lsereno

You don't need your Dr's OK to attend the Overview class, so try to go to the first one you can because it's a required step before getting the referral to the Bariatric program. I didn't think the point was to scare people away. What they told us is they found so many people decided not to have the surgery after going to the longer Orientation class that they make all people go to the Overview class first so they understand WLS surgery and the alternatives. I thought the class was pretty good. The instructor also told us about how Kaiser's Bariatric program works. Lynda

One year from now, I'd like to be at goal weight: 93 lbs less than I am now. I understand the first year is the "honeymoon" period and I will be working hard to rock the sleeve and get to goal before the honeymoon is over. I currently work out 5 day a week. Two days for 45 minutes of fast walking and a 15 minute leisurely bike ride and three days for 30 minutes with a trainer focusing on strength building. Over the last three months I have lost 31 lbs. on the pre-op diet recommended by Kaiser Fremont. I have several short term goals for after surgery: First Two Weeks: Healing well: I've stocked up on post-operation foods and cleaned the house from top to bottom so I can focus on healing. I know I need down time to heal, so between sipping, small bites, and walking, I'm looking forward to reading and watching TV. First Month: Getting to onderland: I haven't been there in this decade, century, or millenium. It will be great to see that number! Also, learning to eat again. I've been practicing eating Protein first, chewing well and taking 30 minutes per meal, but I know it will be different. Three Months out: Attending a friend's exercise class 2-3 times per week: Currently, I can't keep up. I think at 180 (50 lbs from goal), I should be able to keep up with the moves. Lynda

Hi Lisa, Check out my thread in the Tell Your Story section. I think you can search for my user name: lsereno to find the thread. I've written extensively about my experience with Kaiser Nor Cal going through Fremont Bariatrics. I saw my Dr. in November and asked for a referral. I am scheduled for surgery on May 17. You do not need Dr. approval to attend the Overview class and you must attend it before being referred to the Bariatric program. Once you attend the Overview class, your Dr. can refer you to the Bariatrics program. If you meet the basic criteria, Bariatrics will schedule you for the WLS Orientation Class. At the end of that class, you can make an appt. for the next step: meeting with the surgeon, nutritionist, and program coordinator. At that meeting, you will learn what you must do to qualify for the surgery. For most, you must lose 10% of your body weight, follow the suggested diet and exercise plan, take the recommended supplements, attend at least one face-to-face support group, and take any required medical tests or immunizations. When you are within 5 lbs. of the goal weight they set for you, you call and make a psych appt. Once you are at your goal weight and all other criteria have been met, your file goes to the surgeon for review. After the surgeon reviews the file, the surgery coordinator calls you to schedule your surgery and pre-op appts. Best wishes on your journey! Lynda

Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad to learn you can eat Oatmeal and I hope I will be able to as well. I have to admit, I like a lot of healthy foods too and I've been mourning having to give them up. Oatmeal is a cozy little morning meal that is healthy and good for you. I'm so glad it may not be on the no-no list. When I ready how many people have problems with bread, I assumed oatmeal would be in the same category. My surgery is scheduled for May 17 (sooner if they get a cancellation). It is good to hear how well you are doing after one month. Lynda

Hi all, I've been lurking for about a month. Thanks for all the great information. I originally thought I wanted a lap band, but after learning more here and other sites, I've got my eyes set on being a sleever. I'm a Kaiser patient and will be going through Kaiser Fremont. I met with my doctor last month to discuss getting the surgery. At that time, my BMI was 38. I have an appt. for the Kaiser Weight Overview Class on January 11 at Kaiser Santa Clara. This is not the orientation. My Dr. said everyone has to take the overview class first. My doctor scheduled a sleep apena testing for me, which I will do on Monday, Dec. 6. I am quite close to a 40 BMI now (5.5, 235 lb) and will for sure be there before the class on the 11th. If you have gone through Kaiser Fremont, do you know if you have to have a BMI of 40 after the 10% weight loss? I have high blood pressure controlled by meds and high cholesterol. Thanks in advance, Lynda

Hi Lisa, My BMI was 40 before I was referred to the WLS Orientation Class at the Kaiser Fremont Bariatric Program. You must have a BMI of 40+ or a BMI of 35+ with significant co-morbidities (diabetes or blood pressure that is uncontrolled with medication) to attend the WLS Orientation. I think your BMI can be less than 40 at the time of the referral if it is documented that it was 40 or more during the last year. I've been following the recommended diet along with all other recommendations so my BMI has dropped several points. Lynda

I'm so sorry. Stay on them. Call them every day. Tell them your exact symptoms. Write down your symptoms before you call so you don't forget anything. Write down each time you call and what they say. Use that when you call the next time. If that doesn't work, go over your primary doc's head and ask for a second opinion. Check to see if your insurance company has a patient advocate department and call them if they do.

Just got my date today: May 17 for surgery, May 6 for pre-op. I'm hoping to get in earlier because my schedule is completely flexible and I can take a cancellation appointment. I've been working towards this for so long! Last November I met with my Dr. and told him I was interested in the band. Thank goodness I looked around on the web and found out more. By the time I attended the WLS Overview class in January I knew I wanted the sleeve. Today I threw away my Weight Watchers log. Yahoo! I hope to be in Onderland by June!

Hi all, I've got my date!!! May 17. I hope to have the surgery before then because I can take any cancellation appointments that crop up. My pre-op appointment is scheduled for May 6. Nancy, who schedules the surgery for Fremont Kaiser told me that during the pre-op appt I would meet with my surgeon, Dr. Hahn and he would go over what I need to do before surgery and tell me what time my surgery will be on the 17th. She mentioned blood work and something else. I was so excited, I'm not sure what else she said. Onederland, I can hear you calling me!!! Lynda

Thank you! I'll give it a try if I can't tolerate the ones I bought after surgery. With 10 lbs. of it around, I hope I will still like them after surgery. Lynda

So sorry - I meant Meggie, not Maggie! Lynda

Congrats Maggie! If all goes well, we can share recup stories! I hope to be sleeved before the end of April. Lynda

Hi all, I forgot to mention a couple of other tidbits: I've been checking out Protein powders and have gone with Optimum Nutrition 100% whey Gold Standard in Double Rich chocolate and French vanilla. I'll post details about why I chose those in the Protein powder forum. Also, the Psych asked if I had been sipping Water and I had to admit I hadn't. I was drinking the required amount, but still slurping it down. She recommended setting the glass down between sips and I've begun doing that. She said some people use a sippy cup to help pace the water sips. Who knew? So far, setting the glass down is working for me, but I've already found it's harder to get the water in if you can't gulp a glass down.

Hi all, I can't believe another month has gone by! Last month I took the required tests and got the required shots, attended to face-to-face support group meetings, and met with a psychologist. I have one more pound to lose then I go to my primary doctor to be weighed and have my weight logged into the Kaiser system. The psychologist told me she was approving me for surgery and sending my file to the Dr. She said it takes 2-3 weeks for the Dr. to review the file and then my surgery would be scheduled. I plan to call as soon as my weight is logged. I am hoping to slip in and take a surgery appt that someone else had to cancel. I'm completely flexible on dates/times and ready to roll once the last pound is gone! One hitch in the process: One of my root canals has failed and I will probably have the tooth pulled before surgery and an implant placed afterwards. I'm concerned about dental health after the operation, but I plan to post a question in the general forum about that. If you're concerned too, check the replies there. Who knows, maybe I will be an April Sleever!

Oops. I forgot to update my ticker weight. Now it is correct. Lynda

I'm at Kaiser Fremont. My home Kaiser is Kaiser Santa Clara. I met with my Dr. in early November. I attended the next Overview Class, which was in early January. After a few hiccups, I attended the Orientation class at Fremont in mid-February. I met with my surgeon, a nutritionist, and a program coordinator in early March. During March I took the required tests and shots (x-ray, EKG, anemia test and a tetanus shot) and began attending support classes at Kaiser Fremont. In late March, I called to schedule my psych appt when I was within 5 lbs. The appointment was about a month out, but I was able to take a cancellation appt within a couple of days. I also completed and mailed a short test that showed I had read the booklet provided at the Orientation meeting. All I have left to do is lose 4 lbs. The psych told me it can take a few weeks for the Dr. to review the file and call to schedule the surgery. I plan to call when I have reached my goal weight, which I hope will be one day next week. Because my schedule is very flexible, I hope to get a surgery appt fairly quickly since I can take a cancellation appt if one becomes available. The book provided at Orientation class has been very helpful. I photocopied the pages I needed most: I took the Vitamin page with me to shop for Vitamins and referred to it when filling my pill holder the first couple of times. I posted the sample pre-op diet on the fridge. I refer to the sample foods page when planning my meals. I start each week with a blank diet journal page and fill it out at each meal. I took the Protein powder page when I shopped for Protein Powder. I am doing well at preparing for surgery. I am taking 20-30 minutes to eat each meal and following the pre-op diet very closely, with a little cheat about once a week. I am taking the vitamins. I am working out 5 days a week. I have given up coffee. Thank goodness I quit smoking 20 years ago! One less thing to do before surgery :-) I have tested protein powders. I have attended a support group a couple of times and plan to continue (Kaiser Fremont, 2nd and 4th Friday evening at 6) This week I am concentrating on sipping my Water throughout the day. I have bought a pretty carafe that holds 48 oz. and I have started using a smaller glass. The psych recommended setting the glass down between sips to prevent gulping the water down. I am so grateful to Kaiser for having so much education about the process and how to prepare. I am still a bit scared, but all the prep helps me feel like I am doing everything I can to be successful. I don't know how to move this topic, but it is a better fit in a forum besides the post-op one. I only saw it because i was looking through post-op questions to get a better feel for issues I might be facing in the days and weeks following surgery. Lynda

1. Dying at a ripe old age of anything not related to being overweight!! 2. Fitting in the curve my husband makes when he is sleeping. 3. NOT feeling that gnawing hunger throughout the day. 4. Off blood pressure and cholesterol meds. 5. Tying my shoes without going "oof." 6. Taking an exercise class instead of working out with a personal trainer. 7. More energy throughout the day. 8. Wearing the clothes in the back of my closet and then finding they are too big. 9. Going on the Big Dipper at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and NOT fearing I won't fit. 10. Getting new glasses that go with a skinny face.

Hi all, I am APPROVED! My surgeon will be Dr. Hahn. I have a few more tests to complete and 15 more lbs to lose and I'll be able to schedule my surgery. For those interested in the Kaiser Fremont process: I met with my primary care Dr. last Nov. and he signed me up for the next Overview meeting in Santa Clara. Because of the holidays, that was Jan. 11. After a couple of hiccups (correct weighty wasn't documented and Dr. misunderstood my request for referral), I was referred to Kaiser Fremont Bariatric program and attended Orientation there on Feb 13. I read the book we received in that meeting and began taking the Vitamins and following the 1200 diet immediately. Also, at the end of Orientation, I scheduled by next appt for 3/3. At the 3/3 appt. I met with the nutritionist, who was pleased with my diet, vitamins, ,and exercise routine, the surgeon, who reviewed by med history and declared me a good candidate for the sleeve, and the program coordinator, who explained the next steps I need to take. Next steps for me are a chest xray, EKG, tetanus shot and anemia blood test (all other tests are current), and attending at least one F2F support group meeting. After I lose another 5 lbs I will be within 10 lbs of goal and can schedule an appt with the psych. After I lose another 5 lbs I will be 5 lbs from goal and I have a worksheet to complete and return to Bariatric. Once I reach goal, I visit my Dr and have my weight documented. After that, my surgery will be scheduled. I am hoping to get a fairly quick surgery date because i can take any cancellation appt that is offered to me. If no cancellations are available, it will be 1-2 months before the surgery because Fremont is busy. One other thing I need to do is test out Protein powders so I have some at home after surgery. I'll be searching the forum for advice :-) I am so excited to be accepted into the program and know for sure that I am on my way to a healthier life! Guess I need to get crackin' on that weight ticker! Lynda

Hi all, Time for an update! I have been to the Overview class in mid-January and the orientation Feb 13. Tomorrow (march 3) I have an appt with the bariatric surgeon (Dr. Hahn), a nutritionist, and the program coordinator. I'm not sure, but I think this is the appt where I find out if I am approved for surgery. Surprises so far: You must be approved to attend the orientation. I thought the approval came after. To be clear, approval for the orientation does not mean you are approved for the surgery. But I mistakenly thought you only needed a referral from your primary doc to attend the orientation. My BMI was not quite 40 in Nov. when I visited my Dr., so I had to make another appt to be weighed before I could attend the orientation. Orientation was 2 hrs long and we heard from a bariatric surgeon (Dr. Chu) and a nutritionist. We also got a great booklet with a lot of details. I've been following the 1200 calorie diet, eating three times a day, and taking all the required supplements. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Lynda

Hi all, I began my journey in November, with an appt with my GP. I am with Kaiser. I will be attending a WLS seminar in Fremont on Jan. 1th. My Doctor scheduled bloodwork and sleep apnea testing, which I have completed. I have a BMI of about 40 with controlled high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I have an individual Kaiser coverage, so my out of pocket for the operation will probably be my annual max out of pocket: 3,500. I was interested in the band, but after doing a little more research have switched to wanting the Vertical Sleeve. I really don't want a port and something that may erode later down the line. And I don't want to deal with the more stringent restrictions caused by the Rouen bypass. I have been overweight and struggling with it since I quit smoking in 1991: twenty years now. I have tried Weight Watchers, hypnosis, and Medifast liquid diet. I've lost weight with all of them, but it's always come back. At 54, I really want something that works long term. I want more energy. I want to tie my shoes without going "oof." I want my feet to stop hurting. I want to wear regular sized clothing and fit comfortably in a chair with arms. In many areas of my life, I am able to exercise control, but I need help with my weight. January 11, here I come! Lynda

Thanks Jenn! I am looking forward to a healthier me.

I don't have a WLS doctor yet. My GP is Dr. Greene in Santa Clara