So I have read past posts, but felt I wanted to write my own... I apologize, it's a bit of a rant

I have chronic pouchitis as well as what is to be believed a recto-vaginal fistula. I went and had a contrast test done and after a few adjustments of me moving around on the table, and the tube, the liquid came out of the vagina, which was no surprise... I've had air and feces coming out on a daily basis, especially if I can't make it to a bathroom as soon as I feel the urge, it will come out in other ways... I have an appointment in August with my GI to discuss the results and options... I DO NOT want to lose my pouch. We did talk about it a bit prior to my testing and she said she was going to talk about possible options, or if it's best to leave it... I do get periodic yeast infections which OTC drugs help with.

Also, I am 33 and in a committed relationship and have been off birth control for over a year. We haven't been methodically trying, but would be happy if it happened... and I think if it's going to be, it will be... also figured why be on birth control if my chances are more difficult.

So with my chronic pouchitis and this rv fistula, I am scared to take any drugs... currently I am on 150mg of codeine contin. For the pouchitis I can get cipro when I feel I need it, but am scared to take it because of the "what if" I am or get pregnant and have taken these drugs... I also have entocort enemas to help with the pouchitis but am scared to take that because of the fisula and it going into the vaginal area and if that will cause problems... as well as the "what if" pregnancy thing...

I guess I have a lot to discuss with my GI, I can't wait for my appointment... Sorry for the long post, I think I just needed to get this off my chest as it is all weighing heavily on me.

oh my goodness, you are brave. i would be scared to try to get preggers with a rv fistula. i would want to get that figured out first i think. i'm dealing with an abscess which was draining out of my vagina but has stopped recently.
i hope you get some answers after talking with your GI and you are able to start a family soon. good luck!!

Hey LeAnnaNadine!

I also had a RV fistula and I did several things to make it go away- First, I started taking Manuka honey 16+ (Amazon.com) three tablespoons a day...It's a natural hardcore antibiotic that cleans out all the bacteria...I did that for 4 months or so until the fistula closed. While doing that I took 6 colostrum pills a day- Symbiotics (Amazon.com) was the brand I used. I also take Royal Jelly (Amazon.com) every morning and evening. During this time I followed (and still do follow) The specific carb diet. I know it's a hard diet but if you stick to it with the manuka honey --That fistula should close. I had a very large one...A lot of stuff was leaking out...It got to point where I couldn't go out in public. I think it's pretty much closed now...If it does reopen I don't notice it bc it's so small.

I think you should give what I have suggested a try. Don't let them take anymore intestine out of you!! I have a jpouch as well and they wanted to do surgery when this fistula opened...I said NO! There are alternative ways!

P.S --For everything to heal completely it took 6 months..but it did heal...

(P.S I still follow all the things I suggested to this day)-- I have backed off the Manuka honey though...That stuff is intense.

hello ..i have a recto vaginal fistula,,got an surgery 2 n half months back..but now also i have the symptoms of passing of stooles and gas..My Doctor said my fistula is 95% recoved and rest wil get fixed in som time..
.there is still a leakage but not much , it is as much as one spoon in whole day..i get worried whenever i see the leakage..are you still noticing a leakage,,Do you suggest an another surgery or is it fine, going with the symptoms( with cleaning the part with plain water ) ?
Please do reply..

Hi there! I am currently pregnant and I also have a RV Fistula. (Not to mention chronic pouchitis).

My surgeon thought it best that I had my children before getting the RVF fixed because it is such an invasive surgery and will add so much more scar tissue.

I was on Cipro long-term until finding out I was preggers. Then all the docs said Cipro was not a good choice during pregnancy and switched me to Keflex. (I tried nothing first for 2 weeks, and am paying for it - pouchitis is bad right now). Keflex is a catagory B in Preg.

This is my second pregnancy. My first was in 2006 and when I was 9 wks pregnant they removed my colon. After having a beautiful and healthy baby girl I opted for jpouch surgery. Can't say I enjoy pouchitis, but as long as I'm on some type of med and probiotics it seems to stay very mild.

So this is my first pregnancy with the jpouch so I'm learing as I go. I was also on Lortabs daily since 2007 for chronic pain and having to stop those cold turkey has been extremely hard. Reg. tyleno does nothing to touch my pain. I get through because I've been trying to get pregnant for 3 years and it's finally happened.

I'll try to keep posting updates!

Oh Keebz, thank you so much for your reply! And congrats!

I'm 33 and haven't been on birth control for over a year now... If it happens that would be great... But it also scares me so much. How do you do it with having pouchitis and the symptoms and manage a family? I get so tired I can barely manage my puppy, nevermind a baby! That's I think what scares me the most, my energy level at times. And being on meds... I take codeine and cipro when needed. I just finished a course and here's always that concern...

This fistula makes me crazy but if I have to live with it, so be it... I see my dr in a few days so I'll see what she has to say...

Thanks for everyone's response! And yes, keep me updated!

I know the Cipro is a big worry - it was for me too. If you need to be on meds for pouchitis, I'd ask your doc if you can be on Keflex. I've gotten 5 doses in of it now and (crossing fingers) I think my pouchitis symptoms are lessening slightly. My doc only gave me a 30 day supply and then wants me to switch to Pentasa and see if that can get me through the rest of the pregnancy so I'm not sure if Keflex is a good "long-term" med but the hope is that it pulls you out of acute pouchitis attacks.

And yes, It's super hard somedays for me. I'm lucky enough that I live 5 minutes from my parents and so they are extremely supportive and if I need to I can take my daughter over there and lay down. When I was taking the Lortabs, I was doing really well most days, but there were some days I just needed the extra rest. I guess in a way my daughter is what keeps me going. If not for her, I probably wouldn't get out of bed in the mornings! And like I said, with the pouchitis, if I keep it under control it's really not an issue - when I'm on Cipro I only get slight attacks. It was just being off of it for 2 weeks, while preggers (and the hormones goin nuts) my body just couldn't take it and so the pouchitis flared. Hoping to have it back under control soon

Good luck to you! Let me know what your doctor says!