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Treatment for stricture

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/25/2020 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I found out I had an anal stricture about 6 months ago, after I went to go to the bathroom one morning and couldn’t. I underwent colonoscopy and had balloon dilatation. The rest of my colonoscopy was normal, except I had inflammation in the last 4cm so they put me on suppositories. However, it feels like my stricture is starting to recur. I can feel the scar tissue in there and it seems like it’s tightening again. Is there anything I can take to stop it from developing properly? I was thinking of taking serrapeptase, which is supposedly good for breaking down scar tissue, but I developed an anal abscess a month or so ago (I believe it’s related to my stricture) and serrapeptase can apparently make abscesses worse, which I don’t want. What worked for you?
Posted 5/26/2020 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
You haven't said if you're on anything to maintain your UC. I actually imagine that you diagnosis should switch to Crohn's since an abscess is often a sign of CD instead of UC.

What kind of suppositories? Like mesalamine or a steroid?
Posted 5/27/2020 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi scifigal,
Yes they actually switched my diagnosis to Crohns at my last scope after over 20 years as I had a deep ulcer and apparently that doesn’t happen with UC. I’m under the care of Prof Thomas Borody at CDD and he has put me on rifabutin suppositories (it’s one of the antibiotics in anti-MAP treatment). Im keen to hear what treatments work for people with strictures (even surgical)
Posted 5/28/2020 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, just wanted to make sure you were being treated properly!

Strictures are either from inflammation in one area or from scar tissue. Singe you were dilated sounds like scar tissue. Usually that happens due to a certain area flaring and then healing repeatedly. Are you on any other medications to control your Crohn's?

My strictures were in the opposite end of my body - my esophagus! They were due to scar tissue, and they have had to be dilated multiple times.
Posted 5/31/2020 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
Scifigal,
No I’m not. Like I said, my mucosa was completely normal up until the last 4cm, where there was inflammation and the stricture. I’d like to avoid biologics if possible as I’m the best I’ve ever been so it just seems like a risk. I was hoping for a natural supplement that would break it down, but I can’t take serrapeptase as I had the start of an abscess a few months ago that I’m trying to get rid of. Even a surgical procedure would be good - would love to avoid having to have multiple bowel preps, time off work and then repeated dilations
Posted 6/1/2020 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Not an easy decision. They may not do a surgical procedure for it since it's surrounded by inflammation, and dilating it could make things worse if it's not just scar tissue. Good luck!
Posted 6/2/2020 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate. I once had this 4 cm stricture but my GI refused to have it dilated. I took a lot of mesalamine (pentasa) enema and suppositories, budesonide enema and colifoam enema, then. They could ease the inflammation. That was long ago before I developed the perianal abscess which turned into a fistula. I'm on Remicade.
Posted 6/8/2020 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. I actually developed an abscess a few months after the stricture. I’ve had this disease over 20 years and never had an abscess before and my disease is fairly mild. I’m convinced the stricture causes an abscess then fistula due to differences in pressure caused by it. I’m keen to get rid of it so have ordered a cream to reduce scarring and I’m going to stick that up there in the hopes I can get rid of it.
Posted 6/9/2020 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
You should have rejected the balloon dilations. This is the problem I have with conventional doctors. Always looking for a quick fix, never thinking long term. Balloon dilations help short term but it will always come back worse.
Posted 6/12/2020 12:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Poppysocks,
That’s what I felt too, like why go through all the hassle of taking time off, having the dreaded prep, and then it needs to be done several times?? I would have just preferred a surgical option but not sure what the surgery is and how hectic it is. I often assume there’ll be an easy option, like cutting the scar tissue and inserting a flap but then you read and they take a part of the bowel too. Hopefully there’s an easy surgical fix for strictures? I’ve taken things into my own hands and ordered Tranilast which is used to break down scar tissue. Am planning to use as a suppository and hope it breaks it down.
Posted 1/30/2021 5:47 PM (GMT 0)

WorriedUCer said...
Hi Poppysocks,
That’s what I felt too, like why go through all the hassle of taking time off, having the dreaded prep, and then it needs to be done several times?? I would have just preferred a surgical option but not sure what the surgery is and how hectic it is. I often assume there’ll be an easy option, like cutting the scar tissue and inserting a flap but then you read and they take a part of the bowel too. Hopefully there’s an easy surgical fix for strictures? I’ve taken things into my own hands and ordered Tranilast which is used to break down scar tissue. Am planning to use as a suppository and hope it breaks it down.


WorriedUCer,

How did the tranilast work for you?
Posted 2/1/2021 10:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Poppysocks,
I’m still taking it - I take two a day, one morning and night. Since taking it, I’ve noticed that I’ve had quite a bit of diarrhea but I’m not sure if it just coincided with me coming out of a remission. I can still feel it there and it has maybe gotten slightly worse but it’s so hard to tell as some days it feels better than others. I’m due to have a scope next month so I suppose I’ll get a more accurate picture. I have serrapeptase/nattokinase capsules as well, which are supposed to be good at dissolving fibrous tissue. But I’m so hesitant to take them as the side effects can be pretty bad and I don’t want to make things worse.
Posted 2/1/2021 10:01 PM (GMT 0)

WorriedUCer said...
Hi Poppysocks,
I’m still taking it - I take two a day, one morning and night. Since taking it, I’ve noticed that I’ve had quite a bit of diarrhea but I’m not sure if it just coincided with me coming out of a remission. I can still feel it there and it has maybe gotten slightly worse but it’s so hard to tell as some days it feels better than others. I’m due to have a scope next month so I suppose I’ll get a more accurate picture. I have serrapeptase/nattokinase capsules as well, which are supposed to be good at dissolving fibrous tissue. But I’m so hesitant to take them as the side effects can be pretty bad and I don’t want to make things worse.


Have you been dilated before? Unfortunately i have a pretty much complete obstruction right now due to The dilation done during my colonoscopy which has closed things up almost completely. In hospital. They may be forced to dilate tomorrow morning. Where can you purchase the tranilast?

Post Edited (Poppysocks) : 2/1/2021 3:05:55 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/26/2021 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi poppysocks,
Yes I was dilated originally when they first diagnosed me and since then I’ve been taking tranilast. I tried some home dilatations but I think I made it worse, as I kind of felt something snap one time (I’m assuming the stricture) and then was bleeding pretty badly. It all calmed down but now the stricture is recurring. I’m having a scope soon to see what’s going on and will most likely start on a biologic but am worried I may have stuffed up my chance of getting rid of it with the dilatation
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