How to decide if a resection is a good idea

[jooles6377]

Hi all

For that last 3 months I have been pretty much in full flare up. I have D almost every day and then the pain starts and I take anti - D tabs to get on with my day. Some times it floors me and makes me so tired sore etc and I take lots more pain killers. The thing is I never get any worse than this and have no blood, never a stricture, absess or anything else so unpleasant.

I know stress is a major factor but with the way I am constantly feeling right now I am ready to say - please operate. Do you think this is mad as I know alot of you have had operations? My Mum and a friend had an operation and they feel so much better now.

What do you think.

P.S I am feeling so low with having to fight daily with my mood swings that the Crohns is causing and I feel the fear of an operation may be better than suffering the way me and my poor family do.

thanks for listening - I am actually normally a positive and happy person butCrohns puts paid to that often!!!!

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I guess it also depends on where your inflammation is located. Mine is too spread out for a resection to help. Have you discussed surgery options with your doctor? Sometimes a resection can buy you a long period of remission, and sometimes it comes right back in the same spot. As far as colostomy or illeostmy (sp?), do a search on here - several people on here have bags and are very happy with them.

What medications have you tried? I was in a REALLY bad flare and with the help of prednisone (in the beginning), Imuran, and Remicade (first was Humira) I am in an AWESOME remission right now - 9 months so far.

 

[imisspopcorn]

I was dx for about 10 years before I had a resection 1 year ago.( I had 2 normal pregnancies in this time, and really think those hormones helped my intestine last so long?) My disease was in the terminal ileum. My latest colonoscopy showed more disease and now I'm on Remicade. The pain was excurciating the last 3 months before the surgery. If I can get another 5-7 years before I have to have it done again I will be happy. If you can still function inspite of the pain most doctors want to be conservative. Shantel is right in saying that there is only so much intestine. Try eveything you can. Push your doctors for options. I hope you get some relief soon.

 

[jooles6377]

Hi

Thanks for your comments and advice so far. I am on Azathioprine and Pentasa. I have been on Pred a few times but I am just so reluctant to take this for a prolonged period as it makes me so crazy!!!

 

[kenny]

Even though I have a perforation and restriction my surgery is being put off. The surgeon said they could do it then as an emergency but the condition of my intestine would mean removing a much larger section than otherwise might be necessary. I have elected to take drug therapy, Strictly enforced diet and let my body heal for a while. I partly wish they had done the procedure when I was out-to-lunch with pain infection. But the surgeon explained to me how difficult it is for him to do a resection when the bowel is all stuck together and inflamed.

I hope you can get you symptoms under control and get some health back prior to or instead of surgery. But I know what you mean. I am pretty tired of having this Perc drain to siphon off the gut material coming out of my perforation. It wont be taken out until I do have the surgery from I gather at this point.

 

[crohnsproof]

With 2 previous surgeries and many adhesions, a very qualified surgeon (I thought) said that a 3rd surgery was out of the question. It would be next to impossible to operate on me and he refused unless it was an emergency. I was being controlled by pain medication and getting horrific.
I went to the Mayo Clinic and was told that they could help me. I had become dependent on the pain meds and most of the pain I was experiencing was withdrawal pain every 3 days. I had my surgery and have been in remission for 2 years now.

 

[DanM]

Hi

Thanks for your comments and advice so far. I am on Azathioprine and Pentasa. I have been on Pred a few times but I am just so reluctant to take this for a prolonged period as it makes me so crazy!!!

Have a long talk with your doctor about medication options before surgery, as it is permanent. Not everyone reacts to medication the same way. Everyone reacts a little differently. I was on Pentasa when I was first diagnosed and it did not even phase me. I then went on very high does of pred and then weened off of it for 4-6 months and then went to Azathioprine. I can commiserate with the insanity, but it is a small price to pay for remission. I am now on 6-MP and Humira with no inflamation or symptoms, but abscesses.

Good luck.

Dan