Stricture questions

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kristasplace
kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Since my plumber doctor rarely has much to say about anything, i need to post my questions here with the experienced. I have been diagnosed with a "chronic stricture", and have to go back in another month to get dilated again, and hopefully this time get my much needed colonoscopy. The "chronic" part of this diagnosis is concerning me. Am i going to have to go in every month to get dilated, or will this stricture someday stay open on it's own? I know some of you have had surgery to remove the scar tissue. Was this another fish gut surgery, or did they do it anally? Was a colostomy needed? Did the surgery help? I plan on nailing down the plumber with some answers the next time i go in, but i really don't expect to get many answers out of him. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Many hugs,
Krista

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  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #2
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    Me too...
    I have stenosis in the rectum (stricture) and have had 1 dilation already. I go back on Aug 26 for the next one, then again in Sept. My GI is hopeful that 3 times is all it will take to keep it open...we'll see. I know you said you had pain before, but I didn't feel a thing except a little pressure. He gives me fentynal & versed, and I am awake, but could care less! LOL!

    Good luck....Vicki
  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    #3
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    VickiCO said:

    Me too...
    I have stenosis in the rectum (stricture) and have had 1 dilation already. I go back on Aug 26 for the next one, then again in Sept. My GI is hopeful that 3 times is all it will take to keep it open...we'll see. I know you said you had pain before, but I didn't feel a thing except a little pressure. He gives me fentynal & versed, and I am awake, but could care less! LOL!

    Good luck....Vicki

    Dilation
    Hi Vicki! Did your doctor mention anything about surgery if your dilations don't work? Did he give you any options at all if they don't work? Unfortunately, my stricture is very painful. Even now after being dilated to 20 mm, it hurts to go, and it hurts afterwards unless i take a narcotic, or high ibuprofen mg. I get dilated again on September 15, and this will be my fourth time!

    Your plumber gave you fentanyl instead of demural during the colonoscopy, or for your pain at home? If you're talking about the colonoscopy, i know exactly what you mean about not caring! I'm tolerant to the verced, so i always remember what went on during the procedure. I remember during my diagnostic colonoscopy seeing the huge bloody tumor on the monitor and thinking, "wow, that's sort of ugly...*yawn* *shrug*, oh well". I can see how people get addicted to those drugs, or any drug that makes you feel like that! The most horrible thing in your life is happening, and you couldn't care less!! I love it!

    I wish you much luck with your dilation, and good vibes that this will be your last one! Let me know how it goes!

    Hugs,
    Krista
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #4
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    stricture
    Hi Krista. My surgeon did a sigmoidoscopy about a month ago. He said everything looked good and I seem to be staying open and not narrowing anymore. This is good. They give me fentanyl and versed and I am out when they do this. I like the feel of the drugs when they first hit me. I get a light headed feeling and then nite nite. I am finally not having as many problems. I take my 2 lomotil usually in the morning after I've been in the bathroom a few times and then for about 6 hours I won't have to go at all. Once in awhile I still have some soreness but for the most part things are getting better. I was given the name of a good surgeon at Mayo Clinic. She is supposed to be able to operate when there are no margins. I'm still thinking of seeing if there's more she could do. I was very seriously considering having the bag put back on if things didn't get better but so far it has. I never thought it would take this much time but my surgeon says it's from the radiation. I noticed that when I've had to do enema's I don't have any trouble for a few days after. I think this has helped to stretch things some.
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #5
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    kristasplace said:

    Dilation
    Hi Vicki! Did your doctor mention anything about surgery if your dilations don't work? Did he give you any options at all if they don't work? Unfortunately, my stricture is very painful. Even now after being dilated to 20 mm, it hurts to go, and it hurts afterwards unless i take a narcotic, or high ibuprofen mg. I get dilated again on September 15, and this will be my fourth time!

    Your plumber gave you fentanyl instead of demural during the colonoscopy, or for your pain at home? If you're talking about the colonoscopy, i know exactly what you mean about not caring! I'm tolerant to the verced, so i always remember what went on during the procedure. I remember during my diagnostic colonoscopy seeing the huge bloody tumor on the monitor and thinking, "wow, that's sort of ugly...*yawn* *shrug*, oh well". I can see how people get addicted to those drugs, or any drug that makes you feel like that! The most horrible thing in your life is happening, and you couldn't care less!! I love it!

    I wish you much luck with your dilation, and good vibes that this will be your last one! Let me know how it goes!

    Hugs,
    Krista

    Krista
    They haven't talked about surgery yet, but I know it is a possibility if dilation doesn't work. The drugs are given via IV right before the procedure, the same as with a colonoscopy. They asked if I wanted drugs or not, but recommended I take them to avoid the pain.

    I have 2 to go...Aug & Sept, then we will see what's up.

    Ask for the drugs! Vicki
  • mommyof2kds
    mommyof2kds Member Posts: 519
    #6
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    tiny one said:

    stricture
    Hi Krista. My surgeon did a sigmoidoscopy about a month ago. He said everything looked good and I seem to be staying open and not narrowing anymore. This is good. They give me fentanyl and versed and I am out when they do this. I like the feel of the drugs when they first hit me. I get a light headed feeling and then nite nite. I am finally not having as many problems. I take my 2 lomotil usually in the morning after I've been in the bathroom a few times and then for about 6 hours I won't have to go at all. Once in awhile I still have some soreness but for the most part things are getting better. I was given the name of a good surgeon at Mayo Clinic. She is supposed to be able to operate when there are no margins. I'm still thinking of seeing if there's more she could do. I was very seriously considering having the bag put back on if things didn't get better but so far it has. I never thought it would take this much time but my surgeon says it's from the radiation. I noticed that when I've had to do enema's I don't have any trouble for a few days after. I think this has helped to stretch things some.

    sorry you guys are going
    sorry you guys are going through this. I was wondering, what caused the narrowing. I read that tiny one had a ostomy before this problem.
  • kristasplace
    kristasplace Member Posts: 957 Member
    #7
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    So glad it's helping!
    I'm so glad you're getting some relief, Tiny! What did you mean "when your margins are clear"? Have they found more cancer? The first time i went through the dilation, they had already taken me into surgery, so i had been aenesthesized. By the time they did the dilation, i was wide awake. Believe me, the pain was unbearable! I hit the doctor, kicked the nurse, and nearly crushed the hand of the nurse who was holding mine trying to comfort me! I won't let them get away with that again.

    Like Tiny, my stricture was caused by the radiation, and scarring from it. I've heard that surgery can cause a stricture scar, too. It doesn't happen to everyone it seems. I also had a long term ostomy that kept my bowels inactive. I don't know if the situation would've been different if the ostomy was reversed sooner.

    Many hugs,
    Krista
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #8
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    kristasplace said:

    So glad it's helping!
    I'm so glad you're getting some relief, Tiny! What did you mean "when your margins are clear"? Have they found more cancer? The first time i went through the dilation, they had already taken me into surgery, so i had been aenesthesized. By the time they did the dilation, i was wide awake. Believe me, the pain was unbearable! I hit the doctor, kicked the nurse, and nearly crushed the hand of the nurse who was holding mine trying to comfort me! I won't let them get away with that again.

    Like Tiny, my stricture was caused by the radiation, and scarring from it. I've heard that surgery can cause a stricture scar, too. It doesn't happen to everyone it seems. I also had a long term ostomy that kept my bowels inactive. I don't know if the situation would've been different if the ostomy was reversed sooner.

    Many hugs,
    Krista

    margins
    Hey krista!! I was told that this Doctor at Mayo Clinic can operate on a person even when there are no margins. I believe this to mean that she can operate on a person when there isn't much tissue to connect together, she is this good. She has operated on quite a few people who've had problems from reversals and from radiation, I believe. My narrowing was caused by the radiation I received.
  • Dyan Clark
    Dyan Clark Member Posts: 22
    #9
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    VickiCO said:

    Me too...
    I have stenosis in the rectum (stricture) and have had 1 dilation already. I go back on Aug 26 for the next one, then again in Sept. My GI is hopeful that 3 times is all it will take to keep it open...we'll see. I know you said you had pain before, but I didn't feel a thing except a little pressure. He gives me fentynal & versed, and I am awake, but could care less! LOL!

    Good luck....Vicki

    Stenosis
    So my husband has stenosis due to GI Radiation, they have not dilated him yet but hoep all tests get done and they can do it ASAP. He is having a bad time. He had to do a MRI today to make sure as to the cause. Pets, CTs, and biopsy all negative so far.
  • Jaylo969
    Jaylo969 Member Posts: 824 Member
    #10
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    stricture
    Didn't realize how old this thread is. Deleted my reply to Krista. I'm blaming this on my chemo brain;)

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