Under normal circumstances, dietary fiber, found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, is an essential part of a healthy diet with many benefits, including promoting bowel regularity. However, certain conditions, such as bowel obstruction, require a restriction in fiber intake. Bowel obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of your intestines, a common complication of ovarian and colon cancer. If you have bowel obstruction, your doctor will recommend following a low-fiber or low-residue diet to prevent further complications.
What to Expect
The goal of a bowel obstruction diet is to help promote regular bowel function, reduce gastrointestinal distress and prevent further complications by compensating for the intestinal blockage. Your intestines maintain a delicate fluid balance; when a blockage occurs, fluid can accumulate to in the intestines in an effort to assist the situation. This additional fluid can cause pressure, expanding the intestinal walls, resulting in cramping, bloating, gas, nausea and vomiting. A bowel obstruction diet aims to reduce the amount of undigested food in the intestines for this reason.
The Role of Fiber
What you eat plays an important role in how well your bowels function. There are two types of fiber in your diet -- soluble fiber, which dissolves in water and forms a gel-like substance, helping to bind bowel content together, and insoluble fiber, which does not dissolve in water and helps form the bulk of your stool. Normally, fiber helps improve bowel function. But if you have bowel obstruction, this usually healthy process causes additional pressure on your bowels and can complicate your condition.
Fiber-Restricted Diet
The amount of fiber you need to restrict will depend on the severity of your bowel blockage. Your doctor will carefully assess your condition and provide specific guidelines for a fiber-restricted diet. Generally, you will avoid foods high in fiber. Soluble fiber is found in apples, citrus fruits, oats, peas, beans and barley. Foods made of wheat, nuts and several vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage contain insoluble fiber.
Tips
Some medications can cause constipation. If you experience constipation while on medication, consult your doctor about taking a short-term laxative to ease constipation. You can simplify food shopping by creating a safe food list of low-fiber foods and an avoid list of high-fiber foods. If your stools are hard and difficult to pass, causing straining, consult your doctor about adding a stool softener. These are usually taken with meals. As your condition improves, your doctor will make adjustments in your fiber intake accordingly.
