The more I read everyones stories, the more I get scared. I am so afraid of having my 3rd surgery that it's why I have waited a long time to even decide of doing it again. I might consider going in for a check up and I guess that a surgery would only be the option to fix this stupid problem that never ends. Does anyone recommend a doctor in souther California? I have been with a colo rectal doctor here but he is not recommending a 3rd surgery. According to him, the more surgeries repair for a RVF, the less likely it will heal. Can anyone respond to this? I am so TIRED of having this fistula. Iv'e had it for 5 years and I always ask myself, God... why me? I can't belive that doctors can transform a male into a female and do other complicated surgeries and "Not" be able to successfully fix a rectal vagina fistula..... (sorry everyone, but sometimes I become very upset of hearing all of these stories.) I don't think any one of us should be suffering with this.
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Does anybody know of a good colorectal surgon in souther California? The doctor that did my second surgery only gave me 50% chances of healing if I do a 3rd surgery... and he didn't recommend a ostomy because he said that things could get risky. I am hoping that someone could give me advise. I've had this RVF for 5 years. Please Help.!!!!
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I'm sorry you have had to deal with this for 5 years. I've been dealing with mine for 3...I'm in Oregon, so I don't have any recommendations for Southern California Drs...if you would be willing to travel, I have a great dr. up here.
How did you develop your RVF and which surgeries have you had done to repair it so far?
How did you develop your RVF and which surgeries have you had done to repair it so far?
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I'm new to this board and a little worried after reading everyones posts. I had my son in Oct 07. I had a very fast delivery. My water broke about 8:30pm and my son was born at 12:01am. I had him completly natural no meds at all. He was 9lbs 5oz. He came so fast, I had no controll. My body pushed all on it's own and I could not slow it down at all. His head came out fine and once his shoulders started coming by dr ended up doing an episiotomy which led to a 4th degree tear. I tore all the way to the anus plus the whole entire muscle up inside plus some. About 3 weeks after delivery I ended up getting diarrhea and noticed that it was coming out of my vagina. It's been 4 months and my Dr. has finally been able to feel the fistula. It's a very small hole up past the muscle. I am having the surgery on Tuesday the 26th to repair it and am very nervous about it. My Dr. is very confident that she will be able to fix it with no other issues. I'm not to sure what to expect and dont know the questions to ask. She did show me on a diagram what she will be doing to me. My ob Dr. is doing the surgery. She has done quite of few of these in the past. She has never had a patient with a 4th degree tear that she wasnt able to sew up and fix completly after birth. So I am always asking why me. Any advise would be so helpful on what to expect from this.
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KohensMommy - Please please don't rush this surgery!! This is exactly what I went through...but they didn't find my fistula for a year and now I've been through 8 surgeries in 2 years to repair it.
What exactly are you having done to repair the fistula? Is she going to open you back up entirely and repair the muscle and all? Has she warned you of the complication possibilities and recovery time?
Has your dr. done any testing to see exactly where the tract runs from/to or can she just "feel" the opening with her finger? Do you have control issues with your sphincter? How many of these surgeries has she done?
If you are comfortable with your dr. doing it, then by all means go for it, but I've learned the hard way that doctors make mistakes and we're the ones who have to pay for it. Have you been looked at by any colorectal drs or anyone else besides your OB? Keep in mind that you are the way you are possibly because of something she did or didn't do...and I'm sure she won't ever admit that to you...but for that fact alone, I would definately get a second opinion before letting her work on you the way she wants to.
Good luck...and please, if you can respond before you go in Tuesday! I am very concerned for you as you are going through the exact same thing I did, and I don't want you go have to suffer any more than I'm sure you already have and will a bit more...
What exactly are you having done to repair the fistula? Is she going to open you back up entirely and repair the muscle and all? Has she warned you of the complication possibilities and recovery time?
Has your dr. done any testing to see exactly where the tract runs from/to or can she just "feel" the opening with her finger? Do you have control issues with your sphincter? How many of these surgeries has she done?
If you are comfortable with your dr. doing it, then by all means go for it, but I've learned the hard way that doctors make mistakes and we're the ones who have to pay for it. Have you been looked at by any colorectal drs or anyone else besides your OB? Keep in mind that you are the way you are possibly because of something she did or didn't do...and I'm sure she won't ever admit that to you...but for that fact alone, I would definately get a second opinion before letting her work on you the way she wants to.
Good luck...and please, if you can respond before you go in Tuesday! I am very concerned for you as you are going through the exact same thing I did, and I don't want you go have to suffer any more than I'm sure you already have and will a bit more...
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What exactly are you having done to repair the fistula? Is she going to open you back up entirely and repair the muscle and all? She is going to open me back up and repair everything.
Has she warned you of the complication possibilities and recovery time?
She has told me that it will be a long healing process but that's about it.
Has your dr. done any testing to see exactly where the tract runs from/to or can she just "feel" the opening with her finger? She has only felt where the opening it.
Do you have control issues with your sphincter? I dont really have any controll issues. I will pass gas thru the small hole but never any fecal matter beside the one time I had diarhea.
How many of these surgeries has she done? not to sure.
I have my pre opt appt. on Monday and will be asking these questions. Can you think of anything else I should ask before I decide to or not to have this done right now.
Has she warned you of the complication possibilities and recovery time?
She has told me that it will be a long healing process but that's about it.
Has your dr. done any testing to see exactly where the tract runs from/to or can she just "feel" the opening with her finger? She has only felt where the opening it.
Do you have control issues with your sphincter? I dont really have any controll issues. I will pass gas thru the small hole but never any fecal matter beside the one time I had diarhea.
How many of these surgeries has she done? not to sure.
I have my pre opt appt. on Monday and will be asking these questions. Can you think of anything else I should ask before I decide to or not to have this done right now.
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Ok, so she's going to be doing a sphincterplasty? Is she going to overlap the muscle or just sew the ends together? Has she given you a possible success rate?
Confirm with her how long the recovery time will be and what your restrictions will be, you probably won't be able to lift more than a gallon of milk for about 4 weeks if you're having what I think you're having done.
Also, make sure she goes over all the possible complication and risk factors...bleeding, infection, recurrence, etc.
You may want to ask your dr. about other possible repairs to fix the fistula without going through your sphincter again if you're not really having issues with it...the more times they cut through and repair it, the more risk for control issues you'll have. Ask her about a possible "Advancement Flap" or possibly, if the hole is small enough, a "surgisis plug" might work for it. The plug is the least invasive, then the flap...then worst case scenario a full reconstruct which it sounds like she's planning on doing.
Good luck and let us know how tomorrow goes!
Confirm with her how long the recovery time will be and what your restrictions will be, you probably won't be able to lift more than a gallon of milk for about 4 weeks if you're having what I think you're having done.
Also, make sure she goes over all the possible complication and risk factors...bleeding, infection, recurrence, etc.
You may want to ask your dr. about other possible repairs to fix the fistula without going through your sphincter again if you're not really having issues with it...the more times they cut through and repair it, the more risk for control issues you'll have. Ask her about a possible "Advancement Flap" or possibly, if the hole is small enough, a "surgisis plug" might work for it. The plug is the least invasive, then the flap...then worst case scenario a full reconstruct which it sounds like she's planning on doing.
Good luck and let us know how tomorrow goes!
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shellsue42, Thank you so much for responding. My doctor appt. went well. We both decided to wait on the surgery. She said that her and another Doctor has done many of the surgerys was going to assist to make sure they were able to do the very best job possible but they were still worried about making the problem worse not better. She said that where my fistula is the tissue is very thin and it would be hard to fix it correctly and completly doing and shinterplasty. I had asked about other alternatives about fixing it and she has not done any of them. So I may try and find a specialist that may be able to help me. Not sure what kind of a specialist though. My Dr. said that if she were me she would probably hold off on the surgery since I dont have any major issues. Just gas passing thru everyonce in awhile.
For now I am going to wait. But not sure where or what I should do now. Just put it to the side, and hope that it never gets worse. Who knows. But for now this is probably the best thing for my situation. Thank you for all your help.
For now I am going to wait. But not sure where or what I should do now. Just put it to the side, and hope that it never gets worse. Who knows. But for now this is probably the best thing for my situation. Thank you for all your help.
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You're welcome! That makes me feel better...for now! I'm glad you discussed your options with your dr. and if you decide to get other options from different doctors, I would definately look into seeing a colorectal surgeon...or possibly a pelvic floor specialist. Good luck to you! I'm glad you don't have many problems with your fistula...and you can live with it for now. :-)
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Hi! I had a baby last July and developed a RVF. I have been to four different doctors and all of them have been unable to find the hole with an exam. I have not had any stools, but have had gas pass through my vagina.
The last few weeks, I have stopped passing the gas, but now my episiotomy is quite sore and I have these sores on both sides of my episiotomy (almost like small boils). Does this mean that my fistula has closed or is very infected that the gas can no longer get through!?! If you know anything or have any idea of what this could be please let me know! thanks!
The last few weeks, I have stopped passing the gas, but now my episiotomy is quite sore and I have these sores on both sides of my episiotomy (almost like small boils). Does this mean that my fistula has closed or is very infected that the gas can no longer get through!?! If you know anything or have any idea of what this could be please let me know! thanks!
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Hi Everyone...I am just reading all of your posts for the first time. I had my son last july and was just diagnosed with a low rectovaginal fistula. Everything I read says the surgery to fix the degree of one I have is quite successful. But when I read all of your post...I'm getting very confused. Has anyone had a successful surgery? I have a RVF that is classified as simple. I experience gas coming from my vagina every day and occasionally some fectal incontinence when my stool is soft. The specialist said that my fistula was about 2cms up the post wall of my vagina and only about a 1mm in size. But the symptoms are very hard to live with. I am only 27 years old and I can not imagine living like this the rest of my life and having surgery after surgery.
Please let me know if anyone has had a successful surgery? I am going to talk with my OB in one week with all my questions. My OB and this specialist are working together on my case.
Thanks for listening ladies and if you have any advice...please let me know.
Thank You
Please let me know if anyone has had a successful surgery? I am going to talk with my OB in one week with all my questions. My OB and this specialist are working together on my case.
Thanks for listening ladies and if you have any advice...please let me know.
Thank You
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I have the same thing. I would love to talk to you about what I have found out.
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Postmonkey---How was your fistula diagnosed? I have tried the blue dye with the tampon, but it did not work. My doctor is wanting to do a colonoscopy, so I am curious on how they found your small fistula. I wish I could help answer some of your questions, but I am in the same boat as you:( Not fun!
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Hi....my fistula was diagnosed by a visual vaginal and rectal exam. The specialist did all this measuring, poking and proding.....
Towards the end she said, "Hmmm...I see this dimple of tissue here" and she looked closer and right at that moment she saw an air bubble pass through the fistula.
She could see where it was on the vaginal wall but she was not sure where it exactly came out on the other end....so I'm guessing I will have to have some kind of dye procedure so they can see all that.
I'm hoping to be able to post some good news for all of us out there. I'm hoping to get this done the right way the first time and just have my next babies c-section.
Towards the end she said, "Hmmm...I see this dimple of tissue here" and she looked closer and right at that moment she saw an air bubble pass through the fistula.
She could see where it was on the vaginal wall but she was not sure where it exactly came out on the other end....so I'm guessing I will have to have some kind of dye procedure so they can see all that.
I'm hoping to be able to post some good news for all of us out there. I'm hoping to get this done the right way the first time and just have my next babies c-section.
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I am no longer a guest now:) Like you, I had my baby last july. So far no doctor can find a fistula and have said it must be pin sized. I have seen 4 doctors and none of them have told me if it is low or simple or anything. I would really like to know. I have heard that if you get a fistula from delivering a baby, then it is harder to repair? Maybe someone else knows more about that.
The dye test took a long time to do and still didn't work. I hope it works for you! I am for sure going to get a c-section with my next kids too!
Has anyone else had nerve damage in their legs along with their fistulas?
The dye test took a long time to do and still didn't work. I hope it works for you! I am for sure going to get a c-section with my next kids too!
Has anyone else had nerve damage in their legs along with their fistulas?
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