Community Forum

I have been diagnosed with Crohn's for 6-7 years.  I thank God/Spirit that my condition is mild.  It is controlled with Humira.  I have two strictures to my transverse colon that are very close together. Tomorrow, I will undergo barium x-ray and fluorscope to determine the health status of my small intestine. 

I am weighing my options of Endoscopic Balloon Dilation, resectioning or possibly Strictureplasty of my colon. 

What has been your experience?

 Reply posted for veramae.

I am consuming the same diet of natural, organic foods that I was prior to surgery. Not sure I will attempt to consume nuts and their butters in the future. Definitely no popcorn for me. Most likely I will continue with Humira as a safe net for flare ups.

 Reply posted for veramae.

I had my colon resectional surgery on 02Apr10. I was released Saturday (10Apr) afternoon. My transverse colon had two strictures that was causing waste in the ascending colon to back up leading to extreme bloating, constipation and distention that caused atrophy to my ascending colon wall and muscles. Humira helped to improve the health of my entire GI that Doc Rocco was able to save more of my colon than originally anticipated. He reconnected the far end of my small intestine, saving my ileum, to the beginning of my descending colon. This is the first time in years (10+) that I feel comfortable within my abdominal cavity.

 Reply posted for veramae.

Thank you all for your input.  I have decided to have resectional surgery with the removal of my transverse colon.  There are two unknowns about my colon.  The first is the condition of my ascending colon is unknown.  Doc has not been able to scope beyond the strictures and the barium x-rays only give shape, not the healthiness of the inside wall.  Having experienced dilation from gas and waste build up, my ascending colon could be experiencing atrophy.  The second is a concern that the stricturing could be caused by cancer.  Only the large intestine experiences cancer development.  My surgery is scheduled for 02Apr.  I will make an attempt to post how I am doing afterwords.  It is through reading some of the blog entries that I am feeling comfortable with this decision.  Most seem to be happier, healthier for longer periods of time after the resectional surgery.  Many Blessings, VeraMae

 Reply posted for veramae.

I've had CD for 20 years, even though it was mis-diagnosed as UC in 1989 and only confirmed as CD last November.  While under the impression that I had UC, I had a j-pouch colectomy performed in 1997.  A few years ago, I started having pain after eating.  After many tests, a surgeon discovered two strictures on either end of the pouch.

At that time, I started having balloon dilitations every 3-4 months.  Sometimes, the pain would stay away for several weeks, sometimes it would come right back as soon as I was able to eat after the procedure.

I did this for about 18 months until my surgeon finally said that the dilitation was only working on one stricture, but the one higher up was actually worse than before.  We decided surgery (strictureplasty) was the best option, and I had the surgery a week ago.

My advice to you is to try the dilitation.  It's a relatively painless procedure, and you're only out of commission for a day or two.  It may take several times, but at least you can make a more informed decision if it appears surgery is needed.

I was nervous about the surgery with its long hosptial stay and recovery time, but I know that it was the best thing to do because the dilitations weren't working. I don't think, however, that I would have been able to jump right to surgery without first trying the "simpler" procedure.

 Reply posted for veramae.

I HAVE HAD CROHNS SINCE I WAS 13 YRS OLD AND HAD TO HAVE A BOWEL RESECTIONAL WHEN I WAS 17 THEY HAD TO REMOVE MY ILIUM. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD FLARE UPS. I GET SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR PAIN CONTROL AND IV STEROIDS TO KEEP THE INFLAMMATION UNDER CONTROL. I JUST RECENTLY HAD FOUND OUT THAT I HAD A BOWEL OBSTRUCTION CAUSED BY SCAR TISSUE BUILD UP IN THE AREA WHERE I HAD MY ILIUM REMOVED SO I HAD TO HAVE A TI BALLOONING TO KEEP THE AREA OPEN. THEY SAID THAT MY OPTIONS ARE THAT I HAVE TO GET ROUTINE TI BALLOONINGS TO KEEP THAT AREA OPEN EVERY 4 MONTHS OR GO IN AND HAVE ANOTHER BOWEL SURGERY. THEY DONT REALLY WANT TO DO ANOTHER BOWEL SURGERY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SAVE AS OF MY BOWEL AS THEY CAN. PLUS I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN THAT ARE 6 AND 3 SO IF I HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY I WILL BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 15 DAYS AND WHO WOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM? I HAVE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH THIS ILLNESS SINCE IVE HAD IT. DOCTORS ARE ALWAYS TELLING ME DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY DONT KNOW WHAT CAUSES FLARE UPS AND THEY NEVER WILL KNOW. I HAVE ALWAYS ATE WHAT I WANTED AND REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE SINCE I HAD MY ILIUM REMOVED I WILL ALWAYS HAVE 6-8 RUNNY STOOLS A DAY SO HOW CAN YOU TELL??? ITS HARD AND IM GLAD THAT I FOUND A SUPPORT GROUP IN MY AREA SO I CAN GAIN MORE KNOWLEDGE FROM OTHER PPL WITH CROHNS BECAUSE IT REALLY HELPS.