.

I have not been feeling great for nearly a year now but each time I see my specialist they generally say my blood results do not indicate that my crohn's is active. Back in June they did indicate active disease and I had a Barium small bowel follow through as they thought I may have a stricture but that has not showed anything untoward. I was still not very well so recently I had a capsule endoscopy but again nothing was showing and my doctor said their was poor preparation so I'm thinking the problem could have easily been missed.

I generally am suffering quite a lot at the moment with swelling and bloated pains and also have a very noisy gurgly/drain like stomach at times. My doctors think I am also suffering from IBS but this leakage worries me that it is something else. Does it sound like it may be a fistula? If not any ideas on what else it could be?

I feel pretty disgusting at the moment and am worried this leakage may get worse.

 

[bigtruck]

Don't think it's coming from a fistula if there is quite a lot of it, more than likely just having a bit of an accident while your sleeping, don't be alarmed I'm sure it's happened to most of us when things inside have been flared. Get an appt with your gastro doc and discuss tests and treatment options. Good luck.

 

[lady m]

It's reassuring to know that you do not think it is a fistula but it does not feel like an accident either. It wasn't a lot and it seems to happen when I feel very painful bloating that almost feels blocked and I have been feeling sick for a couple of days. I'm worried my doctors will just dismiss it as recent tests did not show that my crohns was active; but I have felt like crap for a year now with no idea of the cause and this on top is getting me really down.

 

[JMC]

If you had a fistula by your anus that was leaking, you would certainly know about it as you would have a hole in your skin where the tract exits and a lot of pain. I am guessing you don't have that? Or are you concerned about a fistula inside?

In any case, I agree with bigtruck, most people have little accidents from time to time so unless you are experiencing control issues that may suggest a more serious problem with your anal sphincter I would not get too concerned.

 

[lizalou]

It entirely depends on where the leakage is coming from, front or back? Mine came from the front, unfortunately a symtom of rectovaginal fistula,.The only way of finding out is to insist on an MRI asap. If that that doesn't give definitive result ( it should ) then an ultrasound does. Try to get it dealt with quickly in case it is a fistula, you could have antibiotic treatment quickly, lets hope it's just leakage as the others say, which also happens to so many of us as well. Good luck, but please be persistant with the Dr's.

 

[lady m]

lizalou it was a bit difficult to tell but I am worried it is coming from the front, what other symptoms did you have?

I have been diagnosed with crohns for 4 and half years but had bowel problems for nearly 18 years and this is the first time I have had this problem so I do find it quite worrying.

I will speak to my specialist when I next see them.

 

[lizalou]

Lady M, the other symtoms were gas coming from the front, like bubbles. when I googled it, fistula was the obvious result, went to Dr immediately and it was confirmed. If you check your underwear, you can sort of tell where its coming from, but you need to get it checked by a SPECIALIST asap, you may be able to treat with antibiotics. As I said, please persist, don't allow them to give you vague answers, if necessary act like the biggest hypochondriact and get yourself very well informed. Good luck.