mb20mom

Tiff, good luck with the quitting. I finally quit almost 2 yrs ago and gained 30 lbs! I used Chantix and a book called "The Easy Way to Quit Smoking". It took awhile to sink in, but the book talks about how you have to be joyous about your decision to quit, and not deprived, and that helped me alot. I was free, no longer a slave, and that was a happy thing, not a thing to feel deprived about. Weird, but it worked for me. And I finally understood the importance of not having "just that one cigarette" while trying to quit. That will never work. Tiff, you've made your weight loss goal, doesn't that make you feel empowered to conquer something else like the smoking? Funny, it's because I quit that I felt empowered enough to get the weight off and have the surgery! Good luck to you, you can do it!:thumbup:

Yay! I know exactly how you feel. I just got my date too...Jan. 26 and I can't stand it! I can't believe it's finally happening. Good luck and keep us posted!

Funny you should say it like that, since I keep looking ahead to my surgery as a tool to make me a "normal" eater. I am so excited to just be able to look at food like normal people or skinny people do. I ate what I wanted this week and my surgery is in January. Next year I look forward to being "normal"!

Wow, great job on the weight loss during Options! I lost 30 lbs during the classes which I finished in early Oct. and I just finally met with my surgeon today and got a date...Jan 26! I cant believe how long this has taken to get to this point (since Feb). Where are you having your surgery? I'll be at Kaiser Harbor City. I could've had it done already if I'd gone to the West Los Angeles location, but I wanted to wait for Dr. Zane. He's done over 500 sleeves and is head of the Kaiser bariatric program I believe. Hope you get your consult appt. soon...good luck and keep us posted!

You say you have an appt. with a surgeon already? I know things are different there, but that sounds unusual. Here we can't expect to see a surgeon until Options classes are complete and your referral goes thru. I've been at this since March and just yesterday I finally got a call that I'm now up on their waiting list and I will have my first consultation with the surgeon on 12/22. I hope they've streamlined the process and you won't have to wait so long. It's very frustrating to wait for something you want so badly. Could it be that you're not seeing a surgeon but seeing the bariatric doctor who works with you during the Options program? Just curious.

Oh yes I can completely relate to how excited you must be! After many many months I am excited just because I finally have a consultation appt. with the surgeon. It's not until 12/22, but hey, at least I'm in there...(I have Kaiser and while I'm thankful that it's paid for, I've been at this since March and am a little frustrated with the waiting). Good luck to you and I hope you keep us informed of your recovery. I agree with you about being prepared because of this forum. It has been a huge confidence booster and I too feel totally at ease with my decision too. Sweet dreams!

I actually started out wanting the LapBand, but as I went along, I started learning of many complications with restrictions, fills, ports, etc., and found that many people were converting from the band to the sleeve and that they found it so much better. Kaiser keeps changing their minds about whether to do band surgery anymore. They were on and off 3 times while I was in the Options program. The sleeve sounded perfect for me because I'm so tired of being hungry all the time, and it will force me to eat smaller portions. The RNY didn't interest me at all...way too evasive with the rerouting of intestines, and I always thought that RNY patients look malnourished. After reading this forum for so long, I don't think there is anyone out there who regrets their sleeve. So many people have said it's the best thing they ever did. After being so successful at losing my 30 lbs, I actually considered no surgery, thinking maybe I could do this on my own, but c'mon, who am I kidding? Ever since I fully decided to have the surgery, I'm very excited to get it done and start my new life. Now if only Kaiser would call me....

I'm going thru Kaiser in Southern California, and yes, they do offer the sleeve. It takes a long time though, as you are required to complete 5-6 months of Options classes (I think it was lowered from 24 wks to 20 wks now) and lose 10% of your weight before getting the surgery referral. Things may work differently in No. Calif., but that's what is required here. I'm on the waiting list for a surgery consultation now, and it feels like it's never going to get here. I've been at this since March, and my patience is wearing thin, but I try to remember that it will all be worth it in the end. Good luck to you on your journey.

OMG that's one of those things I hadn't thought of! Won't it be wonderful to actually fit better in the bathtub?? I'm not sleeved yet, and the waiting is killing me...but things like that just make me remember that this long wait will be worth the results I'll get. Thanks for that.

Thanks for posting all the little details. It helps those of us that are not yet sleeved, and helps us be that much more prepared. I see more and more people posting that the surgery was really not a big deal, and that also helps. Good luck with your recovery. :001_huh:

I don't think so. They want to know that you've tried many times to lose weight and failed. You'll want to list all the different ways that you tried, like Jenny Craig, WW, Nutrisystem, Atkins diet, etc. They're looking to see that this isn't your first attempt at losing weight, that's all. I'm sure that once you start listing them you'll fill up years worth of attempts, not just 6 months. My classes are over, but they told us at the end that they are approving the Lap Band again. I'm still doing the sleeve, and I'm on the waiting list at Harbor City for it...just waiting for my call...Good luck with the classes!

Oh congratulations! I am still waiting for my date, so i know how excited and anxious you must be feeling. Just think, the new YOU begins tomorrow...you are so lucky. From what I've read on this forum, I'd say you need to get to the store and make sure you have some Crystal Lite, chicken broth, SF Jello, and SF popsicles. Good luck tomorrow, and post as soon as you can to let us know how you're doing.:sad0:

Thanks for the tip! My doc mentioned trying Peanut Butter in the morning for more protein too. I guess I could try eggs instead of Cereal...is there ever a good time to eat the fruit that won't make me hungry afterwards? I can give up the yogurt, but I love the melon. Speaking of eggs, why don't I ever hear of sleevers eating them? Sounds like it would go down easy and a good source of protein. Too much fat? I'll let you know how I do with the protein breakfast. :bored0:

No, they will let you choose your surgery, don't worry. They will constantly warn you that it's always up to the surgeon. I really think they say this just for liability reasons, so you can't say you were given any medical advice by them because they aren't doctors that teach the classes. Pacific Bariatric is just one of the places that Kaiser uses as a contracted surgery center for bariatric surgery. They don't do the sleeve there, but you can certainly get the sleeve at another Kaiser location. Many more Kaiser hospitals are doing their own surgeries now such as Harbor City and West Los Angeles. And honestly, by the time you finish Options, I bet there will be one closer to San Diego. Don't get discouraged. I'm sure they told you that it would be some 3 month wait to get into the next Options class, and they'll end up calling you in 2 weeks and ask if you can start. And honestly, the people that give the Options classes, aren't that well-informed about the actually surgery centers. You'll be fine, you just have to be patient to wait it out.

So glad to hear it all went well. Wow, 30 lbs? How was Harbor City and how was Dr. Zane? Keep us posted on your progress, and congratulations on finally getting sleeved!:bored0:

Wow. I just wanted to tell you guys how helpful this is for someone who is still waiting to be sleeved. It's amazing to me how little everyone is eating. I am anxious to stop being so hungry all the time so I can eat like this. Just to take you back to the old days, this is what I eat in a typical day: 7am: Bowl of cereal-usually Raisin Bran 9am: Yoplait Lite yogurt 11am: 1/2 cantaloupe, cut up (I seem to be starving in the mornings) also a handful of cashews, trying to curb the hunger I get from eating the melon 12pm: Lean Cuisine 3pm: Lg bunch of grapes, maybe pretzels or ritz crackers 5:30pm more cashews while making dinner 6-7pm: dinner varys, usually chicken or Pasta or steak, whatever we make I eat. 9pm: Creamsicle ice cream bar (100 calories) Not sure how many calories I eat (maybe 2000) but I can tell you I've consistenly lost a pound every week for the past 6 months, which is when I started the Kaiser Options program. I must have been consuming over 4000 calories a day prior to that, I'm sure. Prior to Options I was eating everything I wanted, all the time. Usually fast food for Breakfast and lunch, no holding back for dinners, and of course the best ice cream or sweets for late night TV watching...ughhh. I'm so ready for my sleeve, and so tired of being hungry! Just waiting for my surgery date.:001_tt2:

OMG I think that would have freaked me out too! I just wanted to wish you all the best for tomorrow. I'm still waiting for my consult call from Dr. Zane's office, so I'd love to hear every little detail of your experience there. I've heard nothing but great things about him, so don't worry, you're in good hands. I know your journey has been long, just remember how excited you are to finally get this done. I look forward to my day very much....Take care and welcome to the new you.

I agree with you. I too was set on getting the LapBand, but fortunately since I've been forced to wait it out 6 mos thru my Kaiser Options program, I've had the good sense to switch to the sleeve. I am still waiting for my surgery date, but thanks to all the great information I've seen on this forum, I feel ready and well prepared. I love hearing about everybody's surgery experiences and helpful information about what to expect. For instance, I know I will stall in week 3, thanks to reading about it here, and I will expect it now. And just the other day I learned about blue farts! ha ha... Good luck on your surgery, and I hope to be able to share my story soon.

Yep, that's it exactly. And during those 24 weeks you will be expected to lose 10% of your body weight to qualify for the referral to surgery (the Options program is now only 20 wks though). And you can't miss a single class without making it up. It sounds stupid, but it really does help you prepare. I can see the benefit of it now, but at the beginning I just wanted to get my surgery asap. I honestly think I wouldn't have been as successful if I'd had it back then. Now i know what to expect, and I've actually decided to have the Sleeve instead of the LAP-BAND®. If I had rushed in to it, I might have made a wrong decision.

OMG that's awesome! And you switched to the sleeve like I did, that's great. I want to know everything, so keep posting about your experience, as it looks like I will be seen by Dr. Zane also. I'm sure you're nervous and excited at the same time. Oh, good luck and congratulations on finally getting to the end of your long journey! I will be thinking of you on Friday and I hope all goes well.:frown:

Welcome to Options! I have one class left and met with the doctor today and he's referring me to Harbor City for my Sleeve surgery. I started out wanting the lapband, but have changed my mind and am very excited to get the sleeve. I hope to get Dr. Zane. We were told many times back and forth that Kaiser was doing the band, then they weren't, and just last week said again that they were, so who knows what the story will be by the time you get there. Options is a very long journey. At first I hated that it was 6 mos (only 20 weeks now I heard), but after a while you begin to really appreciate this time to prepare for surgery. I was able to lose my 10% weight requirement, and now will be waiting to hear from the patient coordinator to get my surgery date! I think I learned about as much, if not more, from visiting this forum and the VSG forum (verticalsleevetalk.com) than I did in the classes. I hear that each location is very different, tho. I now feel very prepared and excited for my sleeve. Good luck!

I'm in the 6 mos of classes right now, and as long as you lose your required 10% weight during the 6 mos, you'll pretty much be able to get the surgery...although the final determination is from the surgeon. You won't even get referred to the surgeon until almost to the end. You'll see another bariatric doctor where you take the classes, and he will be the one referring you to the surgeon. It's a very long process, but I'm glad, because I've gone back and forth many times between the Lapband and Sleeve, and at this point since I've been able to lose 28 lbs on my own, I may not even get the surgery after all, I'm still on the fence about it. Go to the orientation and just be patient, you'll be on your way in no time. Good luck!

Welcome to the Options program! I have 4 classes left to go. But mine is 24 weeks, they just recently shortened the program to 20, so lucky you. I'm curious, they told us a few weeks ago that Kaiser has stopped the lapband. I'm getting the sleeve, so it didn't matter to me, but what did they tell you in orientation? I think my surgery will be either at Harbor City or West LA, and I'm all the way in Corona which is an hour away. It's good that you're on here, because I think I've gathered more information from these forums about the lapband than I did in the Options classes. They seem to only talk about the RNY (bypass). The nutrition information is good though, and the emotional eating part was helpful. Good Luck!

Hmmm, it seems every location at Kaiser has different information...we were told last month that the lapband was no longer being provided by Kaiser due to too many complications...but you say you're having it done at Harbor City? I have 4 classes left and met with the doctor last week and he is referring me to West Los Angeles Kaiser Hospital for my sleeve surgery. No mention of this location was ever mentioned in our classes, and right now there is no wait. I didn't think it would go this fast and didn't even expect it to be a Kaiser facility doing the surgery, since all they tell us in class is about the contracted surgery centers. And since it's a Kaiser facility doing my surgery, he didn't even need to have me do any pre-op tests, so I'm wondering if I'll have to drive to LA many times for stuff (hour away). Please keep me posted...good luck!

I have So Cal Kaiser and I'm in their 6 month Options program which is required before any bariatric surgery can be approved. They used to offer the LapBand until just a few weeks ago...too many complications so they stopped. They still do the RNY (bypass) and the Gastric Sleeve, which is what I plan to get. I was told last week that my surgery will be performed at the West Los Angeles Kaiser hospital. During the Options classes you must lose 10% of your body weight. At first I thought the class part was stupid, but now I realize how well it's prepared me for my surgery and how to eat. I've been able to lose 27 lbs so far, and honestly sometimes I think maybe I don't need the surgery and that I can continue losing on my own. I first went in to get the LapBand, but once I learned about the Sleeve, I decided it to be a better choice for me. I highly recommend you go through the program at Kaiser.