TabithasMom

Hi My name is Cindy, I got got my referral sent in to the bariatric surgery center that my health plan Kaiser uses. I am just in the beginning stages and I am waiting, and reading and waiting and reading. I love online forums for support. They are so so very helpful to me because I can pop on at any time and read or see encouraging words. a little about me: I am a 37 year old mom of a fiesty toddler named Tabitha (hence the username ) I went through 3 years of infertility treatments and 3 miscarriages to get her. All those drugs and the depression that comes along with infertility and I packed on 80 pounds easily in 3 years. I currently weigh 260 which is 30 LBS higher than the day that I delivered her. I would like to be able to have another baby before I am too old to do so. For many many reasons, I just dont think that the RNY is for me. I am ready to step into my new life and start again. I don't like being too fat to get up the stairs without huffing and puffing. I don't like not being able to chase my girl around, I don't want to be the fat mom when I take her to kindergarten. I don't want to be embarrassed anymore, I don't want to be invisible anymore, I want to feel sexy again, I want to want sex again (which right now I don't because I don't want DH to touch me because I feel too fat), I want to buy clothes at a regular store, I just want to be free. Oh my, I guess I went on a bit didn't I? Well, good bad or ugly. I am here, I look forward to the journey with you.

I have been waiting a long time but finally I get to go to my seminar tomorrow. I finally came clean with the Hubby and told him what I was considering and seems ok with it. At least at the moment. On My Way and Very Happy

Well, I dont get to exactly choose which one I go too, they choose for me but they are trying to even out the load between the two centers. I just go my orientation letter and packet in the mail yesterday. Very excited!! I know that it will take a long time, I had to do a pysch eval and blood work before they set me up. I started this back in October 07 and it is Jan 08 and my orientation is Feb 10. walking down the long and winding path!!!

Hi I have just started the process of banding through Kaiser. I will be going to either Fremont or South San Francisco depending on the wait list. What was your experience with the Kaiser doc? How long was the process start to finish for you? Aftercare, how was it? Fills, what is the procedure for getting fills through Kaiser? any other info that you would like to share about your experience would be helpful. Cindy

CONGRATULATIONS on getting your surgery! I know that this thread is pretty old. I am using Kaiser in SSF or Fremont, which ever has the smallest wait list. My doc seems to be doing things in a different order. I am having my psych eval BEFORE orientation. I called about being scheduled for orientation and they said, no. Go do the psych first. Now I am confused and feel lost in a sea of paperwork.

Hi Vicki~ What ended up happening for you with regards to Kaiser and WLS?

Just an FYI They cover gastric banding now! At least the one in Northern CA does :eek:

I am interested in this too. I just filled out a form for Kaiser for my psych visit. They seemed like pretty straightforward questions. Let us know what happens in O8

He is my kittyman!! He is 15 years old and has been a comfort and a joy to me for a very long time. thank you for the compliment on my kittyman!!! My first furbaby: JessieBear

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome. I have been reading like a fiend!!! I called the surgery center today to see what the status is of my referral. There, of course, seems to be some confusion as to what place I am at. The referral is in their computer but my GP sent it with a message that she is waiting for a psych workup first so they will not schedule the orientation until that is cleared up. OF COURSE they didnt say anything to me about it, I had to call and find out on my own. I need to remember with Kaiser that I am my own best advocate and sitting by and letting things happen to me rather than making them happen is not the way that it works. I had to knock a few heads together and call the psych department myself and schedule the appointment instead of waiting for them to call me. If I were to wait for them to call me god only knows when they would get to it. OK, Time to get on with it! I cant wait to be a loser. I have a local friend who is almost the same stage that I am, we are kind of doing this hand in hand. It is so wonderful to have a friend in this with me. My DH doesnt understand because he is a skinny, has always been a skinny and has no idea what it is like to be a prisoner inside your body! :faint: