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Rectal Stricture

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/9/2010 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have been diagnosed with UC but have a rectal stricture, which my surgeon said is more common in Crohn's disease.  Anyway, he tried to stretch it digitally a few weeks ago but I haven't seen much of a difference and it's such a struggle to empty my bowels.  I panic when I think I might get constipated for fear of getting a blockage that I can't pass.  If anyone else has this problem, I am eager for any advice in dealing with it and learning how to deal with the fear and discomfort.  Thanks. 

 

Posted 12/9/2010 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh, this is one of my fears. I have chronic inflammation in my rectum. So far no stricture there that I'm aware of, but how do you tell? I had an esophageal stricture and that was easy to explain - can't swallow! My GI opened that up with a balloon. Is that possible with a stricture in the rectum?
Posted 12/9/2010 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Kazbern: I didn't know that I had a stricture until my colonoscopy in August but I had complained to my doctor that my stools were very thin and small in diameter and that I had difficulty passing them. Now I know why, after he noticed it on the colonoscopy examination. He sent me to a surgeon who tried to stretch it digitally but it doesn't seem much better. The balloon method has been mentioned and I guess I just have to wait and see. In the meantime, as I've mentioned, I really worry about getting a blockage and I'm sure a nervous and tense body doesn't help matters! I am still hoping someone has some advice on dealing with it. By the way, did the balloon help with the esophageal stricture and is it a lasting solution? How was it done ... under anasthesia?
Posted 12/9/2010 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
yes it is possible, a friend of mine had one rectum dilatation just 2 days ago.
Posted 3/21/2011 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
hi there - i did a search regarding strictures and came up with this post. i too, was diagnosed with a rectal stricture, in January, 2011. I have crohns. Just about 3 weeks prior to a routine colonoscopy, I began having alot of trouble passing stool, but thought I was constipated. They had to do the colonoscopy with a pediatric scope. I immediately put my self of a soft diet and did not eat very much. It seems to be much better. I went from a soft diet to a semisoft low residue diet and unless i go off that diet... it seems to be somewhat better.

do you have any suggestions? how have you been?
Posted 3/22/2011 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Have a rectal stricture for over 20 years.

My stools are fairly small, I try to go 4-5 times a day and they usually pass quickly.

When I am having problems:

I lubricate the rectum upwards with hemorrhoid cream, that slips and slides the stool
Ocassionally use stool softeners and drink plenty of water
Also do sitz baths in the bathtub to relax the area, strictures get tighter with stress and anticipation of trouble.

My opinion of digital rectal stretching is that it is fairly worthless, there is a lot of scar tissue and inflammation there, inserting something there tends to bounce back within hours.
Posted 3/22/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
thanks so very much! Do you follow any type of diet... ie. a low residue diet?

Are you on any medication geared toward reducing inflamation in that area?
Posted 7/13/2012 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
I see these are very old posts, but just  wanted to say I have an anal or rectum stricture and it is making life completely miserable!!  I am doing  visceral manipulation and if anyone is interested I will let them know if there are any good results out of this.  If this doesn't work I am flying  to LA to see someone  there who I have heard can fix the issue without SURGERY!!
Posted 9/12/2014 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am a new member that joined in September 2014. I realize these posts are older posts, but I think my input will have some merit since I have was diagnosed with Crohn's disease 28 years ago and have a anal or rectal stricture. I have had an anal stricture for many years and every year or 2 I have to have it stretched. On September 8, 2014 I had my 4th dilation. What happens to me when the stricture closes is that a portion of my stool gets stuck and will not come out. I have to bear down then back off and them it sometimes the stool come out. Often times though I have wait a little while before the stool comes out. I am taking a tool softener every night before I go to bed to make my stools soft and I also take Psyllium fiber every night before I go to bed. I hope this helps. One last thing my doctor told me is that the scar tissue that forms the stricture can only be stretched so many times then it wont work anymore. After that happens the doctor me I will have to wear a colostomy bag. I wont allow that to happen. I will get many more opinions before I have to wear a bag
Posted 9/14/2014 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
I have a rectal stricture too. It's pretty bad. But I'd honestly rather be dead than have a colostomy bag. Seriously. That will be something that I will NEVER get.
Posted 9/15/2014 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Moishepipik, I am writing because of five years of suffering with the darn stricture for me was hell. As far as I'm concerned there were many a time I wished I was just dead; however, with much internet research along with my Chinese herbalist's help it is GONE!

I spent probably a couple thousand dollars or more trying everything I could to get rid of that. I don't recommend what I did for everyone but I am going to share it because maybe it will help one person. I do not have crohn's disease. I have ulcerative proctitis.

My solution was to dedicate myself to taking Serrapeptase for 1 year and this year I got so sick and tired of the stricture that I read about N-Acetyl Glucosamine and a study they did in children with crohn's disease and used this n-acetyl glucosamine in enema form and it got rid of their strictures in six months.

So I took the Serrapeptase and along with that started doing N-Acetyl Glucosamine in enema form, retaining it for 1/2 hour. So after about 3 months of Serrapeptase and 1 month of N/Gluco. I took a vibrator and slowly tried to push through it. I was very fortunate in that I broke it open, mind you, lots of blood everywhere, but it is GONE. It was extremely frightening, I will say that, and unbelievably not painful at all!

Maybe it's not for everybody but it worked for me along with constant prayer!
Posted 9/16/2014 7:08 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed this old post that I had written and had to respond. I was never able to get the stricture problem remedied, even though there were several attempts to dilate my rectum. Any relief was short lived and in fact things worsened to the point that everything backed up, got infected and I began to form abscesses in my sigmoid and descending colon. I was hospitalized with an abscess in 2012, then with 2 of them in 2013. I was told that surgery was the only answer but kept putting it off. I was suffering terribly while straining to have bowel movements that tore me up and consisted of blood most of the time.  I finally became so ill that I had no choice but to have surgery and was lucky that I didn't die from a perforation while waiting. The surgeon was surprised to find that I had 2 abscesses the size of oranges in my colon and there was so much infection that they had trouble seeing everything. Anyway, I did end up with a colostomy and also a proctectomy and anal closure. It wasn't fun but I have no regrets and I am happy to be alive to tell you about it because it was a close call. A colostomy is hard to accept but it beats dying, and you really can get used to it and live again. I am sure that many, who have had to go this route will agree. Best of luck.

Post Edited (ep49) : 9/16/2014 1:11:24 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/16/2014 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry for you! Just having ulcerative proctitis has been a nightmare and you have shown me that I need to count my blessings. Your attitude is something I wish I had. Take care of yourself!

I think it's my faith in God that tells me there is something much, much better beyond this world. So I am not too sure being alive in this world with a disease that is not all that easy to handle keeps me too connected here, but I'm still here and I'll wait it out.

I don't mean to be a downer so to speak. I enjoy my life; it's just that it would be better if I had my health.

Glad you're okay!
Posted 9/16/2014 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
I had a severe rectal stricture for a couple years that was crazy small when they finally went in there for my surgery. She said it was only a couple cm across. No wonder I was having such trouble! Anyway, I never said I was against getting a "bag," I just never even considered it was something that could happen until my surgeon mentioned it. I eventually begged for the surgery. I have had a colostomy for 4.5 years now and my life is so much better. I still have CD and ostomies have their own set of headaches, but I am so glad I never have to strain, or push, or kill myself to go, or rush to find a bathroom, or spend hours on the toilet, again. So much pain and suffering is gone because of my "bag."

I have a rectal stricture too. It's pretty bad. But I'd honestly rather be dead than have a colostomy bag. Seriously. That will be something that I will NEVER get.

Maybe you should consider what you're saying before you say something like you would rather die than have an ostomy. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, however ignorant it may be. I know that may be harsh, but I'm really tired of people acting like an ostomy is the end of the world and that people with them are somehow lepers or monsters. Many lives have been saved because of ostomies and I find it incredibly stupid that someone would rather suffer untold amounts of pain or death to avoid something that really isn't a big deal. Feel free to unleash the doody (I doody) storm of responses telling me I'm mean, but sometimes (ok most times) I just can't keep my mouth shut.

Posted 9/18/2014 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
nm, I don't mean to offend.

Post Edited (Poppysocks) : 9/19/2014 4:07:19 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/23/2014 3:17 AM (GMT 0)
hello all!! my name is bonnie i am 42yrs old. I have 3 grown kids am enegaged and weds scheduled for an anal dilation surgery due to rectal stenosis.....I do not suffer from crohns diease but have had these problems for nearly 20 years....i honestly didnt know where to post this question...In 1993 i suffered from an extreme case of pancreatitis and right a bout of colitis and in 2002 i went for a simple fissure surgery and ended up have a huge pilondial cyst excised. the wound was awful. through the years have had serveral perirectal abcesses drained.... in 2009 had 2 very deep abcesses removed and a public nurse for months with wound care. Well through all the i have developed anal stenosis and need dilation of my rectum due to SEVERE scarring :( just dont know what i am in for? any advice PLZ
Posted 10/24/2016 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Newmee.

I am thinking of having this done too. Can you tell me how it went? What it was like? Where you had it done?

Thanks!
Katie
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