Dilation made my sigmoid stricture worse

Hey poppy, sorry to hear that. I had a bed structure in the same place 8 or so years ago. I went in for a stretch every 2 weeks for about 9 months. Dr would stretch 3 mm each time knowing it would shrink back 2 mm. So it took that long to get a total of 12 mm.
Do you know how much the Dr did? On me they did small amount each time cause I had danger of splitting open that had happened during the past.
Any how what I'm saying is even if stretched in will bounce back down, could be that's what happened🙊

Its done routinely. And if the can reach it, they can stretch it😋 sometimes it lasts , sometimes t needs to be redone.

Hey so an update on this. I'm at about the 4 month mark after this dilation. Things got better after a few weeks, though never as good as i was before my last dilation. My doc wanted me to come in so he could stretch it again but I decided against it. Basically I'm at the point of opting to only doing these dilations when I absolutely need them. Things seem to be getting worse again (that's when I always crawl back here to complain lol). Output is down and that's usually the first sign the sigmoid stricture is tightening.

I'll probably have to make an appointment soon for another dilation. I've had 5 done so far and this last one lasted the shortest due to the poor prep (at least I hope that's the reason).

February 2, 2021 - hegar dilator
13 months
March 11, 2022 - hegar dilator
7.5 months
October 28, 2022 - hegar dilator - almost died
16 months
February 27, 2024 - Balloon - needed dilation
5 months
July 30, 2024 - balloon - didn't need dilation


4 months after this last one feel like I'm getting close.

It's funny too because I was just talking to my other GI (I have 2) and I was telling him how good I was feeling. My bloodwork looks amazing. My energy has been great after discovering b12 cyanacobalamin. I still feel good just at this point with my experience dealing with these strictures and dilations I know things are tightening. Regardless, I am going to push these dilations to the limit. But if I get to a point where I'm having to dilate every other month, then it might be time to try something different.

I have 2 strictures. 1 in my rectum and another in my sigmoid colon. The one in my sigmoid, surprisingly has gotten worse, and the one in my rectum, which was previously thought to be the more severe one, seems to be better than it was a few years ago (according to my observations). I can fit an enema bulb in their without much effort. And I can't reach the sigmoid. I remember asking my first colorectal guy if I could just remove the sigmoid stricture and leave the rectum, and he was adamant he wanted to remove both.

I'm starting to think things would work out if we just removed the sigmoid one, thus avoiding the bag. So I think I am going to get some second opinions on that. You guys have any? But in the meantime I will keep you guys updated

Post Edited (Poppysocks) : 11/21/2024 9:59:03 PM (GMT-5)

Stricture😤 had my scope today. Got me a new stricture. Probably get ballooned soon. Will find out more Thursday after my next appointment. Isn't Christmas great!😝.