Kaiser Maryland?

[iluvlongnecks 0]

Thanks so much! You know after looking at the letter again I'm not sure if all of my evals are going to be on the same day. I guess I just assumed they would be because my pcp told me they would when I asked her. I don't know the name of the dr as of yet, just only got the letters in the mail. Maybe I'll call them tomorrow and find out more info about the other appointments, I'd be driving from Sac. so I sure hope their all on the same day as my dr told me, but drs have been wrong and now you have me wondering if I'm going to be making alot of trips to SF or just one.

I WILL jump the hoops that I need to in order to get this surgery. As for the 3 month wait...thats okay...I just want to see a light at the end of the tunnel and it not be a train!

[Vicki J 0]

I know what you mean. Sometimes it gets hard because when you're waiting to hear about an appointment or something it almost seems like they forgot you. Then they call you and things start rolling again.

Their pre-op meal plan that they put you on is really not hard to stick to and you do loose weight. Dr. Stiles (the director of bariactrics) will tell you how much weight you need to loose for the surgery. It depends upon what you're built like. They also want you to continue to loose weight until the surgery. I figure that I have to loose it anyway so what the heck.

Good idea on calling them. They will answer all of your questions. I'm from Penryn so I have to drive down to the Bay area also and I was glad that I could get my Lifestyles class on the same day as my psych evlauation. My daughter rescheduled her appointments for September 25th and got 3 of them together.

Good luck!

[iluvlongnecks 0]

I called and was told that they would try and book them all on the same day! I sure hope that's the case. I work in a severly handicapped classroom and I'd hate to have to keep taking time off from work (school starts Mon. 8/13). Now I'm thinking I should have asked her if they would be booked on the same day as my orientation or all the evals done on another day.....well I guess I'll find out when they send me the info on the date of the evals.

Your daughter is having the lapband done too huh? My daughter is also considering it , but has decided to wait till after she's done having children. She has 1 active 14 mo. old boy now and plans to try for another in Sept- Oct. I pray this next one will be a girl and she'll be done. She has really bad back issues.

Thanks for telling me about the appt thing. I'm glad I called and asked.

Now I just hope that they do schedule them all on the same day! I'm use to life not being easy and being handed what you get and being okay with it. I'm just happy that I have been considered enough to get this far and that there is hope that I will be approved.....I will be VERY disappointed if I go through all of this in SF and then they deny me! Gosh I don't even want to think like that! I want to be on the Bandster Hall of Fame!! I read about so many others that are sooooo happy with it and are glad they made the choice to do it, that I too want that feeling of no regrets and on my way to feeling and seeing less of me as each week goes by.

You know when I did diets and lost only 25 lbs each time, I remember how good I felt, not just health wise , but mentally too. I am now so much bigger than then that I know this is what I want and need.

Thanks again!!

[Vicki J 0]

Well, you're in my prayers. I know where you're coming from. I hope that this ferritin thing does not prevent me from getting my band.

Hey, my daughter has back problems too. I really hope she follows through on this.

[Vicki J 0]

Good thing we'll be getting skinny with the band. That way there will be room for both of us in the Bandster Hall of Fame!

[Vicki J 0]

Well, I just got called from my PCP and the ferritin levels are from "fatty liver". The treatment for fatty liver is weight loss. So hopefully she will be calling me with my appointment to see the surgeon. Woohoo!:clap2:

[iluvlongnecks 0]

I called and asked about the appts being scheduled on the same day since I live in Sac. I was told that they will try and schedule them all on the same day. I sure hope so. I'm guessing that after I go to my orientation then I'll get word about when the other appts (psyh. eval, diet eval and consult.w/ surgeon) are scheduled.

My co-worker who is also goingh thru this process tells me that I'm pretty well approved, but I don't want to count on that till I see that stamp of approval.

I go tomorrow for my chest x-ray and my EKG on Monday.....then it's the orientation on Sept 11th. Can't wait till I go to that, but am nervous about too.

[iluvlongnecks 0]

WOOO HOOOO!!!!! Let me know when you get your surgery date! I'm so happy for you, it sounds like your headed for surgery. Hopefully I'll be right behind you!

[Vicki J 0]

I got my official letter from my PCP saying that weight loss is the treatment for fatty liver and I'm cleared as far as he is concerned. I emailed Dr. Stiles (bariactric director) and she said if I pass the psych evaluation she will refer me to the surgeon. So that hurdle has been officially jumped.

Thanks for the support. I look forward to seeing everyone on the band wagon! It probably won't be until December but it's coming my way. I can hear the wheels turning on that wagon now.:biggrin1:

[iluvlongnecks 0]

I am so excited for you and I know you must be too. Your just one step away from getting your approval and thats what I want. I went today and got my chest x-ray done and will go Monday for the EKG. Then that long wait till Sept for my oreintation.....I know it's really not that far off , but it's just the waiting that gets to ya....I just want to hear that one important word......APPROVED!! I have done everything that the bariatrics asked me to do, but now I guess I just have to wait till my oreintation in SF to get any word as to what to do next. I'm also guessing that after that, they will schedule me for the psyh. eval. and maybe then I too will find out if I've been approved.

[iluvlongnecks 0]

Hey Vicki J, I have a question for you about fills. Do bandsters have to drive to SF to get their fills or are they able to get them at one of the Kaisers here in SAC.?

[Vicki J 0]

From what I understand we'll be headed for SF for the time being. I have heard a rumor that they are supposed to be getting a bariactric unit up this way but I certainly wouldn't hold my breath.

[smilin_apple 0]

Hey Vicki J, I have a question for you about fills. Do bandsters have to drive to SF to get their fills or are they able to get them at one of the Kaisers here in SAC.?

I called and asked about the appts being scheduled on the same day since I live in Sac. I was told that they will try and schedule them all on the same day. I sure hope so. I'm guessing that after I go to my orientation then I'll get word about when the other appts (psyh. eval, diet eval and consult.w/ surgeon) are scheduled.

My co-worker who is also goingh thru this process tells me that I'm pretty well approved, but I don't want to count on that till I see that stamp of approval.

I go tomorrow for my chest x-ray and my EKG on Monday.....then it's the orientation on Sept 11th. Can't wait till I go to that, but am nervous about too.

From what I understand we'll be headed for SF for the time being. I have heard a rumor that they are supposed to be getting a bariactric unit up this way but I certainly wouldn't hold my breath.

iluvlongnecks - I have been going through the program at the same hospital since November 2006. when I strated it was for bypass but when they started LapBand in January I changed it. They do try to do at least two - three appts. in on day but just to warn you I had orientation on 11/14/06 went back on 11/26/06 for psyhciatric eval/nutritionists one on one appt. Then in January to see Dr. Stiles, then March 23rd to see Dr. Alami (my surgeon). And then a couple of other times to do Lifestyle 2, 3, 4. Since then I had to go back in April and May for the follow up classes until I reach my desired weight for the surgeon. I lucked out to go to Point West Kaiser in June and July and now this month in a week for my current class.

I have been cleared to have the surgery for all since March, but I had to lose a total of 56 lbs. so far have lost 25 lbs...but am going back for follow up w/ Dr. Alami on September 4th. Hopefully I will be where the doc wants me by then about 10-16 lbs more (he said he wanted me to be withing 10-15 lbs. of my goal at my follow up so he can at least schedule the surgery in advance).

As far as the fills go they did mention possibly bringing a Bariatric clinic up this way at least for fills, but no funding for it yet.

If you have any questions just ask...by the way I live in Sacramento.

[iluvlongnecks 0]

Hi April, Thanks for the info. Boy! You've had a long road to travel to get where you are now huh? but I'm sure it will be worth it when you finish your journey.

The bariatrics dept has already had me do all my blood work, chest x-ray and I'm having my EKG on Monday. I'm hoping that because my BMI is lower (37.4) that their not going to require to much of a pre-op diet. Do you think that I could be one of the lucky ones and not have to do a pre-op diet and that way I can have my surgery sooner? LOL.

Good luck to you on reaching your goal weight so that your surgery will be scheduled. It sounds like your doing a great job and your almost there!

[smilin_apple 0]

That is possible...One girl that started in the same group as me was a lot smaller than I am, they only asked her to lose like 15 lbs. and she had her surgery in June. So on average it does take at least 5 months to go through the program but upwards 1 year depending on the person and how much they want you to lose. I know every one is different depending on where they carry the weight in their bodies.

Also keep in mind that the test have to be done within 6 months of your surgery so if you don't get in for 7 months they will make you redo all your EKG, Chest X-Ray and Blood work. I am getting closer and I am hoping the surgeon clears me to schedule the surgery when I meet with him in 2 weeks. If he does I am going to ask to be on a waiting list for any cancellations. This way I might be able to have my surgery sooner since they are so booked out. The only downfall to the waitlist is if they have a cancellation they could ask me to come in as soon as the next day for surgery so it could be totally last minute!