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OK...so after my J pouch surgery in 2007 and some horrific complications....I have spent the last 7 or so years living life, healthier than ever, and not having any issues. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and never had any problems.

A few weeks ago I had horrible pain after eating a large salad quickly, thought it was an obstruction, and went to the ER.  Obviously the salad forced the issue, but it would have happened anyway, regardless.

After stumping all the docs for days, I was told I needed emergency surgery...they were sure part of my bowel was dead.  They went in, and 2 days in a coma and 2 surgeries later, I spent 3 weeks in the hospital and they had found that my intestines had dropped below my j pouch, and were twisted and died.  They needed to take out 2 feet of small bowel.  The surgeon said there was a space below the J-pouch that the intestine "slipped" into.  He said surgeons have different ways of creating the J pouch, and that mine had left this space open.  Has anyone ever heard of this?  I used to frequent this website back in the day, only to more recently use it to give advice and motivation.  I have NEVER heard of such a thing and am dying to know if the community has.  Please write me if this is something you have any knowledge about.

Thanks!

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It sounds like what you had was a small intestinal volvulus. This is where the bowel twists upon itself, cutting off the blood supply and causing gangrene. Anyone who has had abdominal surgery, especially intestinal, is at risk. That said, it still is not common. I don't know about a space being left open or not, but there is a "potential" space behind the pouch, called the presacral space. It is where fluid collections and abscesses can form (happened with me).

 

I am so glad you are OK now! Bowel obstructions leading to gangrene can be fatal, It is a good thing you were in the right place. Someone was looking out for you!!

 

If you want to read more, here is a link to an article.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pm...nnsurg00078-0041.pdf

 

Jan

Jan Dollar
Last edited by Jan Dollar

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