monica91355

I met with my surgeon last week. He's going to put me out for 4 weeks. I get fully disability pay so taking as much time as needed.

Hang in there! I'm with Kaiser too. I had my orientation in January and started Options at Panorama City in February. My Options classes ended the last week of April. For me, the orientation, Option classes, and tests during the 12 week program was all very efficient. Everything post-Options has been very slow and frustrating. I just met with the surgeon this week! And, he told me his surgeries are being scheduled two months out!! I haven't heard from the surgery scheduler yet. Surgeon told me to call her next week and the nurse said I won't hear from her for a couple weeks.

I did! Had them put me on the cancellation list for my final medical clearance appointment and had that a few days ago on Monday. The surgeons office called today and I see the surgeon on May 30. Can't wait!!!

I called two days ago. The first person said Health Education hasn't submitted completion letter then Health Education said that's it's been done. Finally got scheduled to for the medical clearance appointment with the program director on Monday (after they said no openings till June). THEN after that appointment I wait to get scheduled for an appointment with the surgeon.

Congrats!!!! Way to go!!! I wish my Kaiser was efficient like yours! Finished Options almost two weeks ago and still waiting to hear from them.

I just finished Options two days ago. Waiting to get scheduled for my final appointment with the head of the program then I get scheduled to see the surgeon. Trying to be patient!

I've heard the hospital beds at South Bay are super comfortable!!! How long was it from finishing Options to your surgery date?

Exciting! That's great news! I had my last Options class today. Now just waiting till they call to schedule my appointment with the surgeon.

Which Kaiser are you with? I just finished my 12 week Options classes today.

How long did it take to get an appointment to meet with the surgeon after completing Options? I have two more classes. Trying to get an idea of the timing for an appointment with the surgeon and a surgery date.

I'm in Santa Clarita too! Would love to stay in touch.

When do you finish Options? I have 3 more classes. I'm in Santa Clarita.

Oh wow. Looks like I'll have a bit of a wait after I finish Options :-( My schedule is completely flexible so hopefully that helps. I was hoping for surgery in May or June. I'm taking Options at Panorama City Kaiser. Last week of April will be my last class. What % of weight loss did the surgeon want before surgery? I met with the program director around week 6 and he told me to lose 6 more pounds which would put my weight loss around 5%.

For those of you having surgery in Los Angeles, are you going through Kaiser? I finish my Options classes in a couple weeks and wondering how long it takes to see then surgeon and then get a date for surgery.

I haven't had surgery yet, but plan to take the maximum time off allowed since I get 100% disability pay at work.

Wow! 30 is big but that's better than waiting until April or May to start the program. I had the choice of Feb 10, Feb 21 or a March/April start. I went with the Feb 10 start which is Fridays at 10am because it's during the workday. Traffic wouldn't be as bad. My work is flexible with missing a few hours every other Friday - I work a 9/80 schedule so already get every other Friday off anyways. We talked a little bit about the 10% weight loss. Some people said the program director advised them they must lose 10% before surgery can be schedule. While others said they were not told the 10% is mandatory. It seemed that those who had a higher bmi were given the mandatory 10% loss requirement. I need to clarify if I need to lose the required 10% - I don't recall the program director saying this in my appointment with him. I'm 5'2 and starting weight is 272. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Definitely keep in touch! I can't wait to hear about your first Options class. I really like the small class size of mine. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I live in Valencia, CA. I'm doing the Options classes at Panorama City Kaiser and surgery will be at West LA Kaiser. I have to do the 12 weeks of classes too. So far, things have been moving along really smoothly. 1/10 referred by PCP 1/24 orientation to Options 2/3 consult with program director/officially accepted into program 2/10 first Options class They have also already scheduled me for my 6 week appointment with the program director. I was told at that point the EKG, chest x-ray, and other tests will be scheduled. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congrats!! That's awesome!! :-) I had my first Options class yesterday. Really excited for the program. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Do you know when you start your Options classes? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm with Kaiser Panorama City. I had my first Options class today. They told me that after the 6th Options class they would start ordering the required tests - labs, EKG, chest x-ray, etc. As far as weigh in, everyone weighed in prior to the start of class Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was wondering that too. I wanted to do my surgery in NorCal since that is where I have my family and support. I've only been in SoCal for 10 months and don't have a good network of friends here yet - just my boyfriend. I read my Kaiser coverage booklet and there are some services that I can receive in other Kaiser service areas but bariatric surgery was one of the exclusions for me. Basically since I'm Kaiser SoCal, that's where I need to do the program and surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh and I understand! I'm looking forward to the Options class so that I can make friends with others who understand. I actually have not told my boyfriend yet. Only my family and three best friends know right now. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If you are with Kaiser SoCal, the Options class is pretty much mandatory. They said you can request a consult with a surgeon instead of Options but 99.99% of the time the surgeon will refer you back to the Options class. Based on what I've read in these forums, the process is a bit different for Kaiser NorCal. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

At the orientation, the first hour was the director of the program talking about your three options for surgery. Only the sleeve and bypass are done in house at Kaiser. If you want lap band, then you go to a surgeon who is contracted with Kaiser at another hospital The dietician presented for the last hour. She went over non-surgical weight loss programs offered by Kaiser and a high level overview of Vitamins required for life, follow up appointments/labs needed for life, risks of surgery, what you'll learn in Options, and steps to surgery. They said at six weeks and twelve weeks you'll meet with the program director. After completing Options, the surgeons office will call to arrange an appointment. At the West LA Kaiser there are four surgeons - you can pick your surgeon or have one assigned to you. Assuming you have all your labs completed and are approved by the surgeon, you could have your surgery as soon as a week after completing Options. When the dietician mentioned having surgery so soon after completing Options, I found it a bit hard to believe since I would think there would be a bit of a wait. . . But hopefully I am wrong and it is a very short wait! If you have other health issues that requires approval of specialist, such as cardiology or pulmonary, then that could slow down the process a bit. It's so great to find others who are at the same point in their journey as me. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App