Has anyone developed fistulas and been told it was a post op complication and not crohns? I had my take down in Dec 2005 but just had a very bad bout of something...either pouchitis or else they say it may be crohns in the pouch because there may be fistulas but they couldn't tell since it was so inflamed. I was diagnosed with UC, had all the blood work and pathology done on the colon and it pointed to UC. Now, I just got married and all of a sudden I am back on steriods. I hate it. Does anyone ever feel like there must be some sort of food that we do not tolerate well that exacerbates all of this?

Not all fistulas are due to Crohn's. They happen all the time as a consequence of the trauma of surgery or childbirth, so you just cannot assume that it's Crohn's. If you have other signs, such as significant perianal disease or small bowel involvement, then that will point more to Crohn's.

Jan

Thanks for the input...I am not sure if it is pouchitis or Crohns...I just had a really bad flare of something...I had really bad pain in my back and abdomen and 103 degree fevers. My WBC count was up and my lypmh nodes enlarged which, to me, is more indicitive of an infection...pouchitis I hope. But, the inflammation was bad and that is why I am stuck on the prednisone. I hate everything about it. I would rather be sick than deal with the side effects of prednisone. It really does a number on me mentally when I don't even recognize myself in the mirror. Plus I am so moody. It is ridiculous. I am seeing a doc at Mayo who seems to be really good. I have to have some more tests.

Hi Valerie,
I was diagnosed with UC, tho w. a possibility of Crohn's. I've never had any reason to think I have Crohn's, and my dr.s (specialist, GP, & surgeon) all seem to think I'm solid UC, BUT I have a rectovag fistula that does not want to go away. The main cause of the fistula, as per dr.s opinions, is that a staple in the J-pouch got infected, and theinfection needed "somewhere to go" and because the jpouch sat against the vaginal wall (?!) the infection simply moved into the vaginal wall. It sucks. But there you go- don't automatically fear you have crohn's... And yes, I do think there are food culprits involved in this too. It stands to reason. i think they may take a back seat to other things, like stress, and like the obvious physiological stuff, but food must be an "exascerbater" is there is such a word. You could try cutting down to a real simple bland diet and adding things in slowly to see if things cause problems. I know that red meat and tomatoes cause me strife...

As per your second post, I had swollen lymph nodes in the area where the leg meets the body (does that have a name?)- kind of verging on bikini line area. This was a direct result of the beginning stages of the fistula.

I hear you on all the steroid symptoms. I know it sucks. But hang in there. Take care of yourself.