Colonic stricture

Posted by catherine1290 @catherine1290, Sep 7, 2024

Does anyone else have to deal with a colonic stricture. I had to have balloon dilation to try and open up the colon. It was only a little successful. It is a daily concern and any constipation could result in surgery.

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@helen001

Yes please let's keep in touch.

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You can write to me anytime you need to talk.

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@mbiagio

Thank you very much Shelly for your good wishes. Yes the surgery would be on my sigmoid colon removing about 12 inches. Evidently I’ve had diverticulosis forming for years and then if it gets inflamed, that is when it’s diverticulitis. I’ve thought since my 20s that I had IBS. And I know that I did not have bad diverticulosis in 2007 when I had my last colonoscopy. I had an attack of diverticulitis last December after high doses of ibuprofen following Dental work and then I had an attack in January. My colonoscopy had already been planned from last October for the end of January and we were all just shocked at the stenosis and severity of the diverticulosis. I’ve been trying to work with diet, supplements Metamucil, MiraLAX, magnesium and still Having difficulty…I don’t go daily. Even drink abiut 60oz h2o daily.

The surgeon told me it was not a matter of if but when to have the surgery so I went ahead and scheduled the surgery. However, as it gets closer, I’m having second thoughts. 😩
I worry about potential complications in the future, such as perforation, fistula or obstruction, from diverticulosis, but I wish I could find a way to management medically.
I’m not sure about the balloon dilation just because the surgeon said there is a narrowing south of the sigmoid colon that she thought was from adhesions from a prior surgery, which I had my appendix out at nine and my right ovary about 14 years ago so on the right side. So again, I’m not sure if balloon dilation is an option, but it may be something to think about before I go ahead with the surgery. 🤷‍♀️

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mbiagio,
Based on your second paragraph, I would definitely consider the surgery. It sounds like you are being told that the problems won't go away on their own and there is no medication to make it go away.
Get a couple of second opinions, if that would help your decision process. And your sigmoid, and possibly more of your intestinal tract are narrowing, straining to 💩💩is just going to get worse.
I think I said this before, but I don't like getting old and I take issue with the way our female bodies were created 🤪🤪
I will be gone for a few weeks, my surgery is tomorrow.🤮😳🤯🥵, scared, who me? ShelleyW

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@helen001

Hi I am in exactly the same position as you. I've had 2 different opinions on surgeon saying he recommends surgery before diverticulitis makes it an emergency another surgeon saying I don't need surgery yet! I'm at a loss. The surgery is terrifying.

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helen001,
You are so right, surgery is terrifying. It seems to me that I have come home, after a surgery, better, but soon find out I have something else wrong with me. I am more and more concerned about infections picked up in the hospital. Shelley W

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@mbiagio

Thank you very much Shelly for your good wishes. Yes the surgery would be on my sigmoid colon removing about 12 inches. Evidently I’ve had diverticulosis forming for years and then if it gets inflamed, that is when it’s diverticulitis. I’ve thought since my 20s that I had IBS. And I know that I did not have bad diverticulosis in 2007 when I had my last colonoscopy. I had an attack of diverticulitis last December after high doses of ibuprofen following Dental work and then I had an attack in January. My colonoscopy had already been planned from last October for the end of January and we were all just shocked at the stenosis and severity of the diverticulosis. I’ve been trying to work with diet, supplements Metamucil, MiraLAX, magnesium and still Having difficulty…I don’t go daily. Even drink abiut 60oz h2o daily.

The surgeon told me it was not a matter of if but when to have the surgery so I went ahead and scheduled the surgery. However, as it gets closer, I’m having second thoughts. 😩
I worry about potential complications in the future, such as perforation, fistula or obstruction, from diverticulosis, but I wish I could find a way to management medically.
I’m not sure about the balloon dilation just because the surgeon said there is a narrowing south of the sigmoid colon that she thought was from adhesions from a prior surgery, which I had my appendix out at nine and my right ovary about 14 years ago so on the right side. So again, I’m not sure if balloon dilation is an option, but it may be something to think about before I go ahead with the surgery. 🤷‍♀️

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mbiagio,
I forgot to mention, I have been using miralax, all the scripts for CIC, for over 17 years. My dosage of miralax is often 2-3x the recommended dosage, my GI approved this, not that his opinion means squat to me. I use Metamucil gummies, they don't cause as much gas,bloating, etc as the powder form. I take megadoses of magnesium too. ShelleyW

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@shelleyw

helen001,
You are so right, surgery is terrifying. It seems to me that I have come home, after a surgery, better, but soon find out I have something else wrong with me. I am more and more concerned about infections picked up in the hospital. Shelley W

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Glad you come home better than when you went in. Do you mind me asking how did you cope with the surgery and recovery afterwards? Have they manages to reconnect the bowel? I go see the specialist next week and am still unsure whether to opt for surgery. Keep strong. All my best Helen

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I was diagnosed with anal cancer - HPV+ squamous cell rectal cancer in Oct 2018. It was a 5.3 cm tumor right inside the rectum. I went through intense chemo and radiation. The treatment did extreme damage to my rectum and large intestine from scarring, extreme bleeding, new fissures and more. We tried everything to calm my colon region and rectum over many years (now 6 years). Things over time improved, but the last year I have been having trouble with some strictures in the colon and rectum and they are worried about a potential to have an emergency blockage. Had another colonoscopy November and GI specialist sent me to a new surgeon. I already had two surgeons I worked with on this issue over the last few years, but the good ones are very busy. The Newby, and I do mean Newby... just wanted to cut, chop and play robotics. He really knew nothing about what my problem was. The GI specialist mentioned a buzz word and he just latched on to a new opportunity. NO, I won't be working with him.

I have pulled my old colonoscopy reports, biopsy procedure reports and CT scan reports. They tell a lot. It is a risk for sure. I am looking for a new doctor in WA State who is qualified to help me with this issue. I did see that there is a balloon procedure, but I don't know if my condition is to advanced. I have never been blocked, but the colonoscopy cleansing was horrific this time. Downright dangerous. I am always very careful to not get bound up, but this blew up in my face. I know what being blocked feels like now. Rather than to just give up, have a colostomy and my butthole removed, I really want good answers to what I can safely do/try to make this not a danger to me. Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated. Qualified CR Surgeons are very hard to find here. Thanks! J

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Hello Catherine 1290. I had elective laparoscopic sigmoid Colectomy 2 1/2 years ago due to colon stricture/ diverticulitis. (Currently 75 years old). I’m doing well and back to normal activities of golfing, bowling, walking and gardening! Recovery can take several weeks or months in some cases depending on whether the procedure was done laparoscopic or open. Surgical procedures are always freighting but sometimes a necessity to get you back to normal.. I am in favor of a second opinion to evaluate your stricture. God Bless and please keep us posted on any new info!

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@speedbird

Hello Catherine 1290. I had elective laparoscopic sigmoid Colectomy 2 1/2 years ago due to colon stricture/ diverticulitis. (Currently 75 years old). I’m doing well and back to normal activities of golfing, bowling, walking and gardening! Recovery can take several weeks or months in some cases depending on whether the procedure was done laparoscopic or open. Surgical procedures are always freighting but sometimes a necessity to get you back to normal.. I am in favor of a second opinion to evaluate your stricture. God Bless and please keep us posted on any new info!

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Speedbird....I had the balloon dilation done successful!y. I would recommend anyone with a colonic stricture go that route before surgery to remove the offending area followed by a resection.

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