Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Need some advice. I haven't had any bad experiences with PBing until yesterday. I had some things go down a little hard. I know that I do need to slow down when eating, but yesterday I PBd on salmon. Today, I was eating a Smart Ones salisbury steak and mac & cheese dinner....OMG....it was really bad. I felt like I was having a heart attack and it finally came up but was still burping and coming up for at least 15 more minutes.

My problem is that I am due for my 2nd fill on Wednesday. Should I postpone? I really hate to because my appetite is getting bigger. Can I be hungry and still get food stuck??

What should I do?

Bella,

Shelbi had the same problem. I told her to try really hard to chew eat bite 30 times. Stop and count each time you chew, when you get to 30 then swallow and count to 9 before taking the next very small bite.

I would also be careful with things that are a little more sticky or Gummy, ie. Pasta.< /p>

Is your fill on this Wednesday? See how it goes tomorrow.

Good Luck!!

[deboregon 0]

Denver: I haven't made reservations yet, but I do plan to make it as late in the afternoon as possible. I have never flown in and out of a place in one day before, so am not sure how I want to handle all this. I will keep you posted. Thanks for the invite

[lotzasunshine 2]

Denver: I haven't made reservations yet, but I do plan to make it as late in the afternoon as possible. I have never flown in and out of a place in one day before, so am not sure how I want to handle all this. I will keep you posted. Thanks for the invite

I just made the one day trip. I flew in around noon and had a 4;30 appt. Dr.K didn't get around to me until 5:30 or so. I figured better safe than sorry on the time, but I had a LOT of extra time. I flew out at 9:30 so most of my day was spent in the airport. I would highly recommend staying the night if you can, so that if you want more or less of a fill then you won't have to wait. I'm going to do that next time.

[minidriver 0]

I did the same day in/out as well, mainly due to other scheduling issues. It would have been nice to spend the night, but I just couldn't do it. I, too, spent a great deal of time in the airport. I love to read, though, so it didn't bother me much. But I am looking forward to having a fill locally.

[Sidann 0]

Adork - I am only down 1 lb this week to 219. I'm like Mini - what is up with this slow plodding. But I have to remember before my band I would go up and down within 5 - 6 lbs for literally years! So I will gladly take my 1 lb loss and keep putting them together until I am at goal. My fill is still giving me good restriction but I have been super busy with school starting so exercise has gone out the window. It is really critical for me to exercise as well as watch my eating in order to lose much.

[minidriver 0]

Adork - I am only down 1 lb this week to 219. I'm like Mini - what is up with this slow plodding. But I have to remember before my band I would go up and down within 5 - 6 lbs for literally years! So I will gladly take my 1 lb loss and keep putting them together until I am at goal. My fill is still giving me good restriction but I have been super busy with school starting so exercise has gone out the window. It is really critical for me to exercise as well as watch my eating in order to lose much.

Oh yeah. Exercise. I KNOW it would help speed up my weight loss but I have the hardest time sticking with it. I played DDR 4 times last week, then we went to our treehouse and the momentum is already gone. Sigh.

[marcyinak 0]

They tell me curiousity killed the cat...but here goes. If you really really really wanted a big fat Red Robin burger - the one with the fried egg on it! - would you be able to eat it? At least like 5 or 6 bites of it? I guess I'm just not sure how small your stomach really is with a lap band. :confused2:

I think this is what I'm going to struggle with the most (which is why I probably won't go out to eat much, haha) - at restaurants, I tend to get what I want when I want it. Which is why I've been overweight for so long, lol. Salads are good and all, but the RR burger with cheese and bacon and a fried egg on it...

Oh my, I'm drooling. :wink2:

jmegirl - you'll be surprised at how your tastes will change after the surgery. You'll also be surprised by what you can/can't eat after surgery. I can't eat bread very well so I don't crave it...that kind of thing. Congrats on a date! Now, don't over-do the "last supper" thing!

Happy Monday everybody,

Adork, no weight change for me. I think I am overdoing on the steak and cheese thing!

Mal, your friend will be in good hands at Craig.

Deb, thanks for the preop diet tips. See above, I just need to work on Portion Control. What time do you fly back on the 25th? I can meet you for dinner. Since you are getting a fill, there is a place with great Soups not far from there, the Great Atlanta Bread Co.

Munch, good luck with the barium swallow thing, hope it goes well. I'm also a big REO fan - grew up in Michigan so they played our area a lot

Marcy, the fresh berry hunt sounds so fun

Green, your family "mentioned" your hair? as in, it looks so fabulous, or why aren't you taking care of those roots? ha! I love your idea about the no foods off limits

Jme, congrats on the Nov. surgery date...mine is coming up

Everybody, I have a question about portions post-band: do you feel you eat about a cup or 8 oz per meal, like the articles say? or more? or less? thanks for the input.

See you all Wed night at RR - do you sit in a certain spot, or do I just look for all the lovely babes together?

Denver - went picking again today...got 10 cups in less than an hour...and that was with the kids eating the "profits" most of the time! The blueberries are just CRAZY right now! YUM!

As for your question...when I'm "good" and only eat my meals...I can eat about a cup of food total. Now, I can snack like there's no tomorrow and that's what gets me into trouble! I wasn't a snacker before...bummer, just another hurdle to jump over though and I can do it!

Need some advice. I haven't had any bad experiences with PBing until yesterday. I had some things go down a little hard. I know that I do need to slow down when eating, but yesterday I PBd on salmon. Today, I was eating a Smart Ones salisbury steak and mac & cheese dinner....OMG....it was really bad. I felt like I was having a heart attack and it finally came up but was still burping and coming up for at least 15 more minutes.

My problem is that I am due for my 2nd fill on Wednesday. Should I postpone? I really hate to because my appetite is getting bigger. Can I be hungry and still get food stuck??

What should I do?

Bella - this is how I determine if I (just me now, not everyone is like this) need a fill...if I am a "good girl" and only eat my meals - no snacking - and I can eat too much. Now this too much is really my own level of food...which is a bit more than a cup...and that's with meat first and salad/veggies second...if I go the other way I can eat a bit more. Also, if I eat too slow I can eat more, there's a good balance for ME. Anyway, fish is an iffy thing and can easily get stuck. ANY kind of Pasta (ESPECIALLY mac n cheese) makes me PB something awful! So...try a couple of days of "we know these work" foods at mealtime and see if you're eating too much or too little...then decide. There's nothing wrong with waiting for a fill...so and steady wins the race...and keeps it so your less likely to gain some back!

Everyone - there have been some folks wanting updates on my friends who had the Gastric Sleeve procedure done in March. Well, I ran into my friend today and she's lost 90 pounds so far :crying:- her sister is about the same. She says that she's never hungry and her cravings are strange...that she really likes tofu and humus now (I still can't really get into either). I'm so proud of her! I have to admit that I'm jealous because I'm not losing that quickly/well, but I'm still losing (and know I'd do better if I'd stop drinking the damn soda!):biggrin2:

Had a revalation today...I really miss sandwiches and burgers...I think because I avoid them because of the bread...I need to figure out a way to have a burger without the bun and not make it "feel" like a salisbury steak, if you know what I mean. A lettuce wrapped burger (previously mentioned) sounds like something I should try...hmmm...any other ideas out there?:wub:

[marcyinak 0]

You know, I was just thinking that just last year when I was banded there were only a few people on this thread (Mal, Anita, Taynuh and the few that really come to mind) and now this thread has EXPLODED! That's great! I sometimes see some obese women and think...if it weren't so rude, I'd go up and tell this chick to go see Dr. K and not wait any longer...that is my only regret, the waiting I mean, not bein' all rude. Does anyone else think this sometimes?

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Bella- this is how I determine if I (just me now, not everyone is like this) need a fill...if I am a "good girl" and only eat my meals - no snacking - and I can eat too much. Now this too much is really my own level of food...which is a bit more than a cup...and that's with meat first and salad/veggies second...if I go the other way I can eat a bit more. Also, if I eat too slow I can eat more, there's a good balance for ME. Anyway, fish is an iffy thing and can easily get stuck. ANY kind of Pasta (ESPECIALLY mac n cheese) makes me PB something awful! So...try a couple of days of "we know these work" foods at mealtime and see if you're eating too much or too little...then decide. There's nothing wrong with waiting for a fill...so and steady wins the race...and keeps it so your less likely to gain some back!

Everyone - there have been some folks wanting updates on my friends who had the Gastric Sleeve procedure done in March. Well, I ran into my friend today and she's lost 90 pounds so far :crying:- her sister is about the same. She says that she's never hungry and her cravings are strange...that she really likes tofu and humus now (I still can't really get into either). I'm so proud of her! I have to admit that I'm jealous because I'm not losing that quickly/well, but I'm still losing (and know I'd do better if I'd stop drinking the damn soda!):biggrin2:

Had a revalation today...I really miss sandwiches and burgers...I think because I avoid them because of the bread...I need to figure out a way to have a burger without the bun and not make it "feel" like a salisbury steak, if you know what I mean. A lettuce wrapped burger (previously mentioned) sounds like something I should try...hmmm...any other ideas out there?:wink2:

I love the bunless burger with the lettuce wrap! It's really good and I make it exactly like a real burger with mustard and ketchup. Yum!!!

I do the 1 cup test also to see if I need a fill. IF I'm able to remain satiated on 1 cup of food for 4 hours or more, then I am pretty sure I am still in the green zone. When I start getting hungry earlier than 4 hours, I know it's time to get a fill.

I've been working really hard to not eat after 4pm. I know that I usually do so well during the day. Then I get home, I'm starving and I eat things I shouldn't be eating. So I have now started - for over a week, to stop eating at 4pm. I take a dinner meal to work with my lunch and I eat that at 330. I need to make it a habit. Three weeks and it should be something I do forever!

I wish I had fresh blueberries! They are so good for you!!! I love them on my oatmeal in the morning with almonds or pecans! YUM!!!

Well, Gang, tomorrow I'm starting my 21 day Detox eating plan. It's totally vegan, no gluten, no sugar, or white stuff -- white flour, white rice, white pasta. Maybe someone can explain to me why they require no gluten. I haven't figured that one out yet. Is it to decrease inflammation?

Good to see your post Marcy! I know how it is to get a little jealous of another's WLS choice! My friend who had VSG last September is down over 250lbs. It's fast! I'd be almost at goal if I had done that! BUT I'm happy with my band, slow and steady wins the race AND I'm learning so much about me!

Take Care Our Alaska Sister!

dee~

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Happy Monday everybody,

Adork, no weight change for me. I think I am overdoing on the steak and cheese thing!

Mal, your friend will be in good hands at Craig.

Deb, thanks for the preop diet tips. See above, I just need to work on Portion Control. What time do you fly back on the 25th? I can meet you for dinner. Since you are getting a fill, there is a place with great Soups not far from there, the Great Atlanta bread Co.

Munch, good luck with the barium swallow thing, hope it goes well. I'm also a big REO fan - grew up in Michigan so they played our area a lot

Marcy, the fresh berry hunt sounds so fun

Green, your family "mentioned" your hair? as in, it looks so fabulous, or why aren't you taking care of those roots? ha! I love your idea about the no foods off limits

Jme, congrats on the Nov. surgery date...mine is coming up

Everybody, I have a question about portions post-band: do you feel you eat about a cup or 8 oz per meal, like the articles say? or more? or less? thanks for the input.

See you all Wed night at RR - do you sit in a certain spot, or do I just look for all the lovely babes together?

Denver,

We try to get there just before 7pm... I'll try to not be late. BUT usually those who get there before the others sit on the bench by the hostess area.

I'll be there waiting!

I met everyone there in October before my first schedule surgery! They had already sat down and the hostess asked who I was there to see! I had no idea anyone's "real names" and I had no idea what anyone looked like. Mal, Michelle and Mare were there! Mare some this lost fat girl and she came and rescued me!

I also eat 1 cup of food each meal and nothing between meals until I'm hungry and then it's a piece of fruit. When I eat at RR, I usually eat less than half my meal. I save the rest for later! YUM!!

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Denvergirl ~ I have no idea why my family mentioned my hair. I do have roots, it's true, so why did my mom ask if I highlighted my hair? It is probably longer than it has been in a long time so that might be part of it. Who knows; they're a bunch of looneys.

As for how much I eat post-surgery...it depends on what it is, but it's anywhere from 1/2 to 1 cup most of the time. When I first started out I measured everything because I realized that I had no idea what 1/2 a cup of food really looked like!

Bella ~ Listen to Dee, she is an expert! I have been following her chew and count suggestion for a long time and it works very well for me. It's basically automatic at this point. You may just be one of those people who has issues with Pasta, so please be careful.

I hope everyone is doing well. We (in Georgia) are getting lots and lots of rain thanks to T.S. Fay. I think there's still a flash flood watch. It was very hard to get up and go to work this morning, especially with hubby staying home sick. Very, very tempting to just stay cuddled up to him, but here I am!

[ShelbiCallie 0]

Ador -- I'm down 1 measily pound. Put me at 186. I'll take it but I've got to get back with the plan! Congrats to all the losers this week ---impressive ladies!

Bella,

Shelbi had the same problem. I told her to try really hard to chew eat bite 30 times. Stop and count each time you chew, when you get to 30 then swallow and count to 9 before taking the next very small bite.

I would also be careful with things that are a little more sticky or Gummy, ie. Pasta.< /p>

This made a huge difference for me, Bella! And thanks again to my dear friend Dee for this counting trick -- when I'm being a good bandster and doing the counting, it really does work!!

You know, I was just thinking that just last year when I was banded there were only a few people on this thread (Mal, Anita, Taynuh and the few that really come to mind) and now this thread has EXPLODED! That's great! I sometimes see some obese women and think...if it weren't so rude, I'd go up and tell this chick to go see Dr. K and not wait any longer...that is my only regret, the waiting I mean, not bein' all rude. Does anyone else think this sometimes?

Marcy- I think the same thing! I want to tell people all the time -- don't wait, there's a answer, you can do it! I wish there was a tactful way to approach strangers because I know their struggle. I wish someone would have nudged me years ago! PS -- You're making me crave blueberries!

Hot diggity dawg, I'VE GOT A DATE with Dr. K!!!

November 5th, 2008 baby!!!

:crying: :wub: :tt1:

Shout out to my home girl!!! Congratulations and welcome to the board! We'll have to do an East Coast RR night sometime and set up a video feed to our banditos in Denver. Wouldn't that be cool!!

Jme Girl-Congrats on getting a date!

Everyone else-I still can't hardly eat anything so the doc wants me to have a barium swallow. I have to go have it Thursday morning. This sucks! :wink2: I hope nothing is wrong with my band. I am praying I am just filled to tight and swollen from it.

Good luck with that barium swallow. I'm sending positive thoughts that it's stress and not a band issue. And more positive thoughts that the stress goes away soon!

My birthday on the other hand was kind of depressing because my MIL was in the hospital all day yesterday. At first they thought she had a stroke, but nothing turned up on any of the scans or tests. They are sending her to a heart specialist, and she has to take a stress test. If anyone is stressed that woman is! It was kind of scary because she kept asking the same questions over and over, and was really disoriented. But she seemed better when they released her. Two of her sisters have had this same thing happen and the doctors could never figure it out.

Belated Happy Birthday, Marie!! Sorry to hear about your MIL and hope they find out what's going on soon. Keep us posted.

My son's friend, Shane will be going to Craig TOMORROW. I am so happy that he will finally be able to move ahead. I went to visit him Saturday and let me tell ya, I broke down something terrible (the minute I walked out of his door). I hate to see him like that. This is tough, tough, tough! Thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts.

Moving ahead is a very good! I'll continue to keep all of you in prayer and thought! I know this situation is so hard on your very kind heart.

I FINALLY have my consult with Dr. K today and I'm so excited! I have been reading posts, I've waited it feels like forever. I'm just anxious to get the show on the road. I was denied by my insurance (because I lost some weight to show I was committed to making lifestyle changes) and now don't meet their bmi requirement even though I have comorbidities of pseudo tumor cerebri and sleep apnea/CPAP at night. Pretty sad when I'm a nurse and I work for a healthcare system. Oh well. I can't stand it anymore, have tried everything under the sun so I'm going to self pay. I hope I don't have to wait too long for my surgery date. I'm so glad to read all these positives about Dr. K's office.

Welcome to yet another nurse! Glad to have you aboard!

It's official peeps: I want to be Mini. She drives a mini, she has a tree house, she's been to London, she's seen Prince. I'm so jealous!

Greenie -- Glad the lunch went well. I'm wondering if maybe the family is noticing that you've changed, but they can't quite figure it out so they're fixated on the hair? ??

Gotta run. Hugs to all and more later!

[jmegirl 2]

So as some of you may have read, I got my appointment with Dr. K yesterday afternoon. I'm too excited for words - but most of you have been here, haha, and you know exactly how I feel. I told Shelbi this funny story in a private message, but thought I'd share it with you all.

My husband typically works late on M-Th, and then he goes to the gym for an hour. So, when he came home around 8:30p last night, I had hunkered down on the couch with a Big Mac, Large fries, and TWO apple pies. And I was steadily eating every bite. He looked at me like I'd just slaughtered a pig on our coffee table, and I said, "It's called the Last Supper baby! I've got a date!!" and he just burst out laughing. He's so happy for me, and I'm too excited for words! :crying:

[GreenChrysalis 1]

Congrats jmegirl! I am very excited for you! Ohhh...that sounds like what I used to get at McDonalds, except you forgot the large Diet Coke to "wash it all down with." I mean, the apple pies are two for $1, how could you resist? :crying: And my husband was my partner in crime, except he got the double quarter pounder with cheese.< /span>

I still hit up the McDonalds on occasion, but now I am quite content with getting a salad (and stealing a fry or two from my husband) or a Happy Meal if I'm really jonesing for the fries. I enjoy the toys, too, they are a reminder of how far I have come. Before, a Happy Meal was just a snack! I was thinking the other day that it would probably take me three or more sittings to finish the meal I used to get there. Just you wait, jmegirl, you will be there too, before you know it! :wink2:

Marcy, I do the same thing. My heart just aches because there is no describing how miserable it is to be obese. I wish there were some nice way to say, look, you have probably tried every diet known to man...have you even considered this option? I certainly wish I'd gotten banded sooner and I wish someone could've told me in some way that I would've listened. But we all have to come to our own conclusions, in our own time, right?

Edited August 26, 2008 by GreenChrysalis

[jmegirl 2]

Congrats jmegirl! I am very excited for you! Ohhh...that sounds like what I used to get at McDonalds, except you forgot the large Diet Coke to "wash it all down with." I mean, the apple pies are two for $1, how could you resist? :thumbup: And my husband was my partner in crime, except he got the double quarter pounder with cheese.< /span>

I still hit up the McDonalds on occasion, but now I am quite content with getting a salad (and stealing a fry or two from my husband) or a Happy Meal if I'm really jonesing for the fries. I enjoy the toys, too, they are a reminder of how far I have come. Before, a Happy Meal was just a snack! I was thinking the other day that it would probably take me three or more sittings to finish the meal I used to get there. Just you wait, jmegirl, you will be there too, before you know it! :thumbup:

Marcy, I do the same thing. My heart just aches because there is no describing how miserable it is to be obese. I wish there were some nice way to say, look, you have probably tried every diet known to man...have you even considered this option? I certainly wish I'd gotten banded sooner and I wish someone could've told me in some way that I would've listened. But we all have to come to our own conclusions, in our own time, right?

LOL, I did have a Large Diet Coke with the whole meal. How could I not? I'm definitely NOT looking forward to quitting sodas. That's going to be one of the hardest things I've ever done - no joke.

I can't wait until the day that a McD's Happy Meal is too much for me to eat. It seems unreal, but I'll be there by year's end. :w00t:

The way I found out about a lap band is actually because a fellow "fat girl" told me about it! My husband and I got married May 10th of this year, and two weeks later we went to Cancun for our honeymoon. Our second night there, we met a couple who was our age, celebrating their 5yr anniversary. She was shorter than me, and she was a "bigger" girl. We got on the subject of weight, as most bigger girls do, and she told me she'd gotten a lap band in 2005 in Mexico. I thought she was crazy! She said she lost like 60lbs and was able to conceive their son. After the pregnancy, she got filled again, and was able to lose everything again and then some. She said it was the best thing she'd ever done in her life, and she was a Lap Band Advocate, trying to convince every bigger girl who struggled with her weight to get a Lap Band, because it had changed her life so much that she felt she HAD to pass the word on. So I went home, and that was the first thing I looked up. For two months I just sort of dabbled with the idea, then I finally convinced myself that it was worth it. I think I convinced my husband in about 3 days, and now here I am, awaiting my Lap Band.

So the reason for that long diatribe is to say this: I am getting a lap band because a fellow "fat girl" actually had the nerve to say something to me when I told her about my weight struggles. Don't be afraid to say something if you think it will be well received! If she hadn't said something, I wouldn't be here today. I still talk to her, and she's so happy that I finally made an appointment! She also said they're working on Baby #2, haha.