I always come here first because everyone has been so helpful. I keep having small bowel obstructions and we can’t figure out why. This last one the NG tube didn’t relieve it so I had to be opened up. The general surgeon said everything looked okay except it looked like a stretched out piece of small bowel had flipped over and that is what was causing the problem. They had to basically milk a liter out of my small intestine and sewed me back up. I was in the hospital a week. I lost 10 lbs and extremely weak. I know I will get better but I am terrified of this happening again. It is very very painful. I’m trying to locate my original GI surgeon to see if he can take a look to see if my J pouch is failing or what. Any advice would be so appreciated.
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This isn’t likely to have much to do with your J-pouch. After surgery most of us form adhesions in the abdomen, and sometimes those adhesions are located in a way that leads to periodic obstructions. Hopefully the surgeon who had to operate did some lysis (cutting) of adhesions - the procedure is avoided, since extra surgery can cause more adhesions, but once you have to have surgery anyway it’s worth trying to snip the most troublesome adhesions.
Thank you. The general surgeon said the adhesions looked okay and he did clean up what he saw. The general surgeon talked to the GI surgeon and the next step is she wants to take is to run contrast through me to watch it through my small bowel. Not sure that will show anything. Thank you so much for your quick reply.
Some narrowings are persistent, and those could show up on a contrast study. The ones that come and go, though, are very elusive. I hope the surgeon happened to cut your one or two most problematic adhesions, and you never have an obstruction again.
Thank you, Scott. I hope I never have one again too.
Agree with Scott 100%. There is another group discussion happening on what to do if you feel a blockage coming on that you might want to read thru for ideas before it gets so bad hospitalization is needed.
Having had my J-pouch since 1992 - omg I can't believe it has been that long and I am now in my 50's! I definitely am in tune with my digestive system and can feel where things typically get stuck - and have a plan when/if I feel an obstruction on the way.
Kim, what is the link to the current discussion about preventative measures for obstructions? I can't find the thread....but I am so interested in this topic.
Aha, I may have found it. Is it the survey? https://www.j-pouch.org/survey...8#695026203006853238