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I was diagnosed with crohns over 5 yrs ago. I have severe diarrhea every day of my life, its nothing for me to go 30 times a day. I eat, it comes right back out! ive tried several medicines nothing has helped!  I have been really sore and raw feeling for a week now, when I try to wipe, i have to pat cause it hurts so bad. I am also in pain in the perinium(skin between anus & vagina) when I pee it makes it burn really bad. realized last night there were little things around my anal and on my perinium that look like abscesses.  I went to family dr today and she said it may be fistuals but I would need to see my gastro to make sure. it is so painful it hurts to sit, wipe or wash.  Sitting in a bath even makes it burn. My gastro retired so I am in process of being referred to someone else and dont even have appt set up yet waiting on dr. office to finsih referral.  Has anyone else ever had this problem and what can I do to help the pain until I get to see a gastro??? What does this mean and what are they??? i had never heard of them until today and i am so nervous and in so much pain!  PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!!

 Reply posted for atruelove.

Thnak you so much for keeping me in your prayers. That is the only thing that is keeping me going right now. I did go to ER this morning because I was in soooo much pain. The hospital where I live is not that great, but  I was desperate.  After being there for 4 hours a dr walked in barely even looked at it, did a anal exam which about killed me it brought me to tears, he was in the room maybe a min. He barely looked at it and acted like he really didn't care.  He prescribed Lidocaine ointment, someother kind of cream and Ultram for pain. I left in tears because it just feels hopeless, I am on disability and have medicare.  The Lidocaine is the only med. that my medicare prescription covers. The other cream is 66.00!!!! I can't afford to get it, and the Pain med was 18.00.  My husband is laid off work right now and we are struggling. I got a call today that the earliest I can get into see my new Gastro is Nov. 24!!! i have been in tears all afternoon. I don't know what to do it just feels hopeless!! How long am I gonna have to hurt before someone helps me or I can afford to buy med??? Its depressing. Please, Please keep me and my family in your prayers we need all we can get. Thank you again

 Reply posted for tlyle421.

I had a fistula in the exact same place you are describing.  I had before I was ever diagnosed with Crohn's disease.  You are right, it is extremely painful.  The only advice I can offer you at this point is just try sitz baths and I would even put a warm washcloth on it at times.  That was 16 years ago.  It was very scary at the time and I know the pain and desperation you must feeling.  The best advice I can give you is just keep on your doctor's office and tell them you need to see someone ASAP.  I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts.

God Bless!

 Reply posted for teacher74.

thank you so much for your help, i have been in so much pain and just dont know what to do and my dr office wont hurry and get my referal done to my new gastro dr so I can do something. sitting in a bath even hurts and for now I have been using preperation H just to help numb it a little, it don't really help!! Thank you for your help I really appreciate it very much!!

 Reply posted for tlyle421.

I'm sorry to say it sounds like it is fistulas/perianal abcesses.  I recently endured it also.  If let go it will swell up similar to a hemroid (which I had never had) until it bursts.  When this happened to me I didn't know what to do and waited until it burst.  Don't wait!! If it an abcess it can make you extremely ill.  Either way it was extremely painful.  I had to have what called seton drains put in to keep this from reoccurring.  I won't lie it's not a pleasant thing and these have to remain in.  Basically, they are tubes (thin) placed, in and out of the rectal area.  It makes sitting extremely uncomfortable.  I still experience the extreme discomfort associated with going to the bathroom a ridiculous amount and the burning is at times unbearable.  The doctor suggested warm baths, however, at times this did not help.  He also gave me a precription for Lidocaine, which to me made it burn more (it's suppose to numb the area).  The only thing that I have found to be helpful and bear with me is A&D ointment (not creme).  Everytime I use the bathroom, I pat/clean the area and put this on.  I also do it after bathing.  I do it no matter what even when not bothering me.  The other issue is the urine.  As strange as it may sound, I tried my best to block the urine from hitting the area.  Or when at home, would sit in a bath 3-5 minutes just to soothe the area before putting on the ointment.  Also sometimes a cool/cold compress helps soothe the area.  I hope this helps.