Thanks, Jennifer; very helpful reply. I now appreciate my J-pouch and all that goes with it in a new way, which is exactly why I posted. If there is even a possibility that I'd go through that surgery and still have pain and broken sleep, I won't consider it yet. It's still been helpful, because it's gotten me to actually pay attention to what I am going through, attention I had to put on hold for over a year because I still had to work so much that a lot of my experience was gritting my teeth and pushing through. Now I don't have to push through, metaphorically--still kind of have to literally (a bit of J-pouch humor there).
I'm also reassured by the idea that I'll be able to expand or even change my diet later, that my J-pouch is still young. That's hopeful and helpful.
Finally, thanks so much for the length of your reply. It was ALL good for me. Brevity may be the soul of wit but sometimes thoroughness is better.
--Kirsten