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time for surgery??

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/25/2008 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there

Just hoping some of you may be able to offer some advice about what you think about surgery....

I was diagnosed with small bowel chrons...stricture in the Terminal Illeum in Dec 2005... I have so far managed to have no surgery.

Howver, after numerous hopsital admissions and x-rays, ultra sounds scans cat scans and more recently an MRI, Doctor has told me that no amount of medication will ever improve my situation. The Mri shows that tI have small skip legions in my stricture which will obviously eventually scar and make the stricture smaller again!!! I also am showing symptoms of pre-obstruction something called segment dialitation! I know that i dont really have any choice and the doctor advises me that is should have "elective" surgery as apposed to waiting for there to be an obstruction and it become urgent....

Did any of you have to decide whether to have surgery?? or did you have no choice??  also if you have had a stricture removed did your symptoms return??

Thanks  Viv

Posted 6/25/2008 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
My first resection in 2002 was an emergency resection. My second was a scheduled surgery due to a blockage at the reconnection site. Personally, I would much rather have a planned surgery than an emergency. You have time to prepare mentally and physically for a scheduled surgery.

It sounds as if your obstruction is from scar tissue. And what your doctor has told you is correct, if it is blocked because of scar tissue, no medication will heal that. Thats what I experienced the second go round.

Everyone is pretty individual. Most go on to enjoy lengthy remissions after surgery, but there have been those who got sick shortly afterwards. But I think for the most part people do have good results afterwards.

The way I weighed whether to go thru with the 2nd surgery was based solely on my quality of life. I had no quality of life and was not willing to suffer like that anymore.

I hope that if you do decide to go forward with the surgery, you enjoyed a very long remission afterwards.

God Bless,
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 6/25/2008 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
i agree with nanners on this one. i had emergency surgery in 2002 and its looking like i'm going to need it again fairly soon. i'd much rather have it scheduled and planned out, although it was kind of nice how quick everything went when they did the emergency surgery. i didn't have time to think or react to anything. i just... went.. and it was over.
Posted 6/25/2008 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I had problems at the TI too and no meds would help. Small bowel became larger then large bowel. Had resection in Jan. and have been alot better. I was very ill at the time so would not recommend emer. surgery. I was very afraid of surgery but things went pretty good and it is a relief not to be plugged up with poop. I also was quite weak so it probably was a little harder. Wishing you loads of luck and we"re here for you whatever you decide. lol gail
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