I have been recently diagnosed with a recto vaginal fistula. It only took 10 years for me to get a diagnoses. What is wrong with our medical professionals? I have suffered with constant infections, boils, infections in my mouth. Infections that just spread through my whole body. I have been is so much pain. Constant vomiting. Not to mention all the other symptoms that go along with this. All the time Doctors did not seem to know what was causing all the problems. Any other women suffered with infection? Why do Doctors seem to have such a difficult time making a diagnoses? Do other women feel Doctors just want to deny the problem? My whole life has been turned upside down. I lost my career. I have had huge financial problems. I have not had medical treatment yet. I am terrified based on my experience with the medical community. I am sure I have this problem due to tearing severely when my son was born. If I did not research information on the Internet and find a web site from a woman who had suffered with this condition. I would not have known to go to a colon-rectal surgeon. I could have gotten a medical degree in the time it took me to find out what was wrong. I would like to hear from other women what the experienced when they were trying to find answers. Doctors continually told me my symptoms were impossible. It is clear this problem does exist in the United State even though it was eradicated here. 8-|
I am a little late arriving in here. wow did not know RVF is fairly common , thought I am only one sufferin alone. Had it many years now do not know what to do except manage and live with it. Docs scare me saying if you can manage do it . once you start surgery it can be a series of surgeries and end up having worse symptoms.
I sorry to hear you and so many others also suffering. I have thought about surgery still because it freaks me to even think about going on a trip or buiness travel. my hart starts racing what if i cannot locate a bathroom . and traveling with my kids alone, what a night mare in and out of the washroom like a mad person. I do definitely believe in immodium, take it like kids take candy, At least I can do errands , work part time and go to the grocery store. Good to know there is a room like this, support group. I try google this condition I do not find anything about it except they say it only happen in developing countries.
I sorry to hear you and so many others also suffering. I have thought about surgery still because it freaks me to even think about going on a trip or buiness travel. my hart starts racing what if i cannot locate a bathroom . and traveling with my kids alone, what a night mare in and out of the washroom like a mad person. I do definitely believe in immodium, take it like kids take candy, At least I can do errands , work part time and go to the grocery store. Good to know there is a room like this, support group. I try google this condition I do not find anything about it except they say it only happen in developing countries.
Hi, I had a nasty recto vaginal fistula after an accident with my boyfriend, not childbirth. I went to a hospital in one city, covered with blood thinking I wad dying. After an intimate examination was told I had a hemmorroid?!?! Went home to my own city and went back to hospital where I was diagnosed with the tear. Had an operation, very simple and quick! I had some morphine after the op and came round later that day. Took me a day to get over the anaesthetic but there was no pain associated with the op. I would seriously urge you to consider the operation, I am good as new now! I was even having sex approx 2 weeks after the op :-) only downside is that I cannot have natural childbirth now due to weakness in my wall but that is liveable with.
Good luck!
Good luck!
A rectovaginal fistula is not a tear, really sorry for feeling the need to reply to your post but it takes years for these fistulae to heal and it's a complete misery.
I have been in this situation now for ages, it feels like forever, my life has totally ground to a halt and I want a colostomy, I really do. I know that sounds really extreme but it has to be better than living like this.
Mine started with a an abscess on my inner thigh, I sat on a thorn. This wasn't treated properly and turned into a fistula. When I had a seton placed, something went wrong with my vagina, it wasn't there before. I believe that they probed it by accident. I demanded an MRI scan and they told me I had a sinus on my vaginal wall, not related to the fistula.
However, in five months (because you're just left for ages) it's all had time to join up, maybe they just waited for it to happen, apparently it can't be stopped once it starts, antibiotics are useless. I've just had my third surgery, it discharges constantly, worse than the original one. The feeling of ongoing leakage is awful. The pads I have to wear are gigantic, I'm partially incontinent now.
The original fistula branched off and one branch even went as far as my coccyx (I've just had my coccyx bone drilled and plugged)
The pain is unbelievable, I can't sit properly or drive, walking is painful too, childbirth was a walk in the park compare to this (my son is 19, so, not connected to that!!) It has recently started to really, really itch, it's driving me insane and I don't even know if I can use canesten or something like that.
The doctors are useless when it comes to this type of disease.
I have been in this situation now for ages, it feels like forever, my life has totally ground to a halt and I want a colostomy, I really do. I know that sounds really extreme but it has to be better than living like this.
Mine started with a an abscess on my inner thigh, I sat on a thorn. This wasn't treated properly and turned into a fistula. When I had a seton placed, something went wrong with my vagina, it wasn't there before. I believe that they probed it by accident. I demanded an MRI scan and they told me I had a sinus on my vaginal wall, not related to the fistula.
However, in five months (because you're just left for ages) it's all had time to join up, maybe they just waited for it to happen, apparently it can't be stopped once it starts, antibiotics are useless. I've just had my third surgery, it discharges constantly, worse than the original one. The feeling of ongoing leakage is awful. The pads I have to wear are gigantic, I'm partially incontinent now.
The original fistula branched off and one branch even went as far as my coccyx (I've just had my coccyx bone drilled and plugged)
The pain is unbelievable, I can't sit properly or drive, walking is painful too, childbirth was a walk in the park compare to this (my son is 19, so, not connected to that!!) It has recently started to really, really itch, it's driving me insane and I don't even know if I can use canesten or something like that.
The doctors are useless when it comes to this type of disease.
Hi Mericol.
I'm so sorry to hear about what you have been through. I also have recto-vaginal fistulas. I've had them for about the same amount of time that you have. But I have not had all the symptoms that you've experienced. I did have corrective surgery which only lasted four months and weakened my rectal muscles. But what I do is use baby wipes to clean myself inside and out. They seemed to have kept the infection away. I guess I can say I've been lucky in that area. And you don't need the real expensive ones either, i use the dollar store kind. I hope this little tid bit of info can help you..my heart goes out to you. Please keep us informed on how you are doing..
Sincerely
Lorie
WOW am I ever late..I just noticed these posts were done over a year ago !!! I guess that's what insomnia does for you..LMAO Oh well I hope everyone is doing better or is still doing good..whatever the case may be. :)
Sincerely..
Very Late Lorie.. :))
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