Hello, new here!

Hi, I am 26 yrs old from Baton Rouge, LA and was diagnosed with Crohns back in March 06. Next week I am having my third colonoscopy this year, but this time they will try and dilate the stricture in my large intestines. Has anyone ever done this before? My first colonoscopy diagnosed Crohns, my second was 2 months later to see if the Remicade helped open up the stricture. I am having this procedure done Wednesday Oct 4, I am hoping this works so that I can avoid having surgery, at least for a while....I am currently taking Pentasa, and Remicade every 8 weeks.

corey

Hi corey - can't answer your question on dilation but I wanted to say hello and welcome to another newbie like myself. All the best for the fourth.

Aloha and welcome, corey. I can't answer your questions either because my condition is a little different from most of the folks here, but someone will wander in with answers soon. Good luck for Wednesday!

Oh, and by the way, Corey ... I was raised in Jefferson Parish, right down the Big Muddy from you.

Welcome to the forum Corey!

Dilation is not always done, but it is somewhat common. It can hopefully allow you to avoid surgery. Since it is done during the colonoscopy it should not hurt, and I do not think there is any after affects (as in pain or time needed to recover).

I hope it works well so let us know how it goes.

Strictures

I have strictures too. My first GI doc wanted to just do resection, end of story, my second GI doc wanted to give it time. So far, it's been since April and I have managed to improve. Let us know how the stricture dilation goes because should things get bad for me, I want to try that option before considering resection.

hi corey! welcome to the site. I hope everything went well with the procedure. and you can avoid surgery.

Update

UPDATE: Doc said the dilation was successful, he was able to stretch the stricture by 2 cm...doesn't sound like much?? Im all for delaying surgery!!! yeah im happy. Doc said he will increase my Remicade dosage in hopes to reduce the inflammation. :biggrin:

corey

Swirling corey around the room in a happy dance! Good news!

Congrats. Haven't had strictures but have had bowel resection done and feel a lot better for it. By the way I too take pentasa. been on it for years, I really like it.

Congrats on the successful dilation!

2cm may not sound like a lot, but it is possible for a stricture to get as small that there is room for only about a dime to pass. Even in this stage, you may still be able to eat food and avoid surgery for some time with not too much pain (it is no walk in the park though I imagine).

Hopefully the remicade will help to ensure that surgery is no longer even a thought.

good luck Corey! thats great news it worked out, I hope the upped dose of remicade does the trick, and you can enjoy a bit of a normal life for a while