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I’m a 48 year old male in good shape. I had two step surgery back in 2001 and have been pretty happy with my pouch. It truly gave me my life back after UC. My main struggle over the years has been with blockages. For the most part I THINK I’m doing the right things when I eat. I even lost about ten pounds recently trying to eat less at meals. I thought maybe I was eating too much for my pouch to handle and things were backing up. I’m almost positive my blockages are occurring at my stoma/reconnection site. I can feel it there. Maybe scar tissue stopping things from passing through? I haven’t posted here in a couple years – so long that I had to redo my login since I have a different e-mail address now. So my question is what new miracle is out there now to help with these blockages? Or any good tricks – it seems like I’ve tried them all. I’ve read where some mention partial blockages. I don’t think I’ve ever had one. I’m either blocked or I’m not. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John
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Has anything been detected on your scopes, like a stricture or something? How many blockages have you had in the 12 years?

I had 4 right after surgery and none in the 21 years since. However, an MRI Enterography last summer showed my bowel extremely narrowed above the pouch inlet, and the last time I tried to go off antibiotics cold, at the end of last July, I experienced blockage-like symptoms, which I suspect was due to the already narrowed bowel getting more inflammed and narrower. As soon as I resumed antibiotics, it passed. This area of the bowel cannot expand and hence cannot be dilated, as some strictures can be.

If your problem is physical, and it seemingly must be, it would definitely pop up on an MRI Enterography, and possibly on a routine pouchoscopy, but more likely on the former if the problem is higher up.
Thanks for the responses. CTBarrister; I'm not sure how many I've had in the past 12 years, but my guess is anywhere from 4 to 8 blockages a year. Most clear by thermselves after the area gets massaged or I use some other "technique." I have had to go to the ER a couple times over the years. If I get so sick I vomit, then I go to the hospital. Normally I don't require a trip o the ER. ER trip or not a "good" blockage wipes me out for a couple days. A blockage that clears out quickly isn't too bad on me. My scopes are always good, as well as my pouch, but the Doc says it's hard to tell if he gets as high as the connection site with the scope. I've never had an MRI. I might suggest that to my Doc. I'm not on any antibiotics or other meds with regard to my pouch, etc.

Kathy, I did speak with my Doc about surgery for adheions, but he says he would rather not do adhesion surgery if at all possible for the reasons you mentioned. I like the information on myofascial release. This is for clearng out a blockage that has already occurred right? I wonder if there is any kind of therapy to improve the area to lessen the chances of getting one in the first place??

Thanks again guys,

John

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