narrowing of small bowel

My recent small bowel study shows that my small bowel is narrowed- the small bowel study, took four hours for the barium to get through my bowel.  I know that this should only take approximately 2 hours.  What does this mean and what might be the treatment?

[lizziecee]

Hi Bobby,

narrowing of the small intestine, or indeed the colon (large intestine) is called stricturing, and is usually caused by inflammation of the mucosal lining.  Although I have had Crohn's Colitis (Crohns in both small and large intestines) for 40 yrs, until last year it has always been controlled, barring periodic flares, by medication. However, the strictures in the last part of my small intestine around the terminal ileum, and in the first part of the colon, were so narrowed by adhesions from previous inflammatory flares, I needed urgent surgery. It was called a right hemi-colectomy.  I think the surgeon resected 15 cm, then sewed it back together. It is major surgery; I was in ICU for 3 days, then in a High Dependancy  private room (which is not the norm in our socialised health system in England) for 10 days. My gastro and surgeon advised that I should not need further surgery for 10 yrs, but I am currently having severe pain before a bowel movement, so guess the strictures are back!

As far as I am aware, there are no medications that can widen these strictures, but if the strictures are not too severe, there is a newish surgical procedure called a strictureplasty, which widens the narrowings, and no resection of the affected intestine is surgically removed.  If you Google "intestinal obstruction" or "hemicolectomy" this will explain the procedure in more detail than I can give here.

Hope this helps. If I can help you further, please post again.

Take care,
Liz.

[Bobbyg1127]

Thanks for your response, meeting with GI Dr. tomorrow to discuss situation- will let you know what his ideas are and if he has any medication advice-

[blissfulasil]

i have had a few over 13 yrs but i have only had one surgery done.  they other times i was able to get a balloons taken in with a camera and blown it up to strech it. they put some stiches in a couple i think.  if you did need surgery dont worry not all have to be in the ICU, I was in hospital for 3 days and it was before keyhole. when I had my gallbladder taken out i was only in for a night.

Good luck at the DR