Operation

Hi Nicci,

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis but at least you know now what you're dealing with. Surgery to remove an obstruction (stricture) caused by a build up of scar tissue is pretty normal if you have Crohn's  - I forget the figures but most people with Crohn's will need this sort of operation at least once in their life (I've had 3 so am well ahead!) As your Doctor's said it won't 'cure' the Crohns - there is no cure and there's always the chance it will come back somewhere else (like mine does!) but (and here I disagree with your Dr) surgery can make a huge difference to your quality of life. I had my last Op in May this year and the one before that was in 2000 and in the 15 years between I had virtually no symptoms at all and I was able to live a completely normal life - so in my view well worth it! As far as the operation goes (no point lying) you willl feel pretty rough for a couple of days after the surgery (it's quite a big Op) but you've just got to grin and bear that. Post Op pain shouldn't be too much of a problem - more like discomfort 'til everything heals up (and no where near as bad as Crohn's itself). The worst part for me was not beng able to eat or drink for about four days after. Ask the Hospital about having an Epidural to deal with the post Op pain - I had one last time and it beats Morphine hands down - I was out of bed and walking around (OK still attached to drips, drains and things) within 24 hours! Felt pretty rubbish when they took the Epidural out mind, but as I say only for a couple of days.

I hope this has been some help and has gone some way to reassure you. Any more questions please come back to me.

Good Luck!

The Padre

 

dear Padre

Thanks for replying to nicola55890, I am also awaiting surgery for stricture (20cm) and your advice re epidural sounds sensible....fed up trying to be a hero! Good luck Nicola xxx

Hi Sharon,

Don't know how usual the epidural is (I'd only ever associated it with childbirth!) but the anesthetist offered me the option and it worked really well. I've got to go back for more surgery in the new year and I'll definately be asking for one again!

Good Luck with your Op,

The Padre

Hi I had surgery to remove a stricture and a large part of infected colon in 2010 and have been really well since I still have the odd dash to the loo day but nothing compared with before. The surgery was fine , pain not too bad and got better as soon as I was able to walk around, beware of the wind though!! It was 3 months before I started to feel better largely due to an infection in my pelvis then pneumonia which I contracted in hospital. I was still experiencing loose bowel movements and my gastro doc prescribed something I take daily and that turned my life around. I have recently had a routine colonoscopy which has shown inflammation so I am waiting for my follow up to see where I go next. Surgery isn't a cure but it can give respite. Gather as much info as you can to make an informed decision. Good luck

Hi Nicola, sorry to hear you have crohns. I have crohns, I had two operations, I have a ilestomy stoma. I have a crohns flare up, it is getting me down. I hope you op gies well.

Hiya this message is to Nicola and anyone else who can help me with the information about surgery,I've been diagnosed with chrons about a year ago and after loads of blood tests,colonoscopy,endoscopy,MRI test I've been sent to a chrons specialist now as my MRI results have come back with scaring and everything else so need an operation,I'm due to be booked in within the next month to have 3 feet of my small intestine removed,II have been told by my specialist that no other meds are gonna help me now so just wondering if anyone out there has had same op and how long will I take to recover and how long will I have a bag for,please help thanks.Jane....🙋

Hi jane,

See my earlier reply to Nicci about surgery. I've had two resections and back in May I had an Ileostomy (bag!) As I say the operation itself  isn't too much to worry about (any more than any other operation) - basically you won't know anything about it 'til you come round. You're likely to feel pretty rough for a couple of days after but that's only to be expected and you just have to grin and bear that. You will probably be OK to go home after about a week and then you probably need to take it easy for another 6-8 weeks at least. Have you been told you'll definately have a bag? With my first two Ops I didn't - they were just straightforward resections. This time I had a 'temporary' illeostomy. I've had it for 6 months now (this coming Saturday!) and I'm seeing the surgeon at the beginning of January to hopefully start the process of getting it reversed. I'm told it's usual to leave it for  9 months to a year so I gues I'm about half way there! if you do have one be reassured that it's not as bad as you might think - more of a nuscience than anything. Six months on I feel absolutely fine and can eat and drink pretty much anything - but the bag does need to be emptied fairly often. Best of luck!!!

The Padre