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Surgeon TestimonialVadim Gritsus, M.D.My "joke" about Dr. Gritsus is that he really has no business being a surgeon because he has none of that "doctor" ego. Rarely have I been blessed to be treated by a doctor (and staff) who has such empathy and patience for their patients. The best thing about Dr. Gritsus is that he listens; he never made me feel that any question was wrong, or had previously been discussed and needn't be asked again. I felt that I was in good hands, I always felt safe, I always fetl that I was under the care of someone technically competent.
I chose Dr. Gritsus because he was on my plan. Friends who had had the procedure urged me to go to another doctor, but there was no way that I could do this without my insurance covering the costs. However, I decided to STAY with Dr. Gritsus after attending his information session and going for an evaluation visit.
Some people prefer their medical professionals to be just that, strictly professional in the highest degree. I needed to go through this life changing procedure with someone who had that professional capability, a comparable staff, but also with someone who understood what this meant to his patients. I feel I got this in going with Dr. Gritsus.
The next day....
I wanted to add something about this office. Everyone in the staff is welcoming and accommodating - without Kathy's persistence I don't know long it would have taken the insurance company to come through. And the rest of the desk staff (I'm lousy with names) equally are so nice. Finally, a "shout out" to Dean, he has been so conscious and caring through the last few meetings before the surgery and now with my aftercare.
C Schoenbrun Latest Surgery Support Comments
 Comment by calgal on 4/30/07 11:00 pm
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Congratulations on
your upcoming
surgery! I am
post-op Laparoscopic
RNY; my surgery was
on 5/24/05. Anyway,
I will be praying
for you, and I know
you will come
through surgery with
flying colors.
Pretty soon, you
will be a big ol’
loser!! I’m not
going to tell you
that the first few
weeks after surgery
will be a bed of
roses because it was
pretty bad for me.
But today, I feel
fine and the only
thing that I regret
is that I didn’t
have surgery in 2004
when I first started
researching it. So,
if you find that
you’re having a hard
time coping right
after surgery,
please know that it
DOES get better.
Don’t ever hesitate
to email me if there
is anything I can do
for you – even if
you just need a pep
talk! So here’s to
you… may you have a
successful surgery,
improved health,
energy galore, many
“wow moments”, and
fabulous
before-and-after
pics! God bless!
Hugs, Tracy
-
Congratulations on
your upcoming
surgery! I hope your
surgery and recovery
are swift and
uneventful - and you
are soon posting
your first WOW
moment!
Click here for the surgery support page
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10/02 5 month surgiversary on October 2, 2007 7:56 pm
This month has been a bit slow - I think I may have lost a total of 7 pounds - if that. Part of it, I'm sure has to do with my not getting to the gym nearly as much, with the holidays, with the less than careful attention to what I'm eating and how much water I'm drinking. But wait, I didn't eat anything "wrong", perhaps a bit heavy on the carbs and fat at times, but nothing WRONG! The water is an issue, I know - less than 64 oz most days - have to work on that. I love that new diet decaf orange iced tea - have to get more of that in the house and maybe that will help.
And life happens, and so I don't get to the gym for more than a few days one month. This is it, the REST of my life and I have to live it. I lost something, I'm still being careful most of the time (that has to be strengthened, though) and I'm doing ok. Life is not a boring flow of the same thing everyday, and I have to, no, I DO accept that some months won't be as stellar as others. I'm proud of what I've done - I just want to be sure I continue to do it!
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09/04 - OK, I feel better now on September 4, 2007 12:32 pm
This is the "milestone" I've been waiting for - I finally reached the lowest weight that I hit when I was succesful on Weight Watchers nearly 12 years ago, before I "lost my way" and gained it all back.
How wonderful to know that if I do this right, just carefully, that I will never have to take that journey again, that it's "once and done"!
Of course today I didn't make it to the gym (usual mix up at work) but I'm going home tonight and doing SOMETHING, whatever it is.....
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09/02 - 4 month surgiversary on September 2, 2007 9:05 am
Today is my 4 month surgiversary, and while I'll "soldier on", of course I am feeling a bit discouraged. Of COURSE I measured myself (I hear all of you in the background) and I lost a total of 6 inches since 08/12 - 4 inches on my waist alone and I KNOW that's good. But whatever, I guess I'm whining and being self-insdulgent/pitying. But I know this is the place I can do it.
On the other hand, two gentleman (husbands of friends of mine) both went out of their way to tell me that they didn't recognize me (in the summer hear people tend to go away, etc), and that is HIGHLY unusual in my neighborhood - men usually are not that forthcoming. So that was nice.
I am STILL incredibly grateful, still so happy I did this but wish I was more consistent in my loss. That could be because my schedule is inconsistent, but I don't know. My NUT feels I'm doing fine, I'll see what the surgeon thinks, but I want some more weight-loss wow moments!
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08/15 - Is it true? on August 15, 2007 5:21 pm
According to the scale, both this morning and this evening when I returned home, I weighed (it read) 199.6. ONEderland at last?! Still, I'm not proclaiming anything until I get a little lower - I want to make sure it "sticks".
The past few days have been horrible. I have neglected meals and water, and most sadly of all, exercise. It's just been so busy at work. But I need to be determined that this can no longer happen. Work will not see me through this journey, paying attention to my health, alone, will.
I'm a little bit sad that I haven't sold more clothing, but I certainly have bought enough. And strangely enough, some of the things I've bought don't last too long - they're getting big fast. That's how I know I need to exercise more because that is obviously working! I have my appointment with the trainer at work tomorrow, and if I can't get the "slow ones" at my doctor's office to find the results of my X-rays, I'll know better what I can do .
Work is VERY busy now and getting more stressful. But this always happens at this time of year - it's a pattern I've been through 5 times before, but I don't want to work this hard anymore, now that I'm actually enjoying parts of my life. But I just have to maintain through October and things will relax to a more normal mode - I hope.
It's hard figuring out my relationship with my husband lately - he really is very happy with the changes in me, both physically and in general (personality, temperament) but I was always there. It's nice but it's also a bit hurtful in some ways. Our roles have so totally reversed, especially now that he is "dependent" on my salary, it's just hard to adjust, especially since we came out of such a difficult time. I know we'll get through this, but I'm finding that there are times I just want to be alone....
But I am so happy, in general with everything, and greatful for this incredible gift, that has brought more than I could have expected.
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08/02 - 3 month surgiversary, disappointed at first, but wait! on August 2, 2007 6:54 pm
Oh man, I just erased my whole entry! Happy surgiversary!
Anyway, I was disappointed at first - I weighed myself tonight (I know, bad idea) and was rewarded on this "special day" by gaining a lb. Number of reason possibly: retaining water because of the heat (I don't have the "monthly" excuse any more), heavy jean skirt (it is heavy), end of the day, fully clothed....but I sort of hoped that I would make it to ONEderland by my 3 month surgiversary. But I didn't  ...
But wait, second credo - MEASURE! And I've lost a total of 10 inches since last month - that's good, right?
One thing I know I have to curtail is coffee, only because I drink it with half & half - haven't found a great substitute, yet. So maybe, at most, a few times a month, that's it! Or mix a drop of h&h with skim milk in decreasing proportions...gotta try something.
But I am so happy, still, that I went through with this.  Today, a few people at work that I don't interact with on a daily basis said something, finally! But they said "You're face is really thin...I lost nearly 70 lbs and it wasn't all from my face, d^$^%$(*n it! But I guess people want to be careful and not hurt someone or be offensive. I AM appreciative that other people are starting to notice. My therapist, last night said she almost walked right by me....?
Some "big events" coming up with friends who haven't seen me since - I'm a bit nervous I have to admit. It was so wonderful how my daughter-in-laws parents were so HAPPY for me when they saw me. They are just so good to us, to share everything with us....I hope I can help their other daughter with this same issue, help her to make the right choice for her.
So, I'm resting on any laurels here (I'm starting to feel my tailbone and it's uncomfortable!). I have to up my exercise, watch the carbs and fats (although I am content that I am still going in a losing direction for the most part and eating "normally") and just be mindful, that's all I want to be.
A little secret, I read the "failed WLS surgery and graduates forums to see what pitfalls these people ran into so I can be MINDFUL. I want to always be conscious of this great chance I've been given and how to keep on goal, keep on task, be good to myself and my family - that's all I want.
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