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This page deals with blockages.
Your doctor has told you you need ostomy surgery, or maybe you've had an ostomy for a little while, and you've got questions! Who do you ask? Where do you turn? No problem, I've got ya covered! Speaking from my personal experience and several years of talking to kids, teens and older folks, I've got the scoop on how to deal with just about any situation.
My name is Courtney Francoeur, I'm 20 years old and in my second year as a psychology major at the University of Western Ontario in London. On March 3, 1999, at the age of 15, I had to have a subtotal colectomy with a temporary ileostomy because of Ulcerative Colitis. My journey continues in May of 2004 when I'll have my ileostomy reversed into a J-pouch. Through experience, a positive attitude and appreciation for life, through trial and error, and by talking to other people, I learned how to cope and succeed with my ostomy, and I'd like to pass along some of my advice.
How to Reach Me
If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me either by email at
or by posting a note to me in the discussion forum. If you post your note in the discussion forum, people all over the world will also get the chance to benefit from your question. But if you don't feel comfortable posting it to the public, just email me personally. I check my email and the discussion board almost daily, so you'll get a quick response. Can't wait to chat. Best wishes and remember ... never keep your poop to yourself! 
Hi! My name is Nicole Dodds. I'm 12 years old and in Grade 7. On June 26, 2003, at the age of 11, I had to have an ileostomy because of Crohn's Disease and Ulcera- tive Colitis. If you like, you can learn more about me and my journey by reading my personal story, which can be found in the Young Ostomates section of this site.
Through personal experience and the support of my family, I learned how to cope and succeed with my ostomy, and I'd like to pass along some of my advice. On April 24, 2004, I became a certified visitor in LDOA's Patient Visiting Program, and I look forward to helping kids who are new or about-to-be ostomates adjust to this new stage in life.
• FAQ added February 10, 2004
• FAQ updated April 24, 2004
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What is a food blockage? |
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Courtney • A food blockage means literally that. Some bits of food have become stuck in your small intestine and are unable to make their way down through the intestine and out into your bag. There are many reasons as to why blockages happen but, most of the time, they are caused by food. This is also the most preventable type of blockage.   |
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What other kinds of blockages are there? |
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Courtney • A blockage can also be caused after surgery by your intestine "pinching" shut and not allowing food to pass because of swelling. You can also get a blockage when your intestine wraps or twists around itself, becoming tight and not allowing food to pass through. |
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What foods can cause a blockage? |
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Courtney • This depends on your body. Everyone’s body will react differently to certain foods. The most common foods that cause blockages are: popcorn, nuts, seeds and skins (like oranges, grapefruit, grapes, apples, cucumbers and olives) and really chewy stuff or stringy foods (like dried fruit, raisins, pineapple, corn, lettuce, green peppers, raw celery, raw cabbage and coleslaw). Experiment with small amounts of these foods to find out your tolerance level. Some blockages are caused by not chewing properly and the food isn’t digested enough. So chew, chew chew!
Nicole • In addition the Courtney's list, I would add: Chinese vegetables (Bok Choy, Chop Suey, bean sprouts in general), meats with casings (sausage, hotdogs and bologna), mushrooms (they have a tendency to swell like sponges during digestion), and potato skins. If you love any of these foods, you shouldn’t stop eating them, just chew them even more than you already do. Other than that, eat whatever you want! |
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What are the signs of a blockage? |
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Courtney • The signs change from person to person but, for the most part, they are consistant with: severe abdomen pains, watery output or no output, loss of appetite, vomiting, pulsing pains (not con- stant), and dehydration. These are just a few of the main symptoms. If you experience these symp- toms for more than 6 hours – trust me – go to the ER as soon as possible! There could be other reasons explaining your symptoms, but some block- ages require surgery or a nasogastric tube to stop the blockage, so getting to the hospital as fast as possible is your best bet. It's not worth it to take a chance or think "this will go away". |
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What does a blockage feel like pain-wise? |
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Courtney • Now, I’ve never had kids, but I’ve been told by many people that a blockage feels like full out-and-out labour! And even a little more intense than that! So if that's true, I figure I’ve had about 8-10 kids! LOL But nonetheless, the pain is pretty intense and you would know if you have a blockage. |
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Is there anything I can do to prevent blockages? |
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Courtney • Besides avoiding the "danger" foods, you can take the skins off of food (peel grapes, take off the white part of an orange, etc.) and chew chew chew! You should take twice as long to eat now as you did before. Most of my life, I was always the first one done eating, but now I’m always the last one sitting at the table. After every bite, I make myself put down my fork and chew, chew, chew! Only then do I continue. This is a much better way to eat for your digestive system.
Nicole • Chew your food really well, and it wouldn’t hurt to cut all of your food into smaller pieces. |
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Who should I tell about blockage symptoms? |
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Courtney • As long as you know what the symptoms are, you'll be able to tell yourself when you're having a blockage and need to tell someone to get you to the ER as soon as possible! But don’t drive as the pain may get so severe that you can no longer control the car. It's a good idea to tell your parents, siblings, close friends and boyfriend / girlfriend / spouse. If these important people in your life know what's happening, then they can get you to the hospital so you don’t have to answer a lot of questions when you're in that much pain.
Nicole • Definitely tell your family because if you are unable to tell them what's wrong or that you may have a blockage, then they have got to know what signs to look for and what to do for your safety and health care. |
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