Fistula, Fistula, Wherefore Art Thou Fistula!

Possible small bowl issues/ fistula— is the new story of my life! Well not really new, its been almost TWO years of this!

So, I did a few stool test and they came back okay- all within normal markers but I am still feeling sick and my local GI agreed with my Mississippi GI, to do a pill cam to look at my small bowl.

This is what comes to mind when I have to do these stool tests. Who else is with me?!?

When my local GI agreed I legit had a mental victory dance. I have this set for Monday!

I have never had this kind of test done before so I am nervous and NOT looking forward to the half a colonosopy prep! ( YUCK)

* I have this idea for another blog post because I think there is a lot to say about this— but for the sake of sharing all the things that came from this apt; my local GI was little on the ehh side of ordering the pill cam test- what really came down to him saying yes was when he asked me, “ have you passed any air through your vagina.” I said no- because what in the world even is that. He then said something about bubbles in your urine and that when a lightbulb lit up!

I had taken a picture the other day of bubbles in the toilet after I peed- ( yes, I know, I take A LOT of pictures) I thought this was so strange. It was this picture that showed him enough proof that maybe there could be a fistula. It was definitely a strange picture to share but it was helpful! He then told me that people who get diagnosed as young as I have live more than half their lives not knowing what is not normal. This really stuck with me because I do think all the time of what is life like without all these “problems”.

I also saw my gynecologist and he referred me to see my surgeon and gynecologist down at Shands. He thinks that the fistula might still be there is there is not seen in the pill cam. Even if my Crohns is okay, he said it might be the Endo or scar tissue causing all this pain. He thinks this is the only team that should go into me to look. While the thought of surgery scares, I know that is no way to live.

Overall it was a very productive and validating day. I really felt like they wanted to do everything they could to get to the bottom of this. Let’s see what happens.