Living with a Stoma Due to a Fistula: Seeking Advice and Shared Experiences

Hi,



I just wondered if anyone here has a stoma due to a fistula? My story began back in March. I'd been utterly healthy before then and completely out of the blue, I went to the loo and then was in abject agony for hours. I went to see my GP who didn't even examine me, said it was probably piles, gave me some laxatives and some cream. A week later I was in so much pain (I barely slept or ate) so I went to a private walk-in hospital in London. There followed five months on and off in hospital, various operations, examinations under anesthetic and eventually had some abscesses drained and a Seton stitch put in. The pain was unbearable and the open wounds horrific. Eventually my surgeon decided a temporary colostomy was the only answer. I had it done four weeks ago and on balance life is so much better. I have a few issues, but nowhere near as bad as those I had before. Sorry for the long post, just felt the need to share and would love to hear from anyone in a similar position... Thanks for reading.

Hello Boo,

Thanks for sharing your experiences.  I haven't had anything similar (- except of course for the ostomy) but it is always interesting to hear how and why others have come buy theirs.

I just wanted to reply in order to express my appreciation for your post.  

Best wishes  Bill

Weird Boo, i thought maybe i'd wrote this...In the exact same position, temp. ostomy, fistula, seton stitch in, drains in back end.



My doc gave me laxatives!! I collapsed bleeding in agony, rushed to a and e, abscess in my bowel the size of a fist.



Did you have an abscess? Glad to hear you are coping with the stoma...I'm not doing very well with it. just been on holiday and tried to eat normally after months of a lot of eating disorders due to the stoma...it's been over working all week on holiday with leaks all the time.



How long until you get the reversal? They haven't given me a date yet..or hope,ha!

I had a colon resection for a spot of cancer and got an abscess with a fistula from my intestine at the surgery site, so they went back in for the temporary colostomy.  6 months later they attempted to reverse it and said I had too much scar tissue/adhesions so it's permanent. I pretty much eat what I want now and the only trouble is with my skin around the stoma.