Wow--so many of you are in the Exact same boat as I have been for months now!
Dustspeck, I too was having terrible stomach pains randomly throughout the day and thought it was from active Crohn's. I went on some prednisone, and it actually seemed to make the pain Worse! (Now, I realize what the pred did was cause less D, which meant More pain as stuff tried to pass through a strictured area...!)
So I too have just realized that I have a stricture (and it has been causing problems for months now). I changed my diet, but it still worsened over time to the point where I now have trouble making it through a day at work--and this made me realize I need to get this taken care of asap.
I have to get a barium test (my stricture is in my colon) next week, then resection surgery will be scheduled shortly afterward. I have Never had any major Crohn's related surgeries up to this point.
Can they do yours laprascopically? They are going to try this on me, at least that is the plan for now. I was excited about
that (and amazed that they can do a major surgery with only tiny incisions...!).
Either way, I hope your resection (and mine!) go great, and that we both will feel like normal people afterward!!! Also, I hope everything works out with your job if you are currently working. Thank goodness I have a union job (teacher) and they are going to pay me for the 6-8 weeks that I am out.
Good luck with everything.