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Perianal Abscess: OUCH! Questions...

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hukleberrie
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2008
Posts : 491
Posted 6/16/2009 12:50 PM (GMT -8)
I have a couple questions... although I haven't necessarily been dx'd with CD yet (currently dx'd with IBD: microscopic colitis), most of the doctors I have seen believe that is what I have, although biopsies are not showing it. Anyway, I recently got this "bump" on my bum. It was painful, looked like a zit, got as large as a marble, then reduced size to about a BB after about a month. It seemed to nearly go away, I mean, the bump was there, but the pain was not. I ignored it. about 3 weeks ago, it returned. Luckily I had an appt. with my IBD doc, and she said it looks like something people with crohn's get. Anyway, I assume it is an abscess. I was put on flagyl for it. (BTW, flagyl is ICKY!!! the taste in my mouth, YUCK!) Anyway, I am over halfway done with the script & still no luck in getting rid of it. My IBD doc said to call her if it starts draining. I haven't noticed that lately. I am just tired of the discomfort. Sometimes it hurts really bad when I have a BM, and sometimes it's just a pressure feeling. I know when the IBD doc was pressing it, it felt like pins poking me deep. Anyway, how do you deal with these & what else can be done? It hurts!! Also, how do you know when it becomes a fistula? Is it all about the drainage? Is that why the doc said to call when it starts draining? Is there some other treatment?
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gachrons
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 4527
Posted 6/16/2009 1:26 PM (GMT -8)
Hi I had a small little one and soaked in the tub with salt. I was lucky that it went away with soaking. Fistula I would think would drain and are hard to close up. Let us know how things go .lol gail
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hukleberrie
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2008
Posts : 491
Posted 6/16/2009 5:50 PM (GMT -8)
I have tried the hot bath in epsom salts.... feels good & helped slightly. I was hoping there was something besides baths & flagyl....?
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patientspiders
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2005
Posts : 734
Posted 6/16/2009 8:13 PM (GMT -8)
I was always signed up for an "I&D" when an abscess like that appeared. A good old "Incision" and "Drainage" procedure.

Has your doc mentioned anything about draining it? Mine did it in the office a couple of times. It hurts like the dickens, you pack it or cleanse it carefully for a few days, and then there really is some relief.

Hope you get some help soon.
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Sore Tum
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2009
Posts : 144
Posted 6/16/2009 11:31 PM (GMT -8)
I'm currently awaiting surgery for 2 abcesses that were left to their own devices a year ago and are now anal fistulas, they look like dried up ulcers from the outside and have a lump behind them the intermittently drain some nasty goo and can e very sore(my general doctor obviously had no idea what they were and told me to put nappy cream on them!)
I had another abcess come up last week much the same as you describe and because of the reading I've done on here I asked for flagyl this time, I've completed the course and it seems to of done the trick so bear with it. It's not a nice med but it's definately better than developing a fistula.
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chroniemomx2
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Joined : Apr 2005
Posts : 2346
Posted 6/17/2009 3:52 AM (GMT -8)

If it's an abscess, flagyl won't heal it or make it go away.  But it will help with the rectal inflammation.  My crohns responds good to flagyl, so hopefully it will calm down your inflammation.  As far as the taste goes, there is nothing worse!  This is how I take it, I take a drink of choc. milk, pop the pill in and then chase it down with more choc. milk.  I don't taste it that way.  I think when you take it with wter, it starts dissolving in your mouth.  Someone on here wraps it in a fruit roll up and then swallows it. 

You really need a good colo-rectal surgeon to look at your bump.   If it is just an abscss right now, then it needs to be surgically drained in an operating room, cleaned out, and then left open to heal from the inside out.  My surgeon also inserts dye in the abscess and then looks on the inside to see if there is any connection (fistula).  If you just leave it, it will more than likely fistulize and then you are going to have bigger problems.   

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hukleberrie
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2008
Posts : 491
Posted 6/17/2009 6:03 AM (GMT -8)
Oh, No! I am not having much success with the Flagyl... It still hurts, not quite as bad as before, but nearly. I am bummed that the flagyl crap I am going through now won't heal it. I thought that was her intention. Grrr... Maybe when I am done with the meds, I should call back the university IBD doc & press it. It's sore & I don't want it to get worse.

Thanks for the idea about the chocolate milk, by the way. They do begin dissolving so quickly & the taste stays with you! I have been sucking on candy for days trying to deal with the taste in my mouth that won't go away...
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hukleberrie
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2008
Posts : 491
Posted 6/17/2009 6:04 AM (GMT -8)
Do you know what the big deal is about drainage? She said if it starts draining, to call her right away...
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daisy917
New Member
Joined : May 2009
Posts : 4
Posted 6/17/2009 9:42 AM (GMT -8)

Hi Hukleberrie,

Sorry to hear about the abcess. I had a perianal abcess before I was diagnosed with Crohns 9yrs ago. I know how painful it is. I work for a doctor and he drained my abcess several times before sending me to see a proctologist who informed me that it was actually a fistula. Once I had the fistula removed It took about a month to heal, of course it probably took longer to heal due to the terrible flare I was having, but didn't know it was Crohns at the time. I know once the abcess starts draining it really relieves the pain. You said the hot soaks really didn't help but you might want to keep trying it several times a day to try to get it to drain on its own. Good luck I hope you feel better soon.

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Iram
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2003
Posts : 145
Posted 6/17/2009 10:08 AM (GMT -8)
try remicaide, I am told that works magic, need to see a GI about it.
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KEANO
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2008
Posts : 76
Posted 6/17/2009 10:18 AM (GMT -8)
 I suffered with various perinal abcesses and fistulas.  I was put on Flagyl and all sorts of other meds.  The only thing that cleared it up for me once and for all was Remicade.  I have been getting infusions now for about 4 years and not once did my fistual return.  Maybe it may be worth talking to your doc about this.  Fistulas and abcesses are terrible painful things and can drag you down and make you feel very ill.  Sending you big hugs, and hope you get sorted soon.  :-)
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hukleberrie
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2008
Posts : 491
Posted 6/17/2009 3:56 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks for the hugs! I am not very excited about this. I guess I do have few more days of Flagyl... maybe, just maybe it will help. I am still waiting on my script, was going to be on Asacol, but insurance won't pay for it & it's so expensive. I was told they found something comparable & that I would have my script Monday, but no luck. Maybe that would help, too?... I called the doctor, and am just waiting for a reply. Ugh. I hate this thing on my bum!!!
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Sore Tum
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2009
Posts : 144
Posted 6/20/2009 8:48 AM (GMT -8)
I saw my GI doc yesterday, he says once the inflammation is under control my lumpy bumpy bum bits should start to sort themselves out (but still need surgery for the fistulas :-( ). Are you not on anything for the inflammation?
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hukleberrie
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2008
Posts : 491
Posted 6/20/2009 2:12 PM (GMT -8)
Huh. I was supposed to be on Asacol, but my insurance won't cover it & it's expensive. I am still waiting for my GI IBD doc to get me a new script. I was told I would have one by last Monday, but my pharmacy never got the script.

Great. I am almost doen with the Flagyl. I guess I have to call the doctor again about it.
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Sore Tum
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2009
Posts : 144
Posted 6/21/2009 8:45 AM (GMT -8)
I didn't relise how lucky we are here in the U.K everything is a £7.20 charge and that's it. I'd chase it. Good luck.
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hukleberrie
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2008
Posts : 491
Posted 6/21/2009 1:15 PM (GMT -8)
It is $321/mo. here.

Hopefully I will hear soon. The size of the lump has decreased now, but it hasn't gone away. : ( I take my last flagyl in the morning. I hope it doesn't turn into a fistula. Anything I should be watching for?
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Sore Tum
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2009
Posts : 144
Posted 6/21/2009 10:38 PM (GMT -8)
My lumps didn't disappear but the skin healed over the top, it opens up periodically, if it's draining encourage it and if it's worrying you get the doc to have another look.
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