Hello everyone, my name is Kristina, and I am new to the idea of being banded. My doctor recommended the surgery to me and I have an Introduction to Gastric Surgery meeting on Monday. The doctor says I'm an excellent candidate, healthy, no medical problems of any kind, just overweight. I'm 26, 5'8" and weigh 270 pounds. I've gained 70 pounds over a time period of less then 5 years. Mostly due to eating out of stress and having 3 babies in that period. I go to Kaiser in Roseville, California, and I'm curious to see if anybody has any recent knowledge about the process of going through Kaiser. I know there's orientations, support meetings, tests, appointments, and a mandatory weight loss. My BMI is 41, and I'm neverous about losing the weight and then not qualifying for the surgery, because I've heard that happens to some Kaiser patients.

I'm ready for a big change, I have kids I need to be healthy for.

Hi Christina, congratulations on your decision, I got into this also on my PCPs recommendation. I had diabetes etc. and weight loss

was about the only solution. This surgery requires lot of education to be really successful, and as far as I know, your weight at your

initial seminar is what they base your BMI on. Maybe someone with more experience with Kaiser will chime in.

My kids are grown, but I've got a slew of grandchildren I'd like to watch grow up. I hope everything goes well for you. Best of luck.