Too much fiber - intestinal blockage

[Guest guest]

I remember a conversation about too much fiber causing problems and

possible intestinal blockages but never really thought too much about

it until this weekend. First let me say that my digestive tract is

not normal. I had my colon removed 16 years ago due to thousands and

thousands of polyps and the 100% change of getting colon cancer from

a genetic mutation.

Friday evening I ate some fresh coconut meat while on the road

traveling to see family. I ate a decent amount but not a ton. I

didn't feel well on Saturday and realized that I hadn't had a good BM

since Friday - I normally go 5-6xday. The feeling of being full got

worse and worse until I thought if I didn't do something I would end

up in the hospital. I have never had an intestinal blockage/kink but

it is common in people with intestinal surgeries. I didn't want to

go to the emergency room while out of town so I took matters into my

own hands and physically cleared the blockage. I was worried that it

might be compacted higher up than I could reach so I also took a few

enemas. It wasn't a fun process, but better than the alternative of

hospitalization.

The coconut meat had compacted into a solid mass that could not move

through my small intestine. It wasn't that much, but enough to cause

damage. I'll be more careful to eat high fiber foods in less

quantity and mix them with other foods (not eat them alone) in the

future. If I had eaten anything else with the coconut that evening,

this probably wouldn't have happend.

Just thought you might find this real life example interesting. I

never really thought it could happen, but there it is.