Hi there,

I am considering Dr. Kirshenbaum in Aurora, CO (www.lapbandrockies.com) I know that there are a few of you in LBT that went to him. I am interested in knowing your thoughts on him and if you have had any complications. I am just a little leary since the price is so low, there is little on the internet about him, and I will be traveling from WI to have this done. Any information you could provide would be much apppreciated...

Thanks!

Sheila:)

Thanks for the tip, Kirsten. Adding throat lozenges to my list.

Thanks Marjon, adding papaya enzyme to my list.

Wow, you are one week away now. I remember that moment well. It's an exciting time. I see you are in "Hunter/Gatherer" mode for lap band supplies. I also remember that well.

I am sure it will all go well with Dr. K and his team.

Keep on posting!

So Mark.....you can ONLY eat if you have those enzyme tablets??? So really you are probably still too tight, huh?? I would think that the tablets would be good for an occasional "stuckness", but to have to take them w/every meal would be a pain in the butt I'd think!

But Congrats on the loss!!! Good news is it sounds like you won't be needing a fill anytime soon! LOL

So Mark.....you can ONLY eat if you have those enzyme tablets??? So really you are probably still too tight, huh?? I would think that the tablets would be good for an occasional "stuckness", but to have to take them w/every meal would be a pain in the butt I'd think!

But Congrats on the loss!!! Good news is it sounds like you won't be needing a fill anytime soon! LOL

Kirsten, it is true that so far I need the tablets pretty much every time I eat. At least it is a reliable solution, so far.

My hope is that any residual swelling in my stomach will go away if I stop PBing all the time, and that gradually I will be able to eat normally without the tablets. But it is true, I have been oddly restricted. I've had symptoms that usually prompt people to offer the advice: "You need an unfill." Which is weird because I have not had any fill yet. But I'm hoping it will all settle down.

At least for now I have a reliable solution to my PB problem. That in itself is a welcome first step.

Congrats Machele on getting your band date. I will be there on 3/16 getting my first fill!

I didn't think he banded patients on a Friday. They told me Tues, Wed, and Thurs. He must have changed his schedule to accomodate for the influx of bands he seems to be doing lately.

When I called I had a specific date in mind because I wanted to work around spring break, but Marilyn told me he would be out of town for his daughter's wedding that week and would only be seeing patients and doing surgery on Thursday and Friday. She said he will even see me in his office on Saturday morning before I leave town!! :clap2:

Yay on your surgery date Machele!

Mark... I might have to check out those papaya enzymes. I get stuck A LOT since my last fill. Even had my first PB! YIKES!

Hi,

That's sounds really nice. I haven't had much time to be on here for the last couple of weeks so I missed this post. I had a reservation held w/the Towneplace Marriott until yesterday and I went ahead and changed to a different hotel. It's like 10 miles from Dr. K (I think). Hopefully, we won't get lost. It's also a suite w/a microwave and fridge. I will post more about the hotel when I get back on the 23rd for anyone else that wants to know.

Thanks for remembering me:)

Skyeblu,

I have also made reservations at a hotel that has suites with mircowaves and refrigerators in the room. Its about 10 miles south of Dr. K's office as well, but it is right off the interstate that goes to his office. I looked at it on the map and it looks pretty easy to get back and forth to.

Marjon, it still feels unreal now. I can't believe it's only a week away today!!! I finally made my payment yesterday. I thought seeing that $$ leave my account would make it seem more real, but it still didn't. I still have a lot of stuff I need to get. I am usually more organized than this, b/c it seems I need more than 24 hours in my days...

Machelle, my hotel is right off interstate 70. I need to print out the directions on mapquest. I'm not even sure if that's the highway that goes to Dr. K. I hope so!!

I still haven't really gotten any clothes or anything. I wear jeans most of the time, so I don't know what I am going to do!! Any advice on compy clothes. I really don't want to walk around in sweats all the time.

DrewsLou.....ewww....I had a PB on superbowl sunday and OMG I thought I was gonna DIE!!! I can't imagine it happening on a regular basis!

Machele, congrats on the band date!! Dr. K is great!!! I got my surgery on a Fri and he gave me his Cell # In case I needed to reach him over the weekend.

SkyeBlu....You're getting your surgery next Monday!??? I'm getting my 2nd fill that day too!!! What time are you going in for surgery?? I'll be thinking about you!

Marjon, it still feels unreal now. I can't believe it's only a week away today!!! I finally made my payment yesterday. I thought seeing that $$ leave my account would make it seem more real, but it still didn't. I still have a lot of stuff I need to get. I am usually more organized than this, b/c it seems I need more than 24 hours in my days...

Machelle, my hotel is right off interstate 70. I need to print out the directions on mapquest. I'm not even sure if that's the highway that goes to Dr. K. I hope so!!

I still haven't really gotten any clothes or anything. I wear jeans most of the time, so I don't know what I am going to do!! Any advice on compy clothes. I really don't want to walk around in sweats all the time.

FYI... I70 is about 10 miles or so north of Dr K's office. His office is right off of I225.

As far as clothes... I wore a comfy velour track suit to surgery. I recommend something slip on with an elastic waist and a top that zips or buttons versus pull over. For me it was easier to wear slip on shoes rather than shoes I had to tie as well.

FYI... I70 is about 10 miles or so north of Dr K's office. His office is right off of I225.

We are staying off of Parker Road and C470. My surgery time is at 1pm, I wonder what the drive time would be from our hotel...

Kirsten, my surgery is actually on the 20th, but I will be in the office on Monday too. My appointment is @ 2:15 on 19th. My surgery is @ 9:00 on the 20th.

Drewslou, I didn't really think about the velour suits. Those are cute though. Maybe I can find a couple some where. They are already starting to put out spring stuff here.

No Way!!! My fill appt. is at 2:30!!! We can say HI to each other in the office!

Wow, that is too cool!!! Definitely, will say hi. See you on Monday!!

Hi All!!

I am jealous I missed out on the conversation earlier today!

Marjon - I am glad to hear the papaya enzymes work. I almost bought some and didn't. I figured I wouldn't need them until I was filled, which turns out to be the case. I'll get some closer to my fill date for sure. Never know when you'll need it! One lady on the board had 'em dissolve a piece of carrot that got stuck! Another thing I saw on here was Aloe Vera juice for something.. I can't remember... I'll have to search.

Skyblu and Machele! - Your band dates will be here before you know it. I still can't believe I have mine. I remember the day after surgery, looking at my incisions in disbelief that I actually had a band inside me. I was so happy, yet dumbfounded at the same time!

Drewslou - How's your leg doing??? I am sure you are frustrated. There is nothing worse than a bum wheel! I ruptured my achilles tendon a few years ago! I was down for 6 weeks after surgery with a cast. My Dr. even wrote me out of work! It happened in April and I was finally done with physical therapy in October. UGH!! It was the worst. I can remember sitting on the floor after my cast came off, trying to move my toes forward (like stepping on the gas pedal) and I couldn't! I may as well been trying to wiggle my ears. It was the same feeling!

VA Bandster!! - Glad to hear you are doing well! How did things go after your first fill?? Did you have restriction very long? I am sure you are excited to get this second one and hopefully find a sweet spot!

Later!

Sheila

Shesha... my first fill didn't last most than 2 weeks :-( I think part of the problem is that I may have still had residual swelling from the surgery (I got my first fill at 4 weeks, not 6). I clearly still have a little restriction b/c I did have a PB episode on Superbowl sunday after trying to eat an egg roll, but not nearly what I should have. I'm hopeful that the 2nd fill will be much better!!

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!