INTESTINAL STRICTURE

[berryterry]

I had a bowel obstruction due to side effects from Interperitonal Chemotherapy.  I had the last 3 feet of ilium and the first 18 inches of colon removed.  I had the expected problems with diarrhrea and malabsorption, which was resolving when I slowly developed distressful cramps and vomiting over several months.  It was finally determined that the site of anastomosis had strictured.  I had a balloon dilitation last May increasing the opening from 4 mm to 10 mm.  I had symptoms again and another was performed in July increasing the opening from 5 mm to 11 mm.  I am having difficulties again and am having another procedure tomorrow.
My cancer is in remission and other than this stricture I am healthy.  When my intestines are working, I gain weight and feel strong.  Is there any olther solution to this problem than these dilitations or worse yet, surgery?  I was wondering if there is any intestinal stent, or such, that could solve the problem in that location?  Are there any specialized clinics for GI problems?
  

[mammo]

I know of no stenting that is available.  There are some hospitals that are better than others in dealing with GI problems.  Emory in Atlanta is excellent, Cleveland Clinic in Ohio?, Univ. of Cinti., and there's one in Texas which I can't think of, and a lot of people go to the Mayo Clinic.  Johns Hopkins is excellent also.  There is a doctor named Josef Fischer in Boston, who removed a large Desmoid tumor in my son after a hospital in Cinti. sent him home to die.  We took him to the Cleveland Clinic where they spent 5 1/2 hours cleaning up an infection that the doctors at Good Samaritan Hosp. in Cinti weren't even treating after a botched surgery.  Cleveland Clinic could not help my son other than with the infection, and sent him to see Dr. Fischer who was at the time practicing at Univ. of Cinti. Medical Center...he WAS able to remove the tumor!  I got his name thru the AMA, so you may want to start there.  My son developed the tumor after removal of the colon.  A teaching hospital is always your best bet!