Another fistula question

My drainage is mostly yellow mucous as well, which, like yours, waxes and wanes in intensity.  I do detect a bit of stool from time-to-time, mostly when I'm "holding it" and/or have gas, but this is fairly rare.  And, I have cuffitis, which is treated with canasa and anusol suppositories.  Have had my fistula (which actually exits just outside the vag. opening) for 5+ years now, with a seton most of those years.   The seton is working fine and causes few problems.

I do believe that the Canasa suppositories may contribute to a lessening of the fistula drainage; however, I haven't been off them completely since the fistula appeared, so I can't say for sure.  Shen also put me on anusol in an attempt to thicken my stool and thus slow the drainage - 5 yrs ago, and I believe this did help.  I mostly use Canasa now, as at this point, I'm feeling it helps more with the cuffitis. 

Until you and your surgeon have a plan, it might be worth asking about being put on Canasa and/or anusol.  First, it should help your cuffitis, and second, you may be able to determine whether it slows down any drainage. 

Add me to your club. I've had the fistula for close to 9 years now I think. It is a true recto-vaginal fistula. I have never had a seton for it. And I never attempted a repair for fear of ending up with a different problem. 

I don't have true stool leaking from my vagina either, unless I am holding it for a long period. I was told the yellowish discharge is "small bowel output". So what I figure to be the juices flowing in the small intestine, but not actual stool. It certainly doesn't smell like stool (or roses ). 

It does help that I take Metamucil once a day to keep things thicker, and thus less leakage.

This fistula is NOT fun, but manageable since my 20 year old pouch is otherwise in pretty good shape. 

Crazy to think that there is another girl out there with the same weird problem as me. 

Take care,

C-jay

I think I could manage to just live with it if it didn't have such an impact on intimacy. 

Today I hit brick walls with my Salofalk (Canasa) suppository idea. The surgeon's office is closed until next week. My GP is on holidays and the physician at a walk in clinic denied me. He thought it was too strong a medicine to prescribe when he is not in the loop with my whole history, etc. I am disappointed but I can appreciate his decision - I respect it. 

I use psyllium regularly and it certainly helps with consistency. I read recently on a thread here about a doctor  suggesting pepto bismol for an rv fistula. Pepto is my go-to for increased frequency, urgency and looseness but am also questioning it as a long term solution. 

The idea of living with this fistula as it is behaving now is very very depressing. 

I am still a bit baffled with the 'small bowel output' - how it travels through but not stool (although when I did a bowel prep for a scan I was pretty sure it was indeed stool for a while as it was so loose). 

Thanks N/A and CJB. It's nice to know I'm not alone.