Hi!! I am new to the board. I have been having a problem that has been getting worse. I thought that I was getting hemhroids(sorry if I spelled that wrong). It is an outside one and always in the same spot. It would get more and more painful until finally it would burst. There would be some blood mixed in with somewhat clear liquid. Everytime I would get it it would be more painful. The last time it was the worst pain I think I have ever experienced. When it finally burst there was some blood and I believe #2. Throughout all of this I have seen doctors and they always said it was hemhroids. The last time I was referred to I believe a gastro guy. He is a guy that specializes in the rump area. He said he thinks I have a rectal fistula. He gave me a colonoscopy and everything checked out ok. Because my colon was fine he said that I don't have a fistula. He basically is not sure what I have so I should wait until the next one and get back to him. I read up a little on fistulas and they can form from the intestine to the skin too. Is that correct? Would he have noticed that with the colonoscopy? When it burst it sure seemed like a hole or something. I just don't want to experience this again because like I said it gets worse everytime. I can't sleep, walk, etc.. when I have one. Does anyone have a clue what this might be? By the way, I am 38.

It does sound like a fistula to me. I have had them and they have also been called perianal abscesses. I don't know how you managed to live with them until they burst. I know how painful they can be. It is possible to treat them with antibiotics and is safer to do this, or get them drained surgically, as the infection can get into your blood stream. Next time you feel the signs of one coming, go straight to your doctor. If you can't, take plenty of very hot baths as this may help to ease the pain.

Thanks for your reply! Is there a certain type of doctor I should go to for this?

I agree with what RebbieO said. I've had a colo-vaginal fistula and it was not fun. It sounds like yours opens and closes so if it was closed when he did the colonoscopy he wouldn't find it and yes they can form between the bowel and the skin. Is yours closing without any meds or treatments? If so I think that would be odd for a fistula. I believe you are already seeing a gastroenterologist aren't you? That is the right type of doctor for intestinal problems. Good luck with everything.

That is what I had. Always in the same spot b/c the fistula was never treated properly.

For me, these problems started out as a peri-anal abscess (which is an infection in the anal area). Then what happened in the abscess grows little tunnels or "tracts" and (I think) the tunnels have the infection in them and have to be cut open.

I think it must just be an abscess b/c like I said it is an infection. Once the infection goes away, so does the pain. Though I don't see how they just go away on their own w/o antibiotics.

Go see the gastro Dr. like they suggested or go to an colon/rectal specialist/surgeon for a 2nd opinion.

Thank you for the reply! After the last rough episode when it burst, for a couple weeks it hurt a little and would give a little liquid/blood mixture. Now it seems to be closed but I have a little bump with occasional stab of pain. That kind of worries me because if it is like other times it is slowly building up for the very painful burst again. The doc told me to come back when that happens so either I wait or go to a different one. I was doing a little research on this and it said that fistulas can be formed by an injury or surgery. Is that true? If so I wonder if this is all connected somehow to a hernia I had about 5 years ago. When I have to go #2 a lot of times I get real nasty cramping right where I had the hernia. Who knows.

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Either way you have to get surgery. Either they can put a seton in it and drain it or they have to do a fistulotomy (they have to cut open the tract). Good luck.

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Not sure what you mean by complications. I had to be put under anesthesia. I don't know much about the seton thing (which is a safer alternative, but couldn't be used for me and a lot of people, depending how bad it is). With the fistulotomy if they cut you too much you can lose control of your bowels. Also if you have it done too often (like me) there is a risk of that happening if I decide to have children. Not sure if you are m or f though.
Just talk it over with your DR and do lots of research on Web MD, etc.

It is really starting to get bad again. A lump and a pain that is getting a little worse each day. The doctor I went to last time who seemed a little clueless to what it is is listed in Gastroenterology. Is that the correct type of doctor to go to or should I go to someone else?

I think you need to see a Colorectal surgeon!!

Thanks Harry!

I have a friend who had the "worst fistula" a reknown surgeon in our area has ever seen.

Pretty much the only way to diagnose it is through exploratory surgery. They found a huge tract of infection running like a river through him. They had to do a lot of surgeries to clean him up.

I'd like to say that it's an easy problem to fix but it's taken him 4 years to completely be healed up.

At the beginning of his ordeal, I think he went to a proctologist and he diagnosed the problem. They didn't realize how bad it was until they were in surgery.

Please go get some help from a reputable specialist/surgeon. I've found that I have to take my own health in my hands and MAKE the dr's do what I want them to. If they don't, I'll go somewhere else. This is YOUR body and it's inhumane for them to make you live w/ such pain.

God Bless and hang in there as best as possible.

Thanks for the reply! There isn't a Colorectal Surgeon that I could find in the area so at 4pm I am going back to the Gastro guy. Is there anything special I should say to him? Last night I took two codine and still slept very little. I stayed home from work today. It is now pretty big and is kind of red and brown with almost like a whitish scab in the middle. Sorry if I am being to graphic.

I really think you should try going to a proctologist. They specialist in the rectum and anus. Tell them that you need to get in asap b/c you're in horrible pain and having an intense flare up. Be adamant that you want the dr to see you while you're having a flare up.

I think you're really going to need to have surgery to diagnose this problem. Rectum surgery is a delicate business so make sure find a really good surgeon.

I went to the doc today at 4PM. He cut it and drained it. I don't know if normally they give you anything to numb it first but I didn't get it. I think I am pretty good at handling pain but this really hurt. Especially when he was pushing and squeezing it. He took a sample of the liquid to be tested. He now thinks that I have a Pilonidal or Seraceous Cyst. He is making an appointment for me to see a surgeon. If anybody else is having a problem similar to this. Pilonidal Cyst seems pretty dead on to what have been experiencing. Who knows.

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Sorry that you had to go through so much pain. I think it wouldn't of killed the doc to give you a local for pain.

Make sure you post when the results come back from the lab.

I see the surgeon tomorrow at 4:15. Anybody have any advice on what to ask? The nurse on the phone said that they have free time so they might work on it(not sure what that includes) right away.

The surgeon said that I have a Pilonidal Cyst and scheduled the surgery for Tuesday Nov.21. He couldn't believe the run around I got with the other doctors. I told about what that idiot other doctor did and he actually got mad. He asked if the other doc put me on antibiotics and I said no. He just shook his head. I am now on them. He thinks that it might be small enough to be able stitch it up and not have to leave the incision open. That sounds good to me. I have been reading up on this. Anybody have any experience with this?

I just had my surgery yesterday. The surgeon(who I would recomend to anyone) said that it was a little larger than he thought but everything went well. Thank god for pain meds!!

I am Glad to hear about your surgery and I wish you well !

God Bless---Harry

PS--Be careful all pain meds cause constpation!

I would like to know how successful you feel the surgery was. My stepdaughter has had one open for about a year now and the surgery seems to be our only option. I would like to hear from someone who has had the surgery to see if it would be worth the pain.

Hi!! Before I answer I want to make sure you are talking about a Pilonidal Cyst. That is what I had.