Hello from central California

[SillyGoose 0]

Too bad you couldn't stay with Kaiser. That's what I have and am very happy with my lap band process so far. My first PCP was not for any type of weight loss surgery, but she still let me go through the process anyway. She is retired now that goodness!

Obviously, since I'm with Kaiser, I'm unable to suggest a doctor for you. Do you know anyone who has the lapbad or any type of weight loss surgery? Maybe that person could suggest a Primary Care Physician for you.

Or, maybe you could get in touch with a weight loss surgery office and see if they would be willing to give you any recommendations.

I'm sure something will work out! Good luck to you and I'm sorry I couldn't be any more help.

[JennyLou 0]

I could stay w/Kaiser if I wanted; but I was under the impression they don't do surgery here locally. I do not want to travel to the bay area to get it done. I have the choice of either insurance thru my employer. Did you have yours done in the bay area thru Kaiser?

[SillyGoose 0]

No! I had mine done right here in Fresno! Kaiser got a new doctor back in July of last year that does the Lap Band. He is a wonderful surgeon! There is another gal on this website that had it done by him as well and I believe she is just as happy with him.

To have it done by Kaiser here in Fresno, you first need to be a Kaiser patient for a year. Then, you need to talk with your PCP and let them know that you are interested in weight loss surgery. You need to meet the requirements though. Your PCP will send you to a seminar or orientation where the process will be discussed more thoroughly. The mostly talk about the bypass surgery because the lapband is still so new here.

The whole process takes on average of about 6 months. It took me about 9 months because I needed to quit smoking before he would operate on me - and I'm still smoke free! So, if you smoke, stop as soon as you can so you Don't have to wait as long as I did!

Go visit your PCP and see what he/she says!

If you have anymore questions, just ask! I am leaving for the day, but will get back to you as soon as I can.

Take care!

[JennyLou 0]

that is the best news I have heard all year !, I will get online and make apt w/PCP for this week, I have been patient for a year, dont' need to quit smoking, we will see what she says...THANKS

[SillyGoose 0]

Let me know how it goes!

[pvtash61 1]

:unsure:Hello everyone, I am new to this site and was wanting to get some feedback on a Primary care Dr. Recommendation in Fresno/Clovis. I have had Kaiser for the last year and will have Blue Shield Insurance starting June 1st. I need to find a primary care dr that is Pro Lap Band. Any suggestions, I don't have any other medical conditions I need to tend to, just need to get established w/dr and then get in to see a lap band specialist to see if I can get it done. THANKS

I am a patient with the Advance Bariatrics Dr. Fliex and Dr. Scwartz, they are great! wonder if you call their office they could direct you to a doctor's group they work along with?? I was seen by my cardio doc, and he agreed that the lap-band was a good option for me. So the referal came from him. good luck. they are in Fresno. I was banded on 1/21 have dropped 22 lbs so far, slow but good.

[JennyLou 0]

I got great news today; I emailed my PCP yesterday that I would like her to send me to a bariatric specialist and she emailed me today that she referred me to the Bariatric information seminar. I didn't even have to go see her again. WE had discussed my weight gain at my last visit in February for a physical and lab work. I think it would be best for me to stay on my Kaiser insurance and not switch to my Blue Shield option. I guess that is step 1, I am on way down the Kaiser WLS roller coaster. What should I expect at the seminar? do they weigh me there?

[SillyGoose 0]

That's wonderful!

Yes, they will weigh you at the seminar. Peggy should still be the instructor. She had knee surgery at one point but I believe she returned back to work.

At the seminar, they will discuss both weight loss surgeries that Kaiser does and answer as many questions as they can for you. Then if you still want to pursue surgery, they will instruct you to sign up for the 20 weeks of weight loss classes that is held at the Clovis building. They will tell you that you have to lose 10% of your body weight before the surgeon will operate on you. The good news is, that the surgeon doing the lap band only requires you to lose 5 - 10%. You also need to make sure you meet the requirements. You must be at least a 40 BMI or 35 BMI with 2 comorbidities.

Then they will rotate everyone who signs up at your seminar into ongoing weight loss classes that are being held. Peggy is great and the classes are very informative. Do be aware though, they mostly only talk about the RNY bypass surgery and at times I felt like I was the only one getting the lapband. If this is for sure the surgery that you want, then stick to your guns - Dr. Boghossian will let you decide. If you change your mind and decide to go with the bypass, then that's great too! Just don't get discouraged like I did!

While your doing your classes, ask your PCP to refer you to the pre op appointments that you need to have done. Don't wait till nearly the end of your classes like I did. That was another reason why it took me a bit longer. You will need a Psych eval, EKG, chest x-ray and lab work I think. I don't remember it all, but it wasn't bad.

I'm excited for you! Stay in touch!

[JennyLou 0]

Thanks for the info Silly Goose. If they tell me to loose weight I will be below the 40 BMI; hopefully they go with the weight at the seminar. Currently I am like 40.6, I am unsure of my height too. On all my Kaiser visits it says 5 ft., because that is what I have always told them. Do they check your height too? My husband told me I was a little over 5 ft when he checked me; what does a truck driver know about it though. An inch or two makes a big deal with the BMI calculation. I was so excited yesterday when I read the PCP email that I cried. I will be on the phone w/health education today to get the orientation scheduled. Good thing I wrote into this website or I would have switched my insurance and had to pay an $1800 deductible to get it done thru Blue Shield; My mom says God is on my side or I never would have found this great site. :thumbdown:

[SillyGoose 0]

Your welcome!

They will go with your initial weight at the seminar. A lot of people get under 40 before surgery as they lose weight. I don't remember them ever checking my height, but they may have and I just don't remember. If I were you, just to play it safe, I would not try to lose any weight before the seminar and maybe eat a heavy meal right before they weight you that first time LOL!

I'm going to have to agree with your mom - God is definitely on your side and He always has a plan!

[JennyLou 0]

I am scheduled for seminar May 20th, in two weeks. The fun begins, I am so excited.:thumbup:

[heartfire 4]

Hi Jenny!

So glad you found this site and posted on this thread! I had my surgery done with Dr. B at the Fresno center the 2nd month he was here! I think he's great! Fantastic surgeon!

I haven't been to Peggy's classes since August, the week before I had surgery I "graduated" out of the class. I'm hoping that they are focusing more on LB now.

If you have any questions, please ask. I had to pay $100 for the classes and only my co-pay for all of my appointments, including surgery!

DO NOT TRY TO LOSE WEIGHT RIGHT NOW!!!!! And I hate to say it, but don't sweat it if you actually gain a little before your WI at seminar. That is the weight that will be your official start weight. What you weigh at surgery doesn't matter unless Dr. B has given you a specific number. He won't talk about that until you actually meet with him right before surgery. But once you are approved and have gone through the classes, do not gain any weight. He WILL cancel surgery!!!

If all of your records say 5ft., then you are 5ft tall. Just stick with that. They didn't check my height. I have no idea if they have started, don't know why they would.

Take care and enjoy the ride!

Edited May 7, 2009 by heartfire
oops!

[JennyLou 0]

Michelle, thanks for the info. I enjoyed reading your blog about your journey to get the surgery done. I too am glad they are doing LB in Fresno. My seminar is in two weeks and I have lots keeping me busy with kids activities and work so I know time will fly. I really appreciate all the input from you and sillygoose; nice to see two others close by that have been to the same Kaiser and are happy with the surgeon. I hope to hear more from you in the future and wish you and the family a nice summer, stay cool and I am sure I will have more questions as things with me progress. thanks again, JENN

[heartfire 4]

You are very welcome. Always happy to help, if I can!

There will be times when you think things are moving slow, usually in between appointments or classes but it really does go by fast. I look at last year now and it seems like such a blur!

I really need to keep up with my blogs but I just don't think about it! I'll have to go re-read them to see "where" I was when I wrote them! That's always fun!

Holler if you need anything!

Take care, Jenn!

Hey y'all!

Maybe later down the road we should try to get a LB meet for us central Californians! Not just Kaiser but all of us! Might be fun!

[SillyGoose 0]

Hey y'all!

Maybe later down the road we should try to get a LB meet for us central Californians! Not just Kaiser but all of us! Might be fun!

I'm up for that! I can never make it to the one at Kaiser because of my work schedule.