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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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05/17 - Back from the doctor on May 17, 2007 8:49 am
Well, the surgery has certainly affected my brain....the total for two weeks is almost 30 lbs, NOT 40 lbs. How ridiculous is it that I'm disappointed? When was the last time I could even dream that I could lose 30 lbs., let alone it 2 weeks! Be grateful, wretch!
Also, I'm a little disappointed that my blood pressure is still too high, but again, it's due more to my lack of impatience, than anything else, two weeks, that's all it's been. (Gotta get a clip from "Total Recall" with Arnold in disguise saying "Two weeks", that will remind me.)
Busy day today - no walk outside unless, hmmm, I'll call Cipi tonight, good idea. The treadmill is ok, but it's beautiful out again.
Gotta run.
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05/16 - Which weigh, what weight? on May 16, 2007 10:54 am
Well, this is so confusing. I have been using a number of different scales since before my surgery and have really been confused about how much weight I've lost. I went out the other day and bought a digital scale (with large numbers, of course) so that I can have one relatively standard means of measuring myself.
If this scale corresponds at all to my weight before the surgery, then I've lost almost 40 lbs. in 2 weeks - is that possible? I have a meeting with my primary care physician tomorrow, and she also weighed me shortly before surgery, so I'll be able to tell the loss from the standpoint of her records.
Thanks GOODNESS for FitDay and that someone mentioned it; it really helps me keep track of my protein which is crucial. I know the other day when I did not get near the 60 gr I need, I felt tired and week. However yesterday, I saw that I was close and did not guess and go too far over my required amount, and I felt so much better.
I'm not sure what i am going to do about going back to work next week; I'm concerned about the "fuzziness" while driving, so more than likely, if I do work it will be from home. I may commit to a certain number of hours next week, say half a week and take the rest as sick time. It's probably not really right but I don't want to take Shavuos as a holiday; I want those days for later in the year. But it's really not right and I may do the "ethical thing after all.
I'm excited to go to my first study group meeting, but I'm concerned that I will get very little - I think just being there will be a good thing. I'm taking water and string cheese with me to tide me over for the total 2 hours I'll be out of the house, just to be certain.
More (and less of me, I hope!) later.
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05/13 - Happy Mother's day to me! on May 13, 2007 10:11 am
Hopefully I will continue to be able to be a good mom, with better health on my side.
Got up, ate breakfast, took a walk (longer, less exhausted - yeah!) and came back to a protein shake. I'm convinced that I can't take these anymore - I was so nauseous after this one. Time to find alternatives. Unfortunately the CIB doesn't not have enough protein, so I am looking at the IDS whey liquid protein "bullets"; I have concern about the kashrut, but as long as there is nothing treif in them, they could be ok, don't know, waiting for an answer from IDS. It concerns me that if I don't get enough protein, the body won't respond by losing weight properly, but I can't take much more of these shakes.
All alone for mom's day, but that's par for the course on a Sunday - but I'm going to prepare some food and soups for myself today to make it easier.
cyndi
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05/11 - Yum, pureed green beans! on May 11, 2007 10:16 am
Well, I made it to soft foods last night. Pureed green beans (the good Del Monte kind) and some ricotta cheese, just plain, I love it like that. Took my 30 minutes to eat my food and did fine; no problems. This morning it was scrambled (ShopRite) eggbeaters (1/4 cup) and some low fat cheese mixed it. Again, I took over 30 minutes to eat it, per the rules.
Although, I have to admit that my "old" head thought, at one point "You could just gobble that up in 2-3 bites!" I'm glad I am able to stay home and have the time to focus and work through those voices and those habits and change them, hopefully for good.
I am reading everything I can, am on the boards many hours a day to try and get through this process and lead myself to a new way of life. I made an arrangement with a friend to go to one of the several WLS support groups in the area this coming Monday night; she suggested we try all three and see which one we like best. She is over a year post-op but has gained some weight back and really has the need for support as well. It's good to have a buddy.
This is such a different schedule for me since instead of 6:15 am, I usually get up at 8:15 am. And till I complete my morning chores, eat breakfast, and take my walk, it's almost 11:00 before I can sit down to read, go on the computer, etc. How will I ever get back to a work schedule?????
I've decided to take advantage of the time available to me and will take that 3rd week of sick leave - two of the days are Shavuos anyway, but will do some work that week to prepare for my return - big market report is due the end of the first week in June.
Next week is "busy"; appt. with my PCP, first meeting of the Va'ad in Teaneck, and I want to arrange for knitting lessons. The first 2 are musts, let's see about the third.
Oh well, signing off, Shabbos will be here before you know it, although, fortunately, I have good neighbors and they are making the food for my husband and son.
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Oh my, oh my, a day to celebrate on May 10, 2007 3:05 pm
Well, I went back to the surgeon for my 1 week post-op visit, and everything appears to be fine. I'll be having a blood test next week when I go to visit my PCP (she always gets my veins right away!) to make sure things are back to normal after the loss of blood/3 transfusions.
Also, the bruise (the one that looks like regular and white grape juice in color) is fine as well; it's still just huge.
And I get to go onto stage II foods now. I'm a bit concerned/panicked - what do I eat? I'm using the guidelines given by the nutritionist, a booklet written by my surgeon's office, but it's going to take some time to get used to it.
I am making myself really good chicken soup with vegs that I'll puree, and Sunday, I guess I'll prepare a lot of other soups. Glad has these really small containers and I bought a few dozen before the surgery for storage.
But the most amazing thing was the initial impact of the surgery - I'm down to 246! I can't remember the last time I've been below 250, even when I did well on South Beach about 1 year ago. According to my doctor's office I lost 25 lbs! but I had myself weighed later, at the hospital and, starting at 262 means I "only" lost 16 lbs. I can't believe it. It is inspirational, and makes me hopeful and determined. Onward....
cyndi
Less to come!
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