Anyone with a stricture in colon--please help!!

Was there any reason they didn't try to dialate it while they were in there? There are a few folk on here who have had their strictures dialated. Maybe PB4 will be along soon and maybe she can give you more info. I know she has Crohns Colitis herself, don't know if she's had a stricture though.

Hi

I have crohn's colitis and was diagnosed back in april.  I also was told that i had a stricture of my colon.  They weren't able to get the camera through to see what was past it so they did a CT scan on me, which they told me it just confirmed the crohn's.  I wasn't really told much about the stricture.  I knew what it was but i wasn't told if it was bad.  They were going to start me on remicade to see if that would heal it but my insurance dropped me and my GI never tried to get me in his office to get it started.  So right now---i'm going to go see a different GI.  I was told if the stricture didn't get better i would have to have that part of my colon taken out.  I'm getting a second opinion on my treament options.  I know i probably haven't helped much...i'm still new to this...but I feel for you....having to devote your time to kids is hard when you feel bad.  Hang in there...

God Bless,

Christina

Thanks for the replies/information/encouragement, everyone.

Nanners, they did not dialate it when they were in there because that procedure would have to be performed by a colo-rectal surgeon, and my GI was the one doing the colonoscopy. (this is what i was told, at least). Also, the stricture is not currently causing any functional problems (stuff can still pass through without much of a problem), but as I said my main concern is that they can no longer see polyps in the early stages and cut them out now.

I have already had a recurrent stricture in my anus, but dialating this is a minor procedure I have had done already a few times. Dialating colon has much more risk of rupturing...

Belleenstein, thanks for the info about stricturplasty. That sounds like the least-invasive procedure--I would definitely opt for this if my doctor thinks it will work for me. I REALLY do not want to get a resection if possible... As for the ileostomy comments, I agree that that should be a last resort only. My surgeons (who are some of the best in the country, truly), have been telling me I should get one since I was 18...

Chrissy, I am sorry that you are having health problems too, and dealing with insurance companies--especially when you are sick--is a nightmare. I hope that you find a good GI that will help you to take the best care of yourself. It took me 3 years to find a GI who actually found a treatment that worked for me.

Mormor Vicky, I am the same age as your daughter, and my mother also has Crohn's colitis. Last year, they found that she had colon cancer, and she had much of her colon removed. She has recovered fully and there is no sign of the cancer left. :) Her having cancer is part of the reason I am so concerned about getting it as well. She had no Crohn's symptoms until she was in here 30's, but my Crohn's came out when I was only 15. They say that after 10 years with the disease, your risk of cancer is quite high. I intend to hold off and ileostomy as long as possible..it sounds horrible to have a bag, but when you compare it to getting cancer and dying at a young age it doesn't seem so bad at all..


Thanks, everyone. I will look into stricturplasty, and let you know if they say it is right for me! Have a good weekend.

Bumped old threads don't tend to get many replies, so you might get a few more if you make a new one. That said, colonic strictures in Crohn's are rare: we usually have them in the small bowel. In your case, a resection is another thing to consider, though it might not be possible - that is something you would need to speak to your doctors about. I can certainly understand the reluctance to have major surgery given the lack of symptoms - I am a bit surprised at that, tbh. Do you still have left-sided inflammation or has that gone?