Has anyone healed multiple fistulas without surgery

Which part and how much of the bowel is being removed?
Not the same reason so may not be helpful but I had resection of Sigmoid due to diverticulitis and redundant bowel. The Dr. performed an anastomosis to prevent a bag. Not knowing where all the fistulas are this may not be possible. But worth asking about. Prayers for a good outcome.

The small bowel. Unfortunately they won't know how much will be removed until they get in there.
Thank you for the response and prayers 🙂

The short answer is - not for me. Not once in the last 23 years.

Fistulas may have closed but if they did they created problematic scar tissue, which in one case resulted in a stricture that was 15cm long and 2mm in diameter. As you can imagine this severely limited my diet since I couldn't have any fiber. I had recurring anal abscesses that pretty much came back every year despite draining and antibiotics, and which compromised my continence.

On the other hand, once the problematic area was resected I have had very good success with Humira preventing reoccurance.

I have a rectovaginal fistula from radiotherapy for rectal cancer. It's 3.2 cm from the anus and quite wide. Due to location, size and necrotized tissue around, doctors have said it's impossible for it to close on its own, even if they did a temporary colostomy. So I'm getting a rectal recetion Jan. 26.

I developed an enterocutaneous fistula after surgery for a small bowel obstruction. Even though I had stool leaking out of my stomach, they couldn’t confirm with scans that it was a fistula. I had previously had two surgeries very close together and was also worn down from chemo. They wanted to wait and see if it would heal on its own. The fistula became evident in early to September of 2019, and then it broke off in November of 2019 causing a small bowel perforation and ultimately sepsis which almost ended my life.
I started the journey as a long time ulcerative colitis patient whose disease had been mildly managed. Cancer was discovered in April of 2019 and I had bowel resection with anastomosis (one on the right side and one on the left). I started chemo and then had the obstruction. I had a history of abscesses that began after that first surgery I developed an abscess with every resulting surgery and in a six month period, spent about 3.5 month in the hospital

Have the doctors considered putting her on TPN to avoid the bowel altogether and just get her the nutrients she needs? That was a consideration for me buT because they couldn’t confirm the fistula, they didn’t do it. After the perforation, I developed an abscess and a bowel leak; so I was placed on Aton for a few months, with nothing by mouth (even water). Full bowel rest.

Try to help her get as healthy as possible. My colon was in horrible shape but I’m so thankful I never had even a temporary ostomy. Praying for your daughter. She is so young to be dealing with that

Concon, Multiple fistulas will be difficult depending on the location of each within the small intestine. You haven't mentioned where the exit point of the fistulas is located. I had a fistula from small intestine to vagina. I had to have TPN for a week due to severe malnutrition then they repaired the fistula and gave me an ileostomy. I too have Crohn's and take Stelara. The ileostomy was reversed 2 years later after the Stelara healed the multiple ulcers within the intestines.

Hi
There is bowel to bladder and bowel to skin.
How are you doing since the reversal?

I am doing just fine now. After 2 years with the ileostomy there was 1 to 2 month retraining of the colon. Trial and error until resolved. It sounds like she probably will have ileostomy until they can treat the Crohn's.

My daughter was just diagnosed with Crohns. It is a very painful experience as a mother. I am comforted to know that I am not alone and if you would like to connect outside of this site, please let me know. All the best.

Hello. Many years ago I got two one inch fissures in my rectum and the only thing comparable to that pain was childbirth. Awful. And to top it off I had a barbaric doctor. For sure he did not like women. He finally did steroid shots in my rectum with me awake while telling me I would be asleep. Since then I have had constant trouble. In 2015 I went in to have some non-invasive female surgery and the surgeon cut my colon. He couldn’t fix it and called in another surgeon who was struggling. Finally they brought in my HERO. That surgeon put me in a stoma bag but 4 1/2 months later reversed it and I have done beautifully. If I had been with my hero surgeon from the get go he would have done surgery and closed this fissures up. I know because I have talked to some of his patients. All of this to say have faith if you like and trust your doctor..you must trust your doctor…they will get in there and do what they have been trained to do to get you to feeling better. Will you please keep us posted and ask any questions that you like? This is a wonderful group of people who have been through their own trials which make them kind and caring about you. Prayers for you. Diane.