Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[jlck98 0]

Thanks Brandy. I am definately looking forward to having some restriction...

By the way--your daughter is adorable!!

[Mal 0]

Denise~You look stunning!

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

First let me say, Bahotmamma! You're looking great! I love the picture with your daughter. I must say that you were always attractive, but now with your skinnier bod, you're very attractive!

Brandy, I wish I had been your babies' nurse also. It's funny, but there are certain babies that I just fall madly in love with. And I miss them when they go home. One day I was at Dr. K's office and as I was leaving, I heard someone call my name. It was a Mom of a baby we had in our unit for over a month. She came running down that dark hall by the entrance. She said, "Remember me? -- we pray for you everynight!" I think there is no better compliment.

Jlck98, Welcome to the Loser's Bench! Bandster Hell will be over soon! It's so common and you're fortunate to know about it while it is happening. So few docs tell their patients about it. I feel sorry for new bandsters who haven't been informed. It is a frustrating time if you're not expecting it. You have a great attitude. You're going to do very well with your Band. I go today for my fill. I am not sure when my next one will be, but if I'm in the area, I'd love to meet you too.

Mal! I do remember your dancing Banana! Don't I look cute playing the piano with you dancing on top? I'm still so rotund, however!

Is little Buster back to his old self?

Munchkin! I'm so confused! I want a tiny fill, BUT my friend visited this morning unexpectantly (that T.O.M) -- Wouldn't you guess it would arrive just before I leave for Vegas?

I'm feeling a little restriction - actually enough of it that I can stay satiated for 4 hours. I tested it Monday thru Wednesday this week. Measured one cup of Protein, ate it and wrote down the time to see how long it took to get hungry. I might forego the fill.

Well Ladies, I had an interesting NSV yesterday. I had my mammogram done -- it's not the most fun event a woman can endure, BUT I think since losing 75lbs, my girls can be manipulated so much easier, in other words flattened to the size of a turker platter! Oh MY Goodness! Prior to this weight loss, I had fairly nice looking girlies... fuller at least and didn't point south constantly! I think the mammogram works better for the girls who are deflated. I guess you could call that an NSV!:thumbup:

Well, I better start my day! Hugs to you all! Wish me luck with my fill, if I decide to get one -- AND wish me luck in Vegas! I'm not taking my Naughty Chair with me -- so I have to be on my best behavior! If any of you all need my Naughty Chair you're welcome to use it!:rolleyes2:

Love ya Chickies!

dee~!

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Bahotmomma -- you are one hot mama, that's for sure! Wow, what an inspiration. Or is it thinspiration? :thumbup: Are you getting a lot of this? :huh2: I just wanted to use that smilie, I want to be drool-worthy too!

Dee, I say you take NSVs where you can get them! My poor girls are so droopy and saggy and I expect it'll just get worse. I've already lost some volume. But they make excellent bras these days! I would like someday to get a breast lift, but as I haven't yet had babies, and plan to, I'll be delaying that indefinitely. You know, for that magical day when thousands of dollars appear for such things. :rolleyes2:

Yet another lovely person I met on here (I don't think she's posted to this thread though for whatever reason) was banded by Dr. K last week. She had some nausea issues and called the office, only to be told that Dr. K was in Boston at a conference. She was so surprised that he called her back quickly from there to reassure her! Oh yes, he is so caring.

Another friend, whom I have known for 10+ years, is getting banded by Dr. K next month. I could not be more excited for her and happy that I could help someone find such a wonderful doctor. Her insurance would not cover the band for her because her BMI was a bit too low, although she has enough in her history for me to say, yes, you should definitely consider being banded. Luckily her DH is as understanding & supportive as mine so she decided to go for it anyway.

Yay! I want everybody to feel as great as I do right now. :smile2:

OK, I am little bitter because Starbucks was out of the fruit & cheese plate this morning (I eat half at Breakfast & half at lunch) so I had to make do with a Protein Shake after I finished my non-fat, sugar-free hazelnut latte. But I won't let that get me down. At least I just didn't get anything to eat there instead of going for a big muffin or doughnut...

Edited June 19, 2008 by GreenChrysalis

[Lap_dancer 8]

Goodmorning fine friends.

I've been hanging out at some other threads learning. I love this website.

I hope everyone is doing well. I love to read that folks are just checking in, it's good to see your posts.

@Brandymom- I find those nuggets from my Overeaters Anon group. I also joined a thought for the day for compulsive overeaters. Loads of stuff on the web. I share when I find one that hits home. Glad you enjoyed it.

Green- Very good to see you here. I've missed some of your posts so it was nice to catch something from you.

Mal- Girl, hugs your way. I have a special picture of you from RR and that first meet stays so close to my heart.

Jlck98- Hello!! Forgive me but I will be calling you Lick, it's just the easiest thing I see when i read your name. Think of it as licking the battle of the bulge!

Where is our Mini? Is she living life in love? Wondering how she is doing.

Shelbi- Morning friend!

Anita- Happy Summer vacation. Can ya dig it?

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

I am REALLY working my Overeaters Anonymous 12 steps full throttle. Each day I take a deeper step towards committment to staying clean from the things that trigger my appetite..not that I can really do things about it but you can drink and you can melt things down. I prefer a purer intake so I've really been doing some studying on food composition tackling it like school work.

EXERCISE-I have not been going to the gym, I have been exercising. There is the battle in my head that hates exercise and there is the teacher in my head that knows the wiser thing to do. SO to combat that sassy whiney brat who hates to sweat, I've been overhauling my house. If you question that sustained cardio cannot take place anywhere BUT a gym please join me in my purging off all things cluttering my life.

Following Suzie Orman, I'm de-cluttering my life to make way for the richness ahead.

I joined a FREECYCLE group on Yahoo for my area and have posted offers for things FREE to anyone who would like to come get it. Out it goes to someone who wants in freeing up more space for quality of life. This is positively cathartic. I find making room for quality items and only things that are truly good for me inside and outside has brought such a change in spirit.

I'm sweating like crazy, pink in face and waking up in the morning feeling things much tighter. Even my restriction seems to have increased (not that it needed to).

I'm following some tips from Paula (sounds like a title for a Nutrition chapter from a Team K book ).

I have to be honest, I thought the weight would come off faster but the trade-off are the lessons learned in PATIENCE. I'm shrinking, I know I am shrinking but the changes inside and outside are necessary parts to living a greater life. It's like moving from eating anything just to eat, just to feel full to selecting soft, dark green arugula leaves, chilled just right, with sweet slices of perfectly ripened Mango. Good conversation at dinner, relaxed, verses cramming it down and gulping bites. I find myself now desiring to refinish the oak dining room table, eyeballing some good table linens to set a pretty table..something I never contemplated before when i was in my carb haze.

So the dust is flying over my house. Can't wait to weigh in on Saturday and see what the week brought.

Everyone ROCK YOUR DAYS!

[munchkin392 1]

Dee-what a way to start off your fun weekend...with the "annual boob squishing" as I refer to it! At least it was slightly more comfortable this time. I always wonder how they do mammos on flat chested women...??? I mean, it's easy for me to just heave my deflated Water balloons up there, but what if you have nothing to heave? :thumbup: Ouch!! My goal was to lose this weight without getting any plastic surgery, but I can see already I am going to need a breast lift. When I was skinny, they used to be nice, perky B cups. Now they are the aforementioned deflated water balloons! Yuck!!

GOOD LUCK in Vegas!! Win a million bucks!! Did I ever tell you one of my first EMT jobs was on one of the casinos here? We were part of security, so we had to do security duties too. I was out carding people to get on the boat, and I carded this girl who turned 21 that day. It was time to switch posts, so I followed her into the boat. She walked right in, put $1 in the progressive slot machine, and won $100,000! What a great 21st birthday present huh? May you be so lucky in Vegas!!:rolleyes2:

[lifesaver 0]

So here is a picture taken last summer.

And a pitcure taken at Rachael's sweet 16 party last Friday (6/13/08).

[ATTACH]14082[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]14083[/ATTACH]

WOW...Denise...You LOOK AMAZING! What a difference. Cant wait to dish over lunch.< /p>

[MissMom24 2]

Denise...hottie, hottie!!

I can't make it today!!! I am sooo bummed, but they want to do another speech eval on Hannah to see where she is at, and if another surgery is in her future!

Dee...Good luck in Vegas chickie!!! Win some for me!

[JillyPoo 0]

I am getting banded with Dr. K on the 23rd of July. I've read some of the posts about him on here and I would not have even found him if not for this site. So thank you :biggrin2:. I have read that every Dr. is different with fills and so on, is he a fairly "aggressive" filler? I will not be living in the area and so I go back and forth on if I want to have more or less restriction. I would like more so that I don't have to go back for a fill right away, but I would like less in case there was a problem. Anyone else have this feelings about this? And feel free to let me know I have no idea what I am talking about. I am really trying to learn all I can before I get banded. Please tell me all of your experiences with him and the band, I would appreciate it soooo much!

Cheers...Jill:lol:

[minidriver 0]

Drive by . . . .literally. Well, out of the car for the moment. We're spending the next four days at our southern utah property, so I won't have my internet. sniff, sniff. I'm sure I'll be in serious withdrawal.

HI EVERYBODY!!! Dee - have a blast! Welcome jillypoo, I'm sure you'll have a lots of good advice and you'll find out everything you need.

TTFN!!!

[bahotmomma 0]

Everyone -- Thanks for the wonderful words abt how I have changed. It's a big difference isn't it? I look back at that 1st picture and just cringe.

I went in today for a fill and ended up not getting one. After a nice discussion with Tom, we decided I didn't need one and I will ck in in 3 wks. I had lost 11 lbs. in 5 wks, he sd I am still losing and that is great. I have been having some heartburn at night, so I am gonna try not eating 2 hrs b4 bed and taking an over the counter medicine to see if that will help. I keep you updated on that.

We are heading to the Lake for the weekend in the morning. I can't wait!!! Especially now that I can wear a tankini. I will post some pictures when we get back. I am even going to try waterskiing again. I haven't skied in years, just been to hevy to get out of the Water, but with 50 lbs gone who knows what could happen.

Dee-- I know you are already on the road, just wanted you to know I was thinking of you and hoping you have a fun, and safe trip...Win BIG in Vegas Baby. Don't do anything I wouldn't do...:confused_smile:

Newbies, welcome and best of luck to you on this wonderful life changing journey, you have picked the best Dr.

Sorry this is so long, I was just long winded tonight for some strange reason...:crying:

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend.!!!!!

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Mini! Are you really in Southern Utah? So am I! I'm in Cedar City. We are staying the night. We left Denver around 1230, after I had my appt with Tom and ran by Catherine's to get a new package of Spanx! We are about 125 miles from Vegas. The drive took a lot longer than it did last time, since we sat in traffic just before the Eisenhower Tunnel for over an hour! Then we stopped for Starbucks in Fruita and I ended up going to the Kohls and Lane Bryant there. Catherines didnt have the Spanx I wanted and I didn't have time, so when I saw the Lane Bryants, I stopped! The girl was so sweet, she gave me a free pair of sandals when I bought pair of Spanx, plus 2 dollars off the Spanx.

Anyway, Ladies, I have to tell you, I didn't get a fill. Tom was wonderful! He is always so encouraging. I ended up crying! I lost 7lbs in the last 20 days. Anyway, like I said above, I left there and went to Catherine's -- I was looking at their sale rack and this lady was buying all kinds of stuff. She mentioned I should get more items since everything was like $9.00 an item. Cute Cute blouses! I even bought the most adorable dress for $19.00. I told her, I can't buy too much since I'm kind of losing weight. She said, "me too! I just got a Vertical Sleeve in January." I said, "I just got a Lap Band in January." Then she said, "My Mom -who was standing next to her got a Lap Band in December." This lady across the store heard us and she said, "I got Gastric last month." Then this other lady was around by the purses and she said, "I have Gastric too." OH My Goodness! 7 people in the store, 5 of us had WLS! We all started comparing our experiences. The girl with the sleeve had the worst experience! She said that she vomits about 4 times a day. She can't eat anything but cheese and Protein Drinks. She said they told her that she will vomit for the first 6 months and that is normal! She can't eat eggs or yogurt or any kind of meat. Her Mom said she isn't doing so well with the Band. The others with RNY were losing fast, but both were vomiting too. I was the only one who has not vomited since surgery. They were shocked! It was pretty fun! Isn't that incredible!

Well, I guess, I better get some sleep! Wait, I have to tell you -- you know how I weigh everyday, sometimes, three times a day? I weighed this morning at home, then at Dr. K's office and when we stopped at the truck stop in Fruita, they had one of those scales in the bathroom -- I paid the quarter and weighed again! What a nerd!

Hugs Everyone! Thanks for wishing me luck!

Remember if you need to use my Naughty Chair, feel free while I'm gone! LOL!

Bahotmamma, What exactly won't you do? I am just checking so I won't do it! :crying:

Jillypoo! Welcome! Dr. K is a little more aggressive than Tom, but both are very mindful of the fact that being too restricted or too tight is when you can have problems with eroding and vomiting which can lead to other issues. I think personally, they are perfect. Some docs have a protocol they follow and it's something like 0.5/1.0/1.0/1.5 And they won't give fills for 8 weeks at a time. My friend has a doctor like that and she has no restriction -- it's been torture for her! Others tell her that is pretty normal procedure! We're so lucky Dr. K and Tom do the "drinking" method for fills!

Brandy, If I win some -- I'll win some for you too!!!:confused_smile:

Munchkin and Greenie -- I do believe that I need to start saving my pennies for my Boob Job! Definitely a lift and perhaps a little augmentation is in order!

Lap, I love Suzi O. I think she has such good advice for people!

Don't forget to weigh on Saturday and stop by to post your loss! I won't know mine, unless I come across another Truckstop with a scale!! HA!!!:eek:

Love ya,

dee~

[munchkin392 1]

Dee,

That is a great story about how all the people in the store had WLS!! The whole sleeve experience doesn't sound so fun....

I hope the salespeople you encountered today were far more helpful than one I encountered...she was so rude I actually talked to a manager (which I NEVER do). :tt2: I don't understand what is wrong with people sometimes...sigh... I was looking at clothes because I need some new shirts as mine are all ginormous on me, and she walks up to me and says "Do you want to try those on?" And I reply, "Yes, but I'm not done looking around yet." So she sighs and VERY pointedly looks at her watch. So I say "I'm sorry, what time is it?" And it is 8:30. Thirty minutes before the store closes. It takes me about ten minutes to try stuff on...maybe not even that. Maybe I'm just cranky today, but nothing burns my britches more than people being whiny about their jobs. I haven't gotten off work on time more than twice the entire time I have been a nurse (and no, I am not exagerating). So quite frankly, I do not have much sympathy when it's 30 minutes before closing time and someone is whining because they think they are not going to get out on time...boo hoo, let me play my violin for you! Ok, I am done ranting now. Just had to vent!

If I didn't have to work all weekend, I would consider borrowing your naughty chair!! But alas, no fun for me until Monday or Tuesday!

How do I get in on this weighing in stuff? Not sure if I want to, but it will hold me more accountable!:smile: I followed in your lead, Dee, and recommitted myself to the bandster rules. I went grocery shopping and got all very healthy things tonight, so I should be able to be a good girl!

[munchkin392 1]

I am getting banded with Dr. K on the 23rd of July. I've read some of the posts about him on here and I would not have even found him if not for this site. So thank you :biggrin2:. I have read that every Dr. is different with fills and so on, is he a fairly "aggressive" filler? I will not be living in the area and so I go back and forth on if I want to have more or less restriction. I would like more so that I don't have to go back for a fill right away, but I would like less in case there was a problem. Anyone else have this feelings about this? And feel free to let me know I have no idea what I am talking about. I am really trying to learn all I can before I get banded. Please tell me all of your experiences with him and the band, I would appreciate it soooo much!

Cheers...Jill:lol:

Well, as far as my experience goes, I have a local fill doctor because it is just easier for me. However, he charges so much that I could easily fly out to see Dr.K for the same amount of money probably (and someday I will Dee, just you wait!):smile: It is simply a time constraint issue with me. And having 5 dogs that I need to have a dog sitter for.

That being said, I did pretty good until about my 4th fill, and that is when my band was filled too tight. My fill doctor follows a loose protocol, but mostly bases it on how much you can eat, if you have gained or lost weight, etc. He will not give a fill if you are losing at a decent pace. The wierd thing was, I was ok for about 4 days after my 4th fill, then....BAM. I couldn't hardly eat anything, and I was having massive PB episodes. So that experience with the seemingly delayed reaction to my fill leaves me apprehensive to get one away from home I guess. But this is just my experience. Many other people here have had fills with Dr.K and had no problems. He is a great doc, you will love him. I wish I could give you more insight about Dr.K doing fills, but I at least wanted you to know my experience with my fills. I don't ever want to be too tight again, it was absolutely miserable! (And I worry every day that I caused my band to slip from vomiting so much...)

Good luck, and let us know what other questions you need answered! You have stumbled upon a great group of people on this forum!:tt2:

[Lap_dancer 8]

Welcome Jilly!

BA you look SO fine! You didn't look shabby before and now you fit and healthy.

I LOVE Catherines and Dee that is the coolest story! Spanx are awesome too. But YIKES OH YIKES for the vomit woman. ARGH!

Friends I am going to the doctor for an evaluation. I have much weight to lose but being SO big from the start, I'm finding that my breasts are longer and the pain is still there in my shoulders and upper back. When I exercise, the pain in my lower back lasts for atleast two days and I cannot sleep unless I take Tylenol. It's that nerve pain..you know? Not muscle pain but the nerve pain that radiates and hurts to even move. So I'm thinking that this is out of my league. I know my food plan is NOT the problem and if I increased my activity there would be a different story so I'm prepared for an alternative chapter to explore why I cannot seem to avoid PAIN. ( and I'm no weenie when it comes to pain)