Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[DrewsLou 3]

Congrats to all you newly banded mamacita's!! Sounds like everyone is doing well. I am rapidly approaching my one year bandiversary.... time sure does fly!!

I don't post much anymore but if I can help you with anything feel free to PM me anytime! I want to keep up with all of you crazy Dr K bandsters!

[Angie38 1]

Good morning everyone! I was typing away and lost my post. I must have hit the wrong button somewhere ~ anyway I am feeling pretty good today. I have had my meds, been sipping on a clear Protein Drink and had another popsicle. Let me tell you anyone who was just banded or getting ready to get banded get Dryers fruit popsicles. They are good, and when your throat is sore or itchy they work wonders. They are also sweet and sugar free. I have also been up walking around the house. I have not gotten the shoulder pain (lucky me!) so I am very grateful for that and hopefully I wont get it in the next few days. The staff at the surgical center was great to me and my DH. Doc said I was in surgery for an hour and fifteen. Not bad at all. Then I was in recovery for about an hour just sleeping, when I finally woke up I asked if my DH could come in then and if I could go to the restroom. They said I was doing so well I didn’t have to sit at the recliners. When DH came in he dressed me and we were off. My surgery was right after Taterbug’s and I even asked the doc how she did. I thought that was so cool – to see her recovering in the recliners. Small world! Well I will check back in later. Thanks for all the well wishes!

[Angie38 1]

I am still trying to find the lady I was speaking too in Dr k's office. Tues the 17th, she just had her first fill on Mon 16th, banded in Feb. Redhead from Wisconsin. If your out there let me know!

Angie

[Woofay 0]

Thanks for the advice, Tater! I have a follow up appointment tomorrow with the Doc, so he can see what he thinks. I tried just a little cortaid cream (cuz that's what I had on hand) and I think they may actually be getting lighter in color. Made sure not to put it on the actual incision. I look like a monkey with fleas!

How are you feeling, Tater?

Glad your feeling pretty good, Angie.

Thanks for all your advice and support, DrewsLou! I hope that I do as well as you have...Can't imagine my 1 year bandiversary.

I don't know if it's mentally healthy or not, but my Hubby and I have set up little prizes for me at certain goal weights. It's extra incentive, I guess. (seems to work for my kids! Hee hee!)

Hope you feeling okay, Lap Dancer and Dynamo!

[DynamoMini 1]

Angie38 - I think you may have met SunnySea. She was coming into Denver for a fill and I think she's from Wisconsin. Sorry, ahead of time if I'm wrong.

To all of you out there - What a difference a day makes! I feel energetic even today. It is gorgeous here and a friend is coming over to walk me around the block. I have been off all narcotic pain killers since the first day. I drank some Isopure yesterday and had the worst trots. Oh well, lots of gas was released too. (hee hee) I think my body is happier with broth, Jello, etc. Altho' I was able to down a little cup of applesauce, so I could take my pills. Some of which I don't have to crush. I am seeing Dr. K for a follow up next Thursday. I am so excited to be coming out of the zombie stage to living again.

Hugs to all of you. I find it amazing the recuperative powers that vary between us. I ended up sitting at Crown Point SC an extra hour and a half because I couldn't shake the anesthesia. I was so out of it, I don't even remember seeing anyone else in recovery.

Has anyone else responded to the Isopure that way? Best wishes to all. I had Dr K do a sample of the bandage during my preOp. That way I knew I wasn't allergic. So if you haven't had the surgery, you might want to try it out first. I have been allergic to lots of other tapes.

[Mal 0]

Hey Anita,

Yes I am local. I live in Centennial/SE Aurora. I live one exit North of the Parker hospital. I had my hysterctomy done there...what a wonderful place, I just loved the staff and the building itself, doesn't realy seem like a hospital.

OMG, I was laughing so hard about the guts falling out!!! shhhhh, children sleeping...LOL tooo funny!

I haven't told anyone about the surgery, partly because I think I am going to chicken out before MAy 18th??? I think I will wait until after...like way after...like 6 months after!! and that is a big maybe!! I just can't stand the thought of being "watched"...ya' know..."is she going to fail at this too", "she took the easy way out" (which we all know, this is not going to be easy at all) etc, etc,. I guess I'll have to wait and see....I did tell one of my cousins and she is bieng very supportive and of course my boys and hubby know, the are very supportive too.

I am thinking of going to the meetings as much as possible. They are Tuesday evenings??? The first Tuesday??? I think I am going to need them, I was balling like a baby just talking with Paula about the nutrician part. Miss Emotional Drama here, I will cry at the drop of a hat sometimes.

I am happy to hear that you are doing good and the healing is off to a good start!! AND Misty...we are all so darn proud of you!! Very happy to hear that everything went well the second time in!!

Good Day Ladies!!

[DrewsLou 3]

Hey Anita,

Yes I am local. I live in Centennial/SE Aurora. I live one exit North of the Parker hospital. I had my hysterctomy done there...what a wonderful place, I just loved the staff and the building itself, doesn't realy seem like a hospital.

OMG, I was laughing so hard about the guts falling out!!! shhhhh, children sleeping...LOL tooo funny!

I haven't told anyone about the surgery, partly because I think I am going to chicken out before MAy 18th??? I think I will wait until after...like way after...like 6 months after!! and that is a big maybe!! I just can't stand the thought of being "watched"...ya' know..."is she going to fail at this too", "she took the easy way out" (which we all know, this is not going to be easy at all) etc, etc,. I guess I'll have to wait and see....I did tell one of my cousins and she is bieng very supportive and of course my boys and hubby know, the are very supportive too.

I am thinking of going to the meetings as much as possible. They are Tuesday evenings??? The first Tuesday??? I think I am going to need them, I was balling like a baby just talking with Paula about the nutrician part. Miss Emotional Drama here, I will cry at the drop of a hat sometimes.

I am happy to hear that you are doing good and the healing is off to a good start!! AND Misty...we are all so darn proud of you!! Very happy to hear that everything went well the second time in!!

Good Day Ladies!!

The meetings are the second Tuesday at 6:30pm in Dr K's waiting room.

[Mal 0]

Thanks DrewsLou! I LOVE your new avatar!! 75 pounds...your are soooo my hero!! Way to go!!:clap2:

[VABandster 0]

WOOFAY/Tater....I'm the one that had the reaction to the tape! The Benadryl helped a little bit, but really what you need to do is go to the drugstore and get some TEGADERM tape...it is basically the same thing as what you have on now, but you won't have a reacation to it! Just take the tape off and replace it w/the Tegaderm Tape and you'll be fine! :eek:

[sunnysea 1]

I am still trying to find the lady I was speaking too in Dr k's office. Tues the 17th, she just had her first fill on Mon 16th, banded in Feb. Redhead from Wisconsin. If your out there let me know!

Angie

Hi Angie, It was me (Sunnysea) I just got home late yesterday and had quite an ordeal so I am just getting to read everyone's posts. How are you? I'm better now but my trip home was hell! My story-On Monday I had my 1st fill, it was 2.25 and that evening and the next day I didn't feel any restriction. So on Tuesday I had another fill of .9 and went out to my car and consumed 3oz. of tuna on 4 crackers with no problem, then I shopped the night away:) . At my hotel later I ate a few bites of a South Beach turkey+cheese roll-up, within minutes I had chest pain,nausea,+mega salvia for about 15 min. So I went to bed and was up at 3am to get ready to catch my flight at 6:30. The mistake I made was at 6:00 eating a few bites of egg, oh yah also I was able to drink Water before this. Well to try to make a very long story alittle shorter I went into a restroom and put my arms above my head and burped and spit, then I felt better. On the flight to Milwaukee I tried 1 sip of coffee thinking that something warm would help open me up, no go! In Milwaukee I had a long wait until my flight so I tried to lay down, well as time went I became worse and worse. I went in the restrooms only to have the stupid toilet flushing and splashing me every other second, so I had to use the sinks to spit. I was in great pain and could not keep my own saliva down, a women asked me if I was ok and I explained everything, she proceeded to rub my back and try to get me to relax, I felt that she could go but she insisted to stay by my side. This would come and go so I didn't know what to do, eventually I went into Midwest bestcare area and they called the paramedics to look at me, believe or not my blood pressure was ok but I was starting to dehydrate. Then I was feeling better for quite awhile so I took my flight back to Green bay and my husband had his sister drive him to GB so that he could drive my car+me home. I did call Dr. K when I was in Milwaukee and he said that I should find a Raideolgist to take some out but if the pain was ok I could fly to GB. On that flight it got worse and I had to use a bag to spit in, in GB we went to Walmart to get some aloe vera juice, well one sip and it only got worse. I also had been in contact with my general Dr. and headed right there hoping she could contact a Dr. to relieve this for me, she sent me to our emergency room because I was getting worse. At the ER. they took my info and sent me to wait, well soon after I started to dry heve and they finally took me in and started an IV. No one would touch me as far as an unfill, the ER Doc said he had a DR. on the phone that could help me, then he said it was Dr. Kimmerling the doc that I was orginally going to have my band with but I could not come up with the cash, and the one that would not take me for after care at $1,500 dollars for the year until I was 1 year out from surgery. I got on the phone with him and once he figured out who I was he started raging at me that I only wanted to save money by going out to Denver and look at the situation I got my self into and the bad situation I had put him into! I slammed the phone down on him and said that I would'nt be putting him in any situation! At that point i was hysterical,tired, and just plain hopeless, mind you just days before this I had walked out of my job and told the ASSistant manager that she could find someone else to kiss her ASS! So on top of all this I am unemployed. I really am a soft spoken person that lets everyone stomp on me, well i have had enough! I called Dr. K and he could not believe that no one would let him talk them through this easy procedure, the docs at Marinette did have the correct needle but the doc in Green Bay said that they did'nt. The Er doc said that in time it could cause lack of blood flow to my stomach and eventually could cause death so he talked me into driving back to GB ER and have the doc take some out. The Er in Marinette gave me something to calm me down and I was able to sleep on the hour drive to GB. I met with DR. Kimmerling and he took out 2.5 and we talked and settled things. On the day I went back to get more fill I was told that I should have eaten 1/2 of a cup of solid food after my fill so that I could tell how it was instead of the Soup and string cheese that I had eaten, so that is whyI ate the tuna and continued to eat other stuff. Looking back I probably was pretty full but it would have been ok if I hadn't eaten anything after having the stuck situation happen the night before, I just could not keep straight what I was suppose to do! On line here everywhere they say liquids for a day and then mushies for a day. I am ok now but very poor and emotionally a wreck. Sunnysea

[Woofay 0]

:omg: OMG, SunnySea! That is the most horrifying story I have heard yet! Thank goodness you are okay. So much for me ever getting a fill. Hope it's tight enough right now forever! And your ordeal with the other doctor, not exactly compationate, is he? Are you feeling better now? What are you supposed to do in that situation? Does Dr. K tell you what you are supposed to do in this situation? So like I wasn't anxious enough with just getting the bugger in there! Thank you for sharing though. I mean, we do need to know that these things can happen. And you are okay, right? Do you have to wait to have a fill now? Or did the other doc only take part of it out? Look at me...100 questions! Sorry about that. Just surprised that it could be so bad. Take care!

[Tater Bug 1]

Hey guys!!

Glad to see everyong is doing so well.. Sunnysea.. wow.. I feel so bad for you! What an time you have had!

I am really good.

Anita that is awesome that they let you go from the recovery room.. I had to wait for someone to take the iv out and since I had such problems the week before they wanted to make sure to give me anouther dose of antisickness meds.

I have been feeling so good that i am sore now.. but its my fault. I have cleaned my kitchen and reworked my junk drawers, clean out my office, looked for and found my childs report card (I put it in a safe place but I made it so safe that it was safe from me.) But I finally found it, I went with DH this am to drop off the carpool of kids off at the school and talked with the teacher. Went back with him to pick them all up from after school and then went shopping for an outdoor recliner thing called "antigravity chair" OMG it is so comfy! will use it inside for now and then later will put in outside on my deck.

So.. if I was curious as to why I am sore.. I just explained it to myself. Oh well.. I will take a nap and all will be better.

Chow for now guys! God bless each and everyone of you!

[sunnysea 1]

:omg: OMG, SunnySea! That is the most horrifying story I have heard yet! Thank goodness you are okay. So much for me ever getting a fill. Hope it's tight enough right now forever! And your ordeal with the other doctor, not exactly compationate, is he? Are you feeling better now? What are you supposed to do in that situation? Does Dr. K tell you what you are supposed to do in this situation? So like I wasn't anxious enough with just getting the bugger in there! Thank you for sharing though. I mean, we do need to know that these things can happen. And you are okay, right? Do you have to wait to have a fill now? Or did the other doc only take part of it out? Look at me...100 questions! Sorry about that. Just surprised that it could be so bad. Take care!

Hi Woofay, Sorry this has scared you, just keep in mind the situation that I should have stuck to clear fluids after my 1st stuck situation and everything probably would have been ok. I truely do think that liquids for 1 day and then mushies would be a better aproach after a fill. It's certainly a learning experiance, I had never had any trouble before getting stuck that night. And my 1st meal went down real easy!?!? Take care just don't be to aggressive with your fills, I live so far away that I wanted to be pretty full but then I agitated it. Live+Learn, I still love my band, Sunnysea

[Machele 0]

Hi all,

I had my first fill today and after reading Sunnysea's story, I'm really glad I took the conservative approach. Dr. K. used the ultra sound on me to locate my port, I guess I'm still too chubby there and he could not feel it right away, even when he had me lift my head and its supposed to "pop right up". He filled me with 1.75cc of saline, but it felt like things were backing up when I drank some Water. I had to swallow 3 times just to feel like things were going down. So he removed .5 and I drank some more, and it drained right thru. Dr. K added .25 and I could feel things backing up, but it was still draining. So, we decided to stop there. I have 1.5cc in my band. I was able to ask him some more questions about my band. I have a 10cm that holds a max. of 5cc of saline. Dr. K. told me that I needed to eat something solid to see if I have the restriction I wanted, if not to come back in. So we went and had turkey sandwiches. One bite of the bread and I knew that was a mistake! So, I ate several bites of the turkey. I had the "hiccup" and decided that I had enough. I'm able to keep things down and I'm really trying to listen to the signals.

Now for the news on Dr. K. He is going to open another office in Parker, just for lap-band patients. He will continue working out of Aurora 1 day a week for hernia repairs and gallbladder removals. But he said with his increased clientel, he is running out of room at his location in Aurora. He also said that he has another doctor joining him in Parker sometime in July, that has just recently finished his internship and residency. He has known this doctor for over 13 years and says he is very skilled. Dr. K. said he loves the facilities in Parker and they take really good care of his patients. I told him that he had lots of great feedback on this forum, and he just laughed! He also told me that he is going out of town June 11 for several days and to plan accordingly for my next fill! Just a heads up for anyone who might need something during that time.

Good luck to all those recovering!

[Lap_dancer 8]

Angie38 - I think you may have met SunnySea. She was coming into Denver for a fill and I think she's from Wisconsin. Sorry, ahead of time if I'm wrong.

To all of you out there - What a difference a day makes! I feel energetic even today. It is gorgeous here and a friend is coming over to walk me around the block. I have been off all narcotic pain killers since the first day. I drank some Isopure yesterday and had the worst trots. Oh well, lots of gas was released too. (hee hee) I think my body is happier with broth, Jello, etc. Altho' I was able to down a little cup of applesauce, so I could take my pills. Some of which I don't have to crush. I am seeing Dr. K for a follow up next Thursday. I am so excited to be coming out of the zombie stage to living again.

Hugs to all of you. I find it amazing the recuperative powers that vary between us. I ended up sitting at Crown Point SC an extra hour and a half because I couldn't shake the anesthesia. I was so out of it, I don't even remember seeing anyone else in recovery.

Has anyone else responded to the Isopure that way? Best wishes to all. I had Dr K do a sample of the bandage during my preOp. That way I knew I wasn't allergic. So if you haven't had the surgery, you might want to try it out first. I have been allergic to lots of other tapes.

Hello folks!

Sunnysea, here is our photo, me on left, you on the right, at Dr. K's office the day before my surgery.