About 1 month ago, I had a life changing event.

As someone living with Crohn’s Disease, I live with a certain level of unease. Never knowing if I am on the verge of what is called a flare. A flare is when the Crohn’s rears is head and tells your body to attack itself literally.

Well, after some tasty Chinese food one night, I awoke the next morning in substantial discomfort - something you grow accustomed to with Crohn’s.

Unlike previous bouts, this one dragged on for 3 days and grew worse each day.

On Sunday morning, I called my doctor and explained that something serious was happening - my body was not working or feeling at all normal.

He instructed me to go to the emergency room right away.

At Duke University’s E.R., tests confirmed what I had hoped I would never experience - I had an obstruction of my intestines.

Meaning nothing was passing through me. In fact things were backing up into my stomach - not good.

For the next 4 days I would have an NG tube down my throat, pumping what can only be described as toxic waste out of me, in an effort to avoid surgery.

Luckily, I had self-administered morphine to keep the pain at bay and let me sleep in small bursts of an hour or two.

After 4 days of testing, poking, x-rays and hospital life, I got lucky. Things cleared up without surgery.

You might think there is not much to be thrilled about from this experience.

Well, I had a private room, morphine, lost 25 pounds and got a chance to reset my priorities both mentally and physically.

I am healthier than ever, eating, exercising and living a more balanced life.

All because of some Chinese food at an inopportune time.

Life is great!

Sadly, I can not imagine having chinese food again.