I have been diagnosed with UC since I was 21 years old. (39 now) It started as an occasional flare up and ended up with a full colectomy in 2010. After going septic 5 days later, 6 days in a coma, 3 months in the hospital, and a completely different lifestyle, I am still experiencing complications with fistulas. I have had fistulas cut out 4 times over the last 3 years, but they just keep coming back. I am told because my rectal stump still has UC. I now have 2 active fistulas; 1 at the top of my butt cheeks (for lack of better terminology) and 1 at the lower end of my butt cheeks which is new, very painful and about the size of a nickel.
So I basically have 2 options: Hope that sometime soon my rectal stump is healed and I can have reattachment surgery (Which if anyone is aware of anything that will help with healing I'm all ears) or have my rectal stump removed. Which means I'm a bagger for life. Which I've learned isn't the end of the world, but obviously not ideal.
I would like to hear from those that have had their rectum removed, both pros and cons, to help in my decision.
Thank you

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