nmbergman

Thank you Ruthi, I've given it a lot of thought. Well, my PCP gave me a referal for Fremont which is a whole lot farther away than Richmond (odd). She said she e-mailed them to ask if they do vertical sleeve but then she e-mailed me to let me know that they "do do lap band surgery". I suppose she really didn't pay attention to my request. I replied and told her we somehow miscommunicated and I am very interested in Vertical sleeve. I explained that it was a much less radical procedure than the Rouen-Y and that I felt much safer with it. Anyway, can anyone tell me how often with kaiser you have to come in for the "education and evaluation and check ups" prior to the actual surgery are required? I am concerned about the distance we would have to travel.

Thank you. I am hoping to go to the Richmond Kaiser center as it would be closest. I just sent an e-mail to my pcp to give me the referal as I already attended the informational class and I think I'm ready to start the ball rolling. I have the whole gamut of emotions right now. Food is such a huge part of my husbands and my social life. We love to entertain and usually that is by food and drink (we BBQ a lot and we also brew beer - really good beer too). We had a discussion last night about this surgery (he needs it too) in that we would both need to do this together. We could still entertain as we enjoy the process of creating and sharing wonderful food but we could only have a bite or two of it instead of full plates of everything. Our kids are finally getting close to independance time (one is begining her 2nd year of college and the other is in his senior year of high school). Anyway, scared, excited, worried, you name it....

Does Kaiser Permanente in the San francisco Bay Area region cover Vertical Sleeve surgery now? I know they used to only do Gastric-Rouen-Y surgery. I don't feel comfortable with the Rouen-Y as it seems so much more invasive and life altering. I think I'm ready now if they do it.