Anyone starting their journey in San Diego Kaiser?

Photo925 · October 9, 2014

Hi Debbie,

Keep asking questions!! Im happy to help!!

Im a bad example of how long it takes from the end of classes to surgery date because of my embolism. I had to wait longer because Dr wanted me to finish my blood thinners first. I finished class in May and had surgery in August, but I would say most of the class had surgery within two months of the class ending. A word of advice, when they send you for labs or to take care of something, do it right away. There's so many people waiting, so even waiting a couple days to get blood work can push back when they call you by days or a week even.

For my preop labs, there were a whole bunch of tests, but I really just had to give blood, so I couldn't name them all!!

For the 100%, no they are not super strict (they will act like they are) all that happens if you don't lose the 10% is that you have to go see Dr. Ray once more after the class ends, before they order your labs and send you off to Pacific Bariatric. Because of that appt, there is like a two week delay for surgery. There was only one person in my class who lost the 10% and she of course had surgery first. I would definitely try to lose it because it will save you some time of waiting. Now, once you meet the surgeon, you absolutely cannot gain any weight or they can cancel your surgery (of course I've heard of people who did gain and it didn't effect the surgery at all) but I believe that is dependent on your particular situation. The way I see it, every pound you lose preop is one less you need to lose post op!! (It's still hard though because you can sometimes get the "food funeral" mentality and have a lot of "last meals"

I don't know a great deal about the bypass because I went into this knowing I wanted the sleeve. But yes, it is true that the hunger goes away. I can say that there are days where you feel a little hungry, but it's usually head hunger and I'm just bored so I find something to keep me busy. You almost have to remind yourself to eat every once in awhile.

Hope that helps.

Please let me know if you have any other questions

plussizecrossfitter · October 10, 2014

@@Photo925, I'm so glad to hear everything is going well! Very excited to hear about the lack of hunger and not always thinking about your next meal... Because that's exactly what it's like for me too. It would be nice to not think that way or always be hungry as I am now. My mom lost a lot of weight and she doesn't like a lot of the things she did before, so I'm happy to hear that's true so far for you too. I am starting to wean myself off diet Pepsi and artificial sweeteners. I know the sweeteners make me hungry. It's hard because I need a boost in the morning and I can't drink coffee!

Sorry to hear that you haven't been released for working out yet! 10lbs isn't much weight... My purse probably weighs at least that! I miss working out terribly--found out last month I actually fractured a bone in my foot four months ago so not allowed to do anything but swim for another 2-3 months!

Great questions @candidate and great answers @@Photo925! Things I hadn't thought to ask about. Thank you for confirming about getting tests done ask quickly as possible... I got them as soon I could thinking that if I got everything done right away I'd maybe get through the pack faster. I was approved within 2 weeks of orientation. There weren't that many people at my orientation though.

I kind of already had my food funeral... I was horrified because I was craving things I never eat! I think between no crossfit and eating I gained 10lbs (whoops) but I'm over it now. I'm so ready to start losing! My family is totally behind me on this so I'm really happy about that!

@candidate, I plan on getting the sleeve. I had always sworn I would never get surgery as I only knew about bypass and lap band. A friend of mine that has struggled with her weight all her life like me told me she had the sleeve surgery in May 2013 (she looks AMAZING!) and so I started researching. It seems very reasonable for me. There were (at least when another friend had bypass years ago) a lot more risk of complications and malnutrition with the bypass operation. I didn't like what the surgery entailed. The sleeve doesn't mess with the entrance/exit of your stomach and I think it's a much more elegant solution.

Cheers ladies!

Jen

The Candidate · October 10, 2014

@@Photo925 thank you again for your response! You are so spot on about needing to lose as much as possible pre-op, and I am definitely working on it. I only lost 1 pound between orientation last month and my appointment with Dr. Ray but as long as it isn't a gain, I'll take it! You're right too about keeping on top of those labs/test requests being key to getting a heads-up on a surgery date.

@Plussizecrosstrainer so good to hear from you! Your comment about how much your purse weighs really made me laugh, and I hope your foot gets better soon. It's hard enough trying to lose weight without being sidelined by an injury. Have you heard back yet on when you will be starting the Options classes? BTW I'm with you 100 percent on those food funerals! And for me it was Coke Zero (and sometimes regular). I've been off of them for about a month now. It was easier than I thought it would be.

I am so thankful to have found this forum. It helps tremendously to have first hand knowledge from people who are going through the exact same experience. I did a lot of research beforehand so I felt prepared for the orientation, and now I am feeling even more prepared for what comes next with the Kaiser experience, thanks to the two of you.

Like you @Plussizecrosstrainer I never really considered the surgery before, even though I've known about it for years. I know two people at work who have had it done (the bypass). The first one to undergo the procedure regained all her weight. I was able to witness firsthand that the reason she gained it back was because she eventually returned to unhealthy eating and also stopped exercising. It's the classic example of having your cake and then wanting to eat it too.

But the second one has kept it off and I've really been inspired by her. Her success paired against the other's failure really bought it home to me exactly what I have to do in order to be successful myself. This has to entail a lifelong commitment to changing your lifestyle or it will all be for nothing.

So it's only been in the last two years or so that I've started to believe that this might be an option for me, and when I found out that my insurance covered it there was no looking back. I truly hope I'll be one of those people that in retrospect says: "I only wish I had done it sooner."

I had my mind already made up that I wanted the sleeve like the both of you. My only worry is that I've heard and read that heartburn is significantly increased with the sleeve so I have concerns that the surgeon might say it's not a good option for me, as I already suffer from it. But I won't know for sure until I reach that stage. If given the choice though, I'm definitely going for the sleeve.

I can't wait for the day when my mind and body are finally working in concert towards a healthy and more fulfilling life. I'm more than ready for the sacrifices and work I know I'm going to have to accomplish to make that happen too. Right now it seems like I'm in a constant war with myself and I've somehow become my own worst enemy. Those days of yo-yo dieting are now numbered and I couldn't be happier.

Thanks again to the both of you! I'm sure I'll be back with many more questions @@Photo925, and @Plussizecrosstrainer, it seems as though we're at almost the exact same place in our journey so it will be wonderful to chart our successes!

Have a great day!

plussizecrossfitter · November 9, 2014

Okay, trying this for the 3rd time! Every time I start a reply it disappears before I can post it...

Hi @@Photo925 and @@The Candidate! How are you two doing??? Debbie, when do you start your classes (or have you already)? I start my classes this Wednesday! Very excited and a bit nervous!

What kinds of things do we cover in class? How to eat post surgery I hope! I'm most intrigued by how small my stomach will be... And how little I will be eating at a time. Do we have "homework?"

Classes better signal the end of my food funeral... Though it's been more out of boredom than anything. Of course it's going to be hard because this coming week because it includes my birthday... And even though I deliberately didn't plan a get together with friends I still have plans with family and of course I get a cake at work = I did survive Halloween and didn't eat a single piece of candy. Pretty proud of that!

Also, I have successfully given up diet Pepsi! It's been a week and a half and I've only had one moment of craving one, but it passed shortly thereafter. Am avoiding artificial sweeteners and have also cut down on caffeine.

Hope all is well with you both!

Jen

The Candidate · November 9, 2014

Hi @@plussizecrossfitter, so very good to hear from you again! My classes start this Thusday and I am so ready to actively be doing something to get this party started. In some ways the time has been going by pretty fast, but on others days I get a little down about the long waiting period. I saw Dr. Ray on the 6th, so I've been waiting to start these classes for over a month now!

I've been pretty on top on the exercising portion. I'm a demon on the treadmill, and I only wish I had one of my own. (I'm hoping to buy one sometime in March). On the other hand I've attended more than a few of my own food funerals along the way. Still I'm excited for the first class weigh in next week. I don't own a scale (also an intended purchase) but I few as though I've list some weight, so we'll see.

Congratulations on getting through the Halloween candy barrage, as well as your upcoming birthday! I think you're entitked to a little indulgence considering you still have six months of classes to wade through, so try to enjoy your day as much as possible. My trial of fire comes the very day of my first class. My office always throws this big Thanksgiving luncheon each year and it just happens to fall on that day!

How's the foot coming along? And @@Photo925 we sure would like to hear a post op update from you when you have a chance!

Take care,

Debbie

lildawtee · November 9, 2014

Hi everyone I haven't been here much because I was taking my classes! You are going to Love them! Some of you at the beginning might not be to happy about the subjects because it covers many things we already know, like what brought us to the class but go with it, I promise it will get better! I hope you all have a group as close as the one I have (we are about 16 and of those 13 of us are very close and have a secret Facebook group) the support the we give each other is amazing we are so close we feel like we are brothers and sisters! I guess that is also a reason why I'm not here that often. Anyway in two days I'm having the surgery with Dr.Zorn and I'm so excited and nervous! Tomorrow I start my all day clear liquid diet and I'll go to my pre-op appointment at the hospital where I'm going to get checked in and talk a dietician, talk to the anesthesiologist and fill out paperwork! Then Tuesday I have to be there at 7:30 a.m. and my surgery is scheduled for 9:30 a.m!

The six months went fast! You will get a binder with all the information you need. You will have visits from barbaric patients that all ready had the surgery (ask all the questions you have then) but that is almost towards the end of the six months.

It is very important that you go to support groups (after you are all done and had the surgery) so you don't gain the weight back, accountability is the key! Plus Pacific Bariatric requires you to go one time before surgery and two after surgery but make it a priority to go as much as possible, you can start now if you want. Go to their page and look for support groups in your area!

A good book to start reading besides the classes is "Success Habits of Weightloss Surgery Patients" by Collin M. Cook (no need to buy the workbook!).

Start tasting Protein Shakes, Premier Protein 30 gr Protein sold at costco is one that most people like but there is Muscle Milk Pro 40 sold at the VitaminShoppe also tastes good and it gives you 40 gr of protein and its not bad but we have heard that our taste/likes on food will change so have a couple of option to choose from. Start drinking 64 oz. of Water everday or build up to it!

Gosh I'm sorry to be all over the place with information!

I wish you all a great journey! ????????????????????????????

Edited November 9, 2014 by lildawtee

plussizecrossfitter · November 9, 2014

Hi @@lildawtee and @@The Candidate!

@@lildawtee--How exciting to be so close! I'm really hoping I'm in a class like yours =) I keep hearing about classes being really close so now it would be disappointing if I am in a class that's not! As much as I'd like to get to the surgery quicker, like my friend did (3 months start to surgery), i do really think kaiser's structure gives us a much better chance of being permanently successful... And that is super important to me! I'm ready to see the new me!

I found a few well rated cookbooks for life after surgery so hopefully that will give me something to play with. I already do a Protein shake a day typically though I'm wondering how that will work when I have a 2oz stomach. I do it now because when I'm not injured like I am now, I work out hard and also because I don't eat enough Protein in diet alone. I'm hoping they will help me figure out how to get more in. Right now I use Isobolic (which is a bit sweet) and I have used Simply Pure Nutrients as well. I am open to new ones =)

I am worried about losing my hair. I seem to every time I lose weight... And when I'm protein deficient! I'm taking hair Vitamins now and have worked out a deal with my hair dresser so coloring my hair won't be so damaging.

Who was your teacher? I am a scheduled to have Marlena. Seriously can't wait to get started!

@@The Candidate --I feel exactly the same way! It was a little over a month ago that I saw Dr Ray! I was hoping I could get my classes sooner too, but the two that started before mine were either in the morning or all the way down in Chula Vista, which would be pretty much impossible for me to get to on time with traffic. I hate driving down there! So November twelfth it is. Only bummer is I'm guessing this session will take longer because it has Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve in its path!

I am so ready to get this going too! I know that once I start classes it will come easier for me. I'm happy that the classes are going on thru the holidays because I think that will help me make better choices for sure.

My foot is finally starting to improve. I was really getting nervous because it didn't seem to be until a week or so ago. Started noticing it wasn't hurting as much so that is a very good thing. I'm still waiting for podiatry to call and set up my follow up appointment. I'm hoping I can go back to crossfit soon. I know it's going to SUCK in the beginning but I've done it several times before and I'll do it again!

Since we're seeming to start classes about the same time I hope we can stay in touch =)

Cheers!

Jen

plussizecrossfitter · November 9, 2014