humira for stricures
helped a lot - 100.0% - 1 votes
helped a little - 0.0% - 0 votes
did nothing - 0.0% - 0 votes
Posted 12/8/2017 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All! I have had Crohn's for the last 21 years dx @ 18. For the most part, I have had it under control for the past 15 years. I have episodes of course, but I live a normal life---work and have 3 small kids. I'm on imuran only now. I do an annual colonoscopy. I have made it all this time without any biologics or surgeries. I have had a couple strictures since 2003 and some years my doc is able to get through them and some not. I had one done on Wed and he wasn't able to get through them at all. So he was only able to scope about 40-50% of my colon. Obv the book says cut them out....but I'm having a REALLY hard time committing to a major surgery when I feel good. I met w/ doc yesterday and we decided that I should go on Humira and give it about a year to see if it relaxes the strictures enough to get thru them. If not, we can re-evaluate resection surgery. He is not overly concerned of the cancer risk because I have had them for so long. I was just wondering if anyone else is in my boat? Outcomes? has humira helped with strictures? I know it doesn't take scar tissue away--only inflammation...but I'm sure mine is a combo of both.
Thoughts....
Gutsycal
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2017
Posts : 36
Posted 12/8/2017 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there, so sorry you are going through this, but I'm glad you aren't having too many symptoms. I had a colonoscopy done yesterday and showed a stricture between my small intestine and my large intestine. He was going to try to dilate it but he didn't feel confident he could do it. I've been on humira for about 5 years. So far it's worked so well, my doc wants to try to give me an extra booster dose to try to get the inflammation in the stricture under control and then in 2 months if it doesn't take away my symptoms (i.e. I'm having lots of abdominal pain, alternating between D and C),then I'll be switching to Sterela. So I'm kinda in the same boat as you in hoping Humira helps. Humira has been wonderful for me for a long time now so I hope it also helps you. I think it will just depend on how your body reacts to Humira. Good luck!!
beave
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 2455
Posted 12/8/2017 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Whether it can/will help depends in large part on how much of the stricturing is fibrotic/scarring, and how much is active inflammation. Without lots of biopsies of the strictures, it's really impossible to know. As you say, yours are likely a combination of both, in which case something like Humira might help somewhat.
It's great that you're not very symptomatic despite having the strictures. Hopefully the Humira will help! Give it a try and get another scope in a year.
73monte
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 2519
Posted 12/10/2017 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Not sure if baloon dilation with smaller scope would be possible, but what about strictureplasty? I have no experience with either, but know that these are both viable treatments for strictures. I would consider both before resection.