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Fistula Surgery

Fri, July 31, 2009 10:31 AM

In April & May 2009 I had my 3rd bowel resection surgery for Crohn's disease. I develoved a massive infection twice afterwards totaling 9 weeks in the hospital. After released, I developed another infection from a intestinal fistula. I currently have a JP drain (since June) to prevent another infection from the fistula. I will have the JP drain until October, which they will remove/repair fistula. They do not want to treat the fistula with medication due to infection risk. I am very upset that I have to wait another couple of months to get this fixed. My surgeon wants to wait 6 months from my last surgery to minimize the risk of adhesions etc. If anyone has experienced this or has words of wisdom, please share them. I am scared and frusturated and can only wait for the day when this chapter is over.

shern1982
Joined Jul 31, 2009

Tue, September 01, 2009 1:55 PM

Reply posted for juiceman.

I have had Remicade in the past for about a year (2004) and it worked great. My doctor would not give me Remicade again because of the risk of infecions as I have struggled with them in the past. I have had this fistula for the last 4 months and I am finally going to have surgery next Friday, September 11th. Wish me luck everyone!

shern1982
Joined Jul 31, 2009

Sat, August 29, 2009 12:00 AM

Reply posted for shern1982.

Have you tried Remicade?? If not, get on it now! talk to you doctor about it. I was diagnosed with CD in 2000 after presenting with anal fistulas. In hospital for 3 months, came out with a colostomy. Fistulas would not heal. I had numerous fistulotomy's and tried Imuran and antibiodics. I had the drains in too. I went on Remicade and literally within a few weeks I had tremendous results. continued on Remicade, fistulas totally healed up and I reversed the colostomy 2 1/2 years later. Feeling awesome now. I'm sceptical on the long term effects of Remicade, I'm afraid that they are not good. But I would do it again in a heart beat to heal the fistulas.

juiceman
Joined Dec 21, 2008

Fri, August 14, 2009 12:45 PM

Reply posted for shern1982.

I know your frustration, fistulas are very difficult to treat. I had anul fistulas. I had three surguries to get them to heel over a year and a half time period. And it never completely healed at the anus. Then I had my colon removed and an ileostomy. Now my anus is healing because there is no more waste coming out. Give the Doctors time to do there best.

ronkrson
Joined Aug 4, 2008

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