Intestinal Blockage

I know that certain foods can cause Intestinal Blockage, these are foods that the body can't digest and therefore can be problematic.

I had two instances of Intestinal Blockage from over usage of Loperamide/Imodium. I took too many for too long and my body responded with a blockage.

I know use Loperamide/Imodium more wisely with a lower more targeted approach.

Imodium!  Wow, I know he takes it a lot.  I will let him know!  It's so hard for him.  He is only 26, thinks I am crazy, big surprise there, and plainly doesn't listen!  He has gained so much weight because he eats non-stop!  But I guess we will figure it out.

thank you for your reply!

Hi Sweetie, 

So sorry about yet another problem...let's see if we can back up a bit and look at the "why" behind the hoarding and binge eating.

He is dealing with severe yo-yo health issues that are a major source of stress and fear. He never knows what is going to hit him or when and how long he will be hospitalized, on I.V. or NG tubes and how long he will be foodless...So he hoards, binges and takes comfort in a measure of control over his life...what he can put into his mouth. He has dissociated the 2 separate ideas of Intake and Output...if he is powerless to take control of his output but he can at least master the intake and eat what he wants and when.

Food, especially junk food is a drug, as bad or worse than any other because we don't classify it that way...it calms our nerves, sends lights and whistles blazing in our limbic brain and the sugar gives us a temporary high...he is looking for pleasure, comfort, and love and it seems that food is giving it to him (I understand him perfectly)...he thinks that he is in control but it is the junk food that is controlling him.

These excesses along with Immodium or Lomotil or whatever bowel slower are probably at the root of the blockages along with the fact that he is probably inactive physically...physical activity helps to keep the bowels moving nicely along...sedentarism does the opposite.

He may have adhesions, a twist or inflamation...Any and all can but at the root of the problem. But no matter which it is the junk and lomotil cannot be helping.

Can you lead by example? Can you organize daily walks with him? Go to the gym or pool? 45lbs is a huge gain over such a short period of time, it can throw his whole metabolism off and he needs to counter that with some physical activity...

Does he still go to school? Take classes? Have a girlfriend or friends? 

The poor kid has suffered so much...time for him to live a life and not hide in his room with food.

Sharon

Sharon, you hit the nail on the head!  Exactly!  He does have adhesions.  He does feel powerless and thinks that food is his comfort.  He doesn't even realize how  much crap he is putting in his body.  It's so sad. I agree, he is depressed but he won't see anyone.  He thinks he is fine.  He won't work out, walk or do any physical exercise.  I go to the gym almost every day.  I work with a trainer three days a week.  We have offered, he refuses.  Right now the plan is to work out this blockage.  Then we will have psych come in and a nutritionist come in.  I'm letter his doctors handle it.  He won't listen to me.  Tells me I am crazy.  I very well may be, but that's another story! . He is sad right now because he wants to go home.  I don't blame him for that, I want to go home too.  He still has the NG tube in.  Tomorrow they are doing a pouchoscopy to see what damage there may be.  They also want to see if they can break up the blockage.  And to add to the complication list, he has a collection of something where the biological plug was.  That's not good, but they want to try and drain that.  But that is another procedure.  And ythey are going to put him on TPN.  So there are a few steps that have to occur BEFORE we even address the food issues.  But, everything will be okay, eventually. I'm going to the ballet tonight!  It will be a nice break for me if I don't fall asleep!  

Thank you for your wonderful and spot on words!  You are. So correct.  Hopefully he will get out of here over the weekend!

dianne

Oh Dianne, 

This isn't just a blockage...This is a cycle again...so sorry...for now...dream of beautiful dancers on tippy-toes and doing pirouettes...

One night of dreams is a good start...

Keep us posted

Sharon

My one and only blockage was caused by my small intestine twisting on itself.  Most painful experience of my life!  Six days in the hospital.  Four on morphine.  My surgeon held off operating and massaged my abdomen very firmly each time he visited.....ouch!!!!!  After four days things "unkinked"!  Lucky me!  The ng tube was quite an experience.......not having it in but getting it in!  Having it in was a breeze!  It's been 12 years and I haven't had another blockage.  Yippee!!!!!

Hi mum.  I have had 6 blockages now since just before Christmas needing hospital with Ng tube each time pain meds and to stop vomiting,on one visit had adhesion surgery hoping this would help but have had two since,the surgeon now has me taking gastrograffin when the pain sets in so I don't have another hospital trip it worked last week I don't take any bowel slower products I have had help from a dietician doing fodmap diet which really helped ,we feel and have noticed that when I eat fruit I come down with a blockage on fodmap diet there are only certain fruits I can eat ,but these even don't agree with me can only eat a banana we seem to think it's the acid in the fruit not really sure it was an idea the ambulance guy thought when we talked about it and going through what and when this happens so am watching very carefully so adhesion surgery seems not always the answer just have to go with the flow hope this helps all the best to you and your son Susan

I had constant blockages over a period of three years until i figured out i just couldn't eat anything hard specifically - nuts, seeds, peels. Blockages can come from adhesions and even crohn's inflammatory narrowing. Either way a healthy diet is absolutely essential to maintain a healthy environment in the intestinal tract and pouch.

If there are constant blockages i highly recommend sticking to soft and smooth foods, you can even get a vitamizer if required.