AAAGH....I think I may be having a recurrence of the fistula...Are there any women among us who have had a repeat vaginal fistula after pouch removal????

Not at all sure where it would be coming from: the other was recto-vaginal, and I have no rectum, no colon, and only 12 ' of small bowel left - not much in there to cause problems. Nonetheless, I'm having vaginal discharge that continues to darken, burning, and today a slight bit of bright red bleeding. Help!! This looks just like the start of the last round. I also feel a little bit full at what would be the anal opening if I weren't a Barbie Butt. That feeling is fleeting, but I haven't had it since the week after my perm. ostomy surgery last July.

My primary care doc said to call the ob/gyn, and he is cramming his schedule to go on vacation. The earliest appt. is this coming Wednesday. I can call my primary back, but other than the patient, I've found no one thinks fistulas are an emergency since they can be so difficult to treat. I'll see my doc socially Sun. and just check in...I hate going into the weekend feeling like this and expecting things to rip loose at any time.

Any other advice? Anyone else out there with experience?

Thanks in advance. I'll cross post to the ostomy forum, too.

Barbara

Hi Barbara,

I've answered your post in the stoma forum.

Luv & hugs

Shell

Barbara, i cant imagine what you are going through but my r/v fistula just opened after 18 months of remicade. my gi didnt seem too concerned and just recommended higher doses of remicade but since i actually closed my fistula with remicade i thought it was a pretty good thing...also it took me many calls to get the emergency remicade scheduled because each day with the fistula open is not a good one (if you know what i mean) please let me know if there is anything i can do

Barb, how are you doing? is it definately a fistula? been thinking about you. unfortunately the r.v ones are the worst. let us know if you need anything.

Kim, check out the same post in the Ostomy and Skin forum as Barbara has answered there.

Shell