Options for Crohns Colitis surgery

[DL2011]

Hi Guys and Gals

So, i'm 8 weeks into a flare, which isn't settling on 50mgs of Pred. Had IBD almost 7 years. Have recently undergone a colonoscopy, biopsies, sigmoidoscopy and capsule enteroscopy (swallow a camera in a pill which videos small bowel).

The outcome is.......unclear, but points to Crohns Colitis - that is Crohns affecting about two thirds of my large colon, bottom up (in patches). Small bowel and right colon appears normal.

I am now facing surgery as I can't tolerate aza/mx/or any of the biologics and Pred no longer works properly

So, am I a candidate for a pouch? Or a permanent ileostomy? Or a large bowel resection? I'm confused (and so are the GI's).

Any opinions most welcomed.......as once I have that, there's no turning back - DL

 

[Terriernut]

Well, I'm no GI and we cant give a guess for you! Everyone is so different with this disease is the problem.

There may be other treatment options available to you before surgery. Others on her can help perhaps. I've had to have emergency surgery, so I'm not the one to ask. But surgery has helped sooooo many of us.

Keep fighting,
Misty

 

[DL2011]

Thanks Misty

Can you give me an idea of what other treatment options are available or where to look? As everything I've read about, I've tried (other than the stem cell therapy - as per Ziggy's wonderful account)

 

[Terriernut]

Oh. I see now that I have my glasses on (my bad) you have tried everything! Again, I'm not a specialist! If you have a bag, you'll never look back! But perhaps some other members can help here with other treatment options?

Misty

 

[Misty-Eyed]

Have you tried or has anyone mentioned cyclosporin? I don't know if they still use it a lot, but I was on it for a while and it worked really well for me. Also people take ciprofloxacin and metronidazole together which worked fairly well for me too.

Worth looking at or mentioning if you're feeling desperate!

 

[DL2011]

Hi Misty - I have heard of it but not tried it. Isn't it the last resort if you fail to respond to IV steroids, before they consider surgery?

Problem I have with ciprofloxacin and metronidazole is that they both, quite possibly, contributed to my condition in the first instance. Whenever I take an antibiotic, I go into a massive flare up. I had been reasonably in remission for 2 years, used an antibiotic ointment and have ended up in the state im in. Could be a conincidence, but my body tells me its directly related, as I was OK beforehand.

But thanks for the advice. I'll look into Cyclo.....