Anyone else out there suffering from this kind of fistula like I am? It's so annoying to deal with and the latest surgeon I met with on Monday basically told me that she didn't have much hope that a plug or flap (or combination of the two) would heal this kind of fistula. Fistulotomy is not an option given how high up this is. We're hoping that my new combination of Imuran with high dosage (10 ml) of remicade might help and the plan is to wait a few months to see.
On a different note, I am hopeful that research is being done to help with difficult to treat fistulas like mine. One of the leading GI doctors told me that she is working on getting FDA approval to do work on stem cells to treat fistulas like mine and that some studies in Europe using stem cells are showing promising results already. Hopefully someone will come up witha treatment to help people like me who just want a life free of pain and discomfort.
On a different note, I am hopeful that research is being done to help with difficult to treat fistulas like mine. One of the leading GI doctors told me that she is working on getting FDA approval to do work on stem cells to treat fistulas like mine and that some studies in Europe using stem cells are showing promising results already. Hopefully someone will come up witha treatment to help people like me who just want a life free of pain and discomfort.