Constipation is a common scourge of modern urban life, affecting over 14% of the adult population in Hong Kong. While the discomfort is real, the solutions sought are not always safe. A shocking case out of Yangzhou, China, serves as a serious warning to anyone tempted by unverified internet remedies. In late March 2025, a young gamer found himself on an operating table after a bizarre attempt to self-treat his chronic constipation landed a 15-centimeter cucumber stuck deep inside his rectum.
The Burden of Constipation in Hong Kong
The patient’s struggle is a familiar one close to home. According to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, the prevalence of constipation stands at 14.3% among adults in the community and 12.2% among primary school students. Driven by factors like poor diet, dehydration, lack of exercise, and the common habit of avoiding public toilets, many people silently endure this painful condition. This patient, who blamed his condition on a lifestyle of late-night gaming and a diet of fried chicken and glutinous rice cakes, was desperate for a quick fix.
The Internet ‘Remedy’ That Backfired
Searching for relief online, the man stumbled upon a so-called “folk remedy” suggesting that inserting a cucumber could stimulate a bowel movement. On the evening of March 26, 2025, he attempted this dangerous method. Instead of relief, the cucumber was drawn entirely into his rectum by the natural contraction of the anal sphincter. “I couldn’t get it out,” the patient later recounted. He spent the entire night trying to extract it himself, but failed.
A 20-Minute Surgery to Save the Day
The next afternoon, suffering from severe abdominal pain, he rushed to the Yangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Treating surgeon Dr. Chen Xiao noted the patient was initially too embarrassed to explain. Only after careful, patient questioning did the man confess to his mishap. A CT scan revealed the full extent of the problem: a 15cm-long, cucumber-shaped object lodged in the sigmoid colon. Dr. Chen Xiao quickly prepared for surgery. The team administered anaesthesia to relax the sphincter and used soft forceps to carefully remove the object intact. The extraction took just 20 minutes, and the patient required monitoring afterward.
Why You Should Never Try This
Dr. Chen Xiao warned that dealing with rectal foreign bodies is a recurring issue in his department, with some cases resulting in far more dire outcomes. The risks are severe and potentially fatal.
- Internal Injury: The delicate lining of the rectum can easily tear, leading to infection or significant bleeding.
- Perforation: A perforated bowel can leak fecal matter into the abdominal cavity, causing life-threatening peritonitis.
- Loss of Control: Such injuries can permanently damage the anal sphincter, leading to incontinence.
The patient was incredibly lucky. The anatomy is unforgiving: the anal canal is only about 3 to 4 centimeters long. Once an object passes this point, muscles pull it inward, making extraction extremely difficult without professional medical intervention.
Safe Solutions for a Common Problem
This dramatic case highlights the critical need for evidence-based healthcare advice. For the many Hong Kongers suffering from constipation, relief does not lie in dangerous DIY tricks.
Health experts offer these effective strategies:
- Boost Fiber Intake: Increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains to soften stools and promote regularity.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Dehydration is a primary contributor to hard stools.
- Get Moving: Even light exercise stimulates the natural muscular contractions of the colon, known as peristalsis.
- Listen to Your Body: Do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. Holding it in only worsens the problem.
- See a Professional: If constipation is a persistent issue, consult a gastroenterologist. Chronic problems can signal underlying health conditions.
The “gamer” from Yangzhou is a cautionary tale for us all. This story, alongside other alarming cases involving dangerous objects or severe health impacts from ignoring bowel health, should encourage everyone to prioritize professional medical guidance over desperate, dangerous quick fixes.