my husband has had his j-pouch for almost 3 years now, and is having many of those same issues you described. He is up many times throughout the night and has lots of pain and spasming, mostly beginning after lunchtime and continuing until morning. The last time that he slept through the night was in between step 1 and 2 while he had the temp ileostomy!

He cannot drink beer anymore.. it creates too much pain and bathroom trips for him. That was hard for him to give up, but it was necessary. Those times he gives in and does drink beer he really pays for it.

I am convinced that diet does have a lot to do with all the complications - but my husband doesn't want to not eat the food he loves so he suffers instead.

I hope you get some ideas from others on this thread.. and that your husband can get some relief somehow! Sometimes they are their own worst enemy, you know? So stubborn!