Hey Diane and other fellow pouchers,
I thought I would also chime in to the conversation as I too have dealt with a few recent obstructions after my surgery. I had severe UC and ended up having the first surgery in December 2011. I had a bad obstruction immediately after the surgery and needed a second laparoscopic procedure to remove adhesions etc. After that, I did very well and had my takedown last May. Anyhow, I luckily adapted pretty quickly to the JPouch throughout the summer and returned to college in the Fall. One might after a long day or classes and labs, I had minor pain that eventually worsened to the point where I knew it was an obstruction. Scar tissue was the cause. I spent 4 days in the hospital, and it luckily cleared up on its own. I returned to class the next day and finished the semester with flying colors.
Then once more, while home a for winter break (about 3 weeks ago) I had another obstruction that felt like the exact same area in my abdomen. Fortunately, it wasn't as bad as the previous one, but I still had to spend 2 days in the hospital. Following my return home, I really was determined to figure out why this happened again, and if I could take any actions to prevent these painful, time-consuming ordeals. My surgeon ordered a small bowel follow through and we talked about what my options were.
Well, my small bowel test was completely normal and didn't show any areas of narrowing in my intestines. So I had and still have the option of choosing an elective surgery to remove some scar tissue, or to just keep fighting and hope it doesn't occur again. My spring semester started this past week. I've already missed a whole year of my studies with the UC and first surgeries, so I decided that if it wasn't an emergency, then I didn't want to undergo the knife again.
As of now, I'm feeling pretty good and taking it one day at a time. To me Diane, if you absolutely don't have to undergo the knife, I would try to find alternative ways of dealing with the obstructions. Although there isn't much we can do when they randomly decide to ruin our day, the best advice I can give you is what I tell myself everyday: fully embrace the pain of uncertainty and keep moving forward.
We can't let the fears of another obstruction keep us from enjoying our lives. While your body may falter at times, if you keep your mind strong, no obstacle will ever be too hard for you to conquer.
Also, I'm reading this fantastic book about keeping strong through any type of hardship. It's by a respectable physician named Dr. Alex Lickerman who currently practices at the University of Chicago Medical School. He mentions techniques from Nichiren Buddhism which are truly beneficial in helping to alleviate suffering. Anyway, I think many patients like us should read the book as it makes you start to think about how these painful experiences affect us all and can be overcome with practice. The book is called: The Undefeated Mind, On the Science of Constructing an Indestructable Self.
Good luck, and I seriously hope you find the strength and will power to keep on keeping on!