I woke up Sunday morning with the worst pain in my lower left abdomen. I was doubled over in pain from it and eventually found my way down to the Emergency Room at my local hospital.

Once there, I waited the standard 1.5-2 hours until they could see me. I finally got some morphine for the pain around 2pm and fell asleep for a nap until about 5pm.

I'm not 100% sure it was a blockage, but it went away over time and today I seem ok.

I didn't initially think it was a blockage of sorts because I thought without any nerve endings in my small intestine, I wouldn't be able to feel sharp pains like that?

Any thoughts?

IT's really not a club anyone WANTS to be a member of...so my welcome comes with sympathy as I too, am a member!

Do you have an ileostomy or a j-pouch? Usually with an ostomy you can "see" whatever blocked you come out eventually. Similarly, with a j-pouch you would have a bowel movement that would relieve the pain and pressure you were feeling. Did they hook you up to IV fluids when you were in the hospital? That usually helps to flush things out as well. I would go on a soft/liquid diet for a few days to give your body some time to recover.

Terra

I have a j-pouch and yes, I was hooked up to an IV while in the Emergency Room.

Today I'm trying to get my liquid and burning stools under control. I also seem to have a pain in my lower abdomen (almost where the blockage was before) that I think is a gas pain. Boy is it painful. It's like no gas pain I've ever had before. Fun, huh?

Unfortunately I'm at work today and have to work through the pain. Only five more hours to go.

Hi Dan,

Welcome to the club!

Although the lining of the ileum doesn't have any pain receptors, the surrounding tissue does and if your bowel is distended because of a blockage you will certainly feel the consiqueces! I always feel like I've been kicked by a mule for a few days after I've had a blockage, which is probably what you are feeling now.

It sounds like you had a partial obstruction and that it cleared on it's own but I would just stick to clear fluids for the next 24 hours and then a low residue diet for another couple of days.

If the pain gets worse and/or you start to feel nauseous and/or vomit then you need to get back down to ER.

Hope you feel better soon.

Shell

welcome me also. i was feeling so good and taking fiber and I think I must have made it to thick and then I took my lomitl hoping to get a few hrs sleep as I am usually up every 2 hrs. Next morn I thought it was indigestion so I took tums and pepcid and 7-up and around noon I quit pooping. around 3pm I started throwing up and the pains in my abdomin just under the sternum were terrible all night, wretching all night and it finally broke loose around 4:30am. I thought I was going to hve to go to the er. I was sore for about 4 days and now I feel great again. So there is hope.

I am so glad I read this post! I had a blockage last week and also went to the ER. Fluids, pain meds, and no food helped it pass.
I still don't feel right. It feels like my intestine is having to work hard to move things through. Also a lot of gurgling. Watch out for too much fiber and lomotil or immodium. That combo gave me a blockage last year. Try that stuff one at a time and over time. I'm up all night too, but I do take scrip sleep med, or I wouldn't be able to work full time. Stay in touch!

This is NOT a club I want to welcome you into.
I have been suffering with them for 5 years now. I have adhesions . Just watch your fiber intake and chew. If you feel one coming on drink grape juice and use a heating pad. This has saved me many a hosptial run.
Susan

Oh you're welcome alright! I am the queen bee of blockages, and would be happy to pass the torch off to someone else. I had my J Pouch surgery 11 years ago, and was mostly fine for 8 of them. Three years ago I started getting blocked and it progressively got worse. Didn't matter what I ate. Had surgery 2 years ago to correct this by removing adhesions. Well, bad news is. . .still getting blocked and god it sucks! The ER room loves me. I've been off of work for 2 months, to try a relaxation approach and see if this has an effect on my situation. I'm also working out almost every day (something I gave up after my last surgery) and eat 3 regular meals with snacks in between. Something I never got to do when working full time. I'm starting yoga in a few weeks. That should help as well. So far so good, but I don't get too excited about going for 2 months without incident these days. Suffering from a flu virus this week, so things never seem to look up. However, I'm optimistic on life. Could be worse!! I eat and drink wine when the guts allow and enjoy every second that is good!! Hang in there. Next time you're getting the great ER meds, think of me. They are good, aren't they?!?!?

Hi Nancy,
I found that when I am stressed, is when my most intense blockages occur. I also have had to stop working and spend my days at the gym trying to stay calm. The one thing I have to be careful with is doing too many sit ups as that can agravate the adhesions. Massage theraphy helps but does not cure. My surgeon wants to operate but my 2 GI doctors said no, in fact my surgeon said if he ever sees me in the ER again he will not let me leave so I ride them out at home now. I'm sorry to read that after having yours removed it did not solve the problem. The one good thing is that not eating and working out keeps me thin.
Susan

I'm so glad you all posted some responses. I wasn't sure how common blackages and adhesions were.

Since getting out of the ER on Sunday, I've had pains every day. My most recent one woke me up at 3:30am and it's painful just like any of the others.

The ER doc gave me a small Rx of Bentyl for cramping. It seems to help after it kicks in 30 minutes later. What does everyone do with their regular meds while dealing with blockages/adhesions? Do you still take them? I have chronic pouchitis, but without much food getting through my pouch this week, I'm not showing any symptoms, so do I need to take my antibiotics?

Painfully yours,

Dan the Man

Today I had my best day.

No pain since 4:30am this morning. Perhaps the blockage worked itself out. I sure hope so. I don't know how much more pain I can take from this.

What club am I member of today? The pouchitis, adhesions, fistula, butt burn or blockage club.
In February I had a blockage because I ate a raw apple too fast and didn't chew very well. Two hours later I had that unmistakable feeling. I spent five days in the hospital waiting for things to pass. After reading everyone's comments after the fact. I learned a few things to do to avoid another trip to the ER. My GP doctor prescribed Levsin SL, 125MG, two tablets under the tongue every four hours as needed for abdominal spasms. Has anyone used this medication? I am very thankful to everyone who contributes to this forum. I have learned so many things. I had my first pouch surgery in 1983 and did not have access to all this wonderful support. Thanks.

I have had a few minor blockages and one serious blockage. Mostly from eating to fast and not chewing enough. I get the urge to go and then cant. So what I do is hold it until I cant anymore, it seems like this builds up enough pressure to get things moving. My first blockage was so bad I couldnt go until I was in so much pain I was vomiting. The vomiting caused me to push hard enough that the blockage released. So I guess I'm a member of the club as well.

I'm not exactly sure what caused my blockage, but I read in this thread that someone takes grape juice to get rid of them.

Since the only thing I had in my house close to grape juice was a nice Riesling (wine), I drank that and my blockage went away the next morning. I'm not saying the wine did the trick, but it sure seems like a strange coincidence.

Wow, was that ever painful!

But now things are back to feeling pretty "normal."

This is my routine, for anyone wanting to try it. I develop pouchitis if I stop taking the antibiotics, so that's why I take them.

Mornings
========
1 DanActive Probiotic with 1 capsule PB8 Probiotic for breakfast. 2 cups of coffee (caffeinated) if I want it.

Lunch
=====
Anything

Dinner
======
Anything

Bedtime
=======
2 Augmentin, 2 Cipro, 2 imodium, 1 Prilosec

I am averaging about 4-6 BMs a day. This is about as normal as it's supposed to get, right? My BMs are semi-formed, too, which is nice.

Anyhow, hope that helps someone out there.

Dan

just found this post. I should have read this first before posting my own question about blockages(!). Really interesting that stress seems to aggravate the problem, as I have said in my other posts(http://j-pouch.org/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9151071921/m/5061001812) , the two times I've had a blockage have been when I've been under huge amounts of stress.

heh. welcome to the club that no-one wants to join! Glad you're feeling better now, I'm up for the wine-cure suggestion

lynsey