My first forum, my first fistula

[SMFonda]

my first forum, my first fistula

Hello. I'm new here. I'm 29 and have been diagnosed with Crohn's for 11 years. I've successfully managed the disease mostly with meditation, relaxing techniques, and sulfasalazine. This year, though, has been the most stressful year of my life (first year of marriage can be tough, man) and I recently learned that I have a fistula. Since then, I've been seeing a homeopathic practitioner and read all of the Dr. Andrew Weil books I could get my hands on. My homeopathic treatments have been very eye-opening and I am learning to see even more clearly the mind-body connection as well as the my own personal health patterns. I participated in something quite extraordinary called the "family constellation" which provided some insight into how, via family disease and dynamics, I acquired this condition and also how I could repair these dynamic to work better for my health. Also, I got a great book called, "The 5 Love Languages" and, since I read it over a week ago, I am seeing incredible improvements in my adjustment to married life. All of these things amount to lower stress. Oh and, did I mention, I've smoked my fair share of marijuana to keep my discomfort in check and my mind loose and happy?

Thing is, this darn fistula. I really need to heal it with whatever tools I can EXCEPT for surgery, steroids, or Remicade. I'm trying to find a new doctor who will not rush me to these options. Does anyone have any good feedback on how to help heal a fistula? :sign0144:

 

[crankypants]

Hey man... likeminded sort here, also married recently (a month ago)
You won't be able to "ohm out" the fistula.
It's going to take some meds/surgery.

I was first diagnosed w/ Crohns it was because I had a fistula that'd linked my colon and my bladder. Pretty much the most unfun thing I can think of... (see: bladder infection and cockfarts... yeah. whee.)

The meditation, self help and "self-medicating" will get you pretty far, but beyond a certain point you've gotta let yourself over to the pros. I do everything I can to avoid surgery and meds, but once things get to a certain point, you've gotta use the tools available.

Talk to your GI, but don't be surprised if you're going to need surgery.
Sometimes that's what it takes to fix things.

... or just try ohm'ing at it harder >

(namaste)

 

[xJillx]

Hi and welcome! You are right - the 1st year of marriage is tough! It certainly can cause stress to rise, which in turn, isn't good for the Crohn's.

I don't have any experience with fistulas, but I am sure you'll find some helpful info in the Fistulas and Abscesses forum. I hope that it clears up soon.

Hang in there!

 

[Del]

Hello and welcome to you SMfonda..
I also like your open minded approach...but have to agree with crankypants on this one also..
Take care...

 

[Grumbletum]

Hello from me too. Like the others have said, I doubt if you can heal a fistula without meds:-( What type is it you have? Mine was bowel to bladder. Controlling my diet did relieve the symptoms somewhat. I was lucky and got mine healed with antibiotics, otherwise it was going to be surgery.

 

[David]

Greetings and welcome

I try to keep an open mind and I DO believe that it is possible to heal a fistula without remicade or surgery. But I certainly can't recommend someone try. In fact, I regularly suggest one of the two. But as a yoga teacher, someone who is diving headfirst into vitamin and mineral deficiencies related to Crohn's Disease, and someone who understands the power our emotions have over us, I'd be willing to support you in your endeavor in any way I can should you indeed head in that direction. But I'd suggest otherwise

 

[stupidbody!]

OMG, cockfarts!!! I'd never heard that! Laughed so hard!!! I don't have that body part, but after a year I still haven't gotten used to farting down there. It's not right!! I too agree with crankypants. I was really hesitant to jump on the heavily medicated bandwagon too. I felt like I didn't have much choice with how bad my crohns was though. Humira gave me my life back (comparatively speaking). For fistulas it mostly controls the inflammation and drainage giving my body a chance to heal.

I've been drinking hydrogen peroxide to keep the never ending infections at bay (which helps a lot with my fistula). My GI doc actually said it was a good idea to keep taking it as a good alternative to antibiotics -I was shocked. I like this dr! If you want to try it you MUST know some guidelines. Get the food grade bottle in the refrigerated section of your healthfood store. A small 30-35% bottle will last you forever. Start with a drop or two in a glass of water and work your way up (my max is 7-8 drops in a tall glass of water). DO NOT take this anywhere near food or you will feel sick!!! My general rule is to wait 3 hours after a meal and an hour before food. I take 4 drops when I wake up as a maintenance dose, wait an hour for breakfast, you get the idea. This stuff will burn your skin so be careful. If you don't use enough water it can make you nauseous too. If you're really hungry fruit juice is fine.

Olive leaf extract and grapefruit seed extract are suppose to be antibacterials too. I haven't tried these long enough to know how much they help. Fistulas can take a long time to heal! 7 months on humira and still waiting. Dr said some bleeding is a good sign though. We'll see what happens.

 

[soloman69]

Stupidbody (not fair - I was going to use that username). I too have not gotten used to farting down there, I just wanted to let you know that you were definately not alone in that department.

I was told that Remicade was better than Humera for "fistulas" in particular - might be worth checking out - my first doc told me that with Remicade I might be treated for 1 year and then off meds completely. (that fairytale was shortlived as my fistula is too large to close naturally and it's been 6 years)

Thanks for the Hydrogen Peroxide tip - I am going to town tonight to get some to try.

Tracy