DRAT

Sorry to hear this Rachel. Doing sitz baths I hope. Seems like the outside always heals before the inside.

Jan

Always. Oh well, I had two weeks of feeling normal. And yep. Sitz baths and compresses.

That really sucks Rachel. I wonder about fistulas...why does mine never close? I never had a seton. Is it dependant on the type (RV as opposed to perianal)? Will you have to have a seton always? I just presumed that they all grew cells in the tract that prevented them from closing up, like my earring hole analogy. Or is your problem, as Jan mentioned that it is just healing from the wrong opening?

In any case, I am almost as sad for you as you are for yourself, because I really know what it is like to live with one.

Is there hope that it can still heal, and this is just a minor setback? I hope so.

Otherwise are you feeling good?

Take care,
C-jay

Things were a lot better today, but not back to last week's awesome.

Overall, I feel ok, though.

Not sure what to do. Going to talk to them, since things aren't awful awful right now, and see how the week goes.

Probably yours doesn't close b/c it's from mucosa to mucosa, where mine is mucosa to skin. It's the skin part that heals up, since it's not "part" of the fistula tract per se.

That's where my pain is. Never on the inside.

My original surgeon told me he had fistula patients who would keep the outside hole of their fistula open by poking it open daily (he mentioned the use of a q-tip). I've also heard of others doing this (on-line fistula support groups). Due to the location of my fistula, I really didn't want to try this, but I'm wondering if it would work if the fistula exits through the skin, as you noted.

Maybe ask your doctor about it as an alternative to the seton?

I've read that too, and thought about it.

Have an appt for 12/2 for EUA unless things get or stay ok. Today, it barely hurts.

Sorry for this bump in the road, RR. Hoping it is just a bump, and that since you have seen some improvement since the original discomfort, that is a good sign?

Also, glad you are feeling at least a little better, emotionally, for now. The roller coaster sucks! I've been doing SO GOOD until a month ago when I developed this thrush I CANNOT get rid of, and so now, we are systematically dropping my meds to try to get it to clear up. I am SO WORRIED if I have to go off the immune suppressants that this will lead to a pouchitis flare that I will never get under control again, but I am also trying so hard not to borrow trouble, stay hopeful, and take things one day at a time. Harder than it seems like it should be...

Hang in there. Fingers crossed for you-

He can't do EUA 12/2... So maybe 12/4 or 12/10. However things simmered way down today. I don't know what to do?!