Alterntives to operations

[NicolaH]

Does anybody know of or has anybody had any medical treatment as oppose to operations for a stricture? I think my strictures getting narrower and I'm due to go for a barium soon to find out but I'm scared about surgery. My moods on it are up and down to be honest because I've read so man positive stories on here and how it's life changing for some of you but then I worry I won't be one of the successful ones! I worry about the length of time I'll be on the operating table, I worry that they won't be able to do keyhole, that there'll be complications afterwards,,,,,I really am a big old worrier ha but I do have to say, the thought of getting rid of this godforsaken thing for even a few years and getting back to my normal self is tempting.

Nicola x

 

[Jennifer]

If its scare tissue than no there is no other method out there hat removes scar tissue. Inflammation sure but not scar tissue.

That being said, My surgery was supposed to be laparoscopic but once they got in there they couldn't get to the area they needed to so they had to cut me open. My scar is right under my belly button (touches the base of it) and is about 4 1/2 inches long across. Is it that horrible of a scar? No. My sight also got infected about a week later which meant I had to have a longer healing process of healing from the inside out which is also what caused my current scar to be a little wider than if it had healed normally. My story is close to the worst case scenario but there are worse things that other people on this forum have gone through yet we're all still here and able to laugh, run and jump and play (as my 5 year old niece would put it ). When all medications fail, that's when surgery comes into play and its not fun but once you're healed up, you feel better and that's what's important. If there are complications, they will be dealt with cause no one is going to let you suffer or die or anything like that.

 

[NicolaH]

How long was your actual operation? I don't mind about any scars really, I just don't like the thought of being immobile for ages and being stuck in a hospital bed so a while. I heard from a doctor from the Mayo Clinic on YouTube that the full op can really reduce the chances of females having children too which, at the moment I'm only 24 so it's not really top of my list but I figured one day maybe I'd probably think about children. But then again I often think would I want to risk passing this onto them?

I do like your neice's saying, that would be fabulous to laugh, run, jump and play haha and I've been pretty against meds until recently when I was told it would probably be a necessity in January, then yesterday when I had my appointment it was like hmmm I think it's your stricture so surgery is quite likely. Merry Christmas to you too doc! x

 

[5 iron]

Hi Nicola I had my surgery in July, 12in of small intestine cut out,open surgery,surgery was about an hour and half, the surgery was totally elective because ive never been sick from Crohns,I did complian of belly aches once and while so my GP had me do a Colonoscopy and thats when the GI found the stricture,he put me Humira for six months to see if would open up no luck,the GI told me I know your not sick but this is going to get you sooner or later, lets cut it out now while it's are choice, and then put you on 6mp and youll have a 70% chance of no more Crohns damage.Ok they cut me on a Thur morning solid food on Friday home on Saturday,back to work two weeks later.I'm 54 your 24 you will breeze right thru, pain control was a Morphine drip just push the button,I really had little pain just some discomfort the first day the Morphine took care of no problem. Good luck Nicloa you do it youll be fine.
Steve
Surgery July 2010
Current med 6mp

 

[Jennifer]

How long was your actual operation?

Not sure really but less than 2 hours. They took out my appendix while they were in there too so that gets rid of a future possible complication at least.

I don't mind about any scars really, I just don't like the thought of being immobile for ages and being stuck in a hospital bed so a while.

Oh they don't let you lay in a hospital bed. The first couple of days sure but by the third day they want you to try walking around to get things moving in your intestines but they may have you try to get up sooner depending on how you're feeling/healing. They generally send you home around a week or for some people only 5 days. Mine took a week and then it got infected and I had to go back for another week where it had to heal from the inside out but I was still able to move around and do whatever while it was healing. You will only be bedridden for roughly 2 days.

I heard from a doctor from the Mayo Clinic on YouTube that the full op can really reduce the chances of females having children too which, at the moment I'm only 24 so it's not really top of my list but I figured one day maybe I'd probably think about children.

I'm female and I was 18 when I had my surgery done. No one ever said anything about losing fertility. I'm still taking birth control to avoid it until I'm ready to have kids myself. I've never heard of that myself though and I don't see how that would actually happen less they cut the wrong tube or something.

But then again I often think would I want to risk passing this onto them?

Well that's something for you to decide on your own or for you and your partner to decide. My boyfriend and I do plan on having children but we're waiting until we're more financially stable and married. Yes you will pass it on in your genes but remember that its not 100% that they'll actually have it rather than being a carrier and also if they do get it its treatable and you will be the best person for them to come to for questions and comfort, their best support basically not to mention that by that time there could be a cure or at least better medicine or health insurance for that matter. Adoption is always an option as well but everyone comes with their own genetic illnesses so keep that in mind as well.

 

[pais16]

Hi Nicola,
Unfortunately- nothing short of surgery will correct a stricture or even help much in any way. My SO is currently recovering from surgery- an operation he should have had a long time ago. Details of his surgery are posted in my thread in the Treatment section so I won't repeat it all here. He waited so long to finally have surgery, he went down to 113 lbs (he is about 5'7") and had be on home TPN for 3 weeks prior. His most recent small bowel series indicated about 5 strictures- he actually had 20 and surgery was extensive. But we haven't even gone for his follow up yet (we go back this tues)- and he is doing great! He was in the hospital for 9 days- but only because his surgery was so long (almost 7 hours) so it took awhile for his bowels to "wake up". He is already eating pizza, moving around quite well, driving a little and likely to return to his office later this week. The pain was really bad the first few days but he had his PCA button and was up and trying to walk a little the day after surgery. The sooner- and more- you start walking, the quicker your recovery will go. We are now looking forward to hopefully a very long remission for him. All that being said- I understand how you feel, as I watched him put off the inevitable for a long time. However, in the end- it was a bad decision to put it off as long as he did. I've read research that shows leaving strictures in place actually aggravates the disease. No doubt, his experience would have been easier had he gone sooner.
We wish you all the best!!

 

[pais16]

As far as passing it on- we worry about that a lot- we have a 7 yr old son. CD is RAMPANT in his fathers family- his twin nieces, and a whole bunch of cousins also have it. However- we have been told our son's chances are still only around 10%- just slightly elevated from the rest of the population. Chances increase tremendously however if you have children with another person who has or carries the disease.