Rectal Vaginal Fistula

So sorry.



I got it repaired 4 months after delivering the baby. I went to a urogyn as my obgyn recommended them. I debated going to a colo-rectal but for some reason went ahead with a urogyn.



Here is what I did to stay clean



-> Use squirt bottle after pooping.Spitz bath will help as well



-> Was recommended to go through internal physical therapy for strengthening the muscles and went through it. It was very helpful as it tones your muscles and will aid in healing post surgery



-> was recommended to be on low residue diet so you do not strain the area. I did not start before surgery and wish I had. It was difficult to get used to it immediately following the surgery. I am East Indian and vegetarian. It was difficult to adapt the list I had been given to my needs. So my advice is to start getting used to the diet a bit ahead





Post Surgery

=========



-> squirt bottle and sitz bath as many times as possible.

-> do not use WIPES

-> I did not climb even the 5 steps I have in our house for 2 weeks.

-> I did not drive for 4 weeks

-> did not lift the baby or even hold her for 12 weeks



Doctor had said I can drive, climb and hold the baby. I was conservative as the first time is when you have a high chance of success



-> I was on low residue diet for 12 weeks

-> I tool peri-coalesce for almost 4 months



-> I started going through physical therapy after 12 weeks and I am still going through it





So far so good. I haven't begun intercourse yet even though doctor said it is okay. I am being selfish as my health is more important to me.



My recommendation is to be over cautious and multiply whatever your doctor says by 3 times





Good Luck !!



Let me know if you need some more info or moral support

My sympathy goes out to all of you who have had the misfortune of dealing with this. I waited nine years to try to get pregnant, enjoying my life and my freedom to travel and work at a job I loved. Dealing with postpartum readjustment is difficult enough but then to have had a tramautic birth that leaves my body forever changed is almost too much. I had my son at home with a midwife and had a 4th degree tear however she did not look close enough to know that at the time (she just told me I had really bad hemmorids--reallly?? I thought--when actually I had torn my anal spincter because I was told to "push like you're pushing out a big bowel movement". Not true. Don't ever push like that. That was wrong information). So, I waited 2 months untill everything was healed and then went in for surgery by an OB--at the time I didn't know enough to go to a colo-rectal dr.--she said she could fix it but now six months out I still have inability to control my gas and if my stool is soft it will pass thru my vagina. The thought of ever going thru childbirth again about makes me sick to my stomach. But I'm also scared to have spinal anasthesia, a c-section and that whole bit. Although I love my son I still struggle with the question of if it was worth it to bring another life into the world at the cost of ruining my own.

I have had my RVF for over 11 years. My story is same as all of yours...big baby, big tear with post infection, denying OBGyns. I dont get infections, just cant control the gas coming out. Humiliating to say the least. I eat beano and try to strengthen my muscles down there. Of all the things in this world to have, I cant believe we have THIS! And I have told NO ONE for 11 years!

Has any one sued an OBGYN over this?

Hi, everyone. I've had an RVF for about a year now which developed from a vaginal fistula which developed from a Bartholin gland cyst. To date I've had 3 vaginal surgeries, one from my reg. gyne, and two from a urogyne, and the last two rectal/vaginal from my colorectal surgeon. My RVF is 3.5 cm long which is very strange. Since it was so long the c/r surgeon said he could try the new collagen plug. He said the fistula needs to be at least 3 cm long or it won’t work. He gave me a 50-50% chance, same as those with just a rectal fistula. The plug fell out after the first surgery, and he tried it again in Aug. It doesn’t look if it’s closing. He said there is some history of the fistulas healing by 6 months and I’m about 3 weeks away from that. He wants to do a mucosal flap repair next, “extremely painful” he said. He’s got an 80% chance of success with that, and 0-3% chance of incontinence. He’s absolutely fantastic, was trained at Mayo, as was my urogyne, but my body is very stubborn. I’m considering living with the draining seton for the rest of my life. I do have both gas and feces coming from my vagina, but it seems like the more I do surgically, the worse off I am. Is anyone living with a seton? My pain is rare, and tolerable. I had to have the seton in for two months before the surgery and it wasn’t the end of the world. But I’m also not married and having intercourse. I’m not sure if it’s safe to have a baby with this either. I’m 36.

From what I’ve read, Cipro/remicade is only used for those who have fistulas from Crohn’s. My doc said drugs won’t work for me. If anyone needs to find a good colorectal surgeon, maybe my doc can help you find one if you’re not in the Chicago area. His name is John J. Park and his number is 847-518-9900. It’s a good thing my fistula wasn’t a RVF when my urogyne tried to fix it. Park said with my type of fistula I’d for sure be completely incontinent since it involves so much sphincter muscle. While both the urogyne and c/r surgeon are trained to repair the RVFs, I’ve read make sure you go to see a c/r surgeon to fix it. There’s so much more muscle involved on the rectal side—you don’t want to mess with that. Praise God at least I have options and am getting more educated. Further surgery just doesn’t seem like the best idea since I can live with these symptoms as distressing as they are. If I became incontinent I don’t know what I’d do. I have up to 3-4 bms a day anyway. I think I’m going to wait. Any comments?

Hi my fistula was 2.8 cm the only way the dr said it could be fixed and never come back agin is by cleaning the tissue in the OR a few times a day before closing it up I was in the hospital for 2 weeks and 3 times a day I went under to get hard cleaning. Once the tissue looked like bran new then she cloed it up. If the tissue is not healthy then it will break down and the fistula will come back. It has been 2 years now and everything ok.

Well, my post will probably not make anyone feel alot better.
My one and only childbirth was 27 years ago. I realized I had a RVF right away. My doctor said that it would heal on its own and it did in about 1 years time. It left me with a small degree of rectal prolapse where the R-V wall was weakened. Fast forward 20 years and I had a hysterectomy for other reasons. The hysterectomy seemed to change the position of everything. Now the prolapse is horrible and I have been dragging my feet about a repair. I have heard stories of unsuccessful surgery and am not sure who to go to- a gyn or a rectal surgeon? All and all, it is affecting my life in a negative way. If it were one tiny bit worse, I don't think I could control my BM's. So just reading this post, I realize how stupid I am to be ignoring this. Good luck to everyone. I was probably lucky to have 20 fairly good years. This problem was the single reason we only had one child.

Wow. I wonder why you had to go through all that. I'll ask my doc about it; I see him 1/9. His previous surgeries (on others) have been successful with no preop work necessary, and I'd only stay day or two in the hospital so the nurses can clean the wound/change the dressing. Difference in procedure? Different kind of fistula? I don't know. Did a urogyne do yours, or C/R? I wonder if you had a fistulectomy (SP?). If so, I can't have that since mine involves too much sphincter.

Does anyone know anything about the body ecology diet or something similar to get rid of chronic yeast? I had dozens of health issues and I took a "do you have yeast" test and I scored very high. I'm currently taking probiotics but need to educate myself more. Thanks.

I have been reading through all the posts and cannot believe that there are so many women out there that have this same problem! I had my daughter in Nov of 05. She was sunnyside up and they used the vacum and it popped off and I tore to a 4th degree. She was 8 lbs 5 oz. Anyway, I didn't really start having any problems until about 6 months later, but that is when the gas started from my vagina and the leakage of stool. I also have fecal incontinence. So, they are doing a fistulectomy and a Sphincertoplasty Jan 31st. Has anyone every had these two surgeries at the same time? I am alittle worried. Mine is being done by a Urogyno, that is who my regular Ob is referring me to. Oh, did I mention that we are in the military, and my deliverying doctor should have doen a c-section but didn't want to? I was never told that I could develop any problems from having a fourth degree. Thankfully they sent me to a civillian doctor. SO any feedback that you can give me woudl be great!! Thanks!

I think you should be ok having both surgeries at the same time. I have read that fistula repairs have the risk of causing incontinence except in patients who are having the sphincter repaired simultaneoursly. I had my sphincter repaired and developed a fistula from that. Now I am having my fistula repaired by a urogyn. and my colo-rectal surgeon will be present in the OR so that I don't get any damage there again. Good luck!

Thank you! Good luck to you too!

I am so happy to find this forum. 8 weeks ago after a quick labour I delivered a gorgeous 9lb girl whilst standing up. I was informed of a 3rd degree tear and was stitched up in the labour ward. I was in excruciating pain but the dr persisted with the repair until basically throwing up his hands and giving up. He didnt do a proper rectal exam to ensure there was no tear and I assumed all was fine. 3 days later I opened my bowel and realised I had connection between my rectum & vagina. I was taken to surgery and repaired but also given a colostomy. I have developed a fistula which was picked up on MRI (after I kept bugging the drs) and because of the colostomy isnt bugging me too much (although I have some leakage). The colostomy is a nightmare and the most devestating part of this whole thing. I have my next repair next month but the problem is that I live in OUtback Australia, 1200km from the hospital I delivered at. My husband has used up all his leave so I will need to stay with my parents and my mum will have to take time off work to look after my 2 year old and my newborn. Funny enough, I chose this hospital so nothing would go wrong! I am making plans to visit lawyers too.

I am still dealing with a lot of emotions, especially anger but I am managing it by focusing on my family. I dont want people to see my cry as my husband, as wonderful as he is, doesnt quite get it. We wanted to get pregnant again very soon and I am so furious that I cant and then when I do I will have to have a medically managed interfering caesarean instead of the lovely natural birth I desire.

Has anyone else been given a colostomy?

DESPERATE wrote:

Jenthom44 wrote:

I have been reading through all the posts and cannot believe that there are so many women out there that have this same problem! I had my daughter in Nov of 05. She was sunnyside up and they used the vacum and it popped off and I tore to a 4th degree. She was 8 lbs 5 oz. Anyway, I didn't really start having any problems until about 6 months later, but that is when the gas started from my vagina and the leakage of stool. I also have fecal incontinence. So, they are doing a fistulectomy and a Sphincertoplasty Jan 31st. Has anyone every had these two surgeries at the same time? I am alittle worried. Mine is being done by a Urogyno, that is who my regular Ob is referring me to. Oh, did I mention that we are in the military, and my deliverying doctor should have doen a c-section but didn't want to? I was never told that I could develop any problems from having a fourth degree. Thankfully they sent me to a civillian doctor. SO any feedback that you can give me woudl be great!! Thanks!

I think you should be ok having both surgeries at the same time. I have read that fistula repairs have the risk of causing incontinence except in patients who are having the sphincter repaired simultaneoursly. I had my sphincter repaired and developed a fistula from that. Now I am having my fistula repaired by a urogyn. and my colo-rectal surgeon will be present in the OR so that I don't get any damage there again. Good luck!

Is there a risk of incontinence even if it wasn't damaged and not touched ? I did not have incontinence and my spinchter was not damaged. I got it repaired through a urogyn and she did not touch any of my rectal muscles.

So sorry Kelstar. It must be so hard.

When I was looking for information and support, I had come across this network in Australia.As you have mentioned you are from there.. look into it

rvfsupportnetwork.org.au/html/s12_content/default.asp?tnid=11&dsb=0


I did not have a colosotomy.
Good Luck !!

**edited by moderator ** web addresses not allowed **

Please read our Terms of Use

Hello again to all- I check back periodically to see how people are doing and to see if there are any newcomers out there. There is such a common theme of being blown off by our doctors. It is so upsetting! My doctor did the same condesending thing. A well known obgyn doctor in Miami. He told me in so many words that I was imaging it, that here's a perscription for yeast infections, and bye- bye! I remembering leaving his office so confused. The ONLY reason I was able to get my fistula taken care of was my own persistence along with my husband on finding answers. The only places I found truth about my situation was with the colorectal surgeons I spoke to. It is as if obgyns know nothing about it. At least if they caused it!

My advice to all is to not give up. Be you own advocate. Keep going til you are satisfied. Be thankful there are more and more forums out there like this...we need to all stand up and say enough is enough. I will be giving a donation to the third world countries where women are ostricized for having fistulas! Although I live in a country with the "best medical" care, women with fistulas are put off and ostricized.

It is clear it is very emotional for me still! I too pursued legal actions through a prepaid legal service I previously had. It did nothing for me. The statue of limitations is two years. Even though the lawyers I had got it extended, it was not enough time to prove what they did. THeir scribble scrabble, the doctor's denials, the unreported office visit notes where I did describe my issues. Believe me, the doctors know how to cover their butts! I sincerely hope that things chnage for women in this area.

Everyone here understands. Even though I am doing well, I still get emotional reading other people's stories! I know how hard it is- I warn all the pregnant women I know to be savy and aware of what can happen. We need more open discussion out there for new moms, and pregnant moms. No one deserves to go through such a thing because of doctor mistakes.

Forgive me, I am quite passionate. I think if doctors stood behind this too it would be good. I am not suggesting we go sue happy, but if doctors have the leeway to make a mistake and correct it as best they can, even if it means a good referral to someone else, I think this would help.

I don't know what the answer is, but...please know I am here. I do sympathize. Good luck to all.