Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum - Considering Dr. Kirshenbaum

Shesha · December 13, 2006

Hey Kristin!

I can't wait to hear about it either!

Shesha · December 20, 2006

Hi there!

Well I had my phone consult with Dr. Kirshenbaum last night. He seems like a very nice and intelligent man. He went through the whold procedure with me. He even told me where all my incisions will be ("Ok, now feel your ribs, then go down and over and that's where you will have a 10mm incision where I put this..." etc. I am sure I looked quite comical poking around on my belly). He answered all the questions that I had and thensome. When I asked about complications with any patients, he told me he has only had one... a patient that had a leaky port. I already knew that was Drews Lou from reading the boards, even though he obviously didn't mention names. I found his honesty quite reassuring...

VABandster · December 20, 2006

Shesha,

Glad you had a good conversation w/Dr. K....he's a really nice man and you will definitely feel safe in his hands.

Shesha · December 20, 2006

Hey Krisitin,

Thanks! How are you feeling. Is the pain going away??

Sheila

VABandster · December 20, 2006

Sheila,

Hey there, I'm doing pretty good! The pain hasn't gone away completely yet, but I can tell it's slowly getting there...I think another day or two and i'll be feeling back to normal! (I hope!)

DrewsLou · December 20, 2006

YAY Shesha!

I'm glad it went well and soon you'll be a member of the band!

Yo-hoooo Kirsten! Sounds like you are doing great!

Shesha · December 29, 2006

Just another Dr. K update.

His nutritionist, Paula contacted me today via email asking when I will be available for the phone consult. One more step toward bandland. I will let you know how it goes...

TracyinKS · December 29, 2006

this is awesome! I'm going the insurance route, but I really want my mom and step dad to do this, and he might just be the ticket for them...

We live in KC, and a flight to Denver is pretty reasonable... (although not TODAY!) LOL

Shesha · December 29, 2006

Yes it is awesome. I will try and keep up with my postings so that you know how it goes. Everyone else that has been banded by him seems pleased.

VABandster · December 30, 2006

Shesha,

Paula is great.....she's very nice and will answer whatever questions you have!! Glad to hear you're making progress!!

VABandster · January 3, 2007

Mark...you're banding date is coming up w/Dr. K soon!!! Have you started the pre-op diet yet??

I'm feeling really good and AMAZED at how unnoticable my scars are going to be!! There are 2 out of the 5 already that are almost invisible!! The only one I think that anyone will even be able to notice is the Port scar just b/c that is the biggest incision.....

But my scale is moving again! Yeah...I'm down 20 pounds now total (including pre-op 10)...so I'm happy about that but definitely feeling hunger now. Luckily Dr. K will do a fill for me at 4 weeks so I'm flying out to CO next week for my first Fill!!! I'll get it right before I start my NEW JOB! This is gonna be a great year! New job, New ME!

Hope you're all doing good!! happy new year!

marjon9 · January 3, 2007

Hi Kirsten, sounds like you are doing great! Yes, I've started my pre-op diet, but I think all I was told to do is to stop eating carbs, so it's not too hard so far.

I want to ask you, is this the same pre-op diet you had? If not I think I want to call them and make sure I'm doing the right thing.

So, yes, it's getting close. I'm getting nervous even though I do expect everything will be fine. I'm anxious to get this done and move forward with the new year.

Talk to you soon.

Mark

VABandster · January 3, 2007

Mark, Yep...that's what I had to do....High protein/Low Carb for 2 weeks prior. I lost 9-10 pounds in those two weeks and i was amazed that I didn't feel too much hunger, although the bread certainly was calling my name but I wasn't about to blow $10K on a slice of pizza or roll!! ;-)

Good luck and I can't wait to hear your report when you get back!! How long are you going to stay in CO?

marjon9 · January 3, 2007

For a while my wife was having trouble getting away so I was afraid I was going to need to travel alone, but fortunately it looks like she can go. So, we depart Maryland on the 14th, meet with Doctor K on the 15th, I get sliced and diced on the 16th, we go bowling, scuba diving, and horseback riding on the 17th (not), and fly home on the 18th.

It is tough skipping the bread and Pasta these days. I've always been a fan of the lowly carb. A soft spot for the underdog, I suppose. But so far no cheating.

The snowball has started rolling down the hill. There's no turning back now!

VABandster · January 3, 2007

Sounds like your plan was just like mine!! We may pass each other at the airport in Denver! LOL.....I will be flying home from my first fill on the 14th!!

Glad your wife is going with you.....You definitely need the moral and physical support the first 24 hrs...but you should be fine to fly home.

Good luck!