Hello everyone. I feel like I know you all since I've spent the last 3 days reading the entire thread. whew! Like others have said, it helps knowing you're not alone. But it is so discouraging that so many of you have been dealing with RVF for so long. I had a baby girl this past sept. ...vac extraction 3rd degree episiotomy. I always felt like I healed up very well from the birth, but a couple month after I started to notice gas pass through my vagina. I haven't had any stool pass through, but I haven't had a bad case of diahrea yet either. I can see the hole myself so I know it is there. It is right at the VERY bottom of my vaginal opening. I have no problems with my rectal muscle that I can tell. I was wondering if any of you know if the fact that I seem to have good rectal control means the muscle isn't affected? Also, does the fact that it is low mean it is harder to fix?
A couple pages back a poster (I think her username was cat05) said she had a good experience seeing a urogynocologist at Mayo Clinic. I only live an hour from there, so I had already been thinking of going there if/when I decide to get this fixed. That is the other thing I'm so unsure about. If it is just gas, maybe I can just live with it. I have absolutely NO IDEA how I could emotionally or technically go 6 weeks without holding my daughter! CJ, I felt like you situation was so similar to mine before you had your failed flap repair. Do you wish you hadn't had it done? Thank you so much everyone!
A couple pages back a poster (I think her username was cat05) said she had a good experience seeing a urogynocologist at Mayo Clinic. I only live an hour from there, so I had already been thinking of going there if/when I decide to get this fixed. That is the other thing I'm so unsure about. If it is just gas, maybe I can just live with it. I have absolutely NO IDEA how I could emotionally or technically go 6 weeks without holding my daughter! CJ, I felt like you situation was so similar to mine before you had your failed flap repair. Do you wish you hadn't had it done? Thank you so much everyone!
New Guest,
I am glad you found this post. It is very helpful knowing you aren't the only one with this problem.
Well, i am upset that my flap repair didn't work because I always felt like okay I can live with this for now and one day I will get if fixed by a CRS. Then I try to have it fixed and it doesn't work. That is what makes me mad because now I feel like there is no hope to ever having it fixed. I will say that mine doesn't appear to be any worse. I have been struggling more with anxiety lately and that is why I have been having looser stools and have noticed some leakage. UGH!! My issues with passing gas have seemed to have gotten better. I really only pass gas in the morning when I get out of bed. Weird!
I actually have an appointment today with my CRS just to check in with him.. He has mentioned trying the plug repair but everything I read sounds like it doesn't work very well. I know that I am not in a good emotional state right now to try to get this fixed again. I am just trying not to let it bother me so much.
I will post how my appointment goes. That's good that you are not passing stool. You can really see the hole? i really don't know where mine is.
Keep in touch and ask any questions!
CJ
I am glad you found this post. It is very helpful knowing you aren't the only one with this problem.
Well, i am upset that my flap repair didn't work because I always felt like okay I can live with this for now and one day I will get if fixed by a CRS. Then I try to have it fixed and it doesn't work. That is what makes me mad because now I feel like there is no hope to ever having it fixed. I will say that mine doesn't appear to be any worse. I have been struggling more with anxiety lately and that is why I have been having looser stools and have noticed some leakage. UGH!! My issues with passing gas have seemed to have gotten better. I really only pass gas in the morning when I get out of bed. Weird!
I actually have an appointment today with my CRS just to check in with him.. He has mentioned trying the plug repair but everything I read sounds like it doesn't work very well. I know that I am not in a good emotional state right now to try to get this fixed again. I am just trying not to let it bother me so much.
I will post how my appointment goes. That's good that you are not passing stool. You can really see the hole? i really don't know where mine is.
Keep in touch and ask any questions!
CJ
I had a quick question....
I have noticed some of you ladies take imodium occassionaly...why do you take? What are the benefits? I am trying to figure out ways to help with the having to sit on the potty all through out the day to deal with my problems.
Thanks,
Tisha
I have noticed some of you ladies take imodium occassionaly...why do you take? What are the benefits? I am trying to figure out ways to help with the having to sit on the potty all through out the day to deal with my problems.
Thanks,
Tisha
HI Tisha,
Imodium is an anti-diahrretic so it slows things down and makes stool firmer. For some people it makes it less likely stool will get through their fistula which is always a good thing!
Penny
Imodium is an anti-diahrretic so it slows things down and makes stool firmer. For some people it makes it less likely stool will get through their fistula which is always a good thing!
Penny
CJ-Hey-I have been doing ok... sorry to hear about your stress. I take lexapro and have since the ostomy when I had the reversal I kept taking. It helps. As far as when i get some stuff coming out vaginally it has been only specs-of brown-I ignore it. I usually notice it more around my period as I believe that our hormonal changes may effect us--i know that sounds strange, just an observation. Have to say it hasn't been bad lately, but last time I said that I jinxed myself. ha....stress makes everything seem worse...ugh, i hope this finds you well. Best, B
Ladies-wish you all well. Beegirl
Ladies-wish you all well. Beegirl
Hello everyone,
I new here. I'm 49, my oldest child is 22. I've recently begun passing gas through my vagina. I had no idea what it meant and did some research because I wanted to be ready with questions for my GYN at my annual pap visit on Monday. I read some stuff on some medical sites and then I found this, and I'm telling you, you guys have freaked me out!
My first thoughts were that it's not that bad - you have a little hole, they go in and stitch it up, all better. Then I see that it's not that simple. You have to have a colostomy (OMG!), then the patches don't stay on, and the plugs don't stay in and probably make the hole bigger than when you started, then you have complications from the colostomy. It makes me think that I can just live with the bit of gas coming out once in a while, and maybe take some beano to cut back on my gas. I have no pain or discomfort, no fecal matter coming through the vagina, and the gas problem isn't that often. Plus it seems to only happen when I am sitting and I find that if I stand up or shift to the side the gas comes out where it is supposed to.
I do have a gas problem though. It seems like as a started into perimenopause I have been very gassy - burping a lot as well as "farting". Even my husband has commented on the increased gas. So maybe doing something to cut down on the gas will help too.
So has anyone here had their fistula heal, either on its own or with surgery?
Any comments about anything would be appreciated.
I new here. I'm 49, my oldest child is 22. I've recently begun passing gas through my vagina. I had no idea what it meant and did some research because I wanted to be ready with questions for my GYN at my annual pap visit on Monday. I read some stuff on some medical sites and then I found this, and I'm telling you, you guys have freaked me out!
My first thoughts were that it's not that bad - you have a little hole, they go in and stitch it up, all better. Then I see that it's not that simple. You have to have a colostomy (OMG!), then the patches don't stay on, and the plugs don't stay in and probably make the hole bigger than when you started, then you have complications from the colostomy. It makes me think that I can just live with the bit of gas coming out once in a while, and maybe take some beano to cut back on my gas. I have no pain or discomfort, no fecal matter coming through the vagina, and the gas problem isn't that often. Plus it seems to only happen when I am sitting and I find that if I stand up or shift to the side the gas comes out where it is supposed to.
I do have a gas problem though. It seems like as a started into perimenopause I have been very gassy - burping a lot as well as "farting". Even my husband has commented on the increased gas. So maybe doing something to cut down on the gas will help too.
So has anyone here had their fistula heal, either on its own or with surgery?
Any comments about anything would be appreciated.
Hey there ! Boat girl.........leave it alone.......Surgery can make things worse and bigger....Beegirl, I too have more problems right before my period, my gen surgeon says the diahrrea increases then because the prostoglandins are whacked !! So I take flax oil about a week before I get my period and does it help? I think so...and I walk everyday and excercise regulary.
I have been doing ok, beegirl I think you and I are pretty much in the same situation, I drink peppermint tea, suck on real peppermint drops to help with the aniexty and stress, again, does it work, in my mind it does !! Only when I have really loose stools or try to supress the urge to poo do I have more come thru, other than that I too try to just clean it out good and ignore it. I had to laugh about the jinxing part, It seems to do the same to me, so I just tell everyone who asks...I am great..no details, no jinxes.
I want to hear my CRS answer to my e mail, I told him I would buy into the transfer theory he has IF he can tell me HOW it is transferring... They are all clueless.. Lets find treatments and cures for ailments and diseases people bring on to themslves, but look into RVF..get real !!
Sun is out here in western PA (northwestern), had minor surgey on foot, so hobbling around with that. Sitting in sun and soaking it all up and just feeling good.....Hope everyone is hanging in there...Bea..? how about you? Penny...all is well too ? take care
Flower
I have been doing ok, beegirl I think you and I are pretty much in the same situation, I drink peppermint tea, suck on real peppermint drops to help with the aniexty and stress, again, does it work, in my mind it does !! Only when I have really loose stools or try to supress the urge to poo do I have more come thru, other than that I too try to just clean it out good and ignore it. I had to laugh about the jinxing part, It seems to do the same to me, so I just tell everyone who asks...I am great..no details, no jinxes.
I want to hear my CRS answer to my e mail, I told him I would buy into the transfer theory he has IF he can tell me HOW it is transferring... They are all clueless.. Lets find treatments and cures for ailments and diseases people bring on to themslves, but look into RVF..get real !!
Sun is out here in western PA (northwestern), had minor surgey on foot, so hobbling around with that. Sitting in sun and soaking it all up and just feeling good.....Hope everyone is hanging in there...Bea..? how about you? Penny...all is well too ? take care
Flower
Flower and Beegirl:
I just love you girls! I am right there with you! The past few days I have not been stressing and my bowels have been mostly firm and I am fine! Nothing going through! No specs nothing. If I can just stay positive and not get upset then I think I can be okay with this! If I do get specs come through I am going to do what you do and "IGNORE IT."
Please pray for my daughter though. She woke up vomiting this morning and I am home with her today. I pray she doesn't get diarrhea because I certainly don't want to get that because then it could make stuff come through for me! UGH!!!
Hope you all have a good weekend!
CJ
I just love you girls! I am right there with you! The past few days I have not been stressing and my bowels have been mostly firm and I am fine! Nothing going through! No specs nothing. If I can just stay positive and not get upset then I think I can be okay with this! If I do get specs come through I am going to do what you do and "IGNORE IT."
Please pray for my daughter though. She woke up vomiting this morning and I am home with her today. I pray she doesn't get diarrhea because I certainly don't want to get that because then it could make stuff come through for me! UGH!!!
Hope you all have a good weekend!
CJ
Boatgirl,
maybe you don't have a fistula. You could just be getting air sucked into your vagina. This happens to my sister and she will pass air when she gets up from sitting sometimes. But she doesn't have a fistula. Did you ever have any problems when you had your children? If not, and you are only having gas now then it really may just be air.
Hope things go well at your appointment.
Keep up posted!
CJ
maybe you don't have a fistula. You could just be getting air sucked into your vagina. This happens to my sister and she will pass air when she gets up from sitting sometimes. But she doesn't have a fistula. Did you ever have any problems when you had your children? If not, and you are only having gas now then it really may just be air.
Hope things go well at your appointment.
Keep up posted!
CJ
Boat girl - I agree with the other posts - think really hard about doing anything - especially if no faecal stuff is coming through. But do get it checked out.
Just thought I let everyone know about my second opinion. I was really shocked to be told that although the hole in the rectum appears to have completely healed a new hole in the anal canal has formed. Nearly half of my inner spinchter muscle has gone and my outer spinchter muscle is damaged slightly (boatgirl - I may end up with a permanent stoma or be incontinent as a result of surgery - so really think about it ...). They think there are still things they can do but the type of surgery I have had so far is not an option because of the risk of damage to the muscles. I didn't see the consultant this time and I am booked to see her on 19 April.
I am OK now but it has taken a while to get over the shock of what has happened - my muscles were fine before the operations started.
I also have to have a MRI scan as well before they decide what to do - I hate MRI scans!
I hope everyone else i OK - it is good to read your posts - take care beegirl, Penny, CJ, Flower and RLmom.
Bea
Just thought I let everyone know about my second opinion. I was really shocked to be told that although the hole in the rectum appears to have completely healed a new hole in the anal canal has formed. Nearly half of my inner spinchter muscle has gone and my outer spinchter muscle is damaged slightly (boatgirl - I may end up with a permanent stoma or be incontinent as a result of surgery - so really think about it ...). They think there are still things they can do but the type of surgery I have had so far is not an option because of the risk of damage to the muscles. I didn't see the consultant this time and I am booked to see her on 19 April.
I am OK now but it has taken a while to get over the shock of what has happened - my muscles were fine before the operations started.
I also have to have a MRI scan as well before they decide what to do - I hate MRI scans!
I hope everyone else i OK - it is good to read your posts - take care beegirl, Penny, CJ, Flower and RLmom.
Bea
Bea-oh tell us what happens april 19th-we are all thinking of you...what a mess this all is. I wish I could give you a hug. I am doing ok-thinking of all of you always, Beegirl
Bea, I am thinking of you, too. Did they tell you how this could have happened? Did the surgeries make it worse or did they not fix what was there? I'm hoping you have some options that are doable. I wish I had gone to a second surgeon before my surgery or possibly just gotten by with kegels. That might be wishful thinking but the whole surgery thing is so much more complicated, and risky, than they tell us or at least that was the case with me. Good luck on the 19th. Keep us posted.
Penny
Penny
Hi girls,
You don't know me, but for the past several months reading these posts is what got me through.
I'm so sorry for everyone who is dealing with this. I too got a rectovaginal fistula from childbirth. It was high, and close to my sphincter, but not actually into my sphincter, and was small. I went to Dr. James Fiorica in Sarasota, FL, he's a Gynecologic Oncologist. Apparently many women who have rectovaginal fistulas get them from chemotherapy from having cancer. He had amazing reviews, and he literally saved my life. I had Medius graft surgery 6 weeks ago to repair the fistula and it worked! I had my clearance check up today and he said everything is perfect. I'm just finishing up some healing and I'll be on my merry way...finally!
Just wanted everyone to know that you can overcome this, and recommend Dr. Fiorica if you are in Florida. I think going to the right surgeon makes ALL the difference.
You don't know me, but for the past several months reading these posts is what got me through.
I'm so sorry for everyone who is dealing with this. I too got a rectovaginal fistula from childbirth. It was high, and close to my sphincter, but not actually into my sphincter, and was small. I went to Dr. James Fiorica in Sarasota, FL, he's a Gynecologic Oncologist. Apparently many women who have rectovaginal fistulas get them from chemotherapy from having cancer. He had amazing reviews, and he literally saved my life. I had Medius graft surgery 6 weeks ago to repair the fistula and it worked! I had my clearance check up today and he said everything is perfect. I'm just finishing up some healing and I'll be on my merry way...finally!
Just wanted everyone to know that you can overcome this, and recommend Dr. Fiorica if you are in Florida. I think going to the right surgeon makes ALL the difference.
Oh Craaappp Bea..will this never end? I will continue to wish and pray for your healing too, it's quite a long list these days...The new hole that appeared in the anal canal, Does that dump into the vag also or quite near it that it complicates things there as well?
It's really odd how we all came about these buggers...I went in to repair spchinters and developed mine....spchinters are fine now, you go in to repair RVF and your spchins are damaged....some from chemo, some from childbirth and some get these because well, just because, but we are all here to support one another and that is a good thing.
Bea. you must let us know how you make out on the 19th..please.
Penny, B, Cj and everyone else....stay positive too and may the good days be more than the bad ones.
Flower
It's really odd how we all came about these buggers...I went in to repair spchinters and developed mine....spchinters are fine now, you go in to repair RVF and your spchins are damaged....some from chemo, some from childbirth and some get these because well, just because, but we are all here to support one another and that is a good thing.
Bea. you must let us know how you make out on the 19th..please.
Penny, B, Cj and everyone else....stay positive too and may the good days be more than the bad ones.
Flower
Hi everyone! I posted a couple posts back on 3/10 at 17:21. At that time I hadn't passed any stool though my RVF, but yesterday I developed some sort of tummy bug and had diahrea all day and some passed through. I tried to clean it as best I could, but am now paranoid that I'll get a vag infection...does that happen to any of you? I feel all itchy today, but maybe it's all in my head! I have an apt with a CR surgeon on the 16th. Still trying to decide if it is wort fixing. Thinking of you all!
Scatterkit
Scatterkit