Hi, everyone. Just returned home from the checkup appointment with my surgeon. Some bit of good news: the lower fistula appears to have responded to the bowel rest and remicade, and seems to be healed. (We'll know for sure when he operates in two weeks). I'm really upset though, because he essentially confirmed my thoughts about it, which was that the GYN who did an exam under anesthesia on me while attempting to find my RV fistula back in September messed up and created that tract. I'm NOT happy about that and feel a letter coming on....
Anyway, back to the update. The RV fistula is not responding to the Remicade (which we kind of anticipated) so I am scheduled for a surgical repair on April 8th. However, intially he had told me he was going to do the repair trans-vaginally since I am already diverted with a temp ileo and it would be the quickest and least invasive route. After the exam today however, he isn't sure he can operate that way and may need to do a trans-perineal operation which would involve a much longer recovery time (about a month). He won't know which way he's going to perform the procedure until I'm opened up, so I'm a bit nervous, not about the surgery itself but the recovery. I tend to get in a very bad place mentally when I'm unable to go about my normal routine, and I dread that. So I'm not sure what I'll wake up to. My birthday is April 4th however, so I'm asking everyone to send me good wishes as a birthday gift. Maybe that will help.
Holding off on the next dose of Remicade (due April 7th), as it interferes with the healing process. If we can get these fistula issues resolved, I can probably cut down to one infusion every 8 weeks as maintenance, being that I seem to fall into that "indeterminate colitis" realm where I'm exhibiting symptoms of Crohns but it cannot be confirmed.
8 weeks after this surgery we'll do a dye study and exam under anesthesia to make certain all fistula issues are resolved, and then takedown will be scheduled for July.
Well, I'm off to the gym to take my mind off of things. Two weeks to go, the countdown is on!!!

Sending you early birthday wishes for minimal medical involvement to help resolve your ills and for a quick, simple and uneventful recovery.

Michele, everything is crossed and I'm sending prayers and good thoughts your way, for good results. You really have a great attitude and I hope all goes well and you can have takedown in July.

janna

Michelle, I'm only on the boards sporadically these days, but I just want to let you know that you are in my thoughts and I hope your upcoming surgery plan will work well. It's such a shame that our course didn't follow as it started - we had such similar tracks to begin with, but while my pouch is working well and I'm able to more or less forget that I have UC, you have had all these problems. I'm so sorry! Looking forward to hearing that you are truly on the mend. Hang in there!

Hi Michele,I wish you the best!! I go under May 6th for what most likely will be an end ileo. Maybe this year we can meet for lunch with the Philly gang!! Sending you well wishes,Ed

Thanks you guys! I really appreciate all the kind words. And yes, Ed, we'll have to get Bill and all go to lunch soon.