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does blockage mean surgery??

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/20/2008 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
I was told by my GI that he thinks I have a blockage. And that would explain alot of the pain and bleeding that Ive been having. But he did not seem in much hurry to fix it. He just wants to try to get my symptoms to settle some Ive been soo sick for so long, but Im worried that If I do have blockage will I have to have a major operation and if so isnt it going to make things worse if we wait longer??? I just get confused. confused
Posted 6/20/2008 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Do you mean you have a stricture? If you had a total blockage you'd know it and your doctor would be doing something. Blockages are extremely painful and usually lead to hospital visits.

A stricture is a narrow area that can cause pain and contribute to partial/full blockages, but can also be painless (at least sometimes). Not all strictures require surgery. Some are just from active inflammation and will improve with meds. Others are from scar tissue, if the tissue builds up enough and causes problems you may eventually have surgery.

I have a major stricture and have been able to successfully avoid surgery for several years. For me, problems arise when the scarred area is also inflamed, then I get real blockages. So far I've gotten through those bouts w/ hospital visits, IVs, short-term liquid diets and meds.

hope you feel better
Posted 6/21/2008 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
When I was telling him about all the pain and bleeding I was having he said "you probaly have a blockage and that wouldnt surprise me "he said he would do x-rays in two weeks.I guess I need to ask more indepth questions. Thank you for taking the time to write back .
Posted 6/21/2008 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
i had a total blockage before anyone knew i had CD, and the biopsy after the resection surgery showed CD.

now, 6 years later, i have a stricture at the resection site, but not a blockage... yet.

sounds like what you currently have is going to be attempted to be treated. most times, if you aren't completely obstructed there are things you can do to try and open it back up without surgery.
Posted 6/21/2008 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
You can live for years with even very severe strictures, but it does mean making modifications to your diet or else you are constantly at risk of obstructing. When I was diagnosed in 1978 I already had a significant stricture in the TI. Despite that it wasn't until 1993 that I had my first resection. If I had had access to the medications now available I may even have lasted a lot longer. Try to be patient while your health care team sorts out what's going on with you. And always remember, if your symptoms become acute at any point -- increasing pain and bloating, intractable vomiting and a decrease in bowel sounds -- head to the nearest emergency. Usually medical management is all that's required to get you through an obstructive episode, but you should be in hospital where you can be monitored until the episode is past.
Posted 6/21/2008 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Thank You all so much for your response.Its alot of help.
Posted 6/21/2008 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
I've had strictures and many partial blockages throughout the years. I just had a resection to prevent any full-blown blockage which would often require emergency surgery. Partial blockages are very common with strictures. If you stay on a very low-fiber diet, and meds prescribed by your GI, you could possibly prevent a full blockage from happening.

After many years, I got tired of worrying and opted for the surgery. It seemed the right time, since I had to have my gallbladder removed anyway.
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