momcof3

No, I haven't gone to any support meetings in Sacramento, but would like to. When and where do you meet? I too am getting tired of driving to Richmond, but I can handle it once a month. The price of the gas is much less than the price of the surgery and fills would be if I had to self pay so I don't stress on it. Pam

My doctor at Richmond Kaiser is Dr. Im and he is fine with lapband. None of the staff even tried to talk me into having gastric. There were 17 people in my pre-op/post-op nutrition class and 6 of them were doing lapband. So I think it is becoming more popular. Also they won't do gastric if you are over a certain age (I think it was 60). Pam

Thanks for the informative posts. I am being banded at Kaiser Richmond CA on Aug 26th. I live in Sacramento. I don't know how they decide which Bay Area Kaiser to send us to, but Richmond is the closest to me. I too was given the 1200 calorie food plan to be on until surgery. I was really strict the first two weeks - weighing and measuring everything and writing everything down. Then I kind of knew how much I could eat. I did Slim Fast in the morning for a while and I have also done Smart Ones at lunch a few times a week. I started the process May 9 nad have lost about 27 lbs so far. The surgeon wanted me to lose 20 lbs and I had already lost 12 by the time I saw him. I confess I have eaten a few things I shouldn't have the last few days as I know I will not be able to eat them, not even a bite, for a long time. I think the hardest thing has been giving up my emotional relationship with food. But I am ready to get off this yo yo ride. I don't have a pre-op liquid diet - my Kaiser has you eat your normal 1200 calories even the day before surgery - just have to have Clear liquids only from 4-midnight the day before and take Milk of Magnesia the day before surgery. I will be having my surgery first thing on Tuesday morning as I have a 11:30 am appointment in Radiology before going home. Pam

Hi - my name is Pam and I am getting banded on Aug 26 at Kaiser Richmond CA. I live in Sacramento and I'm a single mom to two boys - 14 and 11 - and one girl -turning 9 next week. I have struggled with my weight since about 3rd grade, but didn 't really start gaining until I started fertility treatments and through 3 pregnancies. I am excited and a little scared at the same time to get banded. I just found this website a couple of days ago and really like it. I started the process the first week of May and have lost 27 lbs so far. How do I put the ticker thing on the bottom of my messages? Pam Sacramento CA getting banded 8/26/08

I am getting banded on Aug 26 at the Kaiser Richmond CA with Dr. Im. I know there are a lot of people in the Sacramento area as I saw them on my visits. I had my orientation on May 9, my surgeon appt the first week of June, psych in July and case manager a week later. I asked why they didn't have someone come to Sacramento once a week for the non surgeon appointments as there are so many patients in Sacramento. She said they won't do that, but didn't really give me an answer why. Pam in Sacramento

Hi - I just found this sight and am really excited I did. I am having my Lap Band surgery on Aug 26 at the Richmond CA Kaiser. I started the process on May 9. I have lost 27 lbs since then. I just purchased my post surgery Clear liquids groceries and am starting to get a little nervous. My dad is going to drive me there on Tuesday morning and I will be going home that afternoon. Pam

Hi - I just found this sight and am really excited I did. I am having my lapband surgery on Aug 26 at the Richmond CA Kaiser. I started the process on May 9. I have lost 27 lbs since then. I just purchased my post surgery Clear liquids groceries and am starting to get a little nervous. My dad is going to drive me there on Tuesday morning and I will be going home that afternoon. Pam