Balloon Dilation of Stricture?

OK, so after a few years of being in remission, I'm having issues with a partial obstruction. Thank God the new doc I'm seeing doesn't think I'm a fool and trusts what I feel is happening with my own body. (I've had partial and complete obstructions before.) I had a resection done in '03 and I'm pretty sure it's a stricture from the scar tissue. I have a CT scan Monday and they already did blood work yesterday to look for inflammation and such (all the standard stuff).

Anyway, if it is a stricture, he suggested we look at dilation of the stricture. From what I've read and from what he's told me, I could be in every couple of months having this done. Now while I really would rather not have any more intestine removed, I don't think the thought of recurrent dilations is great either - especially with a chance each time of perforation.

So if anyone has had this done, could you tell me about it? I read where they actually like your feedback while doing this - i.e. -being awake during the procedure. Unless I'm drugged beyond my knowledge, I don't want to be awake!

Thanks for all the help!!!

Hey I have recently had a stricture ballooned in Feb I've also just had to have a resection and ended up with an Ileostomy but one of the strictures that i have is right at the very end and we are trying to avoid me having an Ileostomy for the rest of my life so I'm having weekly dilation done for the next four weeks, It's not the best thing to have to keep on going back. The procedure isn't really bad though and you should be under general and every time I've had it, it's just been day surgery. Hope that everything goes well for you.

I read where they actually like your feedback while doing this - i.e. -being awake during the procedure. Unless I'm drugged beyond my knowledge, I don't want to be awake!

You will not be awake, not for the dilation.

I had a stricture dilated several times between 2002-2008.
I had it dilated once or twice in 2009, then I finally pushed for surgery, and had it removed in November 2009.

Having it dilated, was similar to the relief I got from actually having surgery to remove it, quite the same.

The dilation was a temporary fix, this relief lasted maybe 3-4 weeks total, those first two weeks were REALLY nice, amazing.
But I started having problems with the stricture again, after that.

There is also a risk of perforation, but I had this done many times, and never seen it happen once.
It is of course something to keep in mind though, that risk I mean, but let your g.i. worry about that, it's his job.

I stopped having the sticture dilated, and finally just went and had major surgery to get the thing removed.
This part was completely up to me, nobody could make this decision for me.

I think it was about 3 inches, that is what they removed from my colon.
Mine was near my rectum, which scared me a great deal, but it turned out to be no problem.

My life has been MUCH better, once I healed up from the surgery.
I don't regret my decision to have it removed.

Take Care