Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[munchkin392 1]

Deb-Thanks for the other mouth guard suggestion, $22 beats $350! As for your potassium test, I wouldn't think it will be too much, just call one of your local labs and ask them, they will be able to give you a price.

Hmmm...Miss Dee, Shelbi, and myself are all nurses. Did I miss anyone?

[munchkin392 1]

Ok my friends, I need help making a decision. My current job is a weekend night shift position, meaning that I work 7pm-7am Fri,Sat,and Sun nights. I get paid $7 extra per hour, plus 2nd and 3rd shift shift differential, which works out to be about $200 per pay period.

My day shift counterpart is leaving to take another position, so now I am able to have his day shift job if I want it-it is essentially the same job, same days, just on 7am-7pm instead. So I would not lose my weekend differential, just my 2nd/3rd shift differential.

This is my quandry-I think I would feel more human if I worked day shift, but I have worked nights for so long that I know I will have an incredibly difficult time adjusting to days. I also don't like days for other reasons: it is much busier, there is lots of hospital management wandering around bothering you about stupid things,there are always lots of family members there,there are far more doctors to deal with on days, etc. But, there are advantages to working days also, such as not losing a day out of your days off to sleeping like I do every Monday. (And I have often wondered if I would have an easier time losing weight if I worked a normal day shift job...)

Basically, the only reason I would take the day shift job would be so I could have some semblance of a normal life, and to make it easier to find dog sitters to let my dogs out on days that I work. Are these good enough reasons? Remember, I will be giving up $400 per month in shift diff also. Also, I like the people I work with on night shift. I like the nursing supervisors on night shift.

Help me out here ladies, I am having a hard time making a decision!:thumbs_down:

[Mal 0]

Bookholder is a nurse too!

Munchkin~What a tough choice to make. If you lived closer to me, I would watch your babies for you (other people call them dogs, but you know how I feel). I wish I could help you out. I know you will make the choice that is right for you.

Brandy~How is the FIL today?

[bahotmomma 0]

Hey Everyone, I haven't posted in a while its been a busy week. Went to get a fill today but ended up just talking to Tom for abt 1/2 hr. We decided I didn't need a fill that I am at a good place. Still losing and not getting hungry. So I will wait another month to see where I am at then.

Went and saw Journey, Cheap Trick & Heart last night. What a blast. It was so much fun, and I have to tell you not being the fat one in the group is AWESOME!!! I even had a few men cking me out, or so my sister says.

Brandy -- Big hugs and lots of prayers I am sending your way.

Munchkin -- That is a hard decision, I guess you have to weigh if it would hurt you financially if you lost that $400 a month. I'll be praying you make the right choice that is best for you and your family.

[BellaPerdente 0]

Munchin: from the sound of your post, I think you are favoring staying where you are. I think you are so used to your shift and the people you work with that you would probably not be happy. My SIL prefers her night shift (critical care nurse/supervisor). She tried the day shift and didn't like it. BUT it is your decision. I know it is alot to think about. Good luck on your decision.

Countdown....6 days!!!!!! A lady came into the store where I work and bought candy and said it would take her a long time to eat it because she had gastric bypass surgery. We got to talking and I told her I was going next week and have lapband surgery. She said her uncle had it in January and only lost 40 lbs. She on the other hand lost over 100. I didn't say much after that but sometimes in the back of my mind, I think I should have chosen that surgery. Anyone else ever feel that way?

Are you allowed to have suger-free fudgepops on the pre-op diet?

[munchkin392 1]

Thanks for the advice everyone. And Mal, if I lived closer I would take you up on your offer because I know you would take good care of my babies! So here is the deal, I talked to one of my dog sitters, and she is talking a day shift job (she is a tech in our unit). But she will be working Mon-Fri so it will not be an issue. However, my other dog sitter is my friends 14 year old daughter, and once she goes back to school in the fall I will have no one to let them out on Fridays (unless I hire a "real" dog sitter). Once my friend who is a tech in our unit passes her boards and becomes a nurse, every 3rd weekend will become an issue. Sigh....this is what I get for having so many fur babies.

FW, I can tell you are a mom because that is exactly what my mom said when I talked to her today! It makes me feel a little better that your sister in law doesn't like days-everyone just thinks you should love day shift, but I truly am not a morning person.

As for the lady that came in your store, a few things.

First, if her uncle had his surgery in January and has lost 40 pounds, he is right where he needs to be with his weight loss.

Second, if she is eating candy and not changing her eating habits, she likely will gain a good portion of her weight back. On my old floor, we had several nurses that had bypass. The majority of them have not been successful keeping the weight off. One is bigger than she was before she had her surgery. Why? Because she eats horribly and still drinks pop like it's going out of style.

Third-research shows that at the 2 year mark the average weight loss for the lapband is about the same as for bypass. And, we can keep adjusting our band!

So, I hope that gives you some things to consider. Are there days I regret not having a different surgery? Sometimes. But then I think of the effects of some of the other surgeries and I am over it very quickly. I also think of all the patients I have had to take care of that have had complications from bypass, and that makes me give up my second thoughts quickly! I am not saying one surgery is better than another, I just know what I have observed as a nurse.

[munchkin392 1]

And yes, you should be able to eat sugar free fudge pops on your preop.

Brandy-I am watching my new DMB Live At Piedmont DVD! It rocks!

[MissMom24 2]

I am listening to dave too...

[MissMom24 2]

Denise...I missed you today.

I was there at 2, and I am jealous. I love JOURNEY!!! Have them in my car!

[MissMom24 2]

Thanks for all the prayers. My FIL is doing well and will probably go home tomorrow sometime. Yay!

[BellaPerdente 0]

Thanks for the advice munchkin. I can tell you are a nurse because my SIL told me the same thing about seeing people on her floor who are there because of complications from bypass surgery. I know deep down that I made the right choice.

My other problem is...it has been 3 years since my husband died and I am now off of cobra insurance. I HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE! So what if something happens and I need some serious follow up care. Let's pray everything turns out ok.

Time for a fudgepop....yeah!

[MissMom24 2]

FW...you got to be so stinkin' excited!!!

[minidriver 0]

Hey everybody. Just a quick post. Brandy, so happy to hear that your FIL is doing so well. Bahot, the concert sounded like a blast. And congrats on the check outs!!

Munchkin, you totally seem like you want to stay on nights. Just because other people think days are better doesn't mean a thing. You need to do what works for you. And I would sure be loathe to give up 400 per month.

FW (and other preops lurking out there), you are getting so close!! Woohoo!!! I can't believe I'm already 8 days past surgery!

We're going to our property this weekend so I'll be out of touch. Miss you guys! Talk to you soon!

[Mal 0]

Brandy~It amazes me how patients leave the hospital so quickly. I am happy to hear that your FIL is doing so well!

[Sidann 0]

Munchkin I agree with Mini. I would stay with nights. The one thing you said that would seal it for me is that you like the people you work with on nights. I am a physical therapist so we don't do the night shift stuff but I have thought before that I would like that atmosphere so much better. But more than that I love the people I work with (I teach and practice) and that makes everything else so much easier to deal with including any hassle with your furry babies. But that's just my 2 cents worth.

FW - I know it is scary to consider anything medical without insurance right now but I am so glad you chose the band over bypass. I'm also glad that you are having the band put in because you will actually be improving your chances of a healthy life. My doctor said he believes I added 10 years to my life and that my quality of life should be incredible when I lose just 20 more lbs. I plan to lose 70 more but I am feeling really great now and have been able to quit my blood pressure meds and my blood sugar levels are very normal. I wish I had done it sooner. Not much longer for you!

I'm getting excited about the bar b q so I can meet you guys. I'm trying to get a fill appointment on Aug 1 (if there are any left) and then come out on Saturday. I stay with my brother and SIL while I'm in Denver and they may not come but I want to get out there and meet you!

Brandy - I'm so glad to hear your father in law is doing so well.