strictureplasty

Thank you for your question, . While I never had strictureplasty surgery, I had a partial colectomy in 2014 which required general anesthesia and was also nervous before the procedure. I let the anesthesia team know and they gave me a shot of Versed while in triage and it calmed me down immensely. I would talk to your care team about your concerns and see if there is anything they can give you to relax you prior to surgery, as it will only make it easier on everyone if you didn't have anxiety going into it.
Please keep us posted on how you decide to proceed!


--Julie (Team Member)

Thank you Julie ❤️

I had strictureplasty a few years ago when I developed really bad abdominal pain. The CT scan showed 3 narrowings that needed surgery ASAP. The surgeon had to resection two of them as they were the width of a pencil and the other one he was able to do strictureplasty so he could spare that part of the small intestines.

I've read up on it and I'd rather have my bowel spared from removing it all and doing strictureplasty if I am a candidate. Think of it as if you have a garden hose, there's a blockage, and gut pressure can't move it. So you splice it down the middle and open it up wide and sew the sides down. Then the narrowing is gone and food can move freely.

I really believe whoever invented this had the intention of sparing the patient from losing their bowel. There is information on the Crohn's Colitis Foundation webpage I think.

you can try to google strictureplasty photos to see what it looks like or strictureplasty diagrams as well. I tend to do a long of research on what I have or am newly diagnosed with so I'm educated. When in doubt, ask the surgeon if you can speak to one of his patients who's been through it or look into a local CCFA chapter near you and call. Ask the team leader if you can talk to someone who's had the procedure. They will match you with someone. I've been a member for over 30 years. It helps to join a local chapter since most here usually do Zoom meetings. good luck to you.