Anal stenosis

Hi @Liana, I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this! While I have not personally dealt with anal stenosis, I did want to provide you some resources for dealing with stress and anxiety:

https://inflammatoryboweldisease.net/spotlight/mental-health-month-2021

For myself, I deal with my anxiety/stress by:

1. Finding hobbies that relax me and engaging in them.
2. Practicing deep breathing when I can.
3. Letting myself make a plan about the worst case scenario and then reminding myself I do have that plan.
4. Taking a shower which relaxes me.
5. Speaking to a therapist.

Hope some of these could help! Please keep us updated.

- Eshani (Team Member)

Hi .
Sorry, I am just trying to understand what you meant when you said you have experienced two episodes? Anal stenosis is obviously a narrowing/stricture. Do you mean you have had two periods of time in which passing stool has been difficult? Have you had the stricture dilated in between?
I don't personally have experience of this, but I did have strictures with my J-pouch which often caused pain and stool to back up. By then, I had no colon, so it basically just resulted in increased frequency and urgency. Because my colon had gone, it wasn't solid stool.
I want to help, but I'm not really certain what information will help you.
For me, relaxation comes in the form of yoga and baths!
~ Sahara (Team member)

Hello there! I have had Crohn's Disease for 30 years. Last year I got a new physician who set me up with self dilation and I have to say she saved my life!! Please talk to your doctor about this simple procedure and you will not be disappointed. The first week or so it's a little scary and sort of uncomfortable but once you are on a schedule (mine is every 3 days) you will be just fine. And this simple procedure showed fairly immediate results with my bowel movements: no longer did I have the urgency immediately after I ate, I have no straining or difficulty with bms, and I actually feel "normal" again. My doctor told me that when you suffer anal stenosis then your body cannot eliminate properly, and that is why I would have loose, explosive situations, but no longer with my self dilation practice. Simple, easy and painless. Good luck.