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Stricture, Now What

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/6/2008 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, Well I had my Small Bowell Follow thru today (it only took 1 1/2 hours to pass the barium) and it showed a mild to moderate stricture in my TI. I got to see the photos, how can your lrg bowel go from 2 inches, small bowell 1 to 1 1/2 then 1/4 inch in the TI and it only be mild to mod??? No wonder nothing can come out...... Will going back on my Pentase and starting the Entocort help this????? Kay
Posted 3/6/2008 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
So sorry about the stricture. I bet you must have some real problems eating some foods. As far as Pentasa and Entocort helping resolve the stricture ~ it depends.

Pentasa and Entocort are basically a type of topical medication. The medication dissolves out of the capsules and then circulates in the intestines treating the entestinal mucosa. Sort of like washing a medicine over a wound. Entocort, being a steroid, can reduce inflammation. How much inflammation it can reduce - I don't know. Pentasa is a milder anti-inflammatory medication. I'm not sure that is can reduce inflammation, but it does keep inflammation from reoccurring in SOME people.

Now if your stricture is being caused by inflammation of the intestinal lining, then medications MIGHT help reduce it. If the stricture is caused by scar tissue, then medications are unlikely to help it.

When do you see your GI to talk about the results of your SBFT? I think he/she should be talking to you about the best course to attack this problem. Let us know ok?
Posted 3/6/2008 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Depends whether the narrowing is caused by inflammation or scar tissue. If it is inflammation, medication should reduce the inflammation and open up your bowel. If it is scar tissue, medication won't make it go away.

Remember, even with the narrowing, there is still capacity for it to stretch. Actually 1/4 of an inch isn't too bad. You can manage a long long time with that kind of a string segment. When I was diagnosed my string segment was about that diameter and I went 15 years before my first resection. Before my second resection I had a balloon dilatation of a second stricture that dilated the opening to between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch. I managed another three years before needing a second resection.

Hope you are feeling better soon.
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