almond_jay

I did Options, which was 12 weeks and my surgery is 8 weeks later, so a total of 5 months from start to finish. As for the Vitamin D deficiency, welcome to the club. I think everyone in my class was deficient. I was put on my bariatric Vitamins prior to my surgery but only one tablet now, and 2 after the surgery. I was 6 pounds from my 10%, but keep in mind I had to lose 42 pounds. 36 pounds in 12 weeks, I worked my butt off! He agreed to do the surgery, but warned me not to put any weight on. My pre-op was yesterday, and I had lost 3 pounds, and got the same warning about gaining weight.

36 pounds in 12 weeks is awesome! Ugh you guys are scaring me to step it up. I have hypothyroidism so weight loss is very slow for me. I still didn't think I would loose as steadily as I have been so that is encouraging. I have 30 pounds to lose and only have lost it looks like 10 (if my scale is correct) with only 7 more weigh ins to go. I don't know if I'll make it.

I ordered Vitamin D pills and Iron pills because I know I have a slight tendency toward anemia.

I really need to get on it then. I've only lost 3 pounds and I'm on week 2. So i need to really get on it. Thank you do much for this information @@wheezysmom I'm going to stop my cheat days on Sunday and up my cardio. Thank you

@ 3 pounds for only being on week two is really good? I know some people in my class haven't lost anything. Honestly I need to step up my game too. I have lost 8 pounds but I'm going to class 5 on Thursday. I mean I'm trying to look at it as, going down is good regardless. I think the most important thing is to show you are making an effort and not gaining any weight.

Was it you who said you already had the psych eval? How did you do that already?

@ they kept telling us in class that it would be 4-6 weeks after we graduated that the surgeon's office would call. As you can see from my timeline that definitely wasn't the case. I think they were giving us a greater timeline so we wouldn't keep calling back for an update.

I don't think they choose by last name (that would have sucked for me). They may have chosen by the amount of weight lost though. I lost 19.6lbs during the program, which wasn't even the 10% they wanted me to lose.

@@wheezysmom What area are you located in? I heard that makes a huge difference in the timeline. I just hope that mine goes as quickly as yours. I'm a little worried about my labs though, it looks like everything else is normal but of course I'm Vitamin D deficient. I don't know how long that takes to go up.

You can definitely get on the cancellation list. Also, after my first appointment with the surgeon, which came pretty quick after Options, and he approved the surgery based on your labs and weight loss, he said to expect a call from the scheduler in a week or so. I waited a few days, and called her after 4 days. I didn't want to call to soon, but I didn't want to wait forever either! Although, she still checked my place in order when she scheduled me. I had my pre-op yesterday, and it is starting to feel real now. I am excited and anxious!

@@thegentleoso How long did the process take you from start to finish? Did you loose 10% of your weight when you graduated options?

Sorry so many questions but I work in project management and I'm trying to schedule my projects around when I think I may need to be off work. I also am anxious to get everything done as soon as possible.

Everyone is it just me or do these food diaries really suck? LOL It is so much work on top of my normal day.

@ I have heard of people saying they were put on the cancellation list so when someone drops out they are moved up. Maybe that will help us out. lol

I was also told during the holidays they had less people sign up because people waited to start this month. So hopefully that helps too. What area are you going to?

That sucks to hear this...I was really hoping to have the surgery 1 month after finishing options. But its looking more like 2 months. So I guess my surgery won't be until May. Boo lol

Hi all! I have my second options class on friday... it's going pretty well! I'm at kaiser Baldwin park

How is the diet going for you? How do you like your instructor?

Wow that's fast!! A baby 4 days ago and a WL surgery potentially 4 months after.

Hey guys I will be going to the corona office and I start my options class in February. I hope it goes by fast! How's it coming along for you guys?

>Tell me how it goes today and what they say! Do you know how booked the actual 12 week class is over there? Or when it starts for Baldwin Park?

I have my orientation today at kaiser in Baldwin park ... I'm so nervous and excited

@@morenita2013 how did it go? I got my surgery through Kaiser (although in different state) and have loved working with them. Best of luck to you!

Hi everyone! I'm excited for all of you. I just had my baby 4 days ago. Looking forward to life changing choices. I'm hoping to start the options classes in February. My birthday is on the 18th so... I can't wait to see what happens this year. How is everyone doing in their class? I'm going to the Fontana Kaiser.

Hey guys I will be going to the corona office and I start my options class in February. I hope it goes by fast! How's it coming along for you guys?

@@morenita2013 This will be my 3rd Options class this week in Los Angeles. It's going okay. The only thing is that they say they want you to lose 10% of your weight by the time of surgery but then the dietician says don't make all of the changes at once. Take it slowly. I'm like which one! It will take me a long time to lose 10% as I started at 315. So that's 31lbs in 12 weeks+.

I think the classes are helpful but a bit overwhelming at the same time. The changes are pretty drastic to what I'm used to. However, I'm really excited to move forward with everything. I really hope that the wait for surgery isn't too long.

Which surgery are you having? I'm thinking sleeve but not 100%. I really wanted DS but Kaiser doesn't offer it.

I wanted to update that I'm on week 2 of Options class. So far it is pretty interesting, the only issue I have is that I noticed the instructors really really push gastric bypass.

They used reasoning like we see a lot of people who come back after the sleeve and lap band to get gastric bypass. They reasoned that means people with sleeves gain the weight back and gastric bypass doesnt. To me that is faulty reasoning since if you get gastric bypass there is no other surgery you can have after so thats why you don't see them again. That doesn't mean they didnt gain weight back.

What made you choose bypass vs sleeve?

I'm just starting options. At the orientation they said it's taking anywhere from 1-3 weeks after the last class, but that's Southern California. It's different for the different Kaiser regions.

Did you sign up for your first options class? My orientation is today and I read in some of the other forums that the classes fill up and you can get stuck waiting for the next group to start.

How long did the process take you guys with Kaiser?

How is everything going? I'm going for my Options orientation tomorrow

Tell me how it goes today and what they say! Do you know how booked the actual 12 week class is over there? Or when it starts for Baldwin Park?

I wanted to see how it is going with your options program in so cal....what hospital are you assigned to? I have my orientation tomorrow at los angeles and I'm excited.

I heard of Dr. Keshishian and it looks like he takes insurance. I'm not sure if he takes my specific insurance though. I wish he had a list of insurances he takes on his website like some of the other doctors. The issue is I'm in open enrollment and I have choices between a couple of different carriers and I'd like to know what will give me the best options for surgery before I choose but it is difficult.

The only upside to choosing Kaiser I'm finding is that its pretty clear cut and dry how to get through the process. Plus it seems to be a shorter process, only a 3 month diet program and then good to go for surgery. The downside is they don't do DS for patients under 50 BMI which is bummer. They do, do the sleeve though. Ugh! It's so much to decide! lol

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and I've been reading a lot of the posts but I have a couple of questions. I wanted to know if anyone can recommend a surgeon in Los Angeles CA that takes Anthem Blue Cross HMO.

Also I wanted to know if everyone usually starts with their normal family doctor and then is recommended to a surgeon or do they find a surgeon that is covered by the insurance who does all of the paperwork? Just a reminder I have HMO not PPO.

Thanks!