It looks as though I am going to have to be operated on again and I am
seeing my surgeon on the 16th to prepare for an emergency admission due to
ileus. Obviously, the best alternative would be a laparoscopic
investigation
to see what is really going on, but that would be up to the surgeon to
determine. If it happens it will be my 10th operation - 8 gut ops, 2
female
ops.
I have known since the last ileal resection in Feb. 2005 that the
resection
site was closing. This may or may not be due to Crohn's and/or adhesions
and/or the anastomosis wound site just closing. Hence, I don't know
whether
or not it is a stricture (ring of intestine closing) or stenosis (length
of
intestine closing).
Bearing in mind that I do not have a colon, have Crohns with short bowel
syndrome (aka intestinal failure) and that the affected site is beyond the
35-40 cm maximum that my gastroenterologist was able to explore recently
during ileoscopy, how have others had a stricture or stenosis treated?
I know that approaches include expanding the site with a balloon stent
procedure, cutting away the stenosed tissue and rejoining, etc. I would be
interested to hear how your surgeons have approached and solved this for
you. What has been done to avoid reoccurence?
I am on a much reduced dose of Tincture of Opium (aka Laudanum - 6 drops a
day - down from 18 drops a day - 45 days recommended daily maximum dose),
6-MP (aka Purinethol), Entocort (aka Budesonide), Omeprazol (for GERD),
various vitamin injections, mineral supplements including a calcium and
vitamin D supplement.
I have pain all the time, but only resort to painkillers to get me to
sleep
and have been able to do without the last couple of nights, but have been
eating essentially liquids or homogenised/easily digestable foods. A
couple
of days ago I made a banana smoothie and ended up in a lot of pain.
Vanny
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