Question:
what is a stricture
— Cchaps (posted on March 13, 2010)
March 13, 2010
stricture is a narrowing of the opening from your stomach into your new
intestines.
— bridget B.
March 13, 2010
A stricture is scar tissue that forms around your stoma (the opening from
your new stomach pouch to your intestines). It can "constrict"
the opening, therefore it is called a "stricture". It becomes so
small sometimes that your food can't pass through unless it is liquid, so
it must be fixed. It can be fixed quickly and painlessly by an
gastroenterologist, who, in an outpatient setting, will usually give you
some conscious sedation (however, I made them put me completely out because
I suffer from anxiety and a massive gag reflex), and put a small tube down
your throat into your stomach and guide it to the opening of the stoma.
There, they will inflate a balloon on the end of the tube, and leave it
there for a few minutes to stretch the scar tissue back out and make the
opening a normal size. All total, from pre-op preparations (getting
checked in, getting the IV started, taking a short history and
double-checking allergy information) to post-op observation (checking your
temp and blood pressure 4 times, making sure you can eat something like a
graham cracker and drink something like juice)....I think I was there for
less than 90 minutes. I couldn't have been in the treatment room for more
than 10 or 15 minutes, and I didn't even have to change out of my street
clothing OR take off my shoes! They just put a warm blanket over me, which
was nice.
— Erica Alikchihoo
March 13, 2010
Actually, the first answer is not completely correct. A stricture can best
be likened to what happens to your intestines when it twists upon itself.
Basically, you need to think of your intestines as a long balloon. Some
people have the ability to twist a balloon to make balloon animals, flowers
and other objects. What occurs with a stricture is similar to the twisting
that makes the shape of the balloon animal. The usual treatment for this
is to stick a scope down the digestive tract and untwist the stricture.
That usually takes care of the problem, but not always. Sometimes surgery
is needed to get the kinks out. I hope this helps.
— hubarlow
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