• Welcome to Crohn's Forum, a support group for people with all forms of IBD. While this community is not a substitute for doctor's advice and we cannot treat or diagnose, we find being able to communicate with others who have IBD is invaluable as we navigate our struggles and celebrate our successes. We invite you to join us.

Questions regarding anal abscesses

needrelief

needrelief

Hi All!
I am so glad that there is a blog out here for this. I am getting a little frustrated with the things that I have been going through.
Since December of 2013 I have had 3 anal absesse surgeries, 1 fistula repair , and just now found out that I have another absess.
I am a little overwhelmed with all of it at this point. I have had a CT scan, and an MRI. I was going to have an colonoscopy and ended up in the hospital having to have a hysterectomy.
As you can tell this has not been a great year for me. I have missed countless numbers of hours from work and my home life has been affected as well.
I had a question about the sizt baths. Has anyone used epson salts in theirs, and if so how did it work? Is there any advise that you can give me as what to do for the pain and not always on pain pills? Is it normal to have more than one absess right after the other ones?
Any advise is much appreicated...thank you in advance!:sign0085:
 
DJW

DJW

Forum Monitor
Hi and welcome. Sorry you've had such a rough year.

Taking sitz bath helps to draw the pus to the surface. If it's open it promotes drainage. It not uncommon to get multiple abscesses. Has the doctor discussed putting you on anything like flagyl, cypro or biological treatment.

I hope they get this sorted out and you can start feeling better
 
needrelief

needrelief

DJW,
I have used the sitz bath but was wondering if the epson salt would help. Have you ever used the epson salt with the bath? I was on Cipro, and Flagyl at the beginging of the year and they did not help.
Is there anything else you could advise? I do see a great colorectal surgeon, but I am starting to question all of this
 
DJW

DJW

Forum Monitor
I've used the Epsom salts in the past. Try a bit to start and see how it feels.
Abscesses are awful to deal with...especially when they are recurring. When was your last MRI? I'd want to know if there are any more fistuleas.

The only advice I can give is keep it clean and give the doctor a call.

I hope you get relief. I battled them for years.

Dave.
 
Hunt

Hunt

When I had my abscess I found that really hot baths numbed it but it's so uncomfortable. Mines was in between my leg and bum so constant friction made it impossible to walk and sit, eventually it burst and was probably the best feeling I've had lol.
 
needrelief

needrelief

Hunt,

Did you ever have more than one? What test did they do to diagnose you with Crohns?

They keep mentioning that to me but have never tested me for it. I dont have anyone in my family that has it.

Thank you all for responding to this, this is really helping me out!:)
 
Hunt

Hunt

needrelief said:
Hunt,

Did you ever have more than one? What test did they do to diagnose you with Crohns?

They keep mentioning that to me but have never tested me for it. I dont have anyone in my family that has it.

Thank you all for responding to this, this is really helping me out!:)
Click to expand...
I've only ever had one which was followed with a skin infection which gave them the idea I may have crohns. After that I was booked to see a specialist in which he proposed a colonoscopy to solidify my diagnosis. Between my colonoscopy and MRI scan I was diagnosed with crohns.
 
DJW

DJW

Forum Monitor
I was diagnosed on my first visit to the Pediatric GI specialist. He did a sigmoidoscopy. All other tests confirmed the scope. Btw: I didn't start with pain and blood. I lost about 40 pounds in a month.
 
needrelief

needrelief

I just had my fistula repaired three weeks ago. I went back to the colo-rectal surgeon yesterday, and he said that I have an absess forming, he drained it in the office and said it should continue to drain. He did his exam and said he did feel some very hard tissue. He told me to keep an eye on it and come back in a month. Now I am feeling a lot of pressure and pain! I am just tired of having one surgery after the other! Should I get a second opinion or just wait??
 
DJW

DJW

Forum Monitor
Ah, I feel for you. I wish I had some brilliant words of wisdom for you.

If you are feeling a lot of pain you should probably see a doctor (current doc or one for a second opinion).

You might want to bring up biological drugs such as Humira or Remicade. I've heard they help fistula healing in some people. It may also get you out of this terrible cycle.

Have you been diagnosed with crohns or colitis?
 
B

BostonWolf

DJW said:
You might want to bring up biological drugs such as Humira or Remicade. I've heard they help fistula healing in some people.
Click to expand...
However, you cannot use biologicals while you have an active abscess as those suppress the immune system and lower your resistance to infections. the abscess has to be dealt with first and only after that the biologicals could be used.
 
DJW

DJW

Forum Monitor
BostonWolf said:
However, you cannot use biologicals while you have an active abscess as those suppress the immune system and lower your resistance to infections. the abscess has to be dealt with first and only after that the biologicals could be used.
Click to expand...
Good to know. I haven't started remicade yet.

Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top