Anyone ever had an endoscopic balloon dilation ?

[Matrix]

Hi

short story :

I'm 35,
14 years ago (I was 21) I was operated for an intestinal perforation (caused by Crohn's disease). Never had any symptom before, and then I learned I had Crohn.

I was fine for a 1-2 years and then I started to have abdominal pain, it was sooo painfull, unbelievable, (König's syndrome, incomplete bowel obstruction) happening once every month (at start). However they couldn't see anything in all the radiography exams. Until it started to be worse and then they saw the stenosis...many years later ! Thank God ! Everything I was eating was blocked.

I was 28 for the second surgery. Ileo-cecal resection. (it was almost a complete obstruction)

Now the last 7 last years were awesome, no symptom, everything was fine... no drug (I do not tolerate the immunosuppressive drugs). And now Crohn is back, I lost 21 lbs in the last 2 months, nauseas, diarrhea, partial bowel obstruction symptoms.... I'm starting to have another stenosis (according to my last exam).

I'm back on Entocort and my Dr wants me to pass another exam soon (MRI or CT) and he told me that if the stenose is still there and short, they could use an endoscopic balloon dilation.

Anyone have passed through this ? is it painfull ? is it working ? What should I expect ? anyone has a story to share about this ?

thank you

(english is not my first language sorry for any mistake)

 

[shamrock15]

I have had several - two for the colon that were not successful, and several for the rectum that have been quite good at relieving the problems. For mine, there were sufficient meds on board to make sure I felt no pain at all for it. You will likely pass blood for a little while after this. If yours is like mine, it could buy you a couple years. I have been told that as I have a tendency towards forming strictures, at some point I will likely lose my rectum as there is a limit to how often the procedure can be performed. It is worth a chance - if they are successful, your recovery time is only dependent upon medication they give you for the procedure. Far better than an actual surgery...

 

[jlm]

I've found that most GIs are generous with meds so you won't feel or for that matter even remember anything. I've had 3 gastroscopes two with balloon dialation and one where they placed a stent in the last 2 months and never felt a thing. The meds really mess me up for the rest of the day though lol