I had my perm ileostomy in June of 2009 and I really thought I would be feeling alot better and stronger by now. I still have really bad days with upset stomach, weakness, headaches, and just overall feeling bad. I have seen a psychatrist, psychologist, gynocologist and several other docs trying to figure out what is wrong. I got a pelvic abscess from the surgery which has been drained twice (horrible) and now have an abscess/vaginal fistula with lots of drainage (using 3-4 overnight pads per day)coming from vagina and pressure in lower abdominal area and feel like I need to have a BM several times a day. If I can get some drainage out through the anal area the feeling goes away for a while but conts to come back. Doctor put me on Cipro but it just makes me even sicker at my stomach and I am putting it on my allergy list. Do you think the abscess could be making me feel so bad? I have an appt with a new GI on the 8th and am afraid they are going to want to do another surgery. They did not take the rectum out because the surgeon said they may be able to make another pouch later. I do not want another pouch but they did not talk to me about that and I assumed they would remove everything. I guess my main question is does anyone have experience with a continued abscess and could that be the main reason I cont to feel so bad? Ostomy is working fine and we are beginning to make friends with each other but I still resent the fact of feeling so bad. Guess I had too high of hopes for after the surgery. I am getting very upset and depressed over not feeling better and being able to have a normal life. Don't know how much more of this I can take.
Thanks for any input.
Janita

I'm not really sure what the cause of your discomfort could be. It certainly could be the abscess. If it still is harboring infection, it could give you the general feeling of upset stomach, muscule aches and fatigue. Not sure about headaches, but don't see a reason why not.

I had a pelvic abcess after my surgery and had to have it drained. That was absolutely awful. Being that an abcess is an infection, if it's still going on inside you, then that could definately be why you feel so sick. Hope you can get it resolved soon.

Thanks for the responses. Just an update. I went to a new GI on Friday and am scheduled for an MRI on the 18th and doctor says I will probably have to have another surgery to clean out all the tissue (anal canal and whatever else)clean out abscess and repair fistula within the next 3 months. Says it is a rough surgery but I am much healthier than I was for last surgery and should not need as much done this time as when I had J-pouch resection and ostomy placed. Maybe I will actually only need 6 weeks recoup this time. Has anyone had this? Is it as uncomfortable as it sounds to have your bottom sown shut?
Janita