crohns surgery while pregnant?

I'm sorry I know some of you might be sick of reading my posts but I truely feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.


I was Dx in Jan with CD when a partial obsuction had me throwing up my own stools (yuk) I was hospitalized for 10days after a wash out and sent home on 50mg Prednisolone after 2weeks I was able to tapper down severe bloating had doc and surgeon convinced I needed more surgery so small bowel seris was done showing 2 stictures and a fistula with abnormal bowel loops. I was booked to have surgery 22/4/08 they said needed to do a right hemi-colectomy ok fine I didn't want too but felt no other option the prednisolone side effects were a nightmare so I was off them by 26/3/08.



Hubby and I had been trying for a bub for 8 years with two losses IVF and AIH and were told to stop trying till after the surgery but of cause my pre op test revealed we hadn't tried hard enough we are pregnant WOW. So the surgery was cancelled as I was only 5-6 weeks and re-booked 15/7/08 28 days from now and I'm freaking out.



I've had 5 losses in total and I have a son born 2 weeks early and a daughter born 12 weeks early. I had bleeding at 10weeks this time and D's with blood that has all stopped now I've had 3 B12 injections and the D's have gone too I can now eat some things that I once couldn't I feel ok little cramy I think you'd call it under my ribs when I sit mostly and nauseous and tired but I am pregnant so I think that could explain all that. I'm worried about pre-term labour as I have a history of it and with the Crohn's then add the surgery.



I dont want to lose this baby I'm 14 weeks now but no-one seems to hear me I dont want this op I dont want to put my baby at risk, can't it wait til after the baby is born. My doc doesn't want to give me meds but wouldn't they be safer for my baby than surgery, I want both of us to be fine isn't there a test that will show whats happening to my bowel now not 4months ago.



Has anyone here had or avoided surgery while pregnant what was the outcome



Scared to make a decision

Post Edited By Moderator (MMMNAVY) : 6/17/2008 8:17:18 AM (GMT-6)

Hi! Your situation sounds so scary. I just wanted to let you know that a friend of mine with a high risk pregnancy just had her appendix removed (emergency surgery) while she was pregnant. I think she was about 3 or 4 months at the time. Her previous pregnancy was an eptopic one that caused her all kinds of complications and infections after removal. She also has endometriosis. But, her and baby are doing great despite have the appendix removed. (She is now 6 months).

Unfortunatly they have not told me where my fistula is just I have one guess thats something I should have asked.

I have asked for an appointment with my crohn specialist but she away sick not sure when she'll be back really want her to recheck the need for surgery

have got an appointment with surgeon for 4/7/08 so I can quiz him even though his nurse said there was really no need.

The closer it gets to my op date the more nervous I'm getting trying to stay calm but not really working

Christiny it is your body and noone should make you feel like you are being forced into surgery. However, you and your husband have to be prepared to really hear all the points of view and then make decisions based on what's best for you. Do your own research about medications and pregnancy etc. Find out what drugs are used (especially after the baby's neural and skeletal and organ systems are basically formed) and the risks. Don't expect your GI to know anything about what's safe for your baby. That's for your ob/gyn and pediatrian to figure out. Surgery is a risk, for sure, but so too is crohn's disease, especially if it is unstable. It sounds like you may have a fistula between two loops of bowel? You've already presented once with an obstruction. If the fistula is draining from the point of that obstruction the bowel there may be badly compromised. Are you in danger of perhaps perforating? These are the kinds of things you need to know in order to make your decision. Surgery is a major body stresser and no one wants to undergo a major surgery while pregnant, but you do not want to perforate and present with sepsis either.

So it sounds like you don't yet have the answers you need to make peace with the need to have surgery. Hope you can get the answers you need to make a decision that you can be at peace with.

My OB/GYN said it's always preferable to avoid surgery when possible, but as she hasn't at this stage had contact with my GI just my general doc who passes most info back and forth.

My GI did say back in Feb that I was a risk of perforation but that was in Feb and I can't help thinking I've I got this far with meds since the end of March.

I am prepared to listen to my GI and Surgeon and their point of veiws but I just want it expained not just told I need the surgery

I have been trying to look stuff up about it all just not finding much.

 

I do not have any answer for you but I was reading what you are going thriugh and I am so sorry. I just had my baby two weeks ago and my husband was in the er because of his crohn colitis and I know it is so hard to have these kind of worries while pregnant. Take care I will be thinking of you