Hi all, I am happy to report that I haven't posted for quite some time because I have been doing quite well. But recently my rectal cuff hurts so much I am currently typing this on my knees at work because I can't sit. This really started to hurt since Sunday but was definately building since last week. I have been using some suppositories that have steriods in them and have been not eating much since yesterday. Trying to give it a break, not sure if that is doing anything though. I always take probioitcs regularly. If anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful. I have a doctors appt tomorrow which I am considering trying to get squeezed in today.
Thanks,
Sonja

Are you sure that it is your rectal cuff and not a fissure? I've had chronic cuffitis since 1995 and I have no problem sitting when I flare. My main symptoms are bleeding, urgency, diarrhea, and sensation of incomplete emptying. There can be some feeling of fullness and a throbbing sensation, but not pain that prevents me from sitting.

Jan

That's how my abscess started........get someone to take a look and see what's going on.

Jan, what's a fissure? If my symptoms don't fit cuffitis and besides a fissure what are the other possibilities? My Mom seems to think I could have an infection but I don't agree with her. She also thinks I should be contacting my surgeon but I would like to give it a couple of days. Any advise is greatly appreciated. The other post mentions an abscess. Since I have had my pouch for over a decade could I still get that?
Thanks ever so much, Sonja

A fissure is a break in the skin inside the anal canal. You can get severe spasms of the sphincters from this and there is severe pain with passage of stool.

When I had a presacral pelvic abscess, I did have problems sitting, with rectal and tailbone pain that became steadily worse. I also had a low grade fever that remained fairly low for about a month, then spiked to 105F (40.6C). The abscess contained about 500cc and was due to a leak at the pouch connection. This was within the first month of my surgery.

Jan

My understanding is to keep doing what I am doing. I am using the proctosone suppositories and I now have some cream too. I am eating less, less in is less out. I have some pain meds as well. And sitz baths, other than that wait for it to pass?

My surgery was 3 years ago. The surgeon was surprised that it took that long for an abscess to show up, but it does happen. It has since developed a fistula, so I'm just waiting for a date for a pouch advancement surgery. It all developed fairly quickly After a week I was in the hospital on iv cipro and had to stay for 4 nights. Keep your eye on things.

Elaine,
Always nice to meet another Canadian!! What were/are your symptoms from the abscess? I just have pain right in the rectum and nowhere else. I definatley hurts when I sit but it also sometimes hurts standing, laying, etc you get the idea. I hope you are better soon, thanks for the advise.