Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

[adorkbl 156]

Mini: Yeah it is a lot of fun to cook. I actually loved it! I love watching people enjoy a meal I prepared. =)

[munchkin392 1]

Hello all my lovelies, and happy Thanksgiving!!! Congrats to all the losers this week, and sympathies for those of us who didn't have so much success (I gained .30, oh well).

Munchie, I'm so glad you're back! I had started to think you'd run off with a Marine!

Dorky, your T-giving sounds great! Isn't it a fun meal to cook? I LOVE making Thanksgiving. It's the best. And I was even able to eat and enjoy! I just took it REALLY slow and chewed chewed chewed and it was great. Right now I'm having a small piece of sugar free crustless pumpkin pie. Yummy.

Puff Mama- Me and my 80 boobies gave very serious consideration to running off with a Marine...so tempting!!

[minidriver 0]

Puff Mama- Me and my 80 boobies gave very serious consideration to running off with a Marine...so tempting!!

Sweet!! Do tell!!

[PrtyAntOvrYt 6]

I need some advice from experienced bandsters. Since my fill last week, I finally have restriction. YAY!!! But the problem is, I'm having a tough time eating enough at one time to stay full for more than a few hours. I'm finding myself craving soft foods because I'm hungry and want some food in my body.

Is it better to just go ahead and eat something small every few hours? Or should I try to force myself to eat enough at each meal to fill me up? I had the insides of 4 pieces of sushi for lunch, then was starving later and tried to eat an apple a few hours later and PB'd. I couldn't bear the thought of trying to eat real food for dinner, so I ate cottage cheese, but now I'm starting to feel hungry again. ARGH!!!

So Mini, how is the eating today? Any better or are you still only able to eat the tiniest of amounts? Maybe you do need a teeny bit taken out. I think I have first bite syndrome. IT's happened two days in a row for no apparent reason on rather soft foods -- oatmeal? ??? WTH!!! So I am going to prime with some warm fluids first - before eating.

I am, however, worried about you Mini-girl, so let us know how the eating is going today!

Hi everyone!! I know I have been MIA for the last few weeks! I was in North Carolina and then came down with a horrible cold the day I flew back. It has taken over a week to go away. I had a great time in NC and at the Marine Corp Ball-I will post pics when I download them off my camera-I felt so bad all week I didn't even want to do that!

I just wanted to say hi to everyone! I miss you guys and I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! I know I feel very blessed to have all you wonderful ladies in my life!

Welcome Home you Party Girl and your 80 Talking Boobies! I bet those Marine-Dudes loved those girls!!! I can't wait to see the pics! Did your Mom go too?

Dee, you are doing soooo well! Congrats!

Mini, put me down 2.2...finally a move in the right direction:laugh:

Have a good holiday everyone.

Thanks Deb!!! You're doing well too!!!

I think you sound too tight. Insides of 4 pieces of sushi is barely anything... & PB'ing on an apple. Just be careful! :wink: You need to get nutrition in. Make sure you are getting your Protein in!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY everyone! Gobble Gobble! I cooked for the first time for a large group. It turned out wonderful!! I made green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce from scratch, stuffing, rolls, gravy, turkey... yadda yadda... it was delish! I was able to eat enough to satisfy and not feel too restricted, but I was restricted enough that I couldn't finish round one! And dessert was about 3-4 bites of pie and I was done done done.

I also weighed in this morning and I am down another 4 pounds. YEAH! So I am almost back to where I was pre-gallbladder surgery. I think my plateau may finally be gone. *crossing fingers*

I still have restriction. Some things give me a hard time while others are too easy. I think I could go for just a scootch more but am happy to have any!

Congrats! Isn't it good when you finally break a plateau? I hate those darn things!!!

Yikes, tomorrow is the weigh-in!

I've gained. :sad: I swore I wouldn't gain during Mushies, but I've gained. But I refuse to adjust my ticker down!

Welcome to the club Missy!!! We've all been there! WE have all sworn we wouldn't gain, but yet we did! I gained a lot when I started solids! I cried and just knew I would be a big band failure!!! Then the next day I woke up and refused to let it get me down! That's when I climbed on my recumbent bike and decided that stupid scale wasn't going to get the best of me!!! It's common, Babe, just take it in stride and know it happens to all of us! And yes it sucks!

Edited November 29, 2008 by PrtyAntOvrYt

[minidriver 0]

Hi darlin' dee. I'm doing okay today. I think I just need to be REALLY careful and chew chew chew. And I still have first bite syndrome. Like you, I have it with soft foods, liquids, whatever.

I'm going to see how I do over the next few days with this before making a decision about having a bit taken out. I've not really had much restriction before now (except for the first bite thing) so I think I just need to get used to it. I just ate about 1.5 oz of turkey and a half a small sweet potato and some peas and so far so good. So hopefully it will stay down.

[Tally 0]

OK ladies, I'm sitting here literally ROLLING on the floor laughing. I can't stop giggling. My eyes are watering, my nose is running - I'm seriously LMFAO. Must share.

I was reading one of the November bandsters threads, and someone posted about their experience getting the band this past week. Here's part of their response: I ended up spending the nite and glad I did. Dr Singh found a high anal hernia during surgery. He was able to repair it.

I'm wondering - how did your doctor get to your anus through your stomach?? Are you sure your band is in the right spot???

:lol::w00t::w00t::w00t::thumbup::laugh::wink2:

That's the funniest thing Really made me laugh too.

[adorkbl 156]

Hi darlin' dee. I'm doing okay today. I think I just need to be REALLY careful and chew chew chew. And I still have first bite syndrome. Like you, I have it with soft foods, liquids, whatever.

I'm going to see how I do over the next few days with this before making a decision about having a bit taken out. I've not really had much restriction before now (except for the first bite thing) so I think I just need to get used to it. I just ate about 1.5 oz of turkey and a half a small sweet potato and some peas and so far so good. So hopefully it will stay down.

What is first bite syndrome??? Sounds like you are doing better missy. That sounds like a good amount of food to get in. Keep chewing!! =)

I am trying to decide if I should get a scootch more added in or not this week. Is there a good way to measure your restriction? It totally depends on what I am eating!

Oh and I need help deciding what to do about ordering a bridesmaid dress. My sister is getting married in September of next year and said I need to order my bridesmaid dress now because they may discontinue the style. Well I have NO CLUE what size I am going to be by then! I went from a 32 to a 24 in less than 10 months... so should I figure around the same for the next 10 months and order a 16?? I can't FATHOM fitting in that size so ordering it seems CRAZY. What to do what to do.

[KayleighsMommy 16]

For the challenge, I'm not down at all this week :thumbup: I got a fill on Tuesday....hoping it makes a difference. I also went out and bought a recumbent exercise bike. I am hoping that moves me in the right direction. So..... a big 0 for me this week.

[jmegirl 2]

Oh and I need help deciding what to do about ordering a bridesmaid dress. My sister is getting married in September of next year and said I need to order my bridesmaid dress now because they may discontinue the style. Well I have NO CLUE what size I am going to be by then! I went from a 32 to a 24 in less than 10 months... so should I figure around the same for the next 10 months and order a 16?? I can't FATHOM fitting in that size so ordering it seems CRAZY. What to do what to do.

Ugh, that happened with my bridesmaid's dresses. I picked them out from David's Bridal about 10mos ahead of time. About 3mos before the wedding we went back to order them - discontinued, and no longer carried in the Petal Pink color. :thumbup: So we had to pick a new dress, but I ended up liking the new dress on my bridesmaid's much better than the first dress we picked.

As far as what size you should order, I would try on the dress now and figure out what size you need. Ask the seamstress how many sizes they can take the dress in and how many sizes they can let it out. At David's Bridal, most of the dresses could only be altered up or down one size, but the dress I chose had beading underneath the bust, and as a result it couldn't be taken in or let out at all. Each dress is different. So find out how much wiggle room you've got as far as alterations, figure out what size you wear now, and I'd say order something 3 sizes smaller. That way if you lose more, you can [hopefully] have it taken in, or if you don't lose as much, you can have it let it out. But remember, usually the more you lose, the slower you lose, so it's possible you won't lose as much over the next 10mos that you did in the last 10mos.

Basically, it's Russian Roulette. Welcome to the game! :w00t::wink2:

[minidriver 0]

What is first bite syndrome??? Sounds like you are doing better missy. That sounds like a good amount of food to get in. Keep chewing!! =)

I am trying to decide if I should get a scootch more added in or not this week. Is there a good way to measure your restriction? It totally depends on what I am eating!

Oh and I need help deciding what to do about ordering a bridesmaid dress. My sister is getting married in September of next year and said I need to order my bridesmaid dress now because they may discontinue the style. Well I have NO CLUE what size I am going to be by then! I went from a 32 to a 24 in less than 10 months... so should I figure around the same for the next 10 months and order a 16?? I can't FATHOM fitting in that size so ordering it seems CRAZY. What to do what to do.

First bite syndrome is this weird thing where your esophagus spasms whenever you take a bite of food. It hurts!!! Then it kind of settles down and you can eat. It's weird.

Yes, I think I'll be okay with this fill as long as I go very slow and chew very carefully. Funny how I've not lost an ounce since my fill and have actually gained. Go figure.

As for the bridesmaid's dress . . . I think Munchie's advice is about all you can do. It really is anyone's guess. I bought a dress for my daughter's wedding and purposely bought it a bit tight thinking I'd be smaller by then but now I haven't lost at all so who knows??

[minidriver 0]

For the challenge, I'm not down at all this week :thumbup: I got a fill on Tuesday....hoping it makes a difference. I also went out and bought a recumbent exercise bike. I am hoping that moves me in the right direction. So..... a big 0 for me this week.

Well, you weren't alone. There were a few of us who didn't lose this week. Sorry.

[adorkbl 156]

Thanks for the advise on the dress situation gals. I will talk to them at the store and see what they say about how far they can alter up or down. I actually have had a rough time of things over the past 10 months so I do think I will continue to lose as much in the next 10 (hopefully MORE) since I still have a long way to go. Unless of course my leak/non leak issue resurfaces. Ha. Oye.

[minidriver 0]

Thanks for the advise on the dress situation gals. I will talk to them at the store and see what they say about how far they can alter up or down. I actually have had a rough time of things over the past 10 months so I do think I will continue to lose as much in the next 10 (hopefully MORE) since I still have a long way to go. Unless of course my leak/non leak issue resurfaces. Ha. Oye.

So how are things coming in DH's job search?

[adorkbl 156]

Mini: They aren't. Not one call back from all the apps he has put out. Frustrating. I am changing my withholdings and working as much as I can... but there just isn't OT here. I already work 50 hour weeks thankfully with my part time job... but still not enough to cover our bills. We are going to be hurting if he doesn't find something soon.

His parents helped with Thanksgiving grocery bill and keep saying they will help where they can, but I really really don't want to have to ask for help.

[butterfly723 2]

Hello Everyone,

After much research on different types of weight loss surgery, I have decided to proceed with Dr. Kirshenbaum.

I don't want to go through the hassles of trying to get approved for anything, nor do I want to go through any type of drawn out weight loss program prior to approval. I have been doing that for the past 7 years, so I know I have to try another level if I want things to change, and this seems to be it.

I have read great things about Dr. K and his price is affordable. So I have requested an information packet from his office, but in the mean time I have a few questions.

-How does he handle your medical history? Does he do any tests prior to the surgery?

-How does he go about identifying who is or is not a good candidate for surgery? Is it only based on what we tell him? Or does he request information from your physician?

-How far out should I try to schedule my surgery? I will be able to have all the money together by March, so when would be a good time to try and get the ball rolling? Is there a long waiting period?

-If by some chance I had serious complications and would ever need to have the band removed, does he do that or would I be on my own?

I will be receiving my medical care through the VA from here on out. They only do gastric bypass (with much red tape), and say the lap band is not covered by them.

But I will be getting a whole battery of tests within the next couple of months. So if any issues arise, I will know before I attempt to get surgery.

Thanks in advance for your help! I am SO ready to get this done. But I just want to make sure I don't have any major problems that would prevent me from having the procedure. And of course since I will be self-pay, I need to come up with all the funds before I can actually get anything done. :thumbup: