dcokequeen

I was sleeved on 11/29. For me, the most painful thing was the drain. My incisions didn't hurt so much, but that darn drain drove me nuts! Once I had that taken out, I started to feel better. I had a hard time taking the liquid medicine at first because everything felt so tight inside. But after a few days, I started to feel better and was able to take the medicine better.

My link My mom told me about the Dateline show that is linked above. I was discouraged after reading the comments people made below the video. It seems like the more barriatric surgery is out there in the media, the less people really know about it. It is very frustrating that people seem to think this is the easy way out. This process has been one of the most difficult and challenging things I've ever had to do. To struggle all my life with weight problems and now to try to reign it all in. To try to do something now while I'm young to ensure that I will live a long healthy life. To not feel like the fat cow when I walk into a restaurant and feel like everyone is staring at you. And mainly just to feel healthy and be able to do the things everyone else can do, like walk up the flight of stairs at my house without being completely winded at the top and having to sit for a few minutes to catch my breath. No, this is not the easy way out. The easy way out would be to just live with it and let my body kill itself, but I REFUSE to do that!

I agree with you guys. I haven't watched the show yet but I plan on watching it. I was discouraged after reading the comments people made below the video. It seems like the more barriatric surgery is out there in the media, the less people really know about it. It is very frustrating that people seem to think this is the easy way out. This process has been one of the most difficult and challenging things I've ever had to do. To struggle all my life with weight problems and now to try to reign it all in. To try to do something now while I'm young to ensure that I will live a long healthy life. To not feel like the fat cow when I walk into a restaurant and feel like everyone is staring at you. And mainly just to feel healthy and be able to do the things everyone else can do, like walk up the flight of stairs at my house without being completely winded at the top and having to sit for a few minutes to catch my breath. No, this is not the easy way out. The easy way out would be to just live with it and let my body kill itself, but I REFUSE to do that!

YAY!!! I'm so happy for you!!!

Wow!! That's right around the corner!!! Congrats!! I can't wait to hear all about it. :confused:

I was so excited this week to finally get my surgery date set. I've been feeling really positive about the whole process, and I really liked Dr. Yadegar when we met a few weeks ago. So my surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 29 in Lancaster. That's right, I will have surgery the Monday following Thanksgiving!!! It would have been nice to have it before Thanksgiving so I wouldn't be so tempted with everything, but then I couldn't enjoy any turkey. Everything happens for a reason. I have to attend a 4 hour pre-op class and have a final pre-op appointment and then I'm set to go. I'm excited and nervous at the same time, but I know it's the right decision and I will be happy. I'm getting closer!!!

Man, that sucks!!! I agree with you, blaqberry. Perhaps Kaiser should slow down on the classes to allow the log jam of people get thru. Although it was 4 months from the time I was sent to the Options program and when I started classes, and I couldn't wait for them to start!!! LOL!! Or Kaiser should have another facility running to help take care of the people who have already made it thru the classes. Such a pain!!!

Hey everyone! So I finally got my surgery date scheduled. It took a few followup calls to the surgeon's office (Dr. Yadegar in Lancaster), but I now have my date!!! I feel a little anxious, excited, nervous. I've started working out at the gym at my apartment complex, so I'm also a little sore! I'm feeling really good and positive about everything. For those of you trying to get a timeline, I attended Options in Panarama City and am having surgery in Lancaster. From the end of classes to my surgery date, it will be 5 months.

Thank you, nbrett. I'm feeling positive about everything and trying to remain so!

Hey everyone! I thought I'd give this blogging a try. A little bit about me: I am in my late 20's, 5'2" and in a committed relationship of 5.5 years to a wonderful man. We have 2 little kitties that we recently adopted and we have a ball with them around the house. I live in Southern California, and my insurance is thru Kaiser. I have always struggled with my weight. My entire life has been spent always being the big girl and obsessing over food. My biggest problem is that I will eat a normal meal with friends or family, and about an hour later I start to feel hungry and want to eat again. Usually when I'm eating with other people, I stop eating only because they do. Most times I feel like I could just keep on eating. So initially I thought that the lap-band would be a good option for me, but after doing so much research online and attending the Kaiser Options classes, I truly feel that the sleeve will be a better fit for me (no pun intended!). I finished my Options classes in July, and just had my surgeon consult last week. I met with Dr. Yadegar in Lancaster. Everything that I have read about him online has just been glowing, and I was not disappointed when I met him. He was very nice, didn't rush me, spent a lot of time with me and answered all my questions. I feel really comfortable with him, and I'm looking forward to the next step. For me, that next step means going of my birth control pills. Unfortunately my referring doctor didn't tell me to stop taking them (due to the risk of blood clots) and that is the only thing holding me up from surgery. Dr Yadegar wants me to be hormone-free for 2 months prior to surgery. So that puts me in the mid-to-late November or early December range for surgery. Just in time for the holidays!! :thumbup1: I think it will be a good thing though. I'm trying to remain positive about everything, and I know that everything happens for a reason, even this small delay. If anything, it will just give me more time to continue to be completely sure of what I want and how I'm going to achieve everything I'm setting out to do. :001_wub:

Well, ladies I had my surgeon consult today with Dr. Yadegar in Lancaster. He is really nice and sat with me for quite a while going over my medical record and the 3 procedures. I'm really excited to have the procedure with him and feel really comfortable. The only bad news is that he is requiring me to go off of my birth control pills because they can cause blood clots. And I need to be off the pills for 2 months before surgery. Had this not been an issue, I believe I would have been scheduled immediately for surgery. So now I will have to wait until mid-November to early-December for surgery. It kinda ticked me off that Kaiser didn't say anything about going off the pills, since it's been 2 months since I saw the dr at Kaiser and I could have been completely prepared today. So I just wanted to put that out there for anyone else who may be on bc to ask your dr about it. I will have to stay off pills for 2 months prior to surgery and at least 1 month post-op, and he even recommended switching to the patch or another form as the pill won't be as effective.

I didn't get the approval to get my labs done until after the Options classes ended. I wonder if it's different at each location?

@thin2be: Congrats on getting closer to finishing the Options classes!! I was so happy to be done with them, but I also thought they were super informative. I didn't meet my case manager until after the Options classes were completed. That might be because after the classes, some people decide not to do the surgery. My case manager called me to schedule a post-Options appointment with the referring bariatric doctor. She told me to do the blood work, chest x-ray, and ekg to be completely ready for the doctor to give his referral. They run all your Vitamins plus a whole bunch of other stuff (they took 16 vials from me!). These results are needed for the doctor to give his referal to the surgeon. When I went to my appointment, the doctor was able to review all the results and give his blessing. Now it is just a matter of getting in to my surgeon (which is happening on Thursday!) I went to the classes in Panorama City so it may be slightly different in Corona. Perhaps someone else has gone thru the procedure in Corona? I'm not sure if this is standard for Kaiser.

@mommyof4: Everything I have read about Dr Yadegar has been so positive. I feel really good about meeting him next week. @blaqberry: That's really cool that Kaiser will reimburse for gas, etc up to $130 for going to San Diego. I'm also glad to hear that your Options classes are informative. I kinda dreading having to go to them, but now that I've finished them, I really felt that they were helpful and I have a ton of resources to reference for pretty much any question that I have! My folder is like my little map for this adventure!

@humptydumpty: Very cool!!! I'm excited to be taking the next step. I'm really crossing my fingers that they will start discussing dates with me next week. I will definitely let you know how it goes.

So far my week has been great. I had my psych eval and she told me that she thought I was a great candidate for surgery. That is great news for me!! Now I just have my surgeon consult next week in Lancaster. I'm very curious to see what the wait is. They sent me a 30 page packet, and in it, they said that their procedure is educatation classes, surgeon consult, education, pre-op prep, education, surgery, follow up. I contacted Wenda at Panaroma City, and she thought that this is just a generic packet that they send everyone. But since Kaiser already does all the classes, she doesn't think I'll need more education and they should start talking surgery dates with me next week. Keeping my fingers crossed!!! BTW, Wenda at Panaroma City IS the BOMB!!! So anyone who is taking classes there, you will definitely have an advocate on your side. :001_tongue:

thin2be: I chose the Lancaster facility because it's closer to my house. I completed the Options classes early July, did my blood work and tests and got my referral to Lancaster on Aug 9. My consult with Dr Yadegar is on Sept 9, so it took a month for me to get in to see him. I'm not sure if that's his normal time or not. His nurse told me that he was out all of Aug for vacation. I can let you know after my consult how long the wait will be for actual surgery. I'm hoping that I will have all my tests ready to go and we can just go ahead and schedule my date.

@Thin2be: I don't think I have to attend an orientation with Lancaster. They said a lot of their patients are from Kaiser, so they know what we've already been thru as far as the Options orientation and the classes. I can confirm this once I see the Dr Yadegar next month. So excited to hear about your no co-pay. Awesome!! I'm still trying to figure out what my co-pays will be. I think I will contact Wenda to find out.

@Thin2be: At my appt on Monday, I asked Dr Alskaf about hospital stay. He said for the sleeve, it is usually a 1 night stay, usually because you will be scheduled for surgery in the afternoon and they want to keep you overnight to make sure everything is ok. Kristykreem said that the Pacific Bariatric is a 3 night stay. I guess it just depends on your facility. I'm really hoping that I have all my tests done and I'm ready to go when I go to my consult next month. Then hopefully I can get scheduled right away for surgery. @blaqberry: So happy to hear that your co-pays will be so low! That's awesome!

Hi thin2be! The classes do go by fast, so do try to absorb everything. Personally, I was dreading having to do the classes, and I complained about having to go, but now having completed them, I'm really glad that I did. I finished my classes on July8th. I did my blood work, chest x-ray and ekg about 1.5 weeks ago. Yesterday I had my final appt with dr to get referral. I chose the Lancaster facility as well. Every review I have read online about Dr Yadegar has been nothing but glowing. Plus they have another location in Santa Clarita (which is where I live) where I can do follow-up appointments. I called Lancaster yesterday and scheduled my consult appt. I asked the nurse about time-frames. She said that it will really depend on your medical conditions and if Dr Yadegar is requiring more tests. She said typically from consult to surgery, it can take 2-3 months, depending on their schedule. I'm hoping that since I'm a pretty easy case and don't have many other medical issues going on that I should be able to get in sooner than later. Dr Yadegar is on vacation in Aug so the soonest I could get my consult appt was Sept 9. I can keep you posted after my appt to let you know what their timeframe looks like.

@Kristykreem: I had my appointment with Dr. Alskalf this morning. My weight has gone done and I've even lost 3.5 inches on my waist. Amazing!! Best news of all: I received my referral to the surgeon!! Whoo hooo!!!! I can call tomorrow to schedule my initial consult with him. I'm feeling really great right now!

@Humpty Dumpty: I say go for it!!! Stuff what you got!!! A friend of mine purchase ankle weights that are adjustable so she was able to slowly remove some weight as she went for the regular weigh-ins. Might be less noticeable than in your bra. Just wear pants to your weigh-ins.

How funny that the cancellation was you!!! The nurse that called me said there were several cancellations. Perhaps there are other people who are having the same issues with work. It is tough to get to all of these appointments we have to do. I'm lucky because I work in Encino, so it's not too far from the Panorama City location. I have told my direct supervisor what's going on, so she knows that I will have appointments and come in late sometimes. And she's super supportive of me and gets regular updates from me on my progress. Luckily I can just stay a little later to make up the time. Thanks for the heads up on contacting Wenda. I think I will check with her to see where I am in the process.

@Kristykreem: Great news! Dr. Alskalf's office just called me and told me that they had a cancellation, and since all my lab results have come back already, they are going to see me on Monday morning. I will be able to find out then if my referral for Lancaster is already in the works and what the time frame is. I've been thinking about the San Diego facility alot. If Lancaster is going to take a while, I think I might switch.

@realred: Congrats!! So happy to hear your progress. I'm considering making the switch to San Diego knowing how the process seems so much faster. Definitely something for me to think about! @kristykreem: I do know many people who either gained the weight to qualify or puts weights in their pockets to qualify. They do want you to lose weight in class and before surgery, so I don't think it's a bad idea especially knowing how much help you'll get from the surgery. Sometimes you have to play their game! I also would agree with your take on the Options classes for Mr Mason. I felt like the nutrional portion of the classes were the most beneficial. But as far as paperwork goes, they had no idea what they were doing. I was a little irritated on the last class when I was told that I hadn't turned in all my food logs when I had completed everything each week on time. I insisted that I had completed it, but I was told that there was no way that my log could have been misplaced, and I would just have to do an addional week. I took an extra log home, resigned to do another week and feeling frustrated that my referral could be held up because of this. Sure enough, a few hours later I received a phone call that they had indeed found my log in with another class. I would recommend making copies of your logs before handing them in.