Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[minidriver 0]

Hello, everyone. This is my first post so I hope I get it right. I have been reading and researching for many months. I will be banded in 5 days by Dr. K. and am finally over a case of the nerves and am very excited! You didnt' know it but your posts have helped me with many questions, Thanks!

Welcome! Glad to see you're posting!! I'm glad the posts have been helpful. We're a chatty chatty bunch, but we're all pretty darned nice if I do say so myself. Let us know if you have any specific questions or concerns. I'm a relative newby, but there are some very wise people on this board.

[minidriver 0]

I swallow all my pills whole and never have a problem. Is that dangerous? I even swallowed to sinus pills that were huge. Should I be doing that????

Hi Bella. Dr. K. was really adamant with me about crushing all my meds, but I accidently took 2 tylenol one day without thinking about it and it seemed fine. I just don't know what to do. None of my meds are available as a liquid and my rheumatologist will skin me alive if I don't take my meds.

[bahotmomma 0]

Bella, I swallow all my pills as well and have never had a problem. I take BC and it is really really small. I also take the liquid advil capsules.

I know I need to get more calories in I just can't seem to do it. I have no trouble eating the bad stuff though. I really need to work on that.

[minidriver 0]

Bella, I swallow all my pills as well and have never had a problem. I take BC and it is really really small. I also take the liquid advil capsules.

I know I need to get more calories in I just can't seem to do it. I have no trouble eating the bad stuff though. I really need to work on that.

That's a rough one. I think I could probably pound down milk shakes all day long. Why is it that the bad stuff is sooooo easy to eat?

[bahotmomma 0]

Toozwego, Welcome!! And congrats on making this life changing choice. Best of luck to you and keep us updated.

[bahotmomma 0]

Mini, I don't know maybe it's all in my mind. No really I don't chew enough I know that. If I take my time and concentrate on chewing I do better. I am just really tight right now and have been for a while. And the last 2 times I have not even gotten a fill, Tom and I have decided both times that I didn't need one. I go again on the 18th but I don't think I need one, I just like to check in and see how he thinks I am doing. Like tonight I had a greek yogert for dinner and only had about half. I have been really thirsty lately so that has helped getting the shakes down.

[minidriver 0]

Mini, I don't know maybe it's all in my mind. No really I don't chew enough I know that. If I take my time and concentrate on chewing I do better. I am just really tight right now and have been for a while. And the last 2 times I have not even gotten a fill, Tom and I have decided both times that I didn't need one. I go again on the 18th but I don't think I need one, I just like to check in and see how he thinks I am doing. Like tonight I had a greek yogert for dinner and only had about half. I have been really thirsty lately so that has helped getting the shakes down.

Wow, that isn't much food. That whole chewing and concentrating thing is tough. I'm so used to eating at my desk while working, etc. (what a horrible habit) and I really have to pay attention to what I'm doing. Not that I've been tight enough for it to really be an issue, but still . . .

[adorkbl 156]

Hi All,

Ack, the last 24 hours has not been so fun. With the anesthesia wearing off I'm having more pain, still sleepy a lot too. Am trying to only take tylenol so I can stay awake for more than 2 hours at a time.

had some Tomato Soup today - what a treat!

Hang in there girl. My third day was the worst! It only gets better!! :lovechoc:

I swallow all my pills whole and never have a problem. Is that dangerous? I even swallowed to sinus pills that were huge. Should I be doing that????

I swallow all mine whole as well and have had no issues. Actually when I had my gallbladder surgery... Dr Monash precribed Vicodin that were huge. I yelled at him when I went in for my post op. I asked what he was doing prescribing such huge pills to a lap band patient. lol.

No one has ever told me not to swallow pills. Not Dr K. No one at his office. I only read about it here.

[lotzasunshine 2]

Hang in there girl. My third day was the worst! It only gets better!! :lovechoc:

I swallow all mine whole as well and have had no issues. Actually when I had my gallbladder surgery... Dr Monash precribed Vicodin that were huge. I yelled at him when I went in for my post op. I asked what he was doing prescribing such huge pills to a lap band patient. lol.

No one has ever told me not to swallow pills. Not Dr K. No one at his office. I only read about it here.

I've never been told not to swallow pills either. I was a little nervous about it though, So I cut mine into smaller pieces. Haven't had any problems. And I might go back to my regular Vitamin instead of the chewables. I can't stand them!

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

It was my second post op visit when I asked Dr. K when I could start just cutting my pills into small pieces. He was adamant that I NEVER take my pills whole or cut into small pieces, but I must crush them!

In his defense, I have a good friend who was banded about a year ago. She had to take a rather large pill and called her own doc (not Dr. K) and asked if she had to crush it. The MA who answered the call - told her no, she could take it whole. She did and it got stuck. She was in pain for over 12 hours, she tried vomiting and couldn't - eventually she had to go to the ER to have an unfill. She was so swollen and irritated she had to stay on warm liquids for a week. I do think there is something about not taking pills whole. Who will have a problem and who will not, we can't know. I've decided I'll crush forever, because I might just be one who has a problem.

Just my 2 cents on the subject...

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

I've never been told not to swallow pills either. I was a little nervous about it though, So I cut mine into smaller pieces. Haven't had any problems. And I might go back to my regular Vitamin instead of the chewables. I can't stand them!

I have some great chewable multi vits from Vitamin Cottage. I just love them! Vitamin Cottage allows you to sample all of their chewables. One day, I did just that... I sampled 4 different ones THEN it hit me - "what was I thinking? I had just taken 4 multivits!" don't follow my example, but if you live near a Vitamin Cottage - you might venture down there.

Taking a whole multi-vit might be okay now, but once you get really good restriction, you might have problems.

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

Wow, that isn't much food. That whole chewing and concentrating thing is tough. I'm so used to eating at my desk while working, etc. (what a horrible habit) and I really have to pay attention to what I'm doing. Not that I've been tight enough for it to really be an issue, but still . . .

Mini,

I don't think I'm that good at the chewing and concentration thing, but I keep my band rather loose. I prefer to not have to vomit and PB - if I can. I also like to eat healthier foods and if I were too tight, I'd be afraid I couldn't. I know people who can't eat steak, chicken, fresh veggies -- That would be sad!

[minidriver 0]

It was my second post op visit when I asked Dr. K when I could start just cutting my pills into small pieces. He was adamant that I NEVER take my pills whole or cut into small pieces, but I must crush them!

In his defense, I have a good friend who was banded about a year ago. She had to take a rather large pill and called her own doc (not Dr. K) and asked if she had to crush it. The MA who answered the call - told her no, she could take it whole. She did and it got stuck. She was in pain for over 12 hours, she tried vomiting and couldn't - eventually she had to go to the ER to have an unfill. She was so swollen and irritated she had to stay on warm liquids for a week. I do think there is something about not taking pills whole. Who will have a problem and who will not, we can't know. I've decided I'll crush forever, because I might just be one who has a problem.

Just my 2 cents on the subject...

He told me on our phone consult. Maybe it was because of all the darned meds I'm on that the subject came up!! Anyhoo, I've decided to cut them up into 4 pieces as kind of a compromise. I'm not sure what else to do. Hopefully there will come a day when I don't have to take any of them and then it won't be an issue. Sigh.

Dee, you are getting so close to being halfway to goal. YAY YOU!!!

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

He told me on our phone consult. Maybe it was because of all the darned meds I'm on that the subject came up!! Anyhoo, I've decided to cut them up into 4 pieces as kind of a compromise. I'm not sure what else to do. Hopefully there will come a day when I don't have to take any of them and then it won't be an issue. Sigh.

Dee, you are getting so close to being halfway to goal. YAY YOU!!!

Yeah, but unfortunately, that would be my second goal, not my final goal. I'm only 1/3 from my final goal. I have such a long way to go... sometimes, it's overwhelming to me. I'm having one of those "woe is me" days - probably because I'm PMS'g.

[minidriver 0]

Yeah, but unfortunately, that would be my second goal, not my final goal. I'm only 1/3 from my final goal. I have such a long way to go... sometimes, it's overwhelming to me. I'm having one of those "woe is me" days - probably because I'm PMS'g.

But I was figuring that, when you're midway between your first and second goals, you'll be halfway, yes? And at the rate you lose weight . . .

Sorry you're feeling blue. :lovechoc: