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Rectal Stricture

Thu, June 06, 2013 2:55 PM

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s back in 2007 and developed a rectal stricture which has made my life very difficult, especially the last year and a half. I have been through every med on the common list of IBD meds nothing has worked but Humira, only problem is the Humira doesn’t do anything for the old stricture it only prevents new ones. I have been through 2 strictureplasty surgeries in 2007, 15 balloon dilation procedures with sedation between 2009-2012 , 4 hegar dilation procedures under anesthesia between 2012-2013, self dilation every day for a year and nothing has worked long term. I have even been through steroid injections to the area and it didn’t seem to help. I have seen many GI surgeons over the years and have been told that someday I would need a resection, and I’m afraid that time is probably going to be soon. I am concerned a lot about the fact that I will most likely end up with an ostomy because for the location of the stricture in close proximity to the muscles for control. I am worried that my quality of life will be affected in a negative way and end up worse that what it is now. I am also worried because I had a terminal ileum resection in 2008 which was a long recovery because of an infection and created a ventral hernia which I had to have repaired in 2010. I don’t want the hernia mesh affected and go through that again either. Has anyone been through anything similar? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

cherryblossom11
Joined Jul 21, 2011

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