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:)

My surgery is at 1:00, you don't have to stop by...awwww, that is sooooo nice of you! I know all of you will be with me wishing me luck and I treasure each and every one of you!!!

Mal~ I buy those IDS 42 gram liquid protein vials over at the super nutrition store in town. They come in grape, orange and fruitpunch and I mix them with my water. They have no fat, 2 gm carb, O sugar and only 176 calories, 42 gms protein. I try to get half of one done before lunch, before dinner and after dinner. (I wait an hour after I eat before I start on them) I know with that I get at least 63 gm protein in. And they have a slight taste to them. I don't really care for the thick, sweet, milky shakes. I can do them, but not all the time. I mix the grape with the ocean spray diet cranberry juice. That juice is so good and only 5 calories for 8 oz serving.

Also, for soup I bought (they have it at King Soopers) the organic (not because I'm a naturalist, because they are ready to eat and very good!) boxes of cream soups for the after the clear liquid part. They are so good, completely smooth (pureed) and so satisifying. The one brand is I think Imagine and the one I have now is Pacific Natural Foods. I could only do about 2 oz at a time and then just put the rest of the carton in the fridge for later. The Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato is awsome! I also made up sugar free jello and had some popsicles. Those few days flew (the clear part...ikky!) I used Better Than Bouillon for my warm clear liquid. (beef and chicken) It also makes good soup for the mushie stage if you heat some carrots and taters in it and cook it to death. The clear stage really gets old fast. Thank goodness it's only a few days. The regular liquid went fast and I never really got too sick of it. Good luck MAL!!!!!

Hi All!

I finally get to move my ticker again. I lost a pound. WOO HOO, I'll take it. I can't believe I have to wait 2 months to get my port fixed and get another fill. I am just trying to work the restriction I have. Logging my food intake on Fitday.com really helps too! Now if I could just exercise more consistently. I've been moving more, just not as much as I need to or want to!!

Everyone else is doing so well!! Great Job!!

Shesha, nice to hear from you. Hang in there! If you need anything when you come out here, I am more than happy to help you out!

Anita, thanks for the info. I ran to Vitamin Cottage and looked for some Protein vials, but they didn't have any...I wanted to try GNC but my son was hurrying me...I'll have my hubby run out tomorrow, I hope I can find them! I think that is the only way I will get my protein for the first few days after surgery...right?

So, I did the supository...can I still eat after I take it? He said to do it at 8:00 and I haven't eaten yet! We are supposed only do one the night before right? Ya' know,I thought I was very clear on everything and now I feel like I don't know what the heck I'm doing! Thank God for you ladies!!!

Did you have the anti neausa supositorys too? Gosh, I hope I don't need those!

Thanks again!

Hey Queenies! I'll check my flight arrival on the sixth, I'm sure I will be in Denver by 7 PM. Get me an address for that Red Robin (but I think I know where it is...isn't it in Parker?)

Would love to see you all, take pics, hug each and every one of you! Can't think of a more awesome way to spend the 5th of June in Colorado!

Patty

Mal!!! Today is the day!!!!! Good luck! Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!:clap2: We'll be thinking of you and post when you can!!!!!!

Good luck to you today Mal!! I am sending good mojo your way! post as soon as you can so we know how you are. Each and every one of us is there for you. :clap2:

Lap_dancer... I'm looking forward to meeting you!!

Dynamo~ I'm so glad I didn't have a fluid fountain when I had my fill done. I'm quite sure that would have had me on the floor. But since my fill, my large softball of fluid has gone way down and I'm a lot more comfortable. The tenderness of it has decreased alot. Are you sore from your fill today? The doctor said he had to go pretty deep with mine too. He's so polite how he phrases it though. I said, "Does that mean I gotta lotta fat for you to go through?" He just smiled.

Angie~ Good luck with your fill today! Let us know how you did!

Shesha~ Congrats on the scale moving! From many years of dieting, I just hate when the scale stops moving for a few weeks. At the time, it just doesn't matter when you know it's going to move soon, but not now. Yeah for you!

My scale is finally moving back down again too. You were right, Angie! But I'm still taking off the pounds I gained from my many last suppers.

Have a great day, all!

Love you guys -

Gosh it is amazing how comfortable I feel with all of you and I haven't even met most of you. I guess it is because we share a special bond.

Lap Dancer - Actually the Red Robin is at the junction of I25 and Arapahoe Road. Let me know where you'll be coming from, I was assuming the Parker hotel and then I can be more specific about the directions.

Anita - I am so glad you are seeing movement again. I hate all the different scales now when I really want to be in Onederland. My one at home is put away because I was obsessing. I am a little sore, took some liquid Tylenol last night and am fine today.

I can eat, but have to very slowly otherwise I gurgle, bubble in the back of my throat or if it is really bad I golfball.

Mal - best wishes, you'll be happy for the other suppositories if you need them, I did. Anesthesia is a bitch! You'll feel much better in a day or two.

Shesha - Congrats on getting the scale to move. I guess those stupid machines keep us humble, but know you are a lot more special than a number! Remember this is a two year process, we are all so impatient, I'm at the head of the line!

Angie - I'm sure your fill will go smoothly. Good luck!

Hi everyone!

I am home from my fill. It was not to bad although I must have been wide open! First I laid down wy he did the ultrasound, he had a bit of a time getting the needle in my port but finally it went in. Then I stood up (no looking) and he filled me. He filled me with 2.7cc's. Doesn't that seem like a lot for the first fill? I can still still drinik my water and for lunch "I ate the cheese and toppings off a piece of pizza, slowly with lots of chewing and no problems. I hope there is nothing wrong with my band. When he was filling me he kept asking me if i was feeling anything.... I kept saying not yet........ until finally after three dixie cups of water I felt a little "tightening" feeling. Maybe that has been my problem all along I have had NO restriction so I have not lost anything but the initial weight. I weighed in at 188 which was 2lbs heavier then my scale but that is ok.......... LET THE LOSING BEGIN!!

Angie38 - which scale did you use? I found there was a difference between the electronic one and the old fashioned one in the bookkeeping office. Glad the fill went great. You may be at your sweet spot already.

I am really tight on .9cc. Dr. K said everyone is different. I wonder if it is the positioning of the band itself. Well I'm sure the pounds will start to drop off now you are filled.

We have a similar goal weight, but you are ahead of me already. Do you exercise? How tall are you?

So glad it went well.

Michelle

Ahoy my friends!

I did it, it is over! Drews, I told him that Amy said "hi" and he just got the biggest smile and laughed!

Everything went REALLY ggod. I feel weird because, everything is good. I don't want to jinx myself. No neausea, no shoulder pain, no gas, very little incision pain??? I didn't even get to sit in the reclyners, I went straight from the bed to whelchair and home! I came home from the hospital and took a nice walk with my hubby, dog and boys, it was nice. I'm nervous that I should feel miserable and sore, but I feel fine????? God, I hope I still feel this good tomoorrow and tonight when I am sleeping.

I am worried about getting protein in. I never got any of those vials and the broth and stuff that I have doesn't have any much protein???

I know I have to have clear liquids, but how much can I have?? Can I have as much as I feel like I can have?

Hi Mal - Welcome to bandland! So glad your surgery went easily and sounds like recovery will be a snap for you.

You go girl! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Per Paula - Try to get in 60 - 80 grams of protein a day. There are variety of ways to get it. Some people like Carnation Instant breakfast drinks, Slimfast, Medifast, I happen to like the EAS protein powder and use my blender to make a variety of flavored shakes (it really satisfies my ice cream addiction). There are lots of recipes on this site and Band2Gether.

Hey all you other bandsters - how's your weekend going.

Drews - when is the surgery on your knee? Roller queens are getting more notice on tv. :mad:

I think the only wheels that I will try as I get my weight down and improve my balance are bike wheels.

Ok - we are still on for June 6th at 7 pm at the Red Robin on Arapahoe and Yosemite, just west of the interchange of I25 and Arapahoe Road. I'll get you the exact address for all you mapquesters as we get close.:mad:

Hugs to all and enjoy a beautiful weekend - ok, what am I doing on this damn computer???????Love you guys............

Michelle:whoo:

awwww, thanks Michelle, I am kinda baffled as to why I am having such an easy time so far?? I went shopping for most of the day, just got home and took some pain meds and now relaxing with my dog and laptop!

So, is it okay to have a shake now? I love the atkin's shakes, but I thought I had to wait for another week before I could have one. I thought clear liquids first? Yuck, I am not digging the jello, popsicles, and the broth...yuck,yuck,yuck

:mad: Hi Mal! So glad it's going well for you! I believe I was told about 3 days of clear liquids, then try a little shake, something not clear, and see how you do. Dr K explained it to me that it's all a matter of tolerance. I don't think that you really have to worry about the protein the first few days. Your body has a protein storage and a few days won't make your hair fall out. But when you're off the clears, try getting it in. Yes, the clear phase truly sucks. Or at least it did for me.

Dynamo~ yes, I'm on for June 6th, and an address would be appreciated. I can get anywhere with mapquest! It is lovely outside and I've mowed, weed&feeded and sprayed roundup on the weeds in the rock. I've been out all day!

Angie~how are you feeling after your fill? Can you tell the difference? You have a lot of fluid in your band, you should be feeling it! :mad:

Dynamo~how does your fill feel?

The weekend has been great! And my scale is boogying downward! Yeah!