Can anyone tell me what the general symptoms of a pelvic abscess are? Also, what type of test(s) are ordered to diagnose? I was finally able to see two doctors and after one did a scope he indicated that my pouch appeared fine (no pouchitis) although I had a small amount of inflammation in my anus. He gave me a prescription for analpram, which made it so much worse. My symptoms are extreme pain after each bowel movement. So severe at times that I have to take a Lortab and immediately sit in a hot bathtub. I go from feeling perfectly fine to totally debilitating after my bathroom visit. I can hardly walk and the pain feels so deep, as though it is in my tail bone and now even travels down the front of my thighs. Any ideas anyone? The doctors seem clueless and have already mentioned going back to my old ostomy if this doesn't get better. I have not been able to work since my surgeries and need help, please. Thank you to all.

I had a pelvic abscess after my first surgery. I remember there was severe back pain . I really couldn't walk very quickly and couldn't go up a flight of stairs without laboring. Probably the most indicative symptom was the low grade fever I had for about a 10 days which burst into a high grade fever.

An abscess is easy to diagnose. There will be a high white blood cell count from a blood test. Then a CT Scan will show where the abscess would be.

I agree with Blowe. Get a blood test to see if there are any iondicators of infection, and get a CT scan. That's what revealed my abcess between step one and takedown. I'd had a fever ever since step 1 that noone seemed to be able to find the cause of. They finally discovered the abcess after months of misery. It was lurking behind my pouch. The pouch itself was fine. They thought that maybe the pouch had leaked in the early days after step one, then the hole/leak healed up but the abcess built up in the meantime. Whatever - it gave me terrible back ache, stomach pains and a fever, and generally made me feel awful. I'd actually had several CTs, but they didn't find the abcess till the 3rd or 4th CT. Don't know why it took them so long - hope you're luckier. Get well soon!

My pelvic abscess did not cause more pain with bowel movements. There was a constant ache that became severe while sitting, to the point of feeling like a hot iron was poking my tailbone. The other important symptom was fever. It started out as low grade for a few weeks, then spiked to 105. A CT could diagnose or rule it out.

What you describe sounds more like a fissure, but you would think that the doc would have seen this on scope and visual exam. It is like a paper cut in the anal canal that causes excruciatingly painful spasms of the sphincters during and/or after a bowel movement. The treatment is sitz baths and topical cream with anesthetic and medication to improve circulation, such as nitroglycerine or nifedipine.

Jan

I had a pelvic abcess after surgery and before take down surgery. I did great until post-op week 5. I was walking a mile per day (slowish). I started to feel general maliase, slight pain in my left side, worsening pain down my leg, very low grade temp. I actually thought I had a urinary tract infection from the foley cath. I started on Cirpo without much change in symptoms. CT scan found it and i had a drain put in under CT scan. Lots of antibiotics and it went away.
good luck.

Thank you everyone. As always, I am so grateful to all of your input. The last doctor I did see was kind and wonderful, thank goodness. However, he said other than the mild anal inflammation, he indicated he did not know why I felt the way I did. I wish I knew what it was so I could diligently try to treat it and see if I will have a successful pouch or need to decide on another option. My pain is totally absent in between bm's and I don't have the pain while going....but usually within 5-10 minutes afterward, I am totally engulfed in pain. Occassionally, I will wait and it will subside on it's own, but the majority of the time, I need Lortab and a hot bath. This is so very baffling. My family doctor did give me NG oitment and I used that for a while, but I didn't notice any difference. Would a fissure cause such intense pain to travel to the tailbone and thighs? Again, thanks for your time and patience with my questions. My love and prayers to all of you for your own health and the help and suggestions you always have for me.

It definitely sounds like spasms, and if fissure has been ruled out, what this sounds like is levator syndrome. This is a spasm of the levator ani muscle. There are various treatments, including antispasmotic/muscle relaxant medication, physical therapy, and even acupuncture.

http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/373.html

Jan

Thanks Jan and everyone else. Jan, it sure sounds like a possibility. I looked up the site you included and I sounds so much like what I am feeling. I never had this or anything like this prior to any of my surgeries. Can this be a by product of the surgery and the changes below?

quote:

I had a pelvic abcess after surgery and before take down surgery. I did great until post-op week 5. I was walking a mile per day (slowish). I started to feel general maliase, slight pain in my left side, worsening pain down my leg, very low grade temp. I actually thought I had a urinary tract infection from the foley cath. I started on Cirpo without much change in symptoms. CT scan found it and i had a drain put in under CT scan. Lots of antibiotics and it went away.
good luck.

I had my one step Feb, 28th and what you discribe is exactly what happened to me after day 7 I was released from the hospital day 5 and back in the hospital day 7 for another 7 days, drain under a CT is not any fun...but I'm doing great now and only having 2 to 3 BM's a day without a colon..