stricture. :(

Finally made it to the doctor's today! Though I got some bad news that I was expecting...he thinks the stricture I have is from scar tissue instead of inflammation since the course of Prednisone I just finished didn't really help with the pain/problems with appetite. He decided against trying biologics at this point because he doesn't think they'd be much help for me with the stricture. So we're looking at a scope sometime soon to see how bad the stricture is and probably surgery in the next year or two. Yikes! He put me on Flagyl in hopes that it might help, but isn't too optimistic.

Guess my question is how long do people usually go before needing surgery from this point? Anyone have any relief from Flagyl or am I wasting my time?

I'm still doing pretty good with the SCD/low residue diet. Still working. Just have no appetite. Pain on sitting up in lower right quadrant and extreme fatigue. No blockages yet (knock on wood).

It isn't all doom and gloom. A scope can tell you a lot more. My TI is nearly scarred closed, but I've never had surgery and have been mostly in remission for several years. For me the stricture itself isn't the problem, it's inflammation on top of the stricture that causes issues/blockages. By stopping the inflammation I've been able to lead a normal life (sans peanuts and popcorn) w/o surgery. They biopsied the area my last to scopes and found no inflammation at all, so we know what's there is scar tissue.

Good luck!!

I had a stricture at the TI that was scar tissue. I opted for surgery because, 1. Eating the wrong thing caused blockages, 2. I wanted to have surgery while I was in relatively good shape (and could recover quickly) rather then wait until it was an emergency and risk greater complications, 3. I was on SCD for almost a year, and felt that with the stricture gone, I would be able to eat a wider variety of legal foods.

The surgery was laproscopic (only 3 incisions), and they took out about 6 inches. I was out of the hospital in 2 1/2 days. I had always hoped that I could avoid surgery, but I'm happy I did it and got it over with.

Surgery is an option to living with stricture limitations. The surgery process is hard but it ends, while a stricture...

I removed mine almost two years ago, and hope por another half a dozen years without other one.

Had my fisrt surgery when I was about your age, to remove a stritcture. It was an emergency one. I don't recommend it. :P

Before surgery the doctor may try dilate the stricture back open.

Congrats on the marriage. I am actually getting married as well in October. I had a syricture due to inflammation about 2 months ago. Colonscopy showed inflammation and the doctor dilated it. I didn't know about the procedure until my fiancé told me on the way home. A month later I went for some radiology tests and the inflammation and stricture are gone. I am pretty sure the procedure is pretty safe and may by you sometime to get through your bachelor/bachlerotte party,wedding, and honeymoon.

I waited about a year after the CT scan showed my pain was due to a stricture. Colonoscopy also confirmed it was TIGHT. That's the exact word my GI and the surgeon used. Mine was from scar tissue so diet and drugs weren't going to help, they ended up taking about 5 inches out. Been doing great since other than now I'm taking a bile salt binder to deal with the D.

Hey are you in Pittsgurgh? For the life of me I can't remember -- if you need surgery Watson at UPMC is my choice.

Good luck -- have a great wedding!!!!