Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[magaines 0]

Hey Friend:

I read your somewhat skeptic post and smiled to myself. It was easy to recognize my own familiar wary attitude in your words.

I think being morbidly obese is not an easy 'job'. First off, you have every Tom, Dick and Mary and their Fat Free Medical Side Show flooding the airwaves, magazines and email with the next miracle cure to your hopelessly helpless life of fatness. The magic comes for only $XX plus S & H and YOU TOO will soon be just like the model wearing a bikini. Most times they are selling a dream and not a valid medically safe method.

By the time I FOUND Dr. Kirshenbaum, I had been through my own Oprah's Diet list of all the diet attempts to lose weight, and two seminars locally on weight loss surgery. Why did I not go with the surgeon here in Florida? The first one was gastric bypass, cutting my organs? No thanks., the second one was Dr. Feelbad who spent a portion of the office consult hashing me out for being as heavy as I was ( 381 at that visit ). I was going to tell him I use to way 402 for kicks just to watch his eyes roll back but thought otherwise. At any rate, my thick skin got even thicker once he told me, in front of my husband, I would not fit on his surgical table. Whether or not my insurance covered it was the lesser issue after that visit. This 'doctor' did not seem to have the compassionate professionalism associated with most doctors who deal with disabling disorders. I know this because I work with deaf students, have a deaf foster daughter, my son has auditory processing deficits and was also a premie. I've had my share of the disabled end of the world and also I took it up a notch and got trained as an Advocate for disabled individuals covering the IDEA (education law for disabled children) and a portion of the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act. The general professional attitude amongst those who work with individuals with life incumbering concerns is not one of chastisement. It tends to lead more on the proactive side of resolution or atleast what can be done as a plan to help this citizen. Dr. Feelgood was no where close to that.

I cannot tell you where I found Dr. Kirshenbaum but I believe it was from another MOP ..morbidly obese person who was basically in the self pay boat looking for the best surgeon at the best facility.

I called one surgeon in Mexico, wonderful secretary, very personable but when I expressed concerns over post surgical care in the U.S. there didn't seem to be a clear path already laid which she could articulate well.

From there my next jump was Dr. Kirshenbaum. I always field my doctors by a call to the office. I am looking for three things:

1. How many rings before they pick-up. *If you have a situation and you are close to going to the ER but don't want without first speaking to the doctor, you call the office. If it rings and rings and rings, and then you get cogged on hold that shows a busy office that has not effectively distributed their patient services.

2. Ease of facilitated information. The person you first speak with at a doctor's office is truly the face of his practice. I know exactly what I am looking for, I by then had already researched the band from it's design in France and use in Canada. I am now ready to explore surgery options. When I called, "Marilyn" was the voice at the other end. She was gracious, informed, answered my questions and also said she had worked for Dr. K for twenty years. Finding ANYBODY in medicine who has worked with the same group for twenty years is rare. But it showed me she had faith in her employer. Marilyn sent me an info packet and the next thing was a call from Dr. Kirshenbaum.

3. The doctor. I do not like to feel rushed. I want my questions answered in a way that if I do not understand them the doctor is concerned enough about my health that as a patient of his he would also like me as educated about my condition to eleviate any concerns or questions. Dr. K sent me a power point via the internet which as an educator is unseen outside the classroom, in the real world in medicine. I regularly take "WEBINAR" classes and to be honest, Dr. K's presentation was the best webinar I had particpated in. I also could pause and discuss specifics of his material as we were both looking at the same page via internet. So not only was he a good educator, he also spoke very clearly and concise and explained things in a way that left me feeling confident not only in the Lap Band but in his knowledge base as a surgeon.

I also did a little search on him. FIRST, his medical practice is laparoscopic surgery. If you didn't know, what is happening these days is "doctors" are crosstraining into Lap Band surgery and beginning this, probably, profitable new remedy to obesity. Do they have extensive clinical expertise in surgery...ahhh, not so much. So with Dr. Kirshenbaum, not only are you getting an exceptional device in the band but you are having it done by a man whose medical practice before Lap Band came along was, is and remains s-u-r-g-e-r-y with a laparoscope. How many surgeries? Over 10,000. Yeah. When Routine Surgery Turns Into a Nightmare - ReliableAnswers.com

Here's an article I came across non-band related but related to laparscoic surgery. Dr. K contributed to the article.

...............................................

I know this is long winded but I really did my homework with him and I cannot sing his praises enough with where I am in my life and where I was and the surgery itself. Let's talk about that.

I'll post seperately about the surgery and your concerns on being healthy and preop testing.

Wow, that was great. If I hadn't already had my band, you would have sold me. Well done.:thumbdown:

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Adorkable (8lbs): -2.0+0.0

Amethystjade (15lbs): -7.0, -2.0, -4.0-2.0 Reached Goal!!!

Bahotmomma (10lbs): -1:wub:

Bella (12lbs): -2.0, -0.0, +0.0-1.8-3.0

Deboregon (10lbs): -8.4, +5.0, +4.0-8.2+0.0

Jmegirl (10lbs): -1.8, -0.4, -1.2+1.0+0.0

Julieann (15lbs): -3.9, -3.1, -3.1, -4.0-2.0Reached Goal!!!

KayleighsMommy (15lbs): -2.0,-2.0, +0.0-1.0:tt1:

Lapdancer (20lbs): -1.04, -8.0, -4.02-3.0-3.0Reached Goal!!!

Lotzasunshine (13lbs): -4.0, -1.0, +0.0+0.0+1.0

Magaines (15lbs): -4.2, -2.0, +1.9-2.6+1.0

Minidriver (10lbs): -4.9, -1.5, +0.0+.5-2.9

MissMom: -5lbs:wub:

PrtyAntOvrYt (11lbs): -2.0, -0.0, -2.0-2.4+2.0

Shelbi (7lbs):

Edited February 12, 2009 by PrtyAntOvrYt

[lotzasunshine 2]

Don't you just love the mornings when you really don't feel like seeing those stupid numbers on the scale, but you do it anyway because you might be a little obsessed, and the numbers have magically dropped??!!! LOVE IT!!!! I was really feeling down yesterday and today I really didn't want to check today. But I AM a little obsessed so I did and I have finally broken the stupid plateau I was :smile::thumbup::w00t:

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Don't you just love the mornings when you really don't feel like seeing those stupid numbers on the scale, but you do it anyway because you might be a little obsessed, and the numbers have magically dropped??!!! LOVE IT!!!! I was really feeling down yesterday and today I really didn't want to check today. But I AM a little obsessed so I did and I have finally broken the stupid plateau I was :smile::thumbup::w00t:

Congrats on breaking your plateau!

I am like you, I weigh everyday! Because I feel, IF I had spent the last 20 years weighing everyday, I WOULDN'T have let myself gain so much weight. Being in denial of my true weight, is how I got this way. I will never again allow myself to NOT know what I weigh.

Call me addicted to the scale, I really don't care. I am just thankful to be on the losing end!

[minidriver 0]

Congrats on breaking your plateau!

I am like you, I weigh everyday! Because I feel, IF I had spent the last 20 years weighing everyday, I WOULDN'T have let myself gain so much weight. Being in denial of my true weight, is how I got this way. I will never again allow myself to NOT know what I weigh.

Call me addicted to the scale, I really don't care. I am just thankful to be on the losing end!

I weigh everyday too. My poor hubby always holds his breath while I"m weighing in the morning cuz he knows how much it affects my mood. When I'm stuck for awhile I get pretty crabby, but when I'm losing I'm in such a good mood.

Congrats, Lotza, on breaking that plateau. Hey, miss dee, did you get to see deboregon yesterday?

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

I weigh everyday too. My poor hubby always holds his breath while I"m weighing in the morning cuz he knows how much it affects my mood. When I'm stuck for awhile I get pretty crabby, but when I'm losing I'm in such a good mood.

Congrats, Lotza, on breaking that plateau. Hey, miss dee, did you get to see deboregon yesterday?

I did get to see Deb! AND she is looking great! We had a nice little chat on the drive to the airport. She brought some pictures and I am so pleased to have gotten to see her!

When you come here on the 1st of April. Are you going to be here on the 1st in time for a RR meeting? I'm going out of town on the 2nd and won't be back til the 5th, but I'd love to see you!

[minidriver 0]

I did get to see Deb! AND she is looking great! We had a nice little chat on the drive to the airport. She brought some pictures and I am so pleased to have gotten to see her!

When you come here on the 1st of April. Are you going to be here on the 1st in time for a RR meeting? I'm going out of town on the 2nd and won't be back til the 5th, but I'd love to see you!

Oh Yay! I'm glad you were able to see Deb. Yes, I'm arriving around 3 in the afternoon, so plenty early for a RR meeting. I'm so excited to see you guys. Hope it works out.

[deboregon 0]

Dee, put me down for a +1 for this weeks weigh in. That TOM must be haunting a lot of this this week.:crying:

Ahhh....the joy of a hysterectomy.

Wow, please don't get pissy about it. I just have concerns and wonder if anyone has experienced it firsthand. I am only asking for advice and first hand experience.

Don't be so defensive. Her reply wasn't "pissy" at all.

Hey Friend:

I read your somewhat skeptic post and smiled to myself. It was easy to recognize my own familiar wary attitude in your words.

I think being morbidly obese is not an easy 'job'. First off, you have every Tom, Dick and Mary and their Fat Free Medical Side Show flooding the airwaves, magazines and email with the next miracle cure to your hopelessly helpless life of fatness. The magic comes for only $XX plus S & H and YOU TOO will soon be just like the model wearing a bikini. Most times they are selling a dream and not a valid medically safe method.

By the time I FOUND Dr. Kirshenbaum, I had been through my own Oprah's Diet list of all the diet attempts to lose weight, and two seminars locally on weight loss surgery. Why did I not go with the surgeon here in Florida? The first one was gastric bypass, cutting my organs? No thanks., the second one was Dr. Feelbad who spent a portion of the office consult hashing me out for being as heavy as I was ( 381 at that visit ). I was going to tell him I use to way 402 for kicks just to watch his eyes roll back but thought otherwise. At any rate, my thick skin got even thicker once he told me, in front of my husband, I would not fit on his surgical table. Whether or not my insurance covered it was the lesser issue after that visit. This 'doctor' did not seem to have the compassionate professionalism associated with most doctors who deal with disabling disorders. I know this because I work with deaf students, have a deaf foster daughter, my son has auditory processing deficits and was also a premie. I've had my share of the disabled end of the world and also I took it up a notch and got trained as an Advocate for disabled individuals covering the IDEA (education law for disabled children) and a portion of the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act. The general professional attitude amongst those who work with individuals with life incumbering concerns is not one of chastisement. It tends to lead more on the proactive side of resolution or atleast what can be done as a plan to help this citizen. Dr. Feelgood was no where close to that.

I cannot tell you where I found Dr. Kirshenbaum but I believe it was from another MOP ..morbidly obese person who was basically in the self pay boat looking for the best surgeon at the best facility.

I called one surgeon in Mexico, wonderful secretary, very personable but when I expressed concerns over post surgical care in the U.S. there didn't seem to be a clear path already laid which she could articulate well.

From there my next jump was Dr. Kirshenbaum. I always field my doctors by a call to the office. I am looking for three things:

1. How many rings before they pick-up. *If you have a situation and you are close to going to the ER but don't want without first speaking to the doctor, you call the office. If it rings and rings and rings, and then you get cogged on hold that shows a busy office that has not effectively distributed their patient services.

2. Ease of facilitated information. The person you first speak with at a doctor's office is truly the face of his practice. I know exactly what I am looking for, I by then had already researched the band from it's design in France and use in Canada. I am now ready to explore surgery options. When I called, "Marilyn" was the voice at the other end. She was gracious, informed, answered my questions and also said she had worked for Dr. K for twenty years. Finding ANYBODY in medicine who has worked with the same group for twenty years is rare. But it showed me she had faith in her employer. Marilyn sent me an info packet and the next thing was a call from Dr. Kirshenbaum.

3. The doctor. I do not like to feel rushed. I want my questions answered in a way that if I do not understand them the doctor is concerned enough about my health that as a patient of his he would also like me as educated about my condition to eleviate any concerns or questions. Dr. K sent me a power point via the internet which as an educator is unseen outside the classroom, in the real world in medicine. I regularly take "WEBINAR" classes and to be honest, Dr. K's presentation was the best webinar I had particpated in. I also could pause and discuss specifics of his material as we were both looking at the same page via internet. So not only was he a good educator, he also spoke very clearly and concise and explained things in a way that left me feeling confident not only in the Lap Band but in his knowledge base as a surgeon.

I also did a little search on him. FIRST, his medical practice is laparoscopic surgery. If you didn't know, what is happening these days is "doctors" are crosstraining into Lap Band surgery and beginning this, probably, profitable new remedy to obesity. Do they have extensive clinical expertise in surgery...ahhh, not so much. So with Dr. Kirshenbaum, not only are you getting an exceptional device in the band but you are having it done by a man whose medical practice before Lap Band came along was, is and remains s-u-r-g-e-r-y with a laparoscope. How many surgeries? Over 10,000. Yeah. When Routine Surgery Turns Into a Nightmare - ReliableAnswers.com

Here's an article I came across non-band related but related to laparscoic surgery. Dr. K contributed to the article.

...............................................

I know this is long winded but I really did my homework with him and I cannot sing his praises enough with where I am in my life and where I was and the surgery itself. Let's talk about that.

I'll post seperately about the surgery and your concerns on being healthy and preop testing.

Patty, well-said, as always.

I really believe someone should send this response to Dr. K's office. If this isn't the most articulate and thoughtful endorsement for his practice, I don't know what would be:w00t: He should put it in his literature and on his website. I am serious.:laugh:

Dee, thanks so much again for the ride to the airport yesterday. It was great to see you and chat. You look wonderful...keep up the good work. My flight was late, and then all the planes had to be de-iced, so we were over an hour late getting out of Denver. Made for a very long day!

I think I will stay over next trip, and we can have a get together like we talked about yesterday.

[minidriver 0]

Hey Deb! How did your fill go? Can you tell a difference?

[adorkbl 156]

I am still even on the weigh in. None lost, none gained since my last check in. Hopefully Sat will knock me down another pound or two.

Borrowed a friends hair waver and was feeling cute today. Decided to update with a new photo since it has been awhile. I will save the full body shot for when I hit -100. Only Twelve pounds to go!

Here is moi… -88

(hopefully it is obvious the left photo is a before shot!)

[julie.ann 1]

Wow Adorkable. What a difference. But both pictures are beautiful!

[lotzasunshine 2]

I am still even on the weigh in. None lost, none gained since my last check in. Hopefully Sat will knock me down another pound or two.

Borrowed a friends hair waver and was feeling cute today. Decided to update with a new photo since it has been awhile. I will save the full body shot for when I hit -100. Only Twelve pounds to go!

Here is moi… -88

(hopefully it is obvious the left photo is a before shot!)

You are so beautiful!! I love the sparkle in your eyes! Good Luck on those 12lbs, you will totally hit it soon!!

[minidriver 0]

Dorky One!! You look gorgeous! How are things? Did DH find a new job? Is your port still holding Fluid?

[julie.ann 1]

I have broken out of the 220's and hit 119.7 today. I just realized this morning that my new April Fool's Day goal will be to hit onederland! I just can't believe it!:thumbup:

[deboregon 0]

I am still even on the weigh in. None lost, none gained since my last check in. Hopefully Sat will knock me down another pound or two.

Borrowed a friends hair waver and was feeling cute today. Decided to update with a new photo since it has been awhile. I will save the full body shot for when I hit -100. Only Twelve pounds to go!

Here is moi… -88

(hopefully it is obvious the left photo is a before shot!)

You look FABULOUS! Congrats to you!

Mini, everything went fine with the fill. I am at 3.5 now (he put in 4cc). I feel so crappy with this cold, I can't tell much difference in ANYTHING! food isn't really on my radar right now. Cold, stuffy nose, gritty eyes, you know, the whole nine yards. Got to keep those fluids going though.