When the journey began: The day that Dr. DO saved my life.

This day is ingrained in my mind, a day I never want to forget yet I have forgotten some of it. A typical Tuesday, off of work but having lunch with a co-worker who had to go in later that day. We decided to have brunch at a local eatery in our town and close to work.

I had just returned from visiting my family and I had my daughter in tow on this trip. She’s in college and like most college aged kids, they like to eat out a lot. Trust me, I too loved to eat out and not have to do dishes.lol My mom was having to do a lot of cooking for my dad and the plan was to take her out so she didn't have to cook and take a few nights off from the kitchen. I ate a lot of things I shouldn’t have.

During the meal, we talked about all the stressors in our lives, work, family ect. I had a lighter lunch with a soda and some bread and I started to feel off, sweaty and stomach pain. I had those same pains last week while traveling as well. A quick trip to the bathroom, I came out quickly because I felt like I was gonna pass out., I didn’t but I got sick. My friend who was an ER nurse called for medical care and in came the EMT and my husband. Long story short, I was wisked away in the ambulance and straight into the ER. A ton of labs later they were certain I was going to lose my gallbladder but needed more tests, which bought me a night in the hospital.

After the tests, which were all normal, except I had celiac disease, too much stress in my life, and IBS. Doctor DO came in and sat on the end of the bed and gave me a stern talking to. He told me I needed to lose 40 pounds, stop eating out, cook at home, start walking and taking better care of myself. He said if it didn’t come from a plant, animal, the ground or a tree, don’t eat it and fix my blood sugar issues before they get out of control. I left there nervous and scared for what was ahead of me. It’s been 18 months since that day and I can promise I am no longer that same person, inside and out.