Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[minidriver 0]

Munch - Don't feel bad about your question about what a walker would do or how it looks. It is what you see the elderly using when they walk after surgery. They have 4 legs that are on the ground all the time so it gives you much more stability than crutches. They are light weight so you would pick it up and set it down with every step. It's slow going but it would also keep your dogs from knocking you down. But I still think you would need to have some help for a while. Maybe some friends could take turns coming by to feed the dogs and checking on you as they come and go from work or other errands. I teach in a PT assistant program in Oklahoma and LOVE LOVE LOVE my work both in the profession and teaching it. Let your foot pain direct your decision about surgery and advice from your doctor - don't base any decision on my input!

Mini= you asked about my fill. I still have restriction but I had him fill more than he felt was good. My first fill didn't last long and I can't run back to Denver to get a little at a time. I went 3 weeks and didn't lose anything and fought hunger all the time. So far I have lost weight since the fill (4 lbs) and haven't felt hunger until time to eat. I can't go back to Denver until November regardless of the effectiveness of this fill so I hope this is at the right level for the long haul.

DynamoMini - welcome back. It sounds like you have come up with a great plan to get your weight loss back on track. It really made me think about how careful we need to be with fill levels both too much and too little.

I'm glad it's working for you. I'm seeing someone local on Sept. 5 and will push for a more aggressive fill since I can easily get an unfill if need be. I know what you mean about going back and forth to Denver. Once the academic year starts, I just don't have time. I teach all day Tuesdays and Thursdays (fill days at Dr. K's office) and I really can't cancel my classes once a month. I told Dr. K. that I would probably be going to a local person and he totally understood. The cost will probably be about the same, given airfare, transportation, etc. I'm so happy that you're losing weight. That's wonderful.

[Snowgator 3]

Green C, 59 pounds in 6 months is amazing. I'm so proud of you and can only hope for that kind of success. You should reward yourself with a day at a spa or something for all your hard work.

Tropicana, no, Dr. K did not ask for proof of my comorbidities. He did not charge me for the consult, so maybe you should just schedule a phone consult to see if you are eligible.

I am starting my preop diet tomorrow, low carb, so everybody please wish me luck. I made hardboiled eggs tonight, and packed my lunch and Snacks for tomorrow so am all prepared.

[munchkin392 1]

Munchkin...what panties are you at???

I would have to say the purple...although no matter how skinny I get I will never wear the butt floss!!

[munchkin392 1]

Munch - Don't feel bad about your question about what a walker would do or how it looks. It is what you see the elderly using when they walk after surgery. They have 4 legs that are on the ground all the time so it gives you much more stability than crutches. They are light weight so you would pick it up and set it down with every step. It's slow going but it would also keep your dogs from knocking you down. But I still think you would need to have some help for a while. Maybe some friends could take turns coming by to feed the dogs and checking on you as they come and go from work or other errands. I teach in a PT assistant program in Oklahoma and LOVE LOVE LOVE my work both in the profession and teaching it. Let your foot pain direct your decision about surgery and advice from your doctor - don't base any decision on my input!

Mini= you asked about my fill. I still have restriction but I had him fill more than he felt was good. My first fill didn't last long and I can't run back to Denver to get a little at a time. I went 3 weeks and didn't lose anything and fought hunger all the time. So far I have lost weight since the fill (4 lbs) and haven't felt hunger until time to eat. I can't go back to Denver until November regardless of the effectiveness of this fill so I hope this is at the right level for the long haul.

DynamoMini - welcome back. It sounds like you have come up with a great plan to get your weight loss back on track. It really made me think about how careful we need to be with fill levels both too much and too little.

Sidann- I am an ICU nurse, so I am familiar with walkers!:smile: I just am not understanding how I could be 100% non-weight bearing on my left foot on a walker like I could be on crutches?? It just doesn't seem feasible?

[munchkin392 1]

Greenie-Happy 6 month bandiversery! You rock!

Where oh where is our Dee??????

[munchkin392 1]

Brandy-My cousin is going to have a boot legged copy of BOTH nights of the Alpine Valley DMB shows. He is going to get me a copy, if you want one I will have him burn you one also! He said it was AWESOME!

BTW, my new avatar pic is my friend Bob and I at the DMB show in June!

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Greenie-Happy 6 month bandiversery! You rock!

Where oh where is our Dee??????

Here I am Munchkin!

Thank you for looking for me.

I feel I've been lost for a long while.

My blues got the best of me. I've found that learning to eat properly is not an issue for me. However, learning to love myself is...

Thank you to everyone who PM'd me and called me to see if I was okay. I'm sorry, I was so silent. I just needed to take some time to get my head on straight.

I hope you all know how important you are to me. You've been with me from day one of this journey. A journey that has taken many turns and curves and has landed me in the gutter a time or two, but a journey that has given me hope of a better tomorrow. I pray that as my body changes, my mind and emotions towards myself will change too. I'm fighting years of verbal abuse - abuse from my childhood even during the lean years. Abuse that was carried over to my marriage -- and I've carried it over to today. How can we do that to ourselves? Why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we believe that we are the worst and no one would ever want us or love us? I think because we can't give ourselves a break - and realize that we deserve better -- we deserve to be loved... cared for.

Please pray for me and my struggle. I need the prayers right now.

Thank you.

Love,

dee~

[MissMom24 2]

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Dee~

No matter what, I KNOW, that your a beautiful, fantastic lady on the inside and the outside. You have inspired me, kept me on the straight and narrow and you have made me want to be more like you.

I dont know what the deal is with our heads...I struggle daily with the same issues. It is devestating for me to know that I had surgery, have lost some (not all) of my weight, yet I am still the fat girl. I constantly feel big, self consious, and defeated.

You, my friend, are not alone. Not one bit. Please feel free to PM me or call anytime. I can meet you as well.

[MissMom24 2]

I would love one Munchkin!! You look like a hottie!! Good for you.

Who would really want to wear the butt floss?!? Just seems impractical to me!

[MissMom24 2]

Welcome back Dynamo...I have missed you!!!

[MissMom24 2]

Mini...let us know how the fill goes under flouro...I haven't had the chance to do one, but think it would be interesting.

[munchkin392 1]

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Dee~

No matter what, I KNOW, that your a beautiful, fantastic lady on the inside and the outside. You have inspired me, kept me on the straight and narrow and you have made me want to be more like you.

I dont know what the deal is with our heads...I struggle daily with the same issues. It is devestating for me to know that I had surgery, have lost some (not all) of my weight, yet I am still the fat girl. I constantly feel big, self consious, and defeated.

You, my friend, are not alone. Not one bit. Please feel free to PM me or call anytime. I can meet you as well.

Dee-I feel the same way as you and Brandy. No matter how much weight I lose, I still feel "huge". It doesn't matter if 100 people a night tell me how "skinny" I am getting, or if I buy smaller pants, or a size medium sweater, I am still the fat girl. I dont know how to get my head around losing weight.

Brandy-The hottie is my friend Bob! She is a great girl. She is the one who lets my dogs out on the weekend. She is like a sister to me.

And yes, I think anyone would have to be insane to wear that butt floss! I have never understood the concept, it just makes me feel like I have a wedgie all day!!

[lotzasunshine 2]

I'm glad it's working for you. I'm seeing someone local on Sept. 5 and will push for a more aggressive fill since I can easily get an unfill if need be. I know what you mean about going back and forth to Denver. Once the academic year starts, I just don't have time. I teach all day Tuesdays and Thursdays (fill days at Dr. K's office) and I really can't cancel my classes once a month. I told Dr. K. that I would probably be going to a local person and he totally understood. The cost will probably be about the same, given airfare, transportation, etc. I'm so happy that you're losing weight. That's wonderful.

So how much does your fill doc here cost you?

[minidriver 0]

Here I am Munchkin!

Thank you for looking for me.

I feel I've been lost for a long while.

My blues got the best of me. I've found that learning to eat properly is not an issue for me. However, learning to love myself is...

Thank you to everyone who PM'd me and called me to see if I was okay. I'm sorry, I was so silent. I just needed to take some time to get my head on straight.

I hope you all know how important you are to me. You've been with me from day one of this journey. A journey that has taken many turns and curves and has landed me in the gutter a time or two, but a journey that has given me hope of a better tomorrow. I pray that as my body changes, my mind and emotions towards myself will change too. I'm fighting years of verbal abuse - abuse from my childhood even during the lean years. Abuse that was carried over to my marriage -- and I've carried it over to today. How can we do that to ourselves? Why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we believe that we are the worst and no one would ever want us or love us? I think because we can't give ourselves a break - and realize that we deserve better -- we deserve to be loved... cared for.

Please pray for me and my struggle. I need the prayers right now.

Thank you.

Love,

dee~

Dee, thanks for coming back. I'm sorry that you're struggling. We all love you and you DO deserve better. You deserve better from yourself as well.

[minidriver 0]

So how much does your fill doc here cost you?

Well, he's the provider for Fill Centers USA, so the initial visit is $350 (ARRGGHH) plus 99 for fluoro. After that it's 150 plus the fluoro. But I'm hoping I won't need to go as often since I'll be able to get a more aggressive fill and you can get a free "unfill" if you notify them within 72 hours that you're too tight. I was worried about being too tight and then having to fly back to Denver for an unfill.