Kaiser Richmond Pre-op

[smallerj 2]

Welcome Chica, as you see from my siggi I've been at this for a while but not long enough to give it up. Hopefully I'll have my surgery sometime next month. You've come to the right place these ladies are a wealth of info, so ask away.

[swrktp 1]

Reggie girl I can hook you up with clothes. I have three trash bags full on new and almost new 18/20's. Business and casual. I would to ahve you take them off my hands!! :-)

[tamra. 6]

Welcome Chica -

Its different for everyone. I had my orientation 7/28, and I have to loose 30 lbs pre-op. Haven't given up coffee yet. Still working hard at staying on the 1200 calorie diet they have you follow - as of today I am down about 14-15 lbs.

Reggie thanks for the invite! :sneaky:

I am looking forward to dinner FYI....I bought some new york steaks on sale @ safeway, made one last night, OMG SO GOOD!!!

[TEMP TUBBY 0]

WOW! What a treasure trove of info here!

I hope this is the correct place to post a new message, and my apologies if it's not.

I've learned more in the last hour than I have in several months of trying to deal with my insurance company, (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) who tell me that bariatric surgery is NOT covered. I now realize that my doctor can order this surgery as a medical necessity, (yes I was diagnosed with type 2 on New Year's Day) but he's dragging his feet on giving me any pertinent info. I'm wondering about a couple of things right now however and maybe some of you "veterans" out there can enlighten this newbie. First, can I bypass my doctor and just go ahead and start the process by contacting a specialist? Next, is it likely that I may have this procedure completed before the end of '09 as I have already met my $2500 deductible for the year? Lastly, is there any news regarding the "telemetry" type of controlling the band. I understand it is not currently available in the U.S.? Well, I'm sure I will have lots more questions in the future, but thanks to all in advance! I know it's a long hard road, but I'm ready for the trip! (and I thought quitting smoking was hard...HA!)

[AudsMom 2]

Tamra you are doing Awesome!

And one day i promise you wont be looking forward to dinner;)

[tamra. 6]

Hey Heather, what size jeans are you?

Mornin' Ladies!

I was going through my closet just now, trying to find some "weight check clothes" you know... super light clothes! Well, I started digging in the back of my closet where all the super-cute, smaller stuff lives. I pulled out a dress my mom bought me years ago. It's a vintage 40's style shirt-dress. It's brown with tiny pink polka dots and has a collar and it never fit me. When I got it for a friend's wedding I couldn't zip it up. It had been on sale so I kept it. Well ladie, I'm wearing it now! I'm thinking of wearing it to my weight check since it's so light! I love shopping for new clothes in my own closet! It's already paid for and I already like it!

[smallerj 2]

nicole........we beat the record 11 people :sneaky:

[tamra. 6]

Tamra you are doing Awesome!

And one day i promise you wont be looking forward to dinner;)

Thanks!! I only hope I can keep the loss going....

I am starving today, my lettace and tuna lunches are not gettin' it anymore LOL

Also, does anyone know if I have to wait for Drs to get there in the AM to have my weight tracked? my kaiser says it opens at 6 am, but general medicine is 8:30?

[Desperate1 1]

Yeah, two new groupies!!

Welcome LaChica & Temp Tubby.

LaChica - I really depends on the person and how much weight you need to lose before the suregery and how diligently you stick to the diet and lose the weight. Once you lose the weight it's quick - like 3 to 4 weeks!

I went to Orientation on 5.12.09 and my suregery date is 9.14.09 so about 4 months. It could have gone sooner but I stalled on the weight loss for a whole flippin month - grrr!

Temp Tubby - oh so not sure about bypassing your primary care physician. With Kaiser, you can't! but I'm not sure about blue cross/blue shield - I would suggest you contact them and ask for a referral to a bariatrics surgeon - all you need is a 1 doctory to say it's necessary! It is possible to have a surgery date by the end of the year if you step on it! Call your carrier ASAP. I have no idea what the telemetry band is! but you can bet I'm gonna google it now LOL

[Desperate1 1]

You need one of the nurses to weigh you and log it in. contact your doctor and see if he can arrange it thru one of the nurses that start at 6:30!

[riley4183 0]

Holy cow, 11 people! Doesn't anyone WORK anymore?? LOL

Hey Chica, stick with us & go to the suport groups, and you;ll be thru in no time! I had orientation 11/4/08 with Nicole and had my surgery 2/23/09, so it took me 3 1/2 months, during which I lost 43 lbs! I am 5 1/2 months out from surgery now and as you can see I have lost almost 100 lbs. in 9 monthIt's a great pprogram but you HAVE TO work at it, it's not easy! Stick with us though and we won't let you fail :-)

Tubby no help with insurance here hun, sorry! We are all Kaiser patients, everything is covered by Kaiser :-)

Just had 4 girl scout Cookies, can you tell I already faxed Robin my food log? LOL!!!

[LaChica707 0]

Hi Ladies! And thanks! wow it does help to have a crew in diffrent stages!

My orientation is next Friday (8/14/09)

here's my stats:

Current Weight: 201

Height: 5'1 ( i know i'm a legal midget)

Weight goal for Surgery: 185

Weight goal after surgery: 115

What I started doing already-

I dropped dead weight (my ex-husband)

Quit Smoking (I've been a smoker for 16 yrs and just quit !!! haven't had a cigarette Since I got the approval from my Doctor!)

Stopped buying Soda (my caffine)-Diet Pepsi/Coke

Working out consistently 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a week.

Is there anything else I need to get myself doing?? I'm sooo EXCITED!!!

[Desperate1 1]

oh, 2:30 - gotta go - I'll get back to you when I get to the house

[marquint 2]

Yes, Welcome LaChica & Temp TubbyWelcome ! You have found the correct site to get all the information from people who will or have experienced the the whole process. Welcome again and good luck on your journey.

Temp Tubby- You primary would need to refer you to bariatric. at least through Kaiser.

Candra when you google it post it I 'm curious too.

[tamra. 6]

You need one of the nurses to weigh you and log it in. contact your doctor and see if he can arrange it thru one of the nurses that start at 6:30!

gotcha! I'll email my personal dr. now and see what she says...she's kinda weird but thats okay LOL

Riley - mmmmmmm what kind!!!

LaChica - out of curiousity, how did you get your weight loss pre-surgery amount before orientation?