Last January I had a vaginal cyst removed that was connected to my bartholin gland, (they removed that too.) Now the original cyst is back. I have also had a wierd discharge almost constantly since January. It is enough that I have to wear several pads everyday. The discharge is usually yellow, but sometimes brown. I don't think it's stool. Could this be a fistula? Or is it really obvious that it is stool coming out?

Cataja, sorry for the problems you're having. When my fistula first started I didn't think it was stool either, more like the tail end of a period, you know when the discharge is more watery brown than red. I actually thought I had a period that was neverending and went to see a gyno about it. I think what it is is the fluid part of watery stool and the fistula is too narrow for solids to come through. Gross I know. I'm going on Thursday this week for a fistula plug, so hopefully it'll work.
Best of luck, Elaine

Well there is a way you could tell if it's stool or not simply by smelling the pad. I know it's gross but stool smells different from blood from your period or discharge from a yeast infection.

It could be a yeast infection though and those can be terribly painful to deal with. You should have your doc take a look and maybe do a swipe and see if there is yeast. If there is, get on a topical cream as well as some diflucan and hopefully that will clear up.

You've been on a lot of antibiotics for your pouchitis right? My guess is that it's yeast. I get a yeast infection EVERY time I take antibiotics.

If you could treat that it would be one less thing you have to worry about...

Hi Cataja,
I think you remember me. I had a bartholin abscess also, then gas is coming but no stool and discharge.. One month ago stool has come unfortunately. There is a fistula now between my rectum about 4 cm up to anus through bartholin gland not to my vagina and its diameter is 1 mm. I was happy because drs said that it is a simple one and can be cured by a simple surgery. But yesterday I went to my surgeon and showed the datas and he said it is a complicated one because it is in your pouch. The rectum is only 2 or 3 cm but yours is on the 4th cm and it is not a simple one. You can live with it and if it gets larger we have to do a redo surgery. I am so upset about it. There is no ulcers or inflammation in my pouch. I don't know how it occured. I am really so said. I don't know if yours is a fistula or not bet if you have gas it is definetly a fistula. My surgeon look the exact place of it under anaesthesia. My advice is to be looked yours under anaesthesia. You can be sure only by this way I think..
By the way any suggestion for my situation???

I would think that if it is a fistula, you would be passing air as well. I think that's how it starts for most.

My vaginal fistula started out as discharge, but quickly turned to passage of stool with residue in it. Yikes! I freaked! The doc ordered tests (x-rays with dyes) but no fistula could be located. I was amazed that so much stool passed through and that they couldn't locate the hole. But we decided to try Cipro, and it worked. I have had no fistula symptoms since (knock HARD on wood!) and have been taking Cipro 500-1000mg/day since June 2006.

Thanks everyone for your responses. My gyno wants to go back in and look at it while I am fast asleep. I'm begining to think the yellow discharge is bile. It seems too dark to be urine. I smelled the pad and it was baby fresh, I think I must have had scented pads. But maybe not...maybe I am baby fresh!

I have thought there has been air coming from the outside cyst at different times, but then I thought I was just crazy.

Sorry to hear you all have had problems too.

Laludy...sorry to hear your diagnosis. I know you were so worried it was a fistula. Let us know how the plug works out for you.