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Hi all! I'm 25 years old and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2008. My disease is finally under control, as in, my blood tests look great and my inflammation number is under control (it was sky high about 6 months ago). About 6 months ago, I was put on humira, and clearly it has worked wonders. Before being put on humira, my doctor knew I had some scar tissue built up in my ileum. Well, it seems the healing that has occurred with my humira has added to the scar tissue in my ileum. My doctor thinks I have about a 10cm stricture that cannot be healed via meds and needs to come out (small bowel resection) to stop my symptoms (extreme - I mean looking 6 months preggers - bloating, loud gurgling noises, sharp pains after eating). 
So, my surgeon thinks that I CAN get the surgery if I WANT to, but if it were his daughter, he'd tell her to keep living until she can't take it anymore. I think I'm already at this point, I take miralax 3-4 times/week and mineral oil almost daily to help things pass through the stricture.
Am I crazy to WANT surgery? I'm 25 years old and I want to eat whatever I want and live like a 25 year should live. My disease is under control, it's just the matter of this scar tissue, and according to the surgeon, without it, I'd live normally for what would hopefully be years.
Crohn's Meds:
8 pentasa daily
humira shot every other week

 Reply posted for pirategirl.

I have Crohns and my first surgery was for a stricture, fistula and abscess and I got a ten year remission without meds out of that. Then life happened it came back and I tried a year of meds was on endocort , azathioprine and numerous different pain pills for spasms. Finally I had another colonscopy and it showed strictures and I had a total blockage. I had my surgery November 5th 2013 it was a resect and with a small cut and four laproscopic points. Surgery went well but I was extremely anemic and had to be given blood and potassium and magnesium. Now I am still dealing with horrible anemia and see a hematologist next week. Long story short have the surgery before you develop a blockage or severe anemia or malnourishment. I was diagnosed at 18 back then I would have waited I am now 45 I waited a year and won't do that again . I let myself go too long, I was a caregiver for my brother with cancer and in denial that I wouldn't be ok. Go with your gut you can feel better.  Good luck.

 Reply posted for pirategirl.

i've done asacol, humira, remicade, prednisone, 6-mp and failed it all. had my surgery may 2012 under emergency conditions and it was still the best thing that's ever happened to me. ​that's saying a lot because i had a total colectomy due a huge stricture and now have an ileostomy. even with all the crap thats come from having to deal with/adjust to that, being able to eat whatever/whenever i want is basically a miracle. (just watch yourself and don't make the mistake of eating ice cream and pizza every day just because you can...trust me that comes back to bite you haha). if you're able to get away with just a resection i would say you should 100% do it.

recovery time for me was a solid month done laparoscopic which was the definition of *** for about the first week/2weeks but after that you can see yourself getting better everyday. i would suggest finding a reclining chair to sleep in because in the beginning sleeping flat on my back was essentially impossible. 

 Reply posted for pirategirl.

i've done asacol, humira, remicade, prednisone, 6-mp and failed it all. had my surgery may 2012 under emergency conditions and it was still the best thing that's ever happened to me. ​that's saying a lot because i had a total colectomy due a huge stricture and now have an ileostomy. even with all the crap thats come from having to deal with/adjust to that, being able to eat whatever/whenever i want is basically a miracle. (just watch yourself and don't make the mistake of eating ice cream and pizza every day just because you can...trust me that comes back to bite you haha). if you're able to get away with just a resection i would say you should 100% do it.

recovery time for me was a solid month done laparoscopic which was the definition of *** for about the first week/2weeks but after that you can see yourself getting better everyday. i would suggest finding a reclining chair to sleep in because in the beginning sleeping flat on my back was essentially impossible. 

 Reply posted for pirategirl.

If you’re not living a normal life right now, and surgery is an option… I would do it.  I was in a similar position, but the surgery was actually highly recommended due to the fact that the only thing that was keeping me out of the ER was a high dosage of prednisone. 

I too am only 25, had surgery on October 3^rd, am back to my normal life, and am LOVING IT!

Recovery wasn’t easy, but I am so glad that I am living a happy and pain free life for the first time in 3 years!

Planning for a surgery is so much better than having something done in an emergency.  I was able to have my internist round on me while I was in the hospital, get caught up at work, make arrangements to have family with me to help take care of me, and even arrange to work from home some when I felt up to it!

 Reply posted for pirategirl.

Hi!! Have you asked GI if he/she could dilate the stricture? If you do decide to have surgery, the nice thing about it being elective is you will get to have things all planned out prior to going under the knife. If your current symptoms are preventing you from living a normal life, then personally I would say get the surgery. If you think you can manage for a while longer with dilations then that's also a good option. Did doc mention a strictureplasty? Take care!!