Those aren't the typical symptoms of a fistula and you do realize fistulas aren't common with UCers? A fistula starts as an abcess. Abcesses are extremely painful and along with the pain there is generally a fever. It would be hard to miss an abcess or fistula. Also if she had a recto-vaginal fistula she would have stool coming out of her vaginal area. Again, hard to miss.
Sue
dx proctitis in 1987
dx UC in 1991, was stable until 1998
1998 started prednisone, asacol, pentasa, nortriptylene, ativan, 6MP, rowasa enemas and suppositories, hydrocortisone enemas, tried the SCD diet, being a vegetarian, omega 3s, flax, pranic healing, yoga, acupuncture, probiotics
2000 lost all my B-12 stores and became anemic
2001 opted for j-pouch surgery- now living life med-free