Kaiser Richmond/kaiser South San Francisco Gastric Sleeve Brothers And Sisters!

[singand_dance 8]

Anyone at SSF have Dr Fallah? I had my appt with him on Thursday. Appt was at 2pm. I was in the car by 2:20. I did the psych eval at Richmond and that was around 45 minutes, but with Dr Fallah it was seriously less than 10 minutes! Just wondering if anyone else experienced the same thing?

[cukiemunstr 2]

Anyone at SSF have Dr Fallah? I had my appt with him on Thursday. Appt was at 2pm. I was in the car by 2:20. I did the psych eval at Richmond and that was around 45 minutes, but with Dr Fallah it was seriously less than 10 minutes! Just wondering if anyone else experienced the same thing?

I had my appt with him also. And yeah, it was short and sweet. He did tell me he wanted me to take the Emotional Eating class and to let him know when I completed it. I did and when I went to let him know, he was on vacation. He wasn't going to be back until after I had my follow up with Dr. Le, so I never let him know I had done it because Dr. Le gave me my surgery date when I saw him.

[sfdavid 1]

I had Dr. Fallah also and my time with him was very sort as well--maybe 15 minutes. I'd like to think that was a good thing--just maybe I'm really ready for this new life and there was little in my questionnaire or in my interview that made it go on any longer.

I was surprised though as I assumed that my psych appointment was going to be much more grueling.

[hugsamber 8]

Well today is the day. I have to be at Richmond at 11:20 for a surgery time at 1:20pm. Wish me luck!

[cukiemunstr 2]

Well today is the day. I have to be at Richmond at 11:20 for a surgery time at 1:20pm. Wish me luck!

Good luck Amber! You are in good hands!

Don't forget to walk, walk, walk and sip sip sip! We will be here waiting to hear how it went.

Congrats! :welldoneclap:

[singand_dance 8]

Hoping you're doing well Amber! Sending good, healing thoughts your way!

[irkenpanda 0]

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping someone can help me out because I am really struggling. Dr. Fisher (in Richmond) is my surgeon and I had my consultation with him 2 weeks ago after being on the 1200 calorie diet for 2 months and losing 22 pounds. He told me I carry my weight really well and that because I used to be a smoker I am not the best candidate for the surgery. I quit smoking in September and I do carry my weight really well but I am still also really heavy and can feel it big time. I am 5'5" and began the program at 245 lb. I have always been able to lose weight when i am determined but have always gained it back plus more. I am so frustrated with the weird answers I received from him at our meeting and felt so flabbergasted that I didn't really fight back or respond. He didn't exactly say they wouldn't do the surgery but told me some story about "a girl" that he recently did surgery on. she carried her weight the same way I do. There were complications and now she is miserable and wishes they never would have done it. I have done so much research and i understand the risks and what my quality of life could be if there is a problem - I am ready to get this tool and take the necessary risks. He said to stay in the program and just keep getting a weight check every two weeks. Apparently my goal weight is 215 on the paperwork. I am at 227 today and have gained 3 pounds since my meeting with him. I know I shouldn't have let it get the best of me but I kinda did and have been mostly "off the wagon" the last two weeks. Has anyone else had an experience close to this or can give me any advice? Sorry it was such a long post. Thanks for listening!!

[cukiemunstr 2]

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping someone can help me out because I am really struggling. Dr. Fisher (in Richmond) is my surgeon and I had my consultation with him 2 weeks ago after being on the 1200 calorie diet for 2 months and losing 22 pounds. He told me I carry my weight really well and that because I used to be a smoker I am not the best candidate for the surgery. I quit smoking in September and I do carry my weight really well but I am still also really heavy and can feel it big time. I am 5'5" and began the program at 245 lb. I have always been able to lose weight when i am determined but have always gained it back plus more. I am so frustrated with the weird answers I received from him at our meeting and felt so flabbergasted that I didn't really fight back or respond. He didn't exactly say they wouldn't do the surgery but told me some story about "a girl" that he recently did surgery on. she carried her weight the same way I do. There were complications and now she is miserable and wishes they never would have done it. I have done so much research and i understand the risks and what my quality of life could be if there is a problem - I am ready to get this tool and take the necessary risks. He said to stay in the program and just keep getting a weight check every two weeks. Apparently my goal weight is 215 on the paperwork. I am at 227 today and have gained 3 pounds since my meeting with him. I know I shouldn't have let it get the best of me but I kinda did and have been mostly "off the wagon" the last two weeks. Has anyone else had an experience close to this or can give me any advice? Sorry it was such a long post. Thanks for listening!!

I had the same problem with Dr. Fisher, only with me it was because I had had abdominal surgery before. It felt like he wasn't really even paying attention to me, just decided for whatever reason he was not going to do it. I asked for a second opinion. When you do that, you have to go to another facility, so I went to S. San Francisco and had Dr. Le. I had my sleeve done on Nov. 29th and am very happy with it. If travel is not a problem for you, that might be an option. And they also put into place a new program, if you travel more than 50 miles, they will reimburse gas, toll and one hotel room for your pre-op visit (1 night), surgery (up to 3 nights for you and a support person) and for your post-op visit. There is a limit on each time of $150. I was 42 miles away so I couldn't get it. I don't know if all facilities are doing this or if it is just SSF. They seem to all have their own programs.

If that is something you might consider, what you need to do is call Richmond, tell them you would like to get a second opinion and they will set it up for you.

Hope that helps!

[irkenpanda 0]

Thanks Stacey - that really helps a lot. I might end up going that route if my next "talk" doesn't go any better or if he refuses to even do it. Did you have to do any extra classes or anything different at SSF?

- Shannon

[cukiemunstr 2]

Thanks Stacey - that really helps a lot. I might end up going that route if my next "talk" doesn't go any better or if he refuses to even do it. Did you have to do any extra classes or anything different at SSF?

- Shannon

I didn't have to do any extra classes, in fact, I think I might have slid in under the radar. I didn't think about it at the time, but I never met with the nutritionist. I only did the psych eval and a pre-op class. Everything else was with Dr. Le. That being said, I learned so much from reading forums and other stuff that I don't feel like I missed out on anything.

[irkenpanda 0]

I didn't have to do any extra classes, in fact, I think I might have slid in under the radar. I didn't think about it at the time, but I never met with the nutritionist. I only did the psych eval and a pre-op class. Everything else was with Dr. Le. That being said, I learned so much from reading forums and other stuff that I don't feel like I missed out on anything.

Okay, seriously, after reading almost the entire Kaiser/SSF forum, it sounds like there are a few people that have had issues w/ Fisher and that there are a lot of people on here that have all around had a better experience w/ SSF. I am calling Robin tomorrow to get switched. My friend also said that her experience after gettingout of surgery in Richmond was kinda crappy becuase the staff didn't take care of her correctly for hours afterward. I want to avoid all that. I don't mind a farther drive - this is a big decision and I would rather be completely comfortable with my doctors and the facility I choose. Thanks again for your help. If you're in the Sacramento area, maybe we will be able to meet at one of the groups sometime.

[singand_dance 8]

I had the same problem with Dr Fisher, except he wanted me to lose 85 lbs before he'd do surgery. After my last appt with him (a year after orientation) he said the same thing... "Stick with the program" He told me my food logs looked good for a person of normal weight but I'd have to cut out all fruit except apples and pears, cut all Cereal (I'd been eating cream of wheat) and cut down on my morning Protein from 3 Proteins to 2. I was so disappointed I ended up gaining about 20 lbs in the 6 months since. Everyone told me to switch to SSF, I finally did it.

I was told to call Lisa at SSF (I can PM her number if you'd like) she told me all I needed to do was call Richmond and request to have my care transfered to SSF. It took multiple weeks, multiple calls that were never returned by Richmond and I'd had enough. I finally emailed my primary care doc and asked him to assist. The very next day I got a call from SSF advising me they'd already scheduled me for orientation and my psych eval.

I love SSF, the whole atmosphere is so different. They're much nicer than Richmond and they're really supportive. It's totally worth the extra time driving. Plus the program Stacey was describing, I love that they will reimburse for bridge toll and a hotel room. Start getting receipts for the bridge toll, so you're in the habit!

I'm also in the Sac area, we've got a nice size group of us here. We'll have to meet up sometime for a walk and lunch or something.

[singand_dance 8]

Hi Everyone,

I'm hoping someone can help me out because I am really struggling. Dr. Fisher (in Richmond) is my surgeon and I had my consultation with him 2 weeks ago after being on the 1200 calorie diet for 2 months and losing 22 pounds. He told me I carry my weight really well and that because I used to be a smoker I am not the best candidate for the surgery. I quit smoking in September and I do carry my weight really well but I am still also really heavy and can feel it big time. I am 5'5" and began the program at 245 lb. I have always been able to lose weight when i am determined but have always gained it back plus more. I am so frustrated with the weird answers I received from him at our meeting and felt so flabbergasted that I didn't really fight back or respond. He didn't exactly say they wouldn't do the surgery but told me some story about "a girl" that he recently did surgery on. she carried her weight the same way I do. There were complications and now she is miserable and wishes they never would have done it. I have done so much research and i understand the risks and what my quality of life could be if there is a problem - I am ready to get this tool and take the necessary risks. He said to stay in the program and just keep getting a weight check every two weeks. Apparently my goal weight is 215 on the paperwork. I am at 227 today and have gained 3 pounds since my meeting with him. I know I shouldn't have let it get the best of me but I kinda did and have been mostly "off the wagon" the last two weeks. Has anyone else had an experience close to this or can give me any advice? Sorry it was such a long post. Thanks for listening!!

Oh, and Dr Fisher wanted me to have RNY (I wanted the band for the past year) but told me if I lose over 100 lbs, he'll do any surgery I wanted. He's delusional!

[irkenpanda 0]

Oh, and Dr Fisher wanted me to have RNY (I wanted the band for the past year) but told me if I lose over 100 lbs, he'll do any surgery I wanted. He's delusional!

Totally feel you on this one!! He was telling me all sorts of bizarre things like maybe the lady that wasn't happy with her surgery had complications because she was a smaller BMI and the tissue of her stomach was different because the tools are meant for larger stomachs and thicker tissue. It was so weird and then it just made me hella angry because I may not be a surgeon but I have done my research and it sounded like a bunch of B.S. to me.

Thanks so much for the support, like I said, I am calling tomorrow and I will just be pretty vague so I can get a call back.

[cukiemunstr 2]

Totally feel you on this one!! He was telling me all sorts of bizarre things like maybe the lady that wasn't happy with her surgery had complications because she was a smaller BMI and the tissue of her stomach was different because the tools are meant for larger stomachs and thicker tissue. It was so weird and then it just made me hella angry because I may not be a surgeon but I have done my research and it sounded like a bunch of B.S. to me.

Thanks so much for the support, like I said, I am calling tomorrow and I will just be pretty vague so I can get a call back.

I got lucky I guess. I just called Richmond and told whoever answered the phone that I didn't really understand Dr. Fisher and wanted a second opinion, they told me that I would have to transfer and I got a call from SSF about an hour later. Good luck!