Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[JeninCO 0]

I've heard nothing but good things about Dr Kirshenbaum. I was banded by Dr Brown in Denver and while I think the surgery went great, the aftercare and support is way below par. They didn't call after the surgery and didn't really ask how I was doing when I called to make my post op. I don't expect to be coddled, but it's major surgery, a lot of money and for $5000 less Dr Kirshenbaum does terrific aftercare and is an excellent surgeon, from what I've heard. Wish I'd gone to him!

[Mal 0]

Jeninco,

I'm sorry to hear that you are not happy with your surgeon's after care. Maybe they just had a bad day. I hope things turn around for you and all of their other patients!

I am so happy with Dr. K and his staff. The surgical center called to see how I was doing and said if I had any concerns to call them anytime. I called Dr. K's office today for my post op appointment and spoke with two different people, when I told them my name, they were very excited and asked how I was doing.

[Mal 0]

Drews, I am sure all went well and you are resting now!

Anyone~I am now able to move onto the next liquid diet...so basically anything that can be sipped through a straw BUT don't use a straw?? So basically I can throw anything into a blender maybe add a little broth and walah??!! It seems like such a jump from clear liquid hell to anything that can go through a straw. I haven't had anything but Atkins shakes today, I want to be sure before I have anything else. And we do this for a week? then on to soft foods for one week, then REAL food? ?!!!! This is HELL!!!

[DynamoMini 1]

Mal - when I double checked with the doc because I was feeling hungry, he never said you had to do the Clear Liquids that long, it was from 1 - 3 days, then mushies from 4 - 7 days. I was able to do the smallest amount of time in each category. He was emphatic that he doesn't want you to throw up, but does want you to get to regular food as fast as your body adjusts to the band because it stays with you longer. He said that Paula was a little stricter than he was about it. So, I think if you are hungry try getting some good stuff in, eat slowly, see how it digests. I thought refried Beans with yogurt were heavenly, and I don't usually eat beans. Who would have thunk it??

Drews - How did the surgery go? Great day for it, with the rain and all, it won't make you antsy to be somewhere else. Hugs and a quick recovery. You are our hero and we need to hear that you are back on your skates!

Well, I went and worked out today. That makes four days in a row.

As promised I will list my foods:

3/4 cup Uncle Sams cereal

1/2 skim milk

1/2 cup hamburger

1 cup Portebello mushroom soup

1/8 cup shredded cheese

I will have a Protein Shake soon. Don't know about dinner yet.

I need to go grocery shopping. I find I love yogurt now. I have been eating those Kashi frozen dinners for meals because they are so tasty and easy. Have any of you found other frozen meals with high Protein counts, low calories? Let me know.

Keep smiling and stay dry,

Michelle

[Mal 0]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!

Dr. K did tell me "just don't vomit for 30 days". But I am such a "rules" kind of person, I guess I feel that if I have rules, then I don't have to "think" too much, just do as I'm told! LOL...anyway, I am sooooo happy to hear that I can move along quicker! I feel like I never even had sugery to tell you the truth, I am a little sore, but that is it! I tolerated clear liquids with no problem! I am just STARVING...well actually my head thinks I'm starving, I'm acutally not very hungry, the Isopure and the Atkins shakes have helped me feel full, I guess I just want to chew!! Anyway, Thanks for the info...YOU MADE MY DAY< WEEK AND WEEKEND!!!

[DynamoMini 1]

Mal -

Take is slowly, but you should enjoy eating again. Like I said, lots of docs are much more strict, but Dr. K thinks we are individuals with different rates of healing. I was very happy to chew again. But remember you need to eat like a good bandster. No Water for 30 min before and after a meal, chew...chew at least 30 times until the food is mush. Take 30 minutes to eat. Put the fork down in between. You do that and you'll be fine.

Have a great weelend!

[Mal 0]

Thanks for reminding me about the drinking before and after, I guess I was thinking that was for after the fill. Since I have been on clear liquids I hope that didn't matter since evrything was clear. I had some runny mashed t's just a few spoons, and some sugar free pudding and then some scrambled eggs. putting the spoon down inbetween bites is hard to do! I even bought some baby spoons, I am really going to have to work on that!! I see Dr. K on Friday for my post op.

[Woofay 0]

Good morning, all! Welcome tahillia!

Mal, you're doing so well! It's hard to believe that you're all ready for mushies and stuff! Aren't you glad? Slowly introduce stuff and you'll be just fine. And, yes, my tummy was very swollen, well over 3 weeks. It's doing just fine now and my swollen knot where the port is went down too. The swelling would seem so much better in the morning, but by late afternoon it was poofed back out there. Give it time. Poor tummy with all those holes and that tubing shoved in there squeezing its brains out! Hee hee.

I haven't posted in a few days. I'm actually kinda grumpy about my weight. The scale was moving, but once again it's moving the wrong way. It seems if I get more than say, 500 calories a day, the scale goes the wrong way. (I may be exaggerating, for I am annoyed) I've been trying to do strict Atkins...mostly nothing but meat, cheese, eggs, and really watching any kind of foods that may impact the glycemic index. But it's leaving me unhappy with my food choices (kinda sick of it) and the #@**!! scale is just not working with me. And then, of course, all the thoughts of failing at this too keep going through my mind. I could be the 2% that fail at WLS. Plus I'm hungry. Not just in my head because I've done really well with diverting my "grazing all day" into other actions. (I'm gardening like a crazy person!) So, I've scheduled another fill on June 4th. That gives me enough time to see him before he leaves for Africa in case I get too tight. So, I actually think that I will start a different approach to this weight loss stuff.

What Drewslou said the other night in that meeting has just stuck with me. "I didn't have this surgery to live on a diet."

I've been doing that my whole life. So, maybe I can just start eating a little wiser, three small meals a day and call it good. The weight will come off in its due time. And that **#@!! scale is just about to kill me, I swear! Just keep weighing to once or twice a week, instead of 4 or 5 times a day.

Sorry to be so grumpy. But also thanks for listening. You guys always make me feel better. My sweet hubby can only understand to a certain point. I can't wait until the 6th, and I promise to be much more upbeat by then.

[Mal 0]

Grumpy or not, it is always nice to hear from you! Thanks for posting what Drews said, that should be a poster, matter of fact I think I'll copy it and post it everywhere. Free yourself from evil scale! You are NOT going to be the 2 percent that fails! This is going to work because you ARE working with it!

I am kind of afraid to move onto something I can chew, but it is nice to know that I can if I get desperate. Big weekend coming up. My son is graduating, we have two parties...not real excited about that, my new outfits are tight (I think because my belly is so swollen), I'll be fine if I could just stand the entire time...LOL. Plus all the food that will be in front of me. Everyone found out that I had the surgery, so this will also be the first time I see everyone. I'm sure I will get the million questions and the stares...I wish it were MONDAY!!!

STAY STRONG, I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!

[Woofay 0]

Thanks, Mal! I needed that!

[DrewsLou 3]

Hi Girls!

I am here! Surgery went fine, there was less damage to my knee than was expected. They shot me up with drugs in my knee to avoid too much anesthesia and narcotics since I have a tendancy to get nauseas (sp?) with that kind of stuff. I got to educate a whole new team of docs and nurses on the band. They were all very impressed with my progress so far.

I thought I got off scott free as far as pain goes with my knee but I just woke up from a nap and it hurts like hell. Just sent the hubby to get me some crutches to use for a few days even. Yay for percocet!!

I feel honored that you quoted me Woofie. Just take it one day at a time, girlfriend, and you will be fine. We didn't get fat overnight and we're not gonna get skinny that way either.

Off to go lay down. Thanks for all your warm wishes!

[DynamoMini 1]

Drews - so glad everything went well. I like that there isn't so much damage. you will heal faster. Yeah!!!!

Woofay - ok, I don't know if you read my rage against the scale post, but that's me all over. It is very frustrating. I like the idea of eating what I want, within reason. The band will do the rest. I keep telling myself "I am not a number" but damnit I want those numbers to be descending. My trainer says - are you working out? yes are you eating healthy? yes then you are doing fine. I try to replay that over and over.

Mal - don't be too afraid of chewing, Dr. K will tell you to.

Hugs to all my friends! Wasn't it a beautiful day today?

[Mal 0]

Good for you Drews! Enjoy the percocet and heal well!

Thanks Dynamomini, I had two small bites of chicken tonight, and all went well. I am looking foward to my appointment tomorrow.

[Mal 0]

I am so used to my uneventful life. Lately I have been having to face sooo much (at least it seems like sooo much to me). First the tooth infection that almost had my surgery canceled, then I had to have an emergency extraction, my car broke down (cost me $1000.00), not to mention I had a leak in my bath tub and had to cal a plumber...okay today I had my post op check with Dr. K and he said that something was wrong where my port is. There is some Fluid, he thinks it is blood. He said to watch for seepage (sp), he also said that if something can seep out, then something can get in and it could cause problems!! I have to go back on Friday and have him check it again. Possibly drain it. If bacteria gets in then it could infect the port which could infect the band which would mean we did all of this for nothing!! BALLING ALLTHE WAY HOME!!!:cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry :cry

[Woofay 0]

Oh, Mal! I'm so sorry to hear this! But we'll all think positive and put in a special prayer for you. What made him think this? Do you have a large red area around your port incision? Hopefully he is wrong and next week will bring only smiles and good news. Are you feeling well besides that? Is your port area sore? I'll be thinking of you...try not to worry. (easier said than done I am sure.)