Hi all I have read many posts on this site but never posted before now. My 17 yr old daughter has a j-pouch now for 3 years. She had the surgery due to FAP. The problem is that around 3-4 times a year she gets admitted to hospital with signs and symptoms of a blockage. Last November when she was in they did a laparoscopy to see if it was adhesions causing the problems. No adhesions were found. The doc did a sigmoindoscopy in during the surgery as well and found some hard stool in the pouch. So we thought that that was what was causing the blockage. She is in again now- they did a scope and no stool or blockage was found in the pouch or just above it. X-rays show gas in the intestines but no signs of mechanical blockage. She had a high enema with contrast today and the dye flowed through the pouch and into the intestine without problem. She is still extremely distended, nauseated and in pain. The docs don't really know what is the problem. I was wondering if anyone has heard of this kind of problem and if anyone had any suggestions. Sorry for the long post.
Barb

This message has been edited. Last edited by: wyattclan,

I sympathize with you and your daughter. I am going through another stricture or blockage right now. And from what I am understanding, medical intervention does not come until you are extremely ill. It is very frustrating and upsetting. So, I have no advice -- but care and concern to send your way. Peace, Sue

Hi Barb,
Our daughters are close in age (mine's 20) and has gone through 3 blockages before her takedown. She went through all of the testing that you've described, also no cause found. I wish I had the answer too...it's very frustrating. I just want you to know there are others experiencing the same frustrations. I have heard that warm baths can sometimes help alleviate the symptoms and clear the blockage. Feel free to PM me anytime.

Well now the docs are saying that it is an ileus not a mechanical blockage. They have no idea why it starts- unfortunately the morphine she receives in the hospital can just make the problem worse. So they are now trying to add a non narcotic painkiller to see if it will help the pain and reduce the need for the morphine. She is trying to get up and walk and move as much as the pain allows. No one seems to have any answers as to why she would just spontaneously develop an ileus. The keep talking abut the morphine cause an ileus and I keep pointing out that the problem starts BEFORE she gets any morphine. It is all very frustrating.

Morphine gave me all the symptoms you describe right after my takedown. They put me on demerol. Got better quick. A flare, can cause what you are decribing. Are there any foods,drinks, she consumes before these events? Other meds? Sometimes they react poorly to each other. I find that if I don't take my meds on time I feel poorly. Gee, I hope they figure something soon. I'll keep thinking. Good Luck Arthur

You are right that if the symptoms develop before the administration of the morphine, then the narcotic is just an additive effect, not a primary cause. If all of the mechanical causes have been ruled out for obstructive symptoms, then what is left is a functional disorder. I think that some tests to rule out lupus and endocrine disorders are in order. If these are ruled out, then you are left with either muscular or neurogenic defects, which are less easily treated. Here is a good link for you:

http://www.ddc.musc.edu/ddc_pub/digestiveProbs/diseases...owel/dysmotility.htm

Jan

To WyattClan

Has her diet been analyzed? Is she taking any supplements or unusual types of vitamins or health food supplements that hasn't been discussed? Try this route with your doctor, and maybe log everything she eats and drinks with amounts. It's a good possibility to check and shouldn't be ignored. I had my surgery 6 years ago, and experienced blockages for about 2 years, then it just stopped and I haven't had any so far. I was told (by the surgeon) that it's common for people to experience this for some time after the takedown.

I'm 17 too, and I've had a ton of blockages. They usually have no idea what its from, so they pretty much just give me some vicodin and don't let me eat, and it generally passes on its own.

Oh, modern medicine.