newstart4me

Hi all! I am excited to see this NYU thread. I live in Queens and could have chosen a surgeon closer to me, there are quite a few with a pretty good reputation, but as soon as Dr Kurien's name came up on obesity help.com, I said to myself, she did Al Roker, I saw her on the today show, she is the best of the best, so I called NYU and went to her seminar. There was no doubt in my mind, going with Dr Kurien was woth the schlep into the city from Queens, she is great. Reading other posters experiences, I had to laugh out loud. I did find the nutrionist to be a bit cold, would it kill her to smile? And the office should be a bit bigger. Dr Kurien, I found out, worked at Lennox Hill Hospital prior to NYU and supposedly it was very lavish. Nilsa was nice when she scheduled my surgery, but a few days before my surgery she was short with me on the phone and I kinda lost my temper at her out of frustration because I had a letter of clearance from a cardiologist but she said it wasnt formatted correctly or something to that effect. Anyway, I was banded without a hitch on June 19th, recovered quickly, was happy with my care and all. The only real major issue was the waiting on the surgery day. I was told to be in at 11:30 to register and do all the paperwork and stuff, well my surgery wasnt done until about 5:30 p.m. When Dr Kurien said she had 3 patients ahead of me, I was like "say what"? Very inconsiderate, although I dont blame her, the hospital could have let me come in later or her staff messed up and overbooked? People get your acts together, people have not eaten or had any water since midnight the night before! I developed a major migraine at some point in the afternoon, and felt sorry for my mom who had to cancel a 7:30 appointment on Long Island that evening, she would not leave me, poor dear. She and my daughter left me in recovery at around 8:00 ish. I had my first fill on July 16. The front desk staff are o.k. not the best not the worst. They kind of leave you standing there like a jerk until they are good and ready. Luckily, didnt have anymore dealings with Tammi, I saw her at the seminar back in January, but I didnt care for her tone on the phone, she is the one coordinating the cruise, so I have no interest in it. Oh, and I had a crazy room mate that night. She actually went down to smoke a cigarette and the nurse yelled at her when she came back, so later that night she lit up in the room! I was on oxygen and could have been blown up! She was a patient of Dr Fielding who had complications from gastric bypass 2 years ago or something, didnt ask why she was there again, but they moved me to another room at 3 a.m. The hospital staff is the best. Good luck to all of you.:thumbup:

I thought originaly this was about Dr Kurien. Sorry, but I guess I am partial ,since me and the original poster went to her seminar. Yes she is funny, and what a stunning looking woman not to mention a brilliant surgeon who is real and cares.

This is an only protein diet, hence the weight loss. Sorry to sound negative but this is an unrealistic way to eat. What happens when you start eating a variety of foods? COmplex carbs are an important part of a healthy diet.

Hi. I went to NYU seminar in January and I was banded in June. You made a good choice in doctors, Dr Kurien is fantastic. Maybe we can be support buddies, even afterwards its a process that requires dedication. I had my first fill two weeks ago and will have my 2nd on August 24th. They are very thorough with their checklists. I think the first thing I did was see the phsycologist, Its all a little blurry now though. It dosesnt happen overnight but good luck to you.

I am 10 days post op and just began my mushy food today. My first meal was mashed potatos. I also suggest a beef stew, there are numerous recipes on the web, if you prefer not to cook then canned is the next best thing, but the meat carrots and potatoe mashed together was just delicious and filling too. Then of course there is baby food. They have a great variety nowadays from when my daughter was a baby.

Hi. Hope everything went well for you. I live in Flushing and Dr Kurien, Dr Ren's partner, did my band last Thursday. We had amazing doctors, probally the best in the city!

I had my surgery 4 days ago, everything I drink, even water , causes a belch. I am trying not to drink too fast. It kinds feels good though, since I have been gassy since the surgery. Is this normal?

Good luck to you! I was banded on the 12th also. I had a killer headache afterwards. I assumed that it was the anestesia, but a nurse and my doc mentioned it could be caffeine withdrawal. I stopped for a cup of dunkin donuts on the way home and slowly the headache disappeared. Hope you are felling better.

Hi Jean:smile2:; Dr Kurien is doing my lap band tomorrow 6/12/08. I am so nervous, kind of like I feel when I am going on vacation and I have to fly. I get so nervous thinking about it, but I know when I get there I will be happy and say that wasnt so bad. I hope everything goes well for you too. Dr Kurien is a great doctor, we are in great hands, I know. The office staff is great, the only problem I had the last minute was I had to get pulmonary clearance, which I did. All they told me was I need to sign a release when I went for pre-addmission testing and they would send all test results to my primary. She sent the clearance back right away, but then the office informed me I needed cardio and pulmonary clearance as well. I had already had a stress test and the whole nine yards, but never to a pulmonologist. Although I think it was my doctor who insisted on it, I went and got my clearance and my cardio doc sent them a clearance letter as well. Monica at the office called me yesterday and told me its a go. Now I am trying to focus at work but I am on pins and needles! Hope to hear from you. Good luck, Joanne