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Hi j pouchers with (or have had) fistulas. I have a fistula that hasn't been too horrible but is still very annoying. I've had it something like 10 years now and I've done the glue, a plug, and now a seton stitch. My surgeon recommended remicade as basically the only thing that might get rid of a fistula when I asked for the seton. I was afraid to try remicade at the time because I had an infant daughter starting daycare and coming home with a million diseases and I've known people who had severe side effects. Has anyone gone this route? What was the protocol like? Was it successful? I am feeling under pressure to get the treatment soon because my health insurance is probably the best it will ever be right now and I don't think I could afford the treatment without excellent coverage (yaay America). 

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...con't

I've been living with a post op fistula for 15 years, dr does not want to attempt repair due to high failure rate and also it's too close to anistomosis site. I take a large amount of Metamucil (store brand is fine) throughout the day and also probiotics. My stool is formed so nothing seeps through, including gas. Good luck.

Yeah I haven't had to do meds for my fistula and I very rarely have stool leakage though it (only if I am sick for a while with diarrhea). Its more the constant discomfort and the location. I believe my fistula starts at the anastomosis site but it exits close to my vagina. Despite being a fairly mild fistula by fistula standards it has really killed my sex life. Even when its not seriously inflamed, sex is uncomfortable as is riding a bike and other activities that put pressure on that area. I've read a few papers that indicate a single track fistula that exits outside the vagina has a >70% cure rate with Remicade.... I am just seriously scared of the stuff because I had a friend have a bad reaction to it and I studied immunology and know what suppressing the immune system can lead to.

 

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