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I had my j-pouch since 2017 and have an angular turn in my small intestine that gives me pain sometimes. It's basically a sharp curve and things tend to get stuck, gas etc. Last week I was experiencing stomach pain, vomiting one on Wed and once on Friday (empty stomach in the AM), decreased output for 2 of the 3 days. No fever. I went to the ER, on the instruction of my surgeon and they did a cat scan with contract to see if there was an obstruction. There was no obstruction but just kidney stones, which I always have going out.

I'm at a loss. Why the pain in my abdomen? I've been told it's probably due to adhesions. They didn't see anything else in the scan. I'm thinking an ulcer. The pain is located in the middle and left side of my stomach - 2 inches above the belly button.

I called my gastro for a follow up appt, as they suggested at the ER. He looked at the scan and called me back saying that based on what he saw, I should see my surgeon. But the surgeon was the one that I saw in the ER. Someone from the surgeon's team saw me and said they didn't see anything.

I'm questioning everything now. Do I just deal with this pain? I think it might be an ulcer. The ER did say it might be gastritis or viral. Viral causing severe stomach pain and vomiting (just twice in 2 days) - doesn't sound viral to me.

Do I push for more answers or do I accept this is the way I have to live - unsure when my stomach is going to make me double over with stabbing pain. Feels like someone is punching me in the stomach. Every doc is saying "not mine" and passing me on to the next one. Or am I just being too pushy and crazy, looking for an answer that isn't there.

Last edited by Bubbapup
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Is there a reason you’re drawn to the ulcer explanation? It’s a more treatable diagnosis than adhesions, of course, but honestly your symptoms sound more (to me) like adhesions. If the adhesions are causing serious problems in your life you can try to correct them surgically, but the treatment sometimes doesn’t work and something’s makes things worse (and sometimes it fixes everything).

If you are really worried about an ulcer you could ask for an H pylori breath test.  It's easy and non-invasive.  If that is negative then move on to a more detailed discussion with your surgeon.  

In my opinion it sounds like the angle of your intestine is causing some kind of obstructive symptoms.  Ulcer pain doesn't generally make you vomit but an obstruction sure will.  Changing your diet to mashed up foods with low fibre may help to see if you can alleviate some of the symptoms may provide some answers for you.

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