I had a bowel obstruction in 2005. My surgeon found that I had a genetic defect called Malrotation of the Intestines. This is when the bowels and other organs of the fetus do not turn the correct way to turn into the fetus. Simply put, they went in backwards. This required quite extensive surgery. Since then I have been hospitalized three times with a blocked bowel that did not require surgery. I have learned to eat mostly soft foods and never, ever eat meat unless it is ground meat, like hamburgers or sausages. Fruits and vegetables are fine, it's hunks of meat that will block me up. I have adjusted just fine to my new diet. The doctors told me I could eat anything, but I soon found out that was not true. Hence the three visits to the hospital.