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Elective Small bowel resection or not?

Tue, August 18, 2020 7:18 PM

Hi,

I was diagnosed with Crohn's in the 1980's and have managed to avoid surgery for the past 35 years.

I am currently on Stelara (have been for about 1 year) and I am feeling very good. I would say completely asymptomatic. However, my MRI's show that I now have a fistula and severe scarring/narrowing in my small bowel (I did have a blockage early 2019, but an NG tube fixed it). As the Stelara ihas not improved the fistula over the last year, my doctor referred me to a surgeon, and he wants to remove 12-18 inches of the affected area and do a resection.

The surgeon posits that it is only a matter of when, and not if, I will need the surgery and it is better to do it electively so that the bowel can be empty/cleaner and my meds are controlled, versus waiting for a more emergent situation (ie another blockage).

I get his point, but I am feeling so good right now should I go through with it? If I was miserable and in pain that would be one thing, but I am not. Not to mention entertaining the risks of a stoma, infection etc (the possibility of needing a stoma really worries me) BTW I am a relatively fit and healthy 50 something Male - Not overwieght and no other underlying conditions so surgery itself does not concern me.

Thoughts? Anyone had to make this decision? How do you arrive at an answer?

Thanks in advance

S

Jetprovost
Joined Aug 18, 2020

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