Hi Cathy,
I’m sorry to hear that you need to take pain medication for your pouch problem. Narcotics can be habit forming and lose effectiveness when used for an extended period of time, so be careful with them. Another possible source for your pain is adhesions, which result from abdominal surgery. I have had 4 abdominal operations and developed a number of adhesions, but fortunately (at least to this point of time) they have not produced any problems with my former jpouch or current BCIR. Has your surgeon considered this possibility?
The Cleveland Clinic located in Cleveland, Ohio USA has an excellent reputation for dealing with pouch problems. Perhaps your surgeon could contact them for advice in handling your condition. I also understand that they do remote consultations whereby they review the patient’s medical records (no costly travel to Cleveland is needed) and make recommendations. I read about this in a forum post some time ago, and I recall the cost as being around $900 US.
I like your picture and it brings back fond memories of when I was involved in breeding of warmbloods and participating in competitions. Please PM me if you have any questions.
Bill