Colostomy due to anal stricture? Laproscopic Procedure?

Hello!

I was referred to this site from the Crohn's board.  (thank you!)

In a nutshell, I have had Crohn's since I was 13 (I am now 38).  In the last five years I've developed an anal stricture,  in the last few months it's been causing some continence issues and occasional difficulty passing stool.  My gastro did a balloon dilation of the site during my yearly colonscopy in March, then did another dilation in early July via a Sigmoidoscopy.

At that time he referred me to a surgeon to discuss "options", well the surgeon told me that I had a fixed stricture and that dilation would have no long term benefits as the stricture would just reassert itself, and essentially the only real option was a colostomy.  I did have a bowel resection at 17 and lost about 1/3 of my colon, but my upper colon is fine, it's just this darn stricture.  Surgeon said that I could keep my rectum and it would be possible that the colostomy would be temporary if the stricture healed, but my limited research indicates that the odds of reversal, while not miniscule, aren't really in my favor.

The other thing he mentioned was a laproscopic procedure.....so my questions are:

1.  Has anyone had a colostomy due to anal stricture?

2.  Has anyone had their procedure done laproscopically and could you tell me about it?

I just got this news last week and I'm still trying to get my mind around it..

Thank you!

1) yes

2) I had a temp. colostomy done this way and it was a breeze (as far a surgeries go). I was in the hospital for about 2-3 days where the ET nurse would visit me and teach me about my stoma and general ostomy care. I'm not sure what kind of details you are wanting...let me know and maybe I can be more specific.

I now have a perm. ileostomy b/c my colon wouldn't/couldn't heal b/c of severe crohn's disease. My doc. wanted me to do it for years and I resisted. Now if I think about it I'm upset with myself for wasting so many years being sick. My quality life is a million times better with the bag than before. I feel like I'm in my thirties and Just Now is my life able to start. Good luck with whatever you decide.

hi angela,

i have crohns too. im 26 and have it since 14 i started developing my stricture about 2 years ago, but i actually had it done to to fistulas and perianal disease. i have an ileo tho...i still have my rectum but the last suggestion my doc made was to get a colostomy and take my rectum b/c my fistulas arent healing and my stricture hasnt gotten any better either. I however am not really jumping on that suggestion for a few reasons. One being that I'm finally feeling good and am in no rush to go back to the hospital, and Secondly, if i make this decision it will be permanant, where as my ileo can be reversed. I still have faith that something will happen, either i'll just be healed or a few years from now there will be some sort of treatment to better resolve my issues, and i say if my ileo isnt broke y fix it lol.

Also, I had my ileo done laproscopically, it was pretty easy. I have to small tiny circular scars on one side of my belly and of course the ileo, no other scarring. It tends to have a quicker recovery time, i was only in the hospital for 4 days for my surgery. There arent any stitches (sp) or staples or anything like that.

I hope I was of some help