NHskinnygirl
5 years out, what a journey!!!!!
Jan 19, 2009
Today is January 19th 2009, 5 years ago today was the first day of my new life. I would not believed that life could be so good if you asked me that question 5 yrs ago.I have had my share of ups and downs but looking back, I would not change a thing, well I could have done without the awful stomach pains that I continue to have and sadly, all the tests that I have had multiple times don't point to what could be going on in side me. My wonderful Surgeon, Dr Jeff Brown, has always
been ready to help me, always looking for an answer or asking other surgeons if they have had any one with the same issues and what they did to help their patient that might help me.
I had my 5yr check up today and it was bitter sweet. Dr. Brown is closing his practice here in NH to finally get back to what he loves and is in my humble opinion THE best bariatric surgeon. He is moving to Winchester Hospital in Massachusetts and I could not be happier for him. The sparkle has been gone from his eyes for several years now as the two hospitals in Nashua discontinued their bariatric programs. He is a brillant general surgeon but his heart is really with helping people like us, reach a healthy weight and have a happy, healthy life.
He is taking our files with him, he will still be my surgeon just an hour away instead of the 6 minute walk from my house here in Nashua. he is so worth the travel. I will be going to see him as soon as he is settled at his new office and hopefully we can continue with a fresh new place and his new partner to explore my system do the needed tests and maybe finally get an answer and fix me. I have been in pain, medications are not working for me and I have days on end that I am doubled over in pain for sometimes just 10 to 30 minutes and then days like today that it was about 5 hrs of gut wrenching pain...my appetite is almost nothing yet I am gaining weight like crazy...partly from my thyroid but the rest I think is because I am not eating enough and most of the food I do have is carbs, toast and cottage cheese is my staple lately or an english muffin with cinnamon/splenda and a bit of smart balance. I am trying to eat good protein but with these pains I have a lot of nausea so soft foods do the best right now...
But even though I am going through this I wouldn't change it for anything because I know that had I not done this surgery I don't think that I would have lived to see my family grow, to be there to hold my Mother's hand as she struggled for breath and left us 10 months 11 days after my surgery. This has been quite the journey and I know it is not over, it never will be over.
I believe that all of us that have been given a second chance for a healthy life style really need to pay it forward...I hope by talking at support groups, getting people to go to support groups or just answering questions or giving support to others going down this path that I am coming full circle in my life.
What more can someone ask for than a loving husband, a handsome son and a family and friends network that help me get through anything...
The one dark light in my journey is that I lost my sister. She didn't die, she just stopped talking to me and has made no effort to discuss what her issue is. All my life I was the big girl and she was the one that was tall and thin and very outgoing. I was always shy and very uncomfortable in my skin. But in all of this change in my life, I have found myself and I like who I am. I hope my sister will come around and call to tell me what I did to make her distance herself from me but if it never happens that's ok too. I have an older brother who is my rock I love him more than he will ever know and I know how much he loves me and that is good enough.
All I can say on this 5 yr anniversary is that life IS good and just keeps getting better. If you go into this with all the right reasons you will find out how wonderful life is meant to be....
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About Me
Nashua, NH
Location
32.6
BMI
Surgery
01/19/2004
Surgery Date
Jun 19, 2003
Member Since
