Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[DynamoMini 1]

Woofay - so glad you caught us up. I don't know about the anti nausea stuff, doesn't vomiting get the bug out of the body? Any nurses or docs out there? But I can't imagine that violent vomiting is good for the band. A dilemma. I am glad you are on the mend. Almost everyone I know has something yucky. It must be the traveling around, multi-regional bugs out there.

Anyway, my fill seems just right. Part of it is that I am eating better. After my box (box - yes box) of truffles, my yen for chocolate seems gone for now. I am concentrating on the Proteins again. Exercising sure helps me stay the course.

Mal - hugs to you. Wow! Even tho you thought you were bad you still dropped some weight. Good for you. Get back on track, you deserve a healthy life. We all do. ( a little self talking here)

Well the new year is coming... I have never kept these 30whatever pounds off for more than a month or two, but here I have gone down and stayed down for 32 weeks, Dr. K's point to me. We have to remember this is a two year process. Remember Michelle????

Be well, happy new years, anyone having fun?

Michelle

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Hey Kidlings!!!

Greetings!

Here I am about to start another year wondering if this new year will bring me good things. I hope!

Less than a month and I'll be banded, I hope!

I saw Dr. K at Cost Co the other day and he was very sweet. He encouraged me that things were on track for the 29th of January.

I hope!

I'm trying to not get too excited yet... it's hard tho... because it's something I want so badly.

Well, I wanted to welcome everyone -- you'll grow to love everyone here as much as I do. It's a great group of people and if you live in the Denver area or even Brighton (hint hint!) come and join us as Red Robins.

Hugs and Smooches!

dee~

[mare5569 0]

Oh Woofay I have been right in there with you. Woke up at 1am this morning feeling nausea. It got worse and I tried to vomit. I wouldn't happen. Just dry heaves, Nothing was getting back up through the band. I used two of the anti-nausea supporities. Still lots of wretching with nothing making it past the band.

Fortunately, I had bought some anti-nausea liquid at Walmart. Made a big difference, at least the combo stopped the drive heaves. I highly recommend having some on hand.

Still not holding anything down but some juice, but I know there is hope. Just wanted to tell everyone of my experience. The suppostories helped but not as much as I expected. Left with a terrible dry mouth.

Know it is a gross subject, but I am sure glad I was prepared. Can't wait til it passes.

Marilyn

[adorkbl 156]

This may sound like a dumb question, but if your body needs to vomit, and you stop it with an anti nausea medication, isn't that unhealthy for your body? Where does the vomit go. doesn't it need to get out?

I know vomiting is bad or the band, but what about vomit sitting in your body? What about the toxins it was trying to expel? KWIM?

[mare5569 0]

LA The problem was that it wasn't able to get out. I would have loved to vomit, yes that is good. However, the band blocked the vomit from getting to my mouth. Incredible pain and retching, but it was no able to get out.

[divaofsongs 42]

Hello everyone, sorry I have not been on in a while but unfortunately, I had a post-surgical complication and was just in the hospital for 4 days.

I have been having really bad gurgling, burning, and pain in my upper left quadrant, above my port and under my left breast since a few days after my surgery. It got progressively worse until Sunday night (11 days post-op), I was running a fever of 102.7 and ended up in the emergency room. They admitted me into the hospital and a local doctor agreed to take my case, even though he did not do the surgery. The first thing he told me is that he thought I had a perforation in my stomach and that it could be deadly and would require emergency surgery to remove my band and then repair the perforation, which could be fatal. After telling me this grim news, he left my room and went to surgery for 4 hours and left me there thinking that was possibly my last day on earth. Not the best bedside manner! Needless to say, I was petrified. Later that afternoon, they took me down for an endoscopy and did not see any leaks, they did x-rays immediately afterwards to check for leaks of the gas they used during the endo, which would indicate a perforation but they did not find any. The next morning they did a chest x-ray to check for a small or slow leak during the previous night but all was clear. THANK GOD!

It ended up being inflamation and irritation around the band in the back where the stitching is done when they sew your bottom stomach to the top of the stomach above the band. They said it was a micro-perforation that would heal with antibiotics. They are not exactly sure what caused it, but they said I should be alright but I have a much higher risk of erosion in the future because of it. They are also not sure what caused the fever since my blood tests did not indicate an infection, but they said that inflammation can also cause fever. However, they placed me on antibiotics the day I was admitted and within 24-48 hours the fever began to regress and has since completely disappeared. I was sent home on Friday with a prescription for Augmentin for 2 weeks, just in case.

I have to tell you that Dr. K was in touch with me several times a day throughout the ordeal and was in communication with the doctor that was treating me in the hospital. In my opinion, he is one of the most compassionate physicians I have ever had. He and/or Natalie kept in contact and offered to help in any way they could. I am very lucky to have such a great surgeon and someone who is not just interested in forgetting about you once the surgery is over. The local doctor that was treating me said the band was placed in textbook position and that the surgeon that performed my surgery did great cosmetic work, as you can barely even see my incisions and they are almost completely healed.

I thank God everyday that I am alive and well. This could have been much worse than it was, although it was very painful, I am feeling much better now and glad to be able to write once again. The most pain will come when I receive the hospital bills since I don't have insurance. I may very well end up losing everything I have trying to pay the bills but at least I have my life, for which I am truly thankful.

[threedogpeople 0]

Sooo sorry to hear that you've been having such a rough time, very glad that you're feeling better.

Hubby is right on track although he's had some problems with nausea and Constipation (thank goodness for stool softener). Last time he weighed (3 days ago) he has lost 26 lbs. That's over 20% of his goal (100-120 lbs).

His surgical wounds have been healing pretty well although he had one of them that bled off and on for several days. It finally stopped. We called Dr. K's office about it and Natalie told us that he probably had a small bleeder vein and that if it got worse or didn't stop in 5 days to come in.

He's been very strict on himself as far as the diet is concerned. He just moved to "mushies", adding avacado and pureed mango to his food list. He's had most trouble with juices and finally gave up all except Tomato juice diluted with 50% chicken broth.

We'll be back in Denver in February for his 1st fill, although if he keeps up this rate of weight loss I'm not sure he'll need one. Does anyone know about that? :ranger:

Happy New Year! I hope this one is the skinniest one of all for everyone (me too since Mark's change of eating habits is helping me too).

Judy

[Mal 0]

missmonaaz~OMG, I am so sorry to hear what you have been going through. You must be drained! Thank goodness everything turned out for the better. Dr. K and Natalie, they are sooo wonderful...keeping in touch with you during the entire ordeal. Now you are back on the road to recovery.

[Mal 0]

Mare and Woofay~How's the flu...gone I hope!

threedogpeople~sounds like your hubby is doing great! Such will power! I couldn't wait to move onto real food...I remember standing in the grocery Soup isle drooling and moaning about which Soups to choose and mashed potatoes (very runny), that seemed soooo delightful! Kudos to Mark!

tied2bfit~Where are you having your surgery? I am so happy that things are working out for you.

Dynamo~You are my workout hero! I bought some new headphones for my ipod and some new workout clothes...but I haven't been to the gym???? I think I am struggling because this is the point that I haven't crossed in MANY years...mental sabatoge??...could be?? Time for some positive visualization and affirmations...I can do this, I want this and yes...I deserve this (sounds like a Sat night live scetch)...

Drews~What's up? Hope your doing well...I miss your posts

Happy New Year LB buddies...CHEERS!

Someone TP'd my house lastnight....darn teenagers...LOL There is a roll of TP on the roof of my Suburban and I can't reach it...LOL

[GreenChrysalis 1]

LA, congrats on your mom paying for the surgery! I hope that it all works out well. I really did consider asking my parents to assist but my pride won't let me...

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Hi Bahot, welcome! I am pretty new around here too but everyone is really kind and supportive.

It sounds like we are in similar situations in that I do not plan to tell anybody but my husband (my surgery is 2/14) who is also totally behind me. Best of luck and please keep us updated!

Well Hello all, I am new to LBT. I am having surgery on 1/3/08 and am so excited. Any suggestions? I have started my pre-op diet and it is going well. Not telling anyone except for my husband (he is behind me 110%).

Sorry not really sure how to set up the BMI info...

[GreenChrysalis 1]

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas (should you Celebrate it, naturally!). I have barely touched a computer for over a week. I have been off since the 21st and then I go back to work on the 2nd.

Christmas wasn't that great for me -- my extended family is just so difficult to be around. There was even a fat joke made and then the person who made it looked at me and said "no offense." I took plenty of offense even if the person was only 14 years old, it was still hurtful. I just don't get those people at all. That and a few other unsavory comments got me so upset I barely ate, which I guess is a good thing. But I was also sad because it's my "last" Christmas, which seems silly but there it is.

I need to pull together all of my questions for my phone consult with Dr. K on the 2nd and start looking at flights and everything. I'm just so ready to start this! I will start the pre-op diet at the end of January, I think.

Happy New Year to all! :clap2:

[Mal 0]

viri~how nice to have some time off during the holidays. The comment/joke from the 14 yr old...ignorance!...and when people say "no offense"...please! offense is usually taken and probably intended in the first place....why people even say things that are offensive to others is just hurtful and rude!

Please don't look at it as your "last" Christmas, you will have many more Christmas' and other holidays and you will be happier and healthier than EVER!!!

[DynamoMini 1]

Mal - don't you love all that TP over your house. We had a bad attack several years back, with eggs and stuff on the lawn. I just think those kids musthavebeen freezing. Hope they got freezer burn out there. Did you put on your need duds? I think I am going to call you today and ask.

Mona - so sorry about the complications. As if surgery isn't bad enough. Dr. K is world class and does really good work, This was my first surgery without complications. However, hospitals have sooooooo many germs.

Woofay and Mare - how's the flu. Yuck! I only had that kind of barfing when I binged on some sesame almonds. The pain is really off putting, made me never want to eat that stuff again. But flu? Did you guys have shots this year?

Welcome all you newbies. We need to plan our next outing to the Red Robin. I think it was agreed to be a Thursday evening. I'll have to look it up on the calendar. There is a support group the 8th, so perhaps we could meet the 10th ????

Happiest New Year all,

Michelle

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Hi Mal,

The time off is one of the bonuses of working for a university, that's for sure. And I know, it was just ignorance on my cousin's part to say that. She didn't single me out for insults -- her parents were so humiliated by her behavior that they left early. But yes, it was definitely hurtful and rude.

I know, it wasn't really my "last" Christmas -- I know I will definitely be happier and healthier next Christmas! I had to tell myself that I don't eat "normally" now so that doesn't really mean anything. 2008 is about getting physically and mentally healthy and being able to enjoy many more holidays to come. Thanks for your comment!

viri~how nice to have some time off during the holidays. The comment/joke from the 14 yr old...ignorance!...and when people say "no offense"...please! offense is usually taken and probably intended in the first place....why people even say things that are offensive to others is just hurtful and rude!

Please don't look at it as your "last" Christmas, you will have many more Christmas' and other holidays and you will be happier and healthier than EVER!!!