Update Time (Unfortunate Seeper)

[The Unfortunate Seeper]

Hi everyone,

I posted a few weeks back about my fistula, just wanted to bring things up to date. I kept taking the Flagyl and had an appt with my GI last tuesday, and he said the fistula looked pretty quiet and that I should keep taking flagyl and call the surgeon to postpone the plug/flap surgery. I liked his way of thinking, naturally.

But, of course, a day after I saw him, the thing started pooching up and got uncomfortable again, and then finally a day or so later popped it's little blob of pus and blood just for me...

You know what, enough is enough. Tired of the pain, tired of waiting for it to heal on it's own. I am going in for the scheduled surgery tomorrow at 9 am, and I am gonna let this new surgeon (Sergio Cassillas, cool name) take a crack at this thing. It is either gonna save me, or it is really really going to destroy my life completely. I like my chances!

Hope everyone is doing ok, I will check back in as soon as I can with a report on my 2nd fistula surgery. Now, where is that Fleet enema.... hmmmm.....:ylol2:

 

[annak87]

Hi! So sorry to hear about your fistula issues. I'm dealing with a similar situation too. So much fun, right? I was just wondering, how long have you been on the Flagyl? I finished a second 2 week round of cipro and flagyl a little over a week ago and have started to have more pain again. Trying to decide if I should wait it out or call the surgeon and ask for more antibiotics.

Good luck with seeking a new surgeon. New eyes, while it never seems to get less embarrassing, seeing the area might be just what you need! Let us know what they think.

 

[beth]

Perianal fistulae are so much fun eh! and the surgeons seem to regard a fix in 6 months very good going. Ugh.
Good luck with the surgery.

 

[Lisa]

ha...mine kept me going for almost 2 YEARS.....with my fistulas.....was able to avoid surgery by starting remicade....thankfully - especially after hearing all the stories about things coming back ro not healing after surgery....

 

[The Unfortunate Seeper]

Well he went in there.... I am still very sore, just got out of bed finally....

He found NO internal opening into my rectum. Apparently, the first surgery has healed the inner part of the fistula, but not the outer part? Judging from the pain, he left no stone unturned in his search. Ow.

So, he cut open the outer part, the "flat scar" left from the original fistulotomy, and cleaned what he called "debris and scar tissue" out of the tract, and then packed it with gauze packing - which we suddenly can't find anywhere after my shower today!


So, in effect, he went in there expecting to find an inside opening, put in a fistula plug followed by sewing a flap over it - and ended up cleaning the outer cavity out and packing it, much like they treat an abcess. No antibiotics prescribed, but I still have Flagyl and I'm going to keep taking it. The pain fluctuates between moderate and severe - bowel movements.... are.... difficult... also, my hips and legs feel like they have been run over by a truck.

In answer to someone else's question, I have been taking the flagyl for about two months, it seems to help but I opted for the second surgery because it just didn't seem like it (Flagyl) could ever totally fix my fistula.


Good luck to everyone, I gotta go lay down for awhile.

 

[Nica]

I hope you start to feel better and this surgery is the answer that makes your life so much better. Good Luck, feel better!

 

[annak87]

Ugh! That surgery sounds pretty intense. I had packing once and after that I refuse to ever deal with it again. You're definitely in my thoughts right now. Hopefully this surgery will help you totally heal up this time! Keep us updated!