Plum Crazy

My inflammation has spread into the small intestine, narrowing the path that food travels. If something doesn't get fully digested, it can become obstructed, which is extremely painful and can cause vomiting. I have been hospitalized twice with obstructions and have had numerous other incidents in the past that in hindsight were clearly obstructions. As a result, I cannot eat anything that is too difficult to digest or I risk the consequences. The list of forbidden foods includes peanuts and corn, two of my favorite foods, but foods that I haven't eaten since 1998 when my doctor found the swelling in my small intestine. Sometimes I stumble across food that I wouldn't expect to cause problems, but that does, which brings me to yesterday.

On Wednesday night, I had Chinese food for dinner, a dish that I've eaten without problems in the past. Not this time. I woke up yesterday morning with nausea and on-and-off stomach cramps that were severe at times. As I always do with stomach cramps, I assumed the worst and didn't eat or drink anything for several hours. I went to the store to get my usual diet when cramps strike: soft, mushy, and liquid food. The only time I eat Jell-O is when I suspect an obstruction. Nonetheless, the cramps grew in intensity until the pain became constant, scoring at least a five on a scale of one to ten.

After suffering for a few hours, I called the doctor, who sent me off to the emergency room at NYU Medical Center. This time I was prepared for a stay in the hospital, unlike the other two times I wound up being admitted. I packed a bag before heading out. Luckily, I didn't need it nor did I need a CAT scan, which was my biggest fear. You have to drink a large bottle of contrast before a scan. I was resigned to my fate, but by the time I arrived at the hospital, the pains had begun to subside. The examining doctor gave me the all clear to go home after the exam didn't show anything major and I held down some Jell-O. She didn't think it was an obstruction. I am not so sure since the pain was consistent with what I have experienced with obstructions and since I am feeling slightly bloated today. Bloating is a typical after effect of an obstruction because the intestines become distended from all the spasms.

Thankfully, I am feeling basically ok now, experiencing some minor discomfort from time to time. I had my first real solid food since Wednesday just a little while ago and am holding it down fine. Nor has it caused the pain to worsen. Now the question is do I go out tomorrow night my girlfriend Jennifer as planned. That will be a decision for tomorrow, but if I do, dinner will be quite tame despite my taste for exotic foods. The price of living with a chronic disease.