Rectal Vaginal Fistula

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 condescending thing. A well known obgyn doctor in Miami. He told me in so many words that I was imaging it, that here's a prescription for yeast infections, and bye- bye! I remember 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 till 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 ostracized for having fistulas! Although I live in a country with the "best medical" care, women with fistulas are put off and ostracized.

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 change 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 savvy 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.

My son is 18. He weighed 8 lbs, 13 oz and my vaginal rectal fistula was not diagnosed for over a year after he was born. The Dr. that delivered the baby kept telling me my problem was hormonal and put me on estrogen patches. So I didn't even realize that gas was actually passing through my vagina, I just knew I didn't feel normal. No one even told me about the possiblility of a fistula so I never even realized this was possible. I didn't know what was wrong with me and it was embarrasing to even talk to anyone about it. I mean, really, who wants to talk about that kind of thing? Besides, I was convinced it was hormonal. I got pregnant 6 months after we were married. After the baby was born, it was this problem. So imagine the amount of times my DH and I had sex. So many times I had to say, I can't. I don't feel like it, I don't feel clean. It was discusting, humiliating, and dramatic. When it was diagnosed by a surgeon he wanted me in surgery ASAP. It was painful and he told me he repaired me as best as he could. I have problems to this day. There is definitely not enough of information out there about this for women, but at least now there is the internet so that if a Dr. won't even explain the possibility of a rectal-vaginal fistual (mine never mentioned it) you might find the info here online. The only thing now, 18 years later, is the comfort to know that I am not alone with this on-going condition. I go to the bathroom to relieve myself (urinate) and lots of times, when I wipe there is stool on the toilet paper because I have "leaked". This is a very real condition and it SUCKS!! And when the hemorrhoids flare up, it aggravates the situation even more!! Hopefully, Dr's will be made more aware of this situation and life-changing affect it has/could have on their patients.

I had a RVF after the birth of my first baby. He was 7 lb 15 oz and a normal delivery (3rd degree tear with episiotomy). I had a very large RVF with stool and gas passing just one week after my delivery. I had a diverting colostomy one month after he was born & had it for 9 months. My sphincter muscles were completely torn and I had a sphincteroplasty repair 6 months after delivery. My RVF healed on its' own due to having the colostomy. Unfortunately I had 2 infections after the sphincteroplasty operation and it dragged out for 3 months. My surgeries were all performed by a colorectal surgeon. I had always been a very healthy person and had an amazing pregnancy. I can't believe how things changed from the time he was born. I never imagined that something like this could have happened to me. I am so grateful for my son, but I am so angry that this even happened. It was a year long procedure and I still am not 100%. It's difficult to move on. I am so scared that the fistula will come back someday. I want to be intimate with my husband but I am afraid that it will cause the fistula to return. I think it's mental. I just don't ever want to go back to such a scary time in my life. Is there anyone else who is afraid of sex?

Same here. I had an amazing pregnancy. I did not even test positive for group-b. I wish I had a difficult pregnancy :-(. This just went out of control after my daughter was born. Fistula and Lyme's. Never had heard of either before. I had the surgery but just freaked out about it coming back. I have completely forgotten about sex. Physical therapy is helping a lot. Are you going to go through Physical Therapy ?


BTW... does any of you live in the boston area ?

I so far have had three failed surgeries. My last one put me in the hospital for 12 days. They gave me a illeostomy (like a colostomy). The doctor tied off the wrong end and bile was backing up in my stomach for five days before they could figure out what was wrong. When he went in to tie off the correct end he could not so they put me back together. The RVF tore my first BM. So now I have three HUGE scars on my stomach and a large RVF draining stool. I am supposed to have another surgery in April 2007. It took five doctors and six years to even find the thing. After my 2nd surgery my hole was as big as a quarter!!! My doctor can touch finger to finger between the two.. People who hear my story cannot believe this is all because of giving birth.

nowI am really scared.. I too had told my ob... well the 2 midwives at the ob's office of the gas situation... and was always told.. it was because you had a big baby etc... when i delivered....9lb 8oz baby girl, epiziotomy, and then my placenta tore all to hell and I nearly bled to death... my ob litterally had his arm all the way inside of me, pulling pieces of my placenta out... anyhoo... 8 yrs later, I go see him for an infection, they tell me it's e-coli and it's from wiping back to front. then 2 months later, I go to see him for an infection again and remind him of the gas problem and tell him I had been telling the midwives every time....he takes a really good look, without a speculum, and there it is, a tiny hole.

that was in aug, and i put off surgery because I was afraid... well now I am going to have it on thursday...colo-rectal surgeon, sphinctoroplasty, supposedly going home the same day... I am scared! I really am not sure of what to do...

Good Luck !!! Keep us posted.



Just curious why you are seeing the same OB ?

What type of physical therapy are you going through? Is it for your pelvic floor muscles?

After having sex, my perineum and skin around the opening of the vagina is sore for a few days. I have been concerned about this because I don't want to do any harm to that area anymore. I went to a new OB/GYN and she examined the area and said that the skin is sensitive and it will take time. She said to use a lot of lubrication during intercourse and that should help. She also noticed that the area had some scar tissue and that she would possibly inject it with lidocaine to help break up some of the scar tissue. I have not had intercourse for 1 year since the rectovgainal fistula, and now that I am able to proceed with my love life, I'm scared that I will injure my tissues or cause more problems. Has anyone had a similar problem?

How did you end up getting RVF ?

I haven't had sex since having given birth on March 8th 2006.

My skin was sensitive as well. I went trhough physical therapy before surgery to strengthen the area. I am going through physical therapy after surgery [waited 3 months after surgery to resume] for



-> removing scar tissue

-> pelvic floor strengthening

-> relax the tightness and condition my muscles

-> gain sensation



It has helped in reducing the scar tissue and reducing aches and pains

I got the RVF after having my baby on Feb 2 2006. I noticed signs of the fistula one week after he was born. I had a 3rd degree tear with episiotomy. I went to a colorectal surgeon and he said that he could put his finger right through it. He said that a colostomy would be the most reasonable option for me since it was so large. I had the colostomy March 2nd, 2006 until Dec 14, 2006. I tried having sex for the first time on Jan 14th, 2006. I didn't feel discomfort during intercourse, but irritation of the perineum afterward. It's frustrating....

I also had an overlapping sphincteroplasty to repair my damaged sphincter muscles. Fortunately I don't have any problems with going to the bathroom.

I was never advised to have physical therapy for anything. What are you required to do in therapy?

Hi, I am 33 years old, have had 3 operations to correct RVF to no avail. I sustained the condition after an episiotomy with my second son. My last operation (#4) involved rebuilding the muscle using my own and an ileostomy. I have a few weeks to go before exams will be done to determine the success-I can only pray I am at the end of a long and frustrating road (almost 3 years). I had a drainage hole before this operation and not only did the fistula return because of breakdown, but the drainage hole stayed open too-so I had three holes and two large openings in between the vagina and rectum. I opted for the ileostomy because I was and my surgeons were at a loss for what else we could try. Good luck to you and all others in our situation. The other frustrating part is that no one wants to take it on as medical malpractice-I live in California.

I am 33 yrs. old with two sons who were large at birth.

I have had 4 operations to correct a 3yr old RVF, sustained after an episiotomy with my 9lb, 6oz second son. Each has been to no avail. After the 3rd it was decided to do an ileostomy to give the RVF time to heal w/o pressure and bacteria...not sure yet if it was successful-need to give it a few more weeks before examining with X-Ray to find out.

I did have a 4th operation in the interim to repair the fistula that was still evident after the 3rd surgery, where in which I also kept the bag. I can only hope that it has been successful.

During my second operation a surgeon decided to have a drainage hole I-n between the rectum and the vagina but not only did the fistula repair breakdown but the hole that he created stayed open and I then had 3 holes and two large openings in between the muscle and tissue of the rectum and vagina. Because of this I went to a new surgeon who repaired all the muscle and the hole that was created, but again after X-Ray it was determined that the fistula was still there-and I had the 4th operation and still waiting for the results of that operation.

I'm here to say that this condition is not easy to correct. It is frustrating, life altering, not enough information, no way to prove medical malpractice and hard for family friends and co-workers to understand the ramifications. I was glad to see this blog and read others experiences.
:-(

More Info on what I earlier posted:
I am 33 yrs. old with two sons who were large at birth.

I have had 4 operations to correct a 3yr old RVF, sustained after an episiotomy with my 9lb, 6oz second son. Each has been to no avail. After the 3rd it was decided to do an ileostomy to give the RVF time to heal w/o pressure and bacteria...not sure yet if it was successful-need to give it a few more weeks before examining with X-Ray to find out.

I did have a 4th operation in the interim to repair the fistula that was still evident after the 3rd surgery, where in which I also kept the bag. I can only hope that it has been successful.

During my second operation a surgeon decided to have a drainage hole I-n between the rectum and the vagina but not only did the fistula repair breakdown but the hole that he created stayed open and I then had 3 holes and two large openings in between the muscle and tissue of the rectum and vagina. Because of this I went to a new surgeon who repaired all the muscle and the hole that was created, but again after X-Ray it was determined that the fistula was still there-and I had the 4th operation and still waiting for the results of that operation.

I'm here to say that this condition is not easy to correct. It is frustrating, life altering, not enough information, no way to prove medical malpractice and hard for family friends and co-workers to understand the ramifications. I was glad to see this blog and read others experiences.
:(

Who took on your case? I haven't been able to find anyone willing and in Cali we have a one year limit and a max $.