Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[minidriver 0]

Thank you so much for weighing in on the matter. At first I was so pissed I wasn't even going to consider it. But the more I think about it, the more I am thinking of just having him fix it, and continuing care with him.

Just sucks to be his first leaky patient. I took a gamble when I had this surgery self pay, and unfortunately I ended up on the side of the statistics no one wants to. Lucky me.

I know. It's a bummer. But once it's fixed you can get back to your losin' ways!! You really have made a lot of progress and I know you will continue to do so once you have restriction again. In the end it will all be worth it.

[adorkbl 156]

I know. It's a bummer. But once it's fixed you can get back to your losin' ways!! You really have made a lot of progress and I know you will continue to do so once you have restriction again. In the end it will all be worth it.

I know you are right. It is just hard to see the sun when you are at the bottom of a hole. I am going to weigh in with my PCP tomorrow and see what he says. I may wait until Dr K gets back to see what his opinion is... but honestly, I most likely wouldn't return to him because of the cost and travel, but I value his opinion highly.

[minidriver 0]

I know you are right. It is just hard to see the sun when you are at the bottom of a hole. I am going to weigh in with my PCP tomorrow and see what he says. I may wait until Dr K gets back to see what his opinion is... but honestly, I most likely wouldn't return to him because of the cost and travel, but I value his opinion highly.

Yeah, it probably wouldn't hurt to wait and talk to Dr. K.

[Tally 0]

I need some support. Big time. I just found out I definitely have a leak.

I had 8cc's in my band 2 weeks ago after my fill. I had 3cc's today when I went in to check on things.

I am so confused! Dr is denying that he could have caused damage to my port from the fills. I am not so sure. I had no issues before I saw him, but maybe they just were masked becase of all my gallbladder problems?? I have never really experinced restriction, so how do I know it hasn't always been leaking???

He is offering to fix my port. How do I know it is my port?? Does anyone know if there is any testing that can be done to tell exactly where the leak is coming from???? I called Dr K's office but he is in Canada until next week.

I feel so lost. Do I trust my new Dr who I really really like? Do I go back to Dr K and start all over. I just can't afford this anymore. I feel like I spent 10,000 for a hunk of plastic to sit in my stomach and do NOTHING. I guess my feelings of having been on a 10 month long diet have been confirmed. :thumbup:

I may or may not have a leak but that is a whole other long story. But when I grilled Dr. K on how he knew that the leak was in the port and not somewhere else he assured me that that is where leaks occur almost always. When I questioned him more, because the port is such a solid little thing and I couldn't understand where it would leak from, he pulled one out of the package and showed me and it turns out that he has contacted Allergan several times about the design of the tubing that is connected to the port. The tubing that is connected to the port is thin and flat and then goes into a round tubing. Dr. K showed me with a needle how the needle can slip off the edge of the port and go into that flat tubing creating a leak. He said if the tubing were round like the rest of it, the needle would slip off of it instead of going into it. I hope this makes sense. This is how he (thinks) he punctured mine. It really is very easy to do and I am surprised it doesn't happen more often. I hope this helps some.

Deb

[minidriver 0]

I may or may not have a leak but that is a whole other long story. But when I grilled Dr. K on how he knew that the leak was in the port and not somewhere else he assured me that that is where leaks occur almost always. When I questioned him more, because the port is such a solid little thing and I couldn't understand where it would leak from, he pulled one out of the package and showed me and it turns out that he has contacted Allergan several times about the design of the tubing that is connected to the port. The tubing that is connected to the port is thin and flat and then goes into a round tubing. Dr. K showed me with a needle how the needle can slip off the edge of the port and go into that flat tubing creating a leak. He said if the tubing were round like the rest of it, the needle would slip off of it instead of going into it. I hope this makes sense. This is how he (thinks) he punctured mine. It really is very easy to do and I am surprised it doesn't happen more often. I hope this helps some.

Deb

Wow, that's really interesting. Good to know.

[jmegirl 2]

I had my surgery a week ago today. When can I remove the bandages/dressings? Two of them are starting to peel off on their own now that I'm out and about and wearing normal clothes.

[minidriver 0]

I had my surgery a week ago today. When can I remove the bandages/dressings? Two of them are starting to peel off on their own now that I'm out and about and wearing normal clothes.

Hmmm, I can't remember. Anybody remember?

[jmegirl 2]

Hmmm, I can't remember. Anybody remember?

I meant to call Dr. K's office today about it and completely forgot!

[adorkbl 156]

I may or may not have a leak but that is a whole other long story. But when I grilled Dr. K on how he knew that the leak was in the port and not somewhere else he assured me that that is where leaks occur almost always. When I questioned him more, because the port is such a solid little thing and I couldn't understand where it would leak from, he pulled one out of the package and showed me and it turns out that he has contacted Allergan several times about the design of the tubing that is connected to the port. The tubing that is connected to the port is thin and flat and then goes into a round tubing. Dr. K showed me with a needle how the needle can slip off the edge of the port and go into that flat tubing creating a leak. He said if the tubing were round like the rest of it, the needle would slip off of it instead of going into it. I hope this makes sense. This is how he (thinks) he punctured mine. It really is very easy to do and I am surprised it doesn't happen more often. I hope this helps some.

Deb

Thanks so much for that info Deb. Dr M basically said the same thing when I asked. That every leak he has seen or read about has come from a port. Every port that his parter has fixed has resolved the issue and the patients progressed well after. That really does make me feel better to hear what Dr K told you. A LOT better.

I had my surgery a week ago today. When can I remove the bandages/dressings? Two of them are starting to peel off on their own now that I'm out and about and wearing normal clothes.

I am sorry... I really don't remmber what Dr K told me. Let me see if I can find that in my journal. I "think" he told me when they started to peel off to take them off. He was most concerned with the port incision. Leave that one on as long as you can.

[Snowgator 3]

At my one week visit, Dr. K took the dressings off.

[adorkbl 156]

I had my surgery a week ago today. When can I remove the bandages/dressings? Two of them are starting to peel off on their own now that I'm out and about and wearing normal clothes.

Ok I checked my blog. I pulled off my bandages 1 week post op. HTH's!

[jmegirl 2]

At my one week visit, Dr. K took the dressings off.

Ok I checked my blog. I pulled off my bandages 1 week post op. HTH's!

Thanks!!!! Should I still leave the port bandage on for a bit longer?

[adorkbl 156]

Thanks!!!! Should I still leave the port bandage on for a bit longer?

I haven't had any issues with infection. I actually had to have my bandage replaced on my port incision the day after surgery because I overdid it and was bleeding through the dressings. I was anal about following Dr's orders though... so I am thinking he said it was ok by then. So I would say you are safe. =)

[minidriver 0]

Just a reminder that tomorrow is the beginning of the holiday weight loss challenge. Please weigh yourself and then decide how much weight you'd like to lose by the end of the year. Post your weight loss goal, and then we'll start posting our losses starting next Thursday. Hope that all made sense.

Let's lose that weight by the end of '08!!!!

(sorry, that was the best I could do)

[jmegirl 2]

Just a reminder that tomorrow is the beginning of the holiday weight loss challenge. Please weigh yourself and then decide how much weight you'd like to lose by the end of the year. Post your weight loss goal, and then we'll start posting our losses starting next Thursday. Hope that all made sense.

Let's lose that weight by the end of '08!!!!

(sorry, that was the best I could do)

Yay! A weightloss goal I can participate in!

I'm starting a spreadsheet here at work, so I can keep track of my starting weight.

I'm going to go balls to the wall (:thumbup:) and say 20lbs.