My Before and After pic

My before and after pics. Thanks to Be for making this for me. In case you don't know what BE is check it out here!! http://www.beforeandafterhelp.com

Also feel free to add me to facebook. I am under Nichole Bull-Ryder. Same photo above for avatar.

Another Er Visit

Well tonight (after I posted my last blog). At about 9 pm I started having an acute attack again. This was BAD I got up to go get some Tramadol for the pain and fell to the floor in pain. About 30 minutes later I went to the ER. I waited for about 20 minutes then went back. Got labs drawn and etc. My Lipase is at 153. I don't remember what it was last time I will ask tomorrow (well today) at the Drs office.

My liver is now being affected with all this crap. My levels are 3 times what they should be for 1 test and 4 times what they should for another test. Dr gave me some Morphine (didn't help much) and some percocet. I sure am tired of these pain medicines they are giving me but it helps usually. I usually try Tylenol or Motrin. I know am not supposed to take Motrin but now with liver problems I really don't have much of a choice now do I? I am also still anemic. I will talk to the Dr again tomorrow about going back on the iron. TMI ALERT!! I was told to get of of it because that and the pain killers were making me REALLY constipated. So I was put on Mira-lax. That is working REALLY well. Unfortunately too well. I had to take some Imodium earlier. Told ya TMI!! ;)

So this is beginning to worry me. My nurse said I was in pretty bad shape. From my experience nurses don't say that often. The Dr I saw tonight asked me if I wanted to be admitted for pain control. I honestly do want to because the stuff I am taking at home is not always effective. However I still have to be home for my little princess Erica and Noah (the little man I watch he is now 4 mos old). I have to make some money to help out around here. Plus I can not NOT give his mom only 5 hours notice that I can't watch him. That is just not cool. I would be upset if I was his mom and my sitter did that to me. I would be understanding I know she would be sympathetic she knows what is going on with me and is super good about it. I just love her she is a real doll. But still that ain't cool.

I am getting more and more exhausted and run down. I don't know how much longer I can take of this. No one in my personal life really know how truly horrible I feel. Either I hide it well or they are just not seeing it. The last few days I have been having some hip soreness from always being on the couch. Sitting or laying down. It is harder for me to stay awake. I laid down Wednesday only to close my eyes for a few minutes before I went to go attempt to deliver 12 or so cases of Girl Scout Cookies. It was maybe 9am when I closed my eyes I did not wake up til after noon. That is SO not like me. I rarely take naps but geesh I can not stay awake much anymore. Also dealing with a baby sometimes just takes it's toll. I only have him 3 days a week for 11 1/2 hours a day. I have a few times just cuddled with him and passed out. I have also fell asleep feeding him. Something about infants just makes me sleepy.

So if you are still reading this thanks for reading my blog. This is the first time I have ever done this and I am really enjoying it. I hope to get more folks to read and follow it soon. Hopefully I will be able to write more than my health soon. There is some funny things that happen in my life and I love to share them. I love to just write. I have since I was a kid. I stopped for some reason and I am back doing it. I am finding it very therapeutic for me. I love to hear what you all have to say and I LOVE comments so please feel free to add your thoughts and or experiences. I will TRY to post more after my Drs appt in the am. Good thing I asked for a copy of my labs to take there tomorrow. Wish me luck.

How it all began (this last time)

Well I'm back and it has been only a few days since I have last blogged. I have had several folks asking me how my pancreas problems started this time. I have blogged about the first time. (See first post)

It was Jan 17th about 10 am. I remember that because it was my 31st b day. I was sipping on some iced tea and all of the sudden my chest started hurting. I thought it was indigestion. I took some tums and that did not help. I had something in my medicine cabinet for heartburn I took that. I took more tums and by this time I was almost in tears on the couch almost unable to move. I decided to call a nurse line in my area. I was told go to the ER because I am 31 a smoker and on birth control. She was thinking blood clot.

At about 1:30pm I decided I needed some relief. I went into the ER closest to my home and was back in the rooms pretty fast. Blood was taken, urine and an ekg was done. Pain meds were given those didnt really help so I was given diluaded. I was feeling a bit better. The Dr came in and said my heart was fine (whew) However my pancreatic enzymes were up. I knew then what I was in for.

I was given Prevacid and percocet and told to see my pcp in 2-3 days for a follow up. I got repeat blood work there and ANOTHER follow up (2 FUs so far). I was told that If the levels were not better I would be admitted. I was that Friday. I was in the hosp for 5 days. Where a bunch of tests were completed and it was then I found out that my pancreatic ducts have dilated. I was scheduled for an ERCP. They took a sample of my intestines (thank god I was asleep that would have hurt). I woke up feeling groggy but in minimal pain. I was told that because of my anatomy (RNY) that the part they wanted to see was not visible and I was referred to University of Denver.

As of now my levels are higher than they were when I was in the hosp. I am scheduled to meet Dr. Raj Shah MD. Next Wednesday in Denver. I also have a pre op that day. I am already on his schedule. Before I have met him (go figure). I have an ERCP scheduled for March 9th. I am told he has the tools for this procedure. I was also told that this could turn into a lap procedure IF for some reason he can not see what he needs to. This of course all depends on my anatomy and his tools.

That is all for now. I have another FU tomm. I shall let you know what is going on then.

Hi there

Well I kinda forgot I had a blog. Hey I am new at this. Since my last post I have had the option to be re admitted into Evans (The Army hosp here). I chose no. They would have put a tube in my nose and NPO til my labs were better.

I got a call today. My labs are down 7pts from a week ago. But the rest are still elevated. Last Wed I got a call from University Hospital in Denver. I have a pre op appt on the 3rd of March. 2 appts actually. #1 is to actually MEET my Dr. His name is Raj Shah. I am guessing he is not white lol. The second one is to meet with anest. I find it odd that I have not even met this man and I am already on his surgery list. I am scheduled for March 9th.

The "procedure" is called an ERCP. A tube down the throat and pass the stomach intestines liver and into the pancreas where he will (hopefully) be able to remove the blockage in my Duct. I suppose this Dr has the tools to do this. Not many can do this surgery with my altered anatomy. If he can not see to do what he needs to do I will have a lap procedure and the recovery is much longer.

Ok I am falling asleep on here. I will write more later on.

Hot Artichoke Dip

Hot Artichoke Dip

3+ artichokes cut in small pcs (I like using fresh ones) I boil and cut my own. VERY time consuming but so worth it.
1 cup of (softened) Cream Cheese
1 cup of fage greek yogurt
1/2 c parm cheese (I used the sprinkle kind in the shaker container)
1/4 c sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp of minced garlic
2-3 roasted green chilies (I used 1 yesterday but I need a bit more flavor from them)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp evoo

Combine all ingredients put in oven safe dish bake at 350 for 20-30 min til golden brown OR micro dish for 10 min on high.

Serve with Veggies for a high protein low fat snack!!

My first blog

Well hello there!!! Welcome to my very first ever blog. I don't know really where to start. I suppose I will introduce myself. So here it goes

My name is Nichole. I am 31 years old as of 3 weeks ago, I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have been here most of my life. With the exception of moving to different states for relatively short periods of time. I have been trained as an EMT. I am nationally registered. I am currently taking care of children in my home. I have a 14 week old little man that I watch named Noah. I have been watching him since he was 6 weeks old. It is so cool watching him discover new things as well as his surroundings.

I have a fantastic daughter Erica who is 6 and in kindergarten. She is also a Daisy (Girl Scout). I am her troop leader. Erica has retired from beauty pageants. She did them for a little over 2 years. She has won 5 state titles!! As well as other titles. Fashion, Beauty, Talent, Personality, Poise and more. Most at the age of 4!!! She was the queen on Montana,Idaho, Oregon, and Washington State (2 times!!).

I also have a son Roger who lives (unfortunately) with his dad in Ohio. He is 8 and the last time I saw him he was 160 lbs. I have tried to get his father to have him put on a diet, I took him for a checkup about 6 mos ago his dad would not listen to me when I told him that his blood pressure what high for a kid. He is also at risk for diabetes if things don't improve. For example his amount of exercise quality of food intake.

I have a boyfriend as well his name is Rich he is pretty darn good to me. He works his ass of to take care of us. He is a driver for Coors. He is also pretty good looking. :).

I am in the process of getting divorced to an asshole named Erik. He is in the Army as a Drill Sgt. He has decided to cheat on me several times during our short 3 1/2 year marriage. I have counted (that I know of)5 different women. The latest one is pregnant. She WAS also a good friend of mine. However he is in trouble because the army now knows about his indiscretions. I am waiting to find out what happens to him. I left him because of all this. He has also decided to no longer be a part of Erica's life. (at one point he was going to adopt her). Erica is pretty pissed about this. However she is in love with my boyfriend Rich. Rich and I have been together for about 7 mos now. Erik and I split up in Dec of 2008. It was 8 mos before Rich and I got together.

In Oct of 2007 I decided that I was sick and tired of being so fat. I was nearing 300 lbs at the time. I had knee problems, back problems, sleep apnea and more. I went to my Dr's office at Ft. Lewis Washington. I told him I wanted to find out more about the Gastric Bypass. In Nov I started the road to having my surgery completed. I had to go to different classes and see a few different ppl. 3 Nutrition classes, 1 psych eval, occupational therapy once and some support groups.

I remember it amazed me by watching some of the women in the classes and groups at how much they ate. I watched a girl take 4 bites of a protein bar and was stuffed. I thought wow my stomach will be bigger than hers. NOPE didn't happen. My ex was deployed at the time so I had to wait til he came home from Afghanistan.

I had my surgery 2 weeks after he returned back from there. I had my surgery on March 17Th (St Patty's day). I was pretty nervous, not knowing what was going to happen and even if I would ever wake up. I did well during the surgery they said. My new pouch was nice and small and my intestines were re routed and some cut out. I woke up in pain. Had some Morphine in a pump for pain control. That helped some. I was given a few ice chips to suck on and a small medicine cup to sip water out of for the first day. I did not even want to sip anything. I love hospital ice so that was good for me. Cold seemed to feel better than warm or hot liquids.

When I went home I was on a full liquid diet. Anything that I could drink out of a straw was OK. I lived on water (literally) and crystal light, sugar free Popsicles and jello and pudding. I found it very hard to get protein shakes in and down. I did not care about it. At that point I was just trying my hardest to stay hydrated.

About 1 week out I had my drain removed. It was about 2 feet of tubing inside me. Well It became infected, my muscle also started growing around it. The pa pulled it out and holy freaking cow did that hurt. I screamed loud. First time she pulled and it didn't come out. She did not know that it was sewn into me. So she pulled it with my stitches in. She had to cut them (DUH) then she pulled it out. It was the WORST pain I have ever felt. I had to take a double dose of pain medicine when I went home.

About 2 weeks post op I felt really bad. I went to my Dr's and told him what was going on nausea some vomiting. I was just feeling blah. I was admitted into the hosp for dehydration. Upon getting blood test results they discovered that my lipase levels were up. This I was told signifies a pancreatic problem so I was then told nothing but 1 oz of ice chips per hour basically 1c of ice ALL day. I was there for 2 weeks. After week 1 I was told they were going to take my gallbladder out because removal is a treatment for pancreatitis. I was there for 2 weeks.

I am now almost 2 years post op and have recently gotten out of the hosp again for pancreatitis. I am now anemic. I have lost about 140 lbs since I had surgery. My pancreas is now inflamed and I have dilated pancreatic ducts. The treatment for that is usually a tube down the throat and a balloon inserted into the ducts and inflated and pulled the stone out. Well with re routed insides that is not an option. So I might have to go to university hosp to have then fix my pancreas. Time game now. See how I feel etc. I was told it is a serious surgery. So It is a waiting game now.

OK I am tired now of typing. I hope this first entry is informative to anyone considering surgery.