Vicki J

Thanks for the responses. I ordered some socks that go with my TENS machine. Hopefully, they will work. I've used it with the regular pads and it seems to help. I can't imagine what it will feel like having your whole foot being treated with the TENS machine. My DH will probably have to pry me off of the ceiling. LOL I really don't want to use narcotics on a regular basis. I know this is one of the options but that's just not me. Of course, if I get in too much pain I may change my mind. Right now my arthritis is in the beginning stages so it's not too bad. My mother has really bad RA and some days she can hardly walk. My sister is showing up with it too so I want to make sure there is some plan if I get it bad. My PCP said that he will prescribe NSAIDs if I want them. He said that he feels that a lot of this is based more on the bypass than the band. He reminded me of the risks and said that if I want them he'll give them to me. Hopefully they will find something for this if/when I need them. Right now I'll try other things.

So what do you do for treatment of your arthritis?

April - Congratulations on your day finally getting here. I know that you had some worries but I knew you could do it. I'm very happy for you! Let us know how it goes.

Hey Pookie - So you'll be getting your surgery about the same time as I will. Yes, they are slow but I can't beat the price. Also, they are very thorough and make sure that they find out everything that could be a detriment to you. Actually, doing their pre-op meal plan (diet) has let me loose weight and plan for what I am going to do during those first weeks of bandster hell. Hopefully I won't have all the problems other people have gaining weight because I'll just be doing what I am doing now. California, unfortunately, is not getting better as far as Kaiser's bariatric departments are concerned. They are so overwhelmed. From what I hear they are getting 250 new patients per week at just the hospital I'm going to. At that rate it would be extremely hard to adjust fast enough. So, we are slowing down. I think that in the near future they will have to open up some of the other northern California Kaisers to the program. Right now they only have 3 up here. I would be happy if they would just do fills in my area. Driving 6 hours round trip for a fill isn't going to be fun but right now that's what I have. At least going to the classes will keep you feeling like they aren't forgetting you. It's when you don't hear anything that's the worst. Even knowing that it might be as late as the end of February is better than not knowing at all. Good luck on your journey!

Oh yeah...they told me on the 17th when I went to see the surgeon that it will be late February for surgery.:cry

Yeah, it was that way up here too. The old hurry up and wait routine. It was 6 weeks from orientation until I received information on my first appointments. Then it was another 6 weeks before I got to see the surgeon after those appointments. I have been doing this since June 5th. I will not hear anything from them again until probably January since they are so backed up for surgery. So it's going to be a long 3 months now. The Kaiser here views this surgery as elective. I readily disagree with that since we will all develop life threatening illnesses if we don't loose the weight. But I haven't had any luck changing their minds. So much for a loosing crusade. I don't know if you have the Kaiser webpage available to you but I watched that and saw my appointments long before I got their cards in the mail. So if you have it available, watch it. Back here the only thing that will not show up is the psych appointment. Hang in there. It will be worth it in the end. Contact me through personal messaging if you wish. We all need to be supportive through this process.

I know that they are pretty easy to get started with up here. Mainly if your BMI is over 40 you're in. Then you start the frustrating part of it and have to wait months to get your surgery. But it will get done. We have to be ok'd by the bariatric director, dietician, psychologist and surgeon. None of those are hard. They are really strict about wanting people who will follow the program. They said they have way too many people knocking at the door to give surgery to people who don't want to follow their guidelines. Otherwise, it's not hard just frustratingly slow. Good luck.

It is my understanding that the surgery that causes you to get drunk faster is the bypass. I have not read or heard of this effect from the lap band. The reason this happens with the bypass is because they "bypass" the part of the intestine that breaks down the alcohol and puts it directly into the part of the intestine that "absorbs" the alcohol. I would be surprised if anyone would do the surgery if they knew how much you drank. I know that they have been very careful to check with me about drinking.

Shelia - I'm in Northern California and believe it or not between the 3 hospitals up here that do the band there are 3 different policies. You would think that Kaiser would have one way of doing things but they don't. The first thing that you need to do up here is to get your primary care doctor to refer you. If you have a bariatric department down there, call them. The one at South San Francisco was really good about explaining the protocol there. I don't know if they offer the band down there. I have heard that they are offering it in Long Beach. But they will be able to tell you. If they don't offer it, ask them when they plan on offering it. I would be a lot further along in the process if I had asked that question. Good luck in your journey.

I meant for fills. Sorry for the mess in the last post.

<p><p>I was read but don't know for sure that one of the Kaisers have done them for outside patients. You might try them.</p></p>

I wasn't going to reply BUT if you re-read my posts I admitted I worded my POST wrong. It seems that letting it go is not just MY problem. For the record, I could have been asking for my daughter. Sorry if I did someone a favor and if my post brought you two distress. BUT - I'M NOT THE ONE THAT CREATED HIS ATTITUDE OR YOUR PROBLEMS.

I appologize for my lack of ability to word things so that there are no misunderstandings. I will no longer give opinions or information so that I will not make this mistake again. People can rely on you. By the way...that's attitude.

Ok. I didn't ask about me because if I have lost 55 pounds and therefore they are not worried about me. If I came in with a 5 pound gain they would be workable. I also have had a hystorectomy and gone through menopause (all of this is in my chart) and don't have that problem anymore. I asked that way because I have a daughter and friends who are going through this program and I would never want to throw any red flags for them. I did re-read my post and I didn't tell him that it was not the truth. I meant that comment in the post to be a note to you guys that I was not using the real reason. I never told him that women were saying that and it was not the truth. I merely asked him if someone had a weight gain because of their time of month would they be delayed in getting their surgery. That was not the real reason for why I was asked to ask the question. That's what "which was not the truth" meant. I understand you are VERY upset about being told you would be delayed in getting your surgery. HELLO...WE ALL ARE. We were all told that it would be before the end of the year when we started this in spring or early summer. We all have had the disappointment that we will now have more than a four month wait until surgery AFTER the surgeon clears us. We are ALL frustrated with this system. The alternative is to self-pay or not get the surgery. I too have been delayed and delayed due to psychs cancelling their appointments due to jury duty. My surgeon's appointment was scheduled 6 weeks out because of that something that was not my fault. I too have followed the program to a T. BUT - you are delayed NOT denied! I also understand your frustration about having to go to SSF. I traveled from 25 miles east of Sacramento yesterday through all of that traffic. I also lost a full day's work/sick leave for a half hour appointment. I feel like you're looking for someone to take your frustrations out on and I landed in front of you. I was merely trying to pass on information to other people that are going through the program. Trust me I understand your pain. Been there done that. BUT I went to the people who caused it and didn't look for someone on a message board to kick. I didn't create your problem. It's funny that I cut/copied the post I put on this board to the person who asked me to ask and she said thank you.

I am so sorry that you were told by him that you couldn't be scheduled for surgery. I know that would have been the point of melting for me. I have had my share of emotional wrecks through this and yes they should know that we are putting our hearts and souls as well as a lot of time and money into this. I had to take the whole day off of work to drive from Rocklin to SSF for a half hour appt. I totally agree that they need to get this stuff happening up here. As for what I asked, I was requested by another woman to ask how strick they were going to be as far as weight goes. She too is going to see Dr. Le and is having trouble loosing the weight required. Having lost more than the required weight put me in a position of trying to ask without making him suspicious. So in trying to get the information for someone who asked me to, I decided to find out if they would cancel someone's appt for that time of the month. I mean when I even broched the subject I got a really funny look because I have lost twice their required weight loss. The look said "What do you plan on gaining a bunch back?" Having opened the subject I HAD to go somewhere. His response was that they have people banging down the doors and they don't have to give surgery to people who don't want to follow the program. He also said that they would NOT stop surgery because of Water weight gain for that time of the month. He said "we're not concerned with 5 pounds." I am sorry that he told me one thing and then denied you because of that reason. I truly don't think my question caused that and I would do it again because someone who was having trouble loosing the weight asked me too. If it were me, I would call and ask him (or email) if I could prove it was my time of the month water weight gain by weighing in at the class on the 27th would he schedule me? By the way, they are scheduling for late February. Again, I am so sorry that you got denied but I didn't break anyone's trust. I only did what was requested of me.

Well, it sounds like you're on your way. It must be getting pretty exciting. I met with Dr. Le today (surgeon) and I'm now officially on the list for surgery. I'm pretty happy about that. I told him that I am required to take a week off at Christmas time and if they could find any way to get the surgery done then that I would be really grateful. So they put that on a note next to my name on the list but made sure to tell me they were making no promises. Worst case senerio is late February. At least I got that much. I have to go to one of the classes that we must attend after meeting with the surgeon in November in SSF. I couldn't make the one up here on the 27th but Dr. Stiles said that that was ok. It took us 3 hours to get there today and I arrived 8 minutes before my appointment. I was sure sweating it. I asked him how strict they were about weight and he gave me this really funny look because I have lost so much. I had to explain to him that some of the women are concerned about that time of the month (LOL) which was not the truth. Some of the people I have been talking to are having a hard time with the weight loss and they asked me to ask. He said that they have 250 per WEEK joining and that they are not going to give surgery to those who don't want to follow the plan. He did say that they wouldn't worry about 5 pounds or so that women might gain but that they must show that they are following the program. In other words, they are going to be strict. He assured me that we cannot loose too much weight because they go by our start weights as to whether or not we qualify for the program. So, I'll just keep going. Glad to hear you're on your way. Keep me posted on how you're doing.

36 pounds since August...I guess you would. Congratulations on the weight loss.

Congratulations! From what I have heard they are so backed up that those of us who went to orientation in June won't be banded until February or March. You'll do great! I'm so excited for you!

I am so sorry to hear about your hernia. Are you ok with the bypass? I know that when I chose to go with the lapband it was because I don't like the idea of someone rearranging my insides. Having said that, I also told my husband that if the only choice I have is the bypass, that is what I'll get because the only thing there is no choice of is keeping the weight on. So they are booked until February. Is that for the lapband also? I imagine so. Bummer. I was preparing myself for January. Now it will be even further away than that. That also means I may be as far away as March. Lord, keeping motivated is sure hard these days. :eek:

gagabutton - How did your appointment go with Dr. Alami? I meet with him on the 23rd. Did he give you any idea on when you might expect to have surgery? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Hey April - Did you get your surgery?

The first thing we need to know is where you are from. This makes a whole lot of difference. I'm going to the So. San Francisco Kaiser and right now I have heard that it is taking 16 weeks just to get your first appointment after orientation. If things go as they have in the past after that, it will take you probably at least a month to get through your appointments (if you're lucky) . Once you meet with the surgeon it's another 2 1/2 to 3 months until surgery. That means you need to be patient because the process is taking close to 8 months at this point. I started in June and if I am lucky I will have surgery in January. At the time of my orientation they predicted 3 to 6 months. I'm not setting my hopes on that. During this time you will be required to follow their pre-op meal plan which is really a 1200 calorie diet. They don't want you to call it a diet because you are supposed to be changing your way of thinking about that and adapting a new lifestyle. It's frustrating sometimes but the only other choices I have would be to self-pay and I think that I can be patient rather than do that.

Hey Warrior - It was sure a good thing that you caught that. Glad to hear that they've got you going again. These large gaps that they have make it really hard to keep motivated. I had to take a lifestyles class that was about 3 hours long and our initial orientation that was a couple of hours long. I don't know about this 5 hour class. But I hear that even the 3 Kaisers that do this have totally different programs. I have a class at the end of the month on the 27th in Sacramento that I have to attend. I guess I have to go to them until surgery from now on. Once a month isn't too bad though. They also have me scheduled for my phone appointment with the nurse on Friday and then I meet with the surgeon on the 23rd. After that besides the classes the only thing that is left is the pre-op appointment (normal surgery thing) and the surgery. Hopefully I will have the surgery before the end of January. They are saying 2.5 to 3 months after the meeting with the surgery unless someone cancels and I'm sure the waiting list for that is huge. My friend, Kim, just had the surgery on Wednesday and I have also been in touch with someone who got their surgery in July. Both say that they are happy with the staff and are doing pretty well. Kim said that the worst of it is the port site. It was pretty sore the next day. I haven't heard from her since then. She was pretty whipped just from the fact that she had surgery. She said that there was another girl in the room that had had the lap band surgery on the same day and she was up walking around and chatting with everybody. It goes to show you the difference between people. I'm so happy that they have this scheduled for you. You'll have to let me know what it was all about. It will be interesting to find out the other Kaiser's method of operation. I heard one doesn't require a psych evaluation. They're not hard anyway but it's just a curious thing. Keep on them and be the squeeky wheel. This will happen for both of us. I know your frustration. As my sister told me...this time next year we'll be looking back and saying that it might have been frustrating but we'd do it all over again. Take care and email me privately if you want to.

Yeah, I'm doing ok. I got back into exercising a little this week. I need to do better at it but at least I'm headed in the right direction. Since you only have to loose 10% of your weight you'll have plenty of time. I think that if we tried to do the diet to the letter we'd all be crazy. It's surprising how little weight loss it takes to make us feel better. Mark my words, the surprises keep coming. I'm wearing pants that I couldn't get up past my knees when I started this and they are getting baggy. I must have zoomed through the size 16 phase because I don't seem to have many clothes in that size. Since I'm starting to wear that size (either tight 16 or loose/falling off 18) I will need to go and get some things so that I can have them to wear. It's hard because I can either go to work looking like a little kid in Mom's clothes or like I'm trying to be a teenager in tight clothes. Just a little more weight or shaping up and those 16's will be just right. Some of them fit really nice now. I guess it's the difference in the cut. Oh, well. I took a picture of myself today because my friend who got the band on Wednesday wanted to see what I looked like. So I sent her a before and now picture. It was nice to see them together because I can see the difference. I didn't take my measurements when I started and I wish I had. I hear that you can be loosing inches even if the scale has stalled out. BUT I'm not going back so I can get the measurements. LOL Take care and keep me posted on how you're doing. By the way, Kim had her surgery through Kaiser and Dr. Alami on Wednesday. She said her port site is sore but everything is good. She's tired because of surgery but she is feeling good otherwise. She was happy with the staff and Dr. Alami. She's going to keep me posted on her journey so I will pass it on.

Yeah, I do. Mine is an 02 Heritage grey over purple. My husband rides an 04 Road Glide silver over teal. I'm a real beginner riding on my own. I only have a few thousand miles under my belt and believe me that's a real beginner. LOL I've ridden with my husband for over 25 years and enjoyed it enough that I thought I would try my own. I still ride on the back of his sometimes. I think I would miss that if I gave it up completely. It's funny how you have to learn to use your body differently when riding as you loose weight. They kept telling me that the bike would want to go straight and I kept telling them it kept wanting to fall over. Turns out that when you don't have as much weight in your rear it does take more to turn the thing. Did you guys go to Street Vibrations?