Hello Tina. Yes, I had an attempted repair in Cleveland Clinic Florida, which did not take. I then went to New York, Langone Center, but they did not want the job. I am living with it at the moment. Hoping science will move forward. My case is complicated by radiation damage. How are you doing yourself? - Meg
Highlander15
Mar 18, 2013 5:20 pm
Past Member
Mar 19, 2013 12:34 am
Hi Meg-
The fistula is difficult to live with some days. Mine is due to surgery for diverticulitis and tumor removal. No chemo or radiation. I have a hard time balancing my diet and digestion. They say the fistula can cause this. I sent my records to the surgeon that wrote Atlas of the Pelvic Floor. She feels Cleveland is where I should go. My current colorectal surgeon wants to place a stoma, then repair it with synthetics. I am concerned about the outcome with synthetics. I am also emailing with a urogyn surgeon at Mt. Sinai.
Please take good care, Meg. And stay in touch. I was hoping to see Rach.
Teena
The fistula is difficult to live with some days. Mine is due to surgery for diverticulitis and tumor removal. No chemo or radiation. I have a hard time balancing my diet and digestion. They say the fistula can cause this. I sent my records to the surgeon that wrote Atlas of the Pelvic Floor. She feels Cleveland is where I should go. My current colorectal surgeon wants to place a stoma, then repair it with synthetics. I am concerned about the outcome with synthetics. I am also emailing with a urogyn surgeon at Mt. Sinai.
Please take good care, Meg. And stay in touch. I was hoping to see Rach.
Teena
This is a remarkable community of 40,871 members.
You will get real advice from fellow ostomates who truly understand you - things you won't find in the books.
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Privacy is very important - your profile is not visible to the outside world.
Hugo
This site has been a blessing for me in learning how to cope with and navigate this journey as an ostomate. I have a colostomy as a result of a perforation in my colon since May of this year. I don't know yet if it will be permanent or reversible. The people on here have provided me with so much advice and information about living with an ostomy that I don't think I could get anywhere else. You all have given me hope and a place to come to for support. I still struggle with acceptance, but know that it will come if I am patient. Patience has never been my strong suit! Also, I love all the humor, although it really pissed me off when I first came on here. Thanks to all of you.
orthogroup19
May 06, 2017 3:38 am
Hello! I too have had several attempts of repair for a RV fistula and now have an ileostomy. Thinking of getting a second opinion. I live about 2 hours south of St. Louis and had the attempted repairs done in St. Louis. I was wondering what the name of your doctor who repaired your fistula? Thank you!
KADC2012
May 17, 2017 4:11 pm
Hi everyone. I am looking at having this surgery, with the gracilis muscle, to correct my rectovaginal fistula. I am having the hardest time finding any information from people who have had the surgery. Could any of you please share your experience? I know this thread is old, but I am desperate for more information. I am just sick to my stomach about all of this. Before this, I was a perfectly healthy 28-year-old woman. I have one baby, and desperately want to have more, but obviously cannot right now.
I just 3 weeks ago had a failed anal flap repair (My first surgery to try and repair), and now my surgeon here in Alabama wants to do the Gracilis Flap repair with an Ostomy. I am waiting on getting my medical records so I can send them to the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic for second opinions. For those who have had the surgery, do you mind giving me more information, such as
- Was it successful?
- What did recovery look like?
- Are you now able to be intimate with your significant other, and if so, how long after? My husband has been WONDERFUL in dealing with all of this, but I just want to know when we would be able to again?
- Has anyone gone on to have more children?
- Did you have your ostomy reversed?
Thank you so much in advance!