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:)

Dammit! sounds like you girls had a great time and I missed it! Next time I will be there! what's this about me organizing?? Hmmmm..

Mal, if you want to email me the pics I will post them for you! amyhodge75@aol.com

Happy Thursday!

Holy Cow, I think I did it! So, here are a couple more!

Picture 1: Michelle and Patty

Picture 2: Me (Anita) and Mal

Picture 3 Mal and Michelle

SunnySea - Thank you for being here in spirit! What a treat and unsuspected surprise! Next time I hope you'll be here for real.

Patty - thanks for covering the rest of dinner. Tell your folks hi from me. I appreciate the companionship that only we can bring each other.

Woofay - thanks for coming up with the tip, great conversation and humor.

Mal - thanks for your beautiful smile and warmth.

DrewsLou - next time you'll be there, we missed you!

More importantly thank you for "getting" and supporting me through this process. I wouldn't be anywhere without all of you. I felt so full of warmth and happiness when I got home. It was a great evening among friends.

PS - great pictures! Oh, Patty - do not post the one of us showing our ports! GASP! What were we thinking!

See you at the docs in an hour.

Hugs good friends,

Michelle

Yeah! You did it! There we are! What a nice time that was. Wow, it has been a long time since I have seen my picture....not diggin' it....LOL

Looking foward to our next meeting...

WAIT! Did you mention a Tuesday group? Can we just drop-in? When/where is it? I'd like to attend if I can. I'll be there the day before my surgery and more knowledge is always a good thing!

Yes, Dr. Kirshenbaum has a support group meeting. I have never been, but they are the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30. They are held in his office. His daughter does them. I don't know alot about them either, maybe someone else could help??? I am thinking about going...

Hey, Dynamo~ how was your fill today? Are you feeling okay? Did it go easier than your first fill? Are you feeling any more restriction? Did you see Patty there? How was her fill? I hope she was okay and it went well.

Maalani Thanks!

I'll contact his office for more details.

Hi, Marcy! I went to his support group last month. Not sure I really got anything out of it. It really mostly deals with psych issues. "Are you ashamed that you needed a lap band? How does that make you feel?" "Do you avoid other's compliments about your weight loss?" Stuff like that. I can't say it was informative in the way of telling you how it is going to be. It was everyone's feelings about different things and problems with weight. I dunno. I'm not sure I will go back unless I was trying to meet someone from this post. And the group is a little too large for the time frame they use. I think it's about an hour and a half and with 15 or so people there, how much is really going to be "brought out". But I don't know you. And I don't know where you stand mentally with your weight issues. You may enjoy it.

Anita - thanks for your input. I don't have any "mental issues" with my weight...my husband might argue that I DO have issues though! LOL! Of course I always say, "How many issues must YOU have to have married me then?" It's all in fun!

Maybe I'll just spend some extra time with my sister then. We'll be flying all night to Denver so maybe I'll not be up for it anyway.

However, I'm starting to feel nervous about the surgery - the procedure, going under the knife - again, etc. Geez...I'm not sure if I feel like I just want to get it over with or put it off longer! AAAUUUGGGHHH! I'll just go pray. I know it's right and it's the right time, otherwise things wouldn't have worked out the way they are...and BOY did the stars have to align for all this!

Dyno and LapDancer,

Let us know how your fills went. I am nervous about my first fill...July 2nd! And Anita how is your second fill?

Just out of no where I was feeling neausous yesterday??? Probably all the stress and lack of sleep all week.

The weekend is here (mine always starts on Friday...LOL)!!! Hope everyone has a successful weekend! Eat right, drink right, excercise (what's that?)....Best of all ENJOY!!!

Marcyinak,

While you are out here in CO, let meknow if you need anything. I am very close to the Hospital in Parker.

Hi FRIENDS!

A quick note.

Greetings from the mile high city.

I am leaving this morning and heading to the airport shortly.

Girls it was DIVINE meeting you and sunny I will post the drink I ordered in your honor. It is in my camera at the moment..the picture not the drink.

My fill was a piece of cake or in my case a cup of Water. Nothing to fret over. BOY DO I HAVE RESTRICTION. hahahhahah. Was so funny. We went to macaroni Grill afterwards and I ordered a salad. Two bites of chicken went down easy easy, the the third one was like OOOPS I've got something full in there. Slowed down eating but I KNOW I have restrictioin now. Feels like right after the band.

I'll post pics when I get home and write more.

Off to the airport.

Hugs and thanks for the wonderful eveing at Red Robin.

L,

Patty/Lap Dancer

Thanks again LapDancer for picking up the rest of the tab, it was great meeting you and your family! Have a safe trip home. Glad to hear your fill went smooth!

Take Care

Yes, thanks for picking up the bill, Patty! Glad your fill went well and now you are feeling the power of the band! (ha) Looks like the weather calmed down for your flight out, hope it's a good one. Thanks for a wonderful time and looking forward to doing it again someday!

Hi gals! I've been lurking and reading your posts but it feels a little creepy to do so without introducing myself. I'm in Thornton and have my initial consult with Dr. Kirshenbaum in July (after his trip to Africa, apparently). It's a bummer to wait even 3 weeks after I've finally made the emotional leap to seek out surgery.

I'm an RN, a lactation consultant, and a mom (kids are 3 and 6). WLS is covered by my insurance company, hopefully there won't be too many hoops to jump through. I can't get the insurance company to give me any info about what to expect re difficulty with precert. Par for the course, I guess.

I chose to make an appt with Dr. K after reading how many people on this forum have used him and haven't seen any complaints yet. I'm still dreading it, because as a nurse, I really hate doctors. And his office staff didn't give a great first impression over the phone - I didn't know office underlings still called a doctor "Doctor", as if it's his first name. As in, "Doctor will be out of the office until July". Besides that, the receptionist didn't seem terribly knowledgeable. But this is all probably me putting my anxiety onto the Dr.'s office instead of facing the fact that I'm terrified. Terrified that I won't be eligible (not heavy enough - my BMI is 39.9999), that the insurance company will deny it, that I'll have to do 12 months of medically supervised dieting and I won't be able to afford it, or whatever.

Aside from that, I'm looking forward to the journey!