Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[ShelbiCallie 0]

Ladies, you look marvelous!

So nice to see all of your smiling faces again . I look forward to these photos every month. I noticed you are all drinking your healthy lemon water! :clap2:

Thanks again for sharing!

One week from today = my turn. Yowza!

[DynamoMini 1]

Drews - thank you for posting the picture. I don't know what I do wrong, but then I am only semi-computer literate.

We do look marvelous and smaller compared to the pictures from a while a go. Wow! Yeah, bunny ears!

Woofay - as always you do such a great job getting the pictures up. Ye 'ole camera did a great job.

Fun night - the rest of you, come join us.

Michelle

[Taynuh 1]

Wow, today is the first day where I feel like I finally reined in my uncontrollable hunger... part of the issue for me was I just hate Protein shakes... and I wasn't finding food choices that worked for me (I'm not a sweet tooth person, per se). Anyhow, I'm digging the microwavable campbells soup-in-hand soups...obviously the creamy ones and the campbells selects...yum on butternut squash!!!! Especially cuz I can blend in my whey Protein Powder and it works with their flavors pretty well. I also like the V-8 juice (wow, 3 servings of veggies in one can). And, now I can have scrambled egg (well chewed/pulverized, of course) with my grits... Although they a re getting boring, I may start doing oatmeal... So finally, I feel like I am eating things I like...

I kind of did not have a realistic expectation on the hunger issue and what Dr. K calls "lapband hell" until my Monday appointment. For some reason, I was not expecting to feel normal full-strength hunger with a tummy that was only going to be able to handle non-solids (clear and full liquids and coming very soon....soft foods!) for like 3-4 weeks... Anyhow, got my head straight, figured out things I like to eat that work and life, emotionally, is way better... physically, the band thing is not bad at all... way less discomfort or issues than I expected... it was the emotional/mental stuff that took me by surprise. Like, I especially enjoy cooking for Paul and Tessa foods that I love that I cannot eat (right now anyhow). That's really cool.... Interestingly, my two year old...she likes eating "my" foods too... that cracks me up...she thinks she's missing out! :eyebrows:

Anyhow, just thought I share my new bandster prospective....

Question, Did anyone out there think water/beverages felt kinda "fuzzy" for awhile. For some reason Water seems "thicker" lately when I drink it... and makes my mouth feel foamy at times. Maybe it's just me? :guess

Tina

[Taynuh 1]

I have a question... I've been reading other posts on this forum...some of the lapband FAQ stickies... anyhow, people say they are only doing their liquids and creamies in very (very!) small portions (like an ounce or two)... but me... after the first few days when I was doing like a few sips of H2O and all at a time, and then like a 1/2 cup at a time... I can now do like a can of V-8or a soup-in-hand can, etc., with no issues... that's okay right? Cuz, I thought we have no or very little, if any, restriction until the first fill? So, really, we can still hold quite a bit at a time... just avoiding solids and things that get the stomach moving and contracting?

And now, I can eat a normal single-sized serving of grits and an egg, no problemo, at breakfast... Okay, I admit, I fill full after, but not uncomfortably or anything... certainly nor stuffed... strange, cuz normally, I used to do two eggs, two grit servings, bacon and 2 pieces of toast in one sitting... sounds like a lot, but then again, that's why I had the lapband, to prevent that kinda thing.

So, is it okay to be doing like a cup and a half at a time in volume right now?

Inquiring minds wanna know. :biggrin1: Tina

[marcyinak 0]

Taynah - you'll be surprised (and sad) that you'll be able to drink and even eat a whole lot more than you expeced...that's what the fill is for. Dr. K let me progress on liquids, soft foods, and reg. foods as I saw fit. I was eating regular by about 4 weeks...and I felt I was taking it slow. After my first fill I just drank shakes for about two days then hit a wedding and had some chicken, Tomato salad, and olives. Everything went fine...now it's too fine and I'm headed for another fill. Take your time and just RECOVER! Walk, sister, walk...I can't stress it enough...I don't and, like Woofay, HATE excersize and I haven't lost a pound in weeks! AAUUUGGGHHH!

[marcyinak 0]

Hey,I was on another thread and someone posted this link...I copied it becaue it was good info.

Sorry it's long, but it's pretty good!

How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted

You are losing 1-2 pounds per week.

If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week:

A. You may need an eating adjustment

1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day

2. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber

3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories

a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome”

b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram

(1) It’s also a stomach irritant

c. fruit juice is just sugar water

4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of

foods?

a. Are you avoiding soft foods

b. You can’t just eat what’s easy

c. cheese is glorified fat

5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of Water a day between meals

6. Are you eating too much junk

a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly

processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a

healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you

feel deprived.

b. Stay out of fast food places

7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily

8. Do you always eat the protein first

9. Then the vegetables or fruits

a. Five servings a day

b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable

10. Is your portion size appropriate?

a. meat or fish

(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards

b. Vegetables

(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist

c. Starch

(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need

much

(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, pasta

11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners

a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the

appetite

b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar

c. They teach you to like things too sweet

d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner

than people who don’t

12. Avoid most diet foods

a. Real food usually tastes better

b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes

c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not

that great

(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet

margarine

(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats

a. They may go into permanent storage

b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove

hydrolyzed fats from the body

B. You may need a behavior adjustment

1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?

a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait.

2. Are you eating three meals a day?

a. With maybe 1 or 2 small snacks

3. Are you sitting down to eat?

4. Are you eating consciously?

a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper

away, pay attention to your food and your companions

5. Are you eating slowly?

a. Put the fork down between bites

b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal

c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying

6. Are you taking small bites?

a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork

7. Are you chewing well?

8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals?

a. Practice water loading between meals

b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal

9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness?

a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough

b. Hard stop versus soft stop

10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing.

11. Do not eat when you are not hungry

C. You may need an activity adjustment

1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3

times a week?

a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day

b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week?

c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes?

2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your

physical activity?

a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators

b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding

c. Parking your car further away from the entrance

d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through

e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination

f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash

g. Playing with your kids

D. You may need an attitude adjustment

1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey?

2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are

eating and exercising?

a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days

3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional

issues?

a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your

eating?

b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those

emotions?

c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor?

4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings?

5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends?

6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically?

7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss

journey?

8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating?

a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts

(1) Obsess about something else

b. Perfectionism

(1) All or none, black and white thinking

c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss

9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards?

10. Have you learned how to take a compliment?

11. Are you giving up diet mentality?

a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day

b. Stop dieting

c. Stop depriving yourself

d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad”

e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food

12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place?

E. You may need a band adjustment

1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate

portion sizes but getting hungry between meals?

2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large

portions.

3. You are having to struggle to lose

4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and

having a good mind set.

F. You may need your band loosened

1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down

2. You are vomiting too much

a. How much is too much?

3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night?

a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating

b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime

c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime

d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux:

(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods

(2) Chocolate

(3) Caffeine

(4) Alcohol

(5) Some fruits and vegetables

a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers

(6) Peppermint

a. Baking soda toothpaste

(7) Carbonated drinks

e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals

f. If you smoke, quit smoking

g. Reduce stress

h. Exercise promotes digestion

i. Raise the head of your bed

j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist

k. Stress increases reflux

l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning

m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime

(1) Tylenol is OK

n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring

o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications

p. See your health care provider

4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if

a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,

especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is

accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast

heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack.

b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise.

c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you

also have nausea or fever

d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee

grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar

in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.

(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your

stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.)

e. If your pain is severe

This was written by

Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

[Taynuh 1]

Marcy,

Thanks for the response... not walking yet, but its planned... I am just trying to recover at this point and heal my newly configured stomach... plus also, I am trying to keep my caloric intake to about 1500 calories a day (or less) for now (without feeling like I am starving). I was just worried I was eating way too much volume wise... but its good to know I can hold more (although I won't do more just because I can... too much money invested in this, so I plan on working it as well as I can). Actually, I kinda feel that my 8 ounce smoothie and cup of Soup has pushed me into the discomfort zone...so maybe I overdid it a bit.

Thanks again! (By the way, one of my best friends was from Nome... way back in the day, when I was a college student...I think she's in Bethel now...)

[littleroo1 0]

Want2B - CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Welcome to band land!

Tina - Glad to hear from my band twin! When I told Dr. K that I was able to drink and get liquids down just like before, he was happy. He knows that my body was not seriously swelling up from the surgery. I'm still working on trying to keep my drinking to sips, but that's not working too well. I don't gulp anything for sure, never have before, but I'm just not doing good at the tiny sips. I was worried I was stretching my top new stomach, but I don't think so. Liquids just go right through anyway! If anything I'd have to burp right? I haven't had any mushies yet, but I'm going to have some for dinner tonight. I have gotten a real hungry feeling a few times, but I went too far in between "meals". Took my bandages off when I got home from work today. Was a little worried about that, but they are all closed up. I put a little neosporin on each just for drill. I went out walking last night and went a little faster than I should have because the dog was all excited. It really helps - even 10 mins after dinner!

Everyone that made it to RR - looks like you all had fun!! Thanks for posting pictures. Everyone is FABULOUS!!! Woohoo!

[want2bmeagain 0]

Hey everyone!

so much to share, but we'll see how long I can type, woozy on Percocet!

:car:

I have had way more pain than I was hoping for. But I know it is my body and my reaction to pain. I ain't no sissy either! Like I posted earlier (I think I did anyway!) my hysterectomy pain was way over the top~this isn't like that, of course. My tummy is still hard, I imagine from the gasses??? But, I don't have gas at all, if you know what I mean. What's up with that? First time in my life that I would be so happy to fart! ha, ha! I have to carefully get up and down~ blah, blah, blah

I know you guys understand!

Anyone reading this who is considering banding, or scheduled for it, DO NOT let my experience negatively affect your decisions. I already love the band, am so excited to utilize it! And, I KNOW this pain issue is about me and my own reaction to surgery.

[want2bmeagain 0]

oops, sent my last message too soon! I have more interesting stuff to share~

So, after all of my crazy sugar in my coffee worries, I asked Dr. K about it. Here's the deal: for the preop diet he really isn't concerned about simple sugar/carbs. He is ADEMENT (sp?) about complex carbs. He seemed to hardly care about moderate amounts of simple sugars...all that agonizing for nothing!! Also, I asked him about SUGAR popsicles...if I could have them. He said "why wouldn't you". I told him that everyone does sugar free and I thought that was all we could have. I told him I would rather have watered down juice instead of sugar free Crystal Light. He didn't care one bit if I had sugar. He told me that I could go at my pace ~ BUT DO NOT THROW UP!!!! Tonight, I am having a liquidy smoothie from Keva Juice..it's kind of like an Orange Julius. I haven't had nasua once..

I have another funny story..somehow, the "I hate artifical sweetners" conversation came up during the surgery prep with Cathy and Rhonda (did any of you have them~ Awesome gals!). After surgery, I wanted some Jello. Rhonda brought me a jello cup. After two bites, I asked if they had "real" jello:)

She grinned ear to ear and said "yes we do"...I then "got it" and asked her if she was testing me to see if I really could tell and couldn't stand artificial sweetners!! She smiled big, shook her head,and said "yep"

what a riot!! :car:

The pictures from Red Robin are AWESOME~what a great looking group of bandsters! I can't wait till I can come to a RR meeting! Did I tell you that my daughter works at RR in the Springs?

It kind of seems that my posts tonight have been all about me~sorry if I look a tad selfish! I just wanted to get you up to speed on the Dr. K and surgery stuff.

Thanks again so much for your encouragement!

How are all of our other Sept bandsters doing??

[ShelbiCallie 0]

Hey want2B - the movement and gravity associated with walking will help the CO2 find its way into your digestive track and you'll be fartin' like a big dog in no time. I agree fully with Marcy -- walk, sister, walk -- even if it's just around the house. Get moving and keep moving-- it helps with circulation, aids digestion, decreases risk of pneumonia/constipation/clots, helps with pain from trapped gas. It's the best thing you can do for yourself post-operatively. (Taking off my nursing cap, putting on my scared patient cap.)

Happy Thursday, folks! Next week this time, I'll be with the BAND!! It'sa gonna happen, peeps! Great reference list, Marcy, thanks!

[Mal 0]

Good morning Gals!

It's nice to hear that the newly banded friends are doing well. Hang in there gals, you can do this!

[Gaffer 1]

Hello all,

I am already banded, but I have a friend who is looking into it as well. I was banded here in Canada, but would have considered Dr. K if I knew about him at the time, and his excellent price for the procedure. I have a couple of questions that may have been covered in the previous parts of your thread but it is really long.

Does Dr.K use the new AP bands or do you know what band he is using?

Could someone briefly give me the details of his pre-op diet?

Does any one know what kind of "warrantee" he offers if there is a complication with the band?

Any other info about the Dr. K clinic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Andrew

[Taynuh 1]

I dunno, by the card I got post surgery says I have an AP lapband...so, I am thinking he gave me one.... I was banded on September 5th by Dr. K. says Large AP actually....

[littleroo1 0]

Andrew, I was also banded on the 5th. I have the standard size AP band.

My pre-op diet was 10 days before surgery and it was Atkins to shrink the liver.

I can tell you that his post-op instructions are not nearly as strict as others I've seen - I did not have to do a week of Clear Liquids, followed by a week of full liquids. I was able to progress at the speed he wanted with no problems.