NECESSARY SURGERY?

[tiffany74]

Is it possible for strictures to heal?Is surgery always necessary?I would like to have as much info as possible before making a final decision.Thanks!

[coughting]

My small intestine was in a wad close to where the small intestine and the colon meet.  I had a bariatric doctor who had preformed lots of resections and lots of laproscopic surgeries.  He assured me that he would try and do it by laproscopy.  He was able to do this with what they call hand assist.  (because of the amount of small intestine he had to remove.)  I lost quite a bit of blood and had to have a transfusion.  He stated that he didn't know how I could have gone on with how bad that part of the bowel was.  Because of how bad the bowel was and losing blood, I was in the hospital for a week instead of 3 days.  However, I was back at work 18 days later.  I had surgery on a Thursday and was back at work 2 weeks after that Monday.  I really didn't push it, I was doing great by then.  It was in July of 07 and so far no flare ups.  But when I don't feel well, I rest and don't push it.  I know that it isn't curable, but hopefully it will stay in remission.  Hope this helps.

[tiffany74]

Would you be willing to give me any advice/insight/opinion on your resection? I'm going for yet another colonoscopy to determine which surgery is "right" for me...I'm VERY reluctant to have any.Looking for answers.

[coughting]

I too had to have bowel resection and fought it all the way.  As I have stated so many times, make sure the surgeon is a baritric surgeon and is skilled at laproscopic surgery.  There is no guarantee that he can do it by laproscopy but at least he will try.  Mine was able to do this and even though I had fought against surgeon I had developed a fistula and had to have surgery.  But this was a blessing, they found a small cancer in the wad of bowels they took out.  But it was found early and I didn't have to have any other treatment, other than follow up by my Oncologist.  
Chrons is different in everyone and is not cured.  UC can be cured by a colostomy.  Not great I know.  I so far have been lucky and have not had any flares since the resection 3 years ago.  Other people have it so bad and it flares again and again.  I will tell you that I was on Remicade before the fistula and was feeling like a new person.  Best of luck
Jayne

[tiffany74]

Thank you so much for your response.Sorry for the delay in getting back with you.I have been trying to gather as much info as possible for my appointment,which is tomorrow.
Its funny(not in a haha way)that you say youre darned if you do and darned if you dont because thats EXACTLY how I feel.I have had this since I was 10 and just this past year I have started to feel better.Now this! Its such a catch 22.Now they are uncertain if I actually have Crohns or Colitis so Ive been newly diagnosed as "Indeterminable colitis" Which of course is a new way of saying they have no idea:) Im 35 and a mother of 3 and am really unsure how to proceed from here...?

[lizziecee]

Hi Tiffany74,

I have had Crohn's (in both small intestine and colon) for 40 yrs - diagnosed in 1970. About 18 months ago an MRI scan showed I had strictures in my colon and I was advised to have a resection of them, along with resection of the ulcered/abscessed areas of the small intestine. The operation was called a right hemi-colectomy.  It was major surgery and I was in hospital for 14 days. I had not had any resections beforehand.  My gastro and my surgeon explained that the strictures were due to previous inflammation and could not be cured by medication. There is a risk if the strictures become too narrowed so that faeces cannot pass through, the colon will burst, causing infection in the lower abdomen, and possible septicaemia. I felt I had no choice but to go ahead.

Initially, my Crohn's symptoms inproved (faecal incontinence and severe pain before having a bowel movement) but this year the pain is back, and I suffer incontinence with explosive diarrhea maybe 2-3 days out of 7.  I am back on Infliximab infusions, which is helping the diarrahea, but the pain before having a movement is still a problem. I understand that Infliximab can indeed cause strictures, so it seems I am darned if I take the medication or darned if I don't. I am seeing my gastro on the 25th October after an infusion and will address the question of possible strictures with him then.

I have had a recent flare (6 weeks ago) and was hospitalised for 5 days. The CT scan showed thickening around the anastomosis (surgical join between the small intestine and colon) which I guess is one way my gastro described new strictures!  

I guess you have Crohn's?  Seems as if strictures are a fairly common problem with this disease, and I feel fortunate to have gone for so many years without surgical intervention.

Please let me know if I can help you further.

take care,
Liz.

[tiffany74]

There are two strictures apparently in my colon.Any ideas?

[harrald]

Are you referring to stricture inside the esophagus?Twice in 15 years the stricture in my esophagus was spread open with the endoscope. Each time it was spread, there was no pain, and I could eat the foods like breads that use to get glogged in my esophagus.

[harrald]

Are you referring to stricture inside the esophagus?Twice in 15 years the stricture in my esophagus was spread open with the endoscope. Each time it was spread, there was no pain, and I could eat the foods like breads that use to get glogged in my esophagus.

[harrald]

Are you referring to stricture inside the esophagus?Twice in 15 years the stricture in my esophagus was spread open with the endoscope. Each time it was spread, there was no pain, and I could eat the foods like breads that use to get glogged in my esophagus.

[harrald]

Are you referring to stricture inside the esophagus?Twice in 15 years the stricture in my esophagus was spread open with the endoscope. Each time it was spread, there was no pain, and I could eat the foods like breads that use to get glogged in my esophagus.

[harrald]

Are you referring to stricture inside the esophagus?Twice in 15 years the stricture in my esophagus was spread open with the endoscope. Each time it was spread, there was no pain, and I could eat the foods like breads that use to get glogged in my esophagus.

[harrald]

Are you referring to stricture inside the esophagus?Twice in 15 years the stricture in my esophagus was spread open with the endoscope. Each time it was spread, there was no pain, and I could eat the foods like breads that use to get glogged in my esophagus.