Scar Tissue Healing Methods?

[Dizzydub1]

My name is Kyle. I am a 29 year old male. I am currently teaching 7th grade. I have an amazing wife that has been at my side through thick and thin for the past two and half years. I love Jesus. I thoroughly enjoyed this past years NCAA tournament. Oh, and I have Crohn's disease.

I am currently MED-FREE, that's right I said it, I am not taking any medications to treat my Crohns and things have been going very well. I am following the SCD, 6 months strong baby, and as of the last few weeks have just started adding raw food back into the diet. But definitely going super slow with everything. Not taking any chances on throwing the body off! But I had forgotten how good a nice crisp, cold apple tasted, my first one was like heaven in my mouth! : )

Anyways, wanted to ask my UC/Crohns family a quick quick question: Have you guys ever dealt with gut pain caused by scar tissue? I am not sure if that is what I am dealing with but it's really the only thing I can point my finger to as the reason I am still dealing with tightness and cramps in my gut. I recently went and chatted with a naturopath and that is what she eluded to being the problem. I am taking fish oil, L-Glutamine, and doing Hot Castor Oil packs at night but nothing seems to relieve the tightness and/or pain. Am I alone in this? I have chatted with my GI about this and it seems that if I am not experiencing obvious "Crohns" symptoms than I am doing alright but this gut tightness is really hindering me on the day to day life.

As I said, I am not in pain, I am pretty sure I am not in a flare, but I just have the gut tightness/pain going on. Mainly right around the belly button area, but it does rotate from the left side primarily to the right side. Usually wakes me up in the morning and during the night I am getting up two to three times to use the bathroom (#1), Anyone else relate to me here?

If so, how long do things take to get healed up in there? I am not in any hurry, it would just be nice to know how long of timeline I should expect here, or if I need to get into my GI and ask a few more questions. I would love to get some feedback from you guys on what you have done to help with this and/or get rid of it. Get at me UC Family, Love you guys!

Current supplements: Probiotics, L-Glutamine, Fish Oil, Multivitamin, and Vitamin D (ALL SCD LEGAL) - Also take a 1/4 tsp of royal jelly each morning

Blessings,

Kyle

 

[Orchid]

The only way to deal with scar tissue in the GI tract is it's removal, it never heals and will always remain. How's about instead of talking to a quack who peddles herbal supplements you talk to a GI who can do some bloodwork on your inflammation? Tightness and cramping could easily be a developing stricture. Good tests for a quick look would be CRP and fecal calprotein, and if those are inconclusive your doctor will likely want to do more because strictures are quite serious.

 

[vonfunk]

Orchid's right, the only way to get rid of scar tissue is to cut it out. Nothing you can will get rid of it.

 

[hawkeye]

Definitely talk to your GI to get a handle on things. The only way to deal with strictures is surgery. If left untreated these can lead to a blockage. In the interim a low fibre/residue diet may be something you want to consider to help prevent a blockage.

I had a section of intestine removed a couple of months ago (much the same symptoms and getting up a couple of times in the night to the bathroom with severe cramps) as a result of stricturing due to scar tissue - it was just in time as there was some evidence that the section of intestine was beginning to perforate.

 

[Dizzydub1]

Thank you guys so much for your replies. I have spoken with my GI doctor several times about what is going on and he gives me meds to try and "improve the quality of life." What I am looking for is not more meds, last time it was an anti-spasm med which I have heard is not what you are wanting to take when dealing with the possibility of a stricture. I am hoping for some sort of solution that can help bring me back to a normal way of living. For those of you who have had surgery what is the process like? Did you bounce back? I have heard that there is always a chance of developing more scar tissue with surgery? Give me some of your guys experience and would you recommend the route to someone who is in your same position. Thanks so much for responding, I am so thankful for forums like this to share and support fellow IBDers!

Blessings,

Kyle

 

[Orchid]

Some strictures can be confronted with less invasive surgery then simply cutting out the suspect area but it tends to be preferred in Crohn's patients because of the chronic nature of it. What you really need to do is tell your GI you are afraid your Crohn's is acting up and you would like to have your CRP and Fecal Calprotein tested, these are among the most accurate tests for inflammation in the human body outside a colonoscopy. Your symptoms are honestly generic enough that could be other things at this point, but with untreated Crohn's Disease you never know when a random complication is going to appear.

 

[afidz]

I think it may be beneficial for you to see a urologist, since you mentioned going 2-3 times over night and your bladder is located slightly south of your belly button, it might be the cause for your pain.excessive bathroom trips
As for the scar tissue, the only way get rid of it is surgery. And of course with a surgery, there is risk of scar tissue. But, if you have a stricture because of excessive scar tissue, you are putting your self at risk for an obstruction and/or perforation and having to have emergency surgery. There are risks for all surgeries, minor or major. But its worse to have the scar tissue removed during emergency surgery than it is to have it planned and details worked out by doctors and properly preparing your body for the surgery.
Thats my cents though

 

[Lam123]

Hi! And welcome to this amazing forum.
I have had the tightness that you are talking about, like previous folks mentioned, your GI needs to find out what is going on. I have scar tissue aswell, haven't had surgery, I follow a very strict diet. The tightness for me started off not too bad and wasn't affecting my quality of life, but then it gets worse. So better to get it looked after before yours gets worse.

 

[Dizzydub1]

Lam123- I am in the same boat as you. I have never had surgery either but have had two intense flares and bouts with c. Diff that led to extended hospital stays. Can you explain your diet? Did you end up with surgery? Are you heading that direction?

Thanks,

Kyle