I know where you are coming from. My fistula tract began forming over the Christmas break last year (a couple months after my LIS when an abscess formed) and my CRS was away and left nobody in his office to take care of his patients, should a problem occur. I expected a problem too as he had already treated me for an abscess, not by opening it up but by giving me really nasty antibiotics that made me feel like I was dying every day. The antibiotics were the only thing that would have me feel like I was getting better (swelling, heat and spasm reduced) but would only get worse again each time I went off (and these were the really dangerous kind too that should only be taken for a short time-I spent 3/4 weeks on them because people couldn't figure things out-it was hell! And a big no-no, but I had no choice at the time. My GP couldn't believe this. I called my CRS's office and they told me to go to emergency. Nobody there would see me and I clearly needed an experienced CRS. What a joke. Like I wanted to sit there writhing in pain only to be seen by some generic ER Dr who would likely dismiss me as it was non-life-threatening or make things worse because this requires specialist's attention.
My GP actually called my CRS's office after I told her this and she had them okay me to see another Doctor- general surgeon- in the hospitals outpatient clinic where I had my surgeries. It was nice she did this but he was of no use as he couldn't see the infection. Problem was that I was on antibiotics at the time so it was getting better. What I needed was to have a proper investigation- EUA- so for this I would have to wait for my CRS to return. He wouldn't even give me more antibiotics so that time was really bad. Christmas was awful. When my CRS came back I still had to wait longer yet until he had ER time for me. He even yelled at me once when I was 'being impatient' about it all! The whole ordeal took months!
Just wanted to share this to let you know that I understand your frustration with our system but also that things worked out in the end. I had to take a lot of pain pills and antibiotics to get through that time but I am trying to move forward now and have mostly let go of it. I wish I could offer you some more advise or help in some way. Just know you are not alone and things will get better. I wonder if a round of antibiotics would at least keep things at bay for you until they can get in there. They would at least reduce some of the bacterial multiplication. I was on Ciprofloxacin and Flagyl (they should be given together). Maybe even your GP could do this for you?
