I'm going to the initial meeting at Kaiser and am just curious how long the process is when going through them. I know it's a 12 weeks class, but how long afterward is the surgery?

Thanks!

I'm going to the initial meeting at Kaiser and am just curious how long the process is when going through them. I know it's a 12 weeks class, but how long afterward is the surgery?

Thanks!

What Kaiser are you going thru? Each one develops their own process with the basics. The South San Francisco is different than the Fremont location, which is only about 40 minutes apart from each other. At SSF, we had an orientation, than a nutrition class. Then based on your first psych evaluation, you may have to take a mindful eating class, which I enjoyed. The surgeon I chose asked me to get under a certain weight, which was only a 9 pound loss from when I started so that wasn't too hard. I'm getting scheduled for surgery in April, as soon as the calender is open. I do talk to the psychologist, who specializes in bariatric patients on the phone and thru email. The nurse and dietician are all available thru email and all answer pretty quick.

I think what differs mostly, is their process of classes and program set up. They all have to have the same insurance requirements, it's just what they do with them. I've learned a lot about eating habits, how to deal with cravings, Vitamins and such. I could have had my surgery sooner, but I'm in the middle of my semester and want to wait til summer. So I'm scheduling for the beginning of June, I hope.

Good luck and good vibes!

For Kaiser in Orange County, the process is pretty long. After the initial orientation meeting it can take several months to get into the 12 week Options class. Then after the classes, lab work, and appointments with specialists you go to your surgery center's orientation and then appointments with the surgeon, psychologist, and internist. Then another four weeks to get your surgery date.

I started the process in January 2010, and my surgery is scheduled for May 2011.

I went thru kaiser and it took 3 months from first meeting to surgery

I looked into surgery with Kaiser a year or so ago and they told me that they only do gastric bypass surgery! Kaiser will pay for VSG? Wow, that makes me very angry. I paid out of pocket for my surgery.

According to my surgeon, the sleeve is replacing the lap band, in regards to what patients are requesting. Mine is covered by my insurance. (still crossing fingers with budget cuts and the changes to health care in CA)

I have So Cal Kaiser in Bakersfield, I started 12 class in August 2010 has VSG in January 2011 which was 5 months total.

Jenn

I looked into surgery with Kaiser a year or so ago and they told me that they only do gastric bypass surgery! Kaiser will pay for VSG? Wow, that makes me very angry. I paid out of pocket for my surgery.

I think they started offering the sleeve as an option a little over a year ago, I remember that when I considered weight loss surgery prior to that the only options were bypass and lap-band.

I have kaiser northern california which is ALOT differnet than s. california. we do not have to do the 12 weeks of options classes which cuts out a lot of time.

i think it all depends on how fast you can work it. i started in oct. 2010 and was required by my surgeon to lose 25lbs pre-op before he would do it. i had to be within 5 lbs of that goal before i could move on to meet with the psych dr. i then had to wait to have labs done and then meet with dr. again. he then ordered upper endoscopy and it is just all drawn out! you have to wait weeks to get appts and it just takes a long time! i still do the pre-op diet and have lost over 50lbs!! yay!!

i live in sacramento and have to drive to richmond to see the dr. it sucks! i know it will all be worth it when i am finally sleeved, but, the waiting sucks!

good luck to you.

kelly

I have kaiser northern california which is ALOT differnet than s. california. we do not have to do the 12 weeks of options classes which cuts out a lot of time.

i think it all depends on how fast you can work it. i started in oct. 2010 and was required by my surgeon to lose 25lbs pre-op before he would do it. i had to be within 5 lbs of that goal before i could move on to meet with the psych dr. i then had to wait to have labs done and then meet with dr. again. he then ordered upper endoscopy and it is just all drawn out! you have to wait weeks to get appts and it just takes a long time! i still do the pre-op diet and have lost over 50lbs!! yay!!

i live in sacramento and have to drive to richmond to see the dr. it sucks! i know it will all be worth it when i am finally sleeved, but, the waiting sucks!

good luck to you.

kelly

This is exactly how it went down for me. It's all about goal weight. I hit it late January and was sleeved two weeks ago. My experience with Kaiser is to always take he first possible appointment they offer for all of your pre-op stuff. I too live in the Sacramento area and driving to Richmond sucks big time. Just being in Richmond sucks. On the morning of my surgery the Dr. told me they are looking into having a program in the Sacramento area do to all of the patients they get from the valley and foothills (doesn't do us any good now).

that would be nice!! i haven't had my surgery yet, but i wouldn't want to change surgeons now anyway. i like my dr. and i shouldn't have to go back but maybe one more time b4 my surgery day.

Kelly

my 12 wk class ended Feb. 15, and I will be having surgery April 14th. So it took me 6 months total from the first interest to surgery date.

I'm at Kaiser Fremont. My home Kaiser is Kaiser Santa Clara.

• I met with my Dr. in early November.
• I attended the next Overview Class, which was in early January.
• After a few hiccups, I attended the Orientation class at Fremont in mid-February.
• I met with my surgeon, a nutritionist, and a program coordinator in early March.
• During March I took the required tests and shots (x-ray, EKG, anemia test and a tetanus shot) and began attending support classes at Kaiser Fremont.
• In late March, I called to schedule my psych appt when I was within 5 lbs. The appointment was about a month out, but I was able to take a cancellation appt within a couple of days. I also completed and mailed a short test that showed I had read the booklet provided at the Orientation meeting.

All I have left to do is lose 4 lbs. The psych told me it can take a few weeks for the Dr. to review the file and call to schedule the surgery. I plan to call when I have reached my goal weight, which I hope will be one day next week. Because my schedule is very flexible, I hope to get a surgery appt fairly quickly since I can take a cancellation appt if one becomes available.

The book provided at Orientation class has been very helpful. I photocopied the pages I needed most:

• I took the Vitamin page with me to shop for Vitamins and referred to it when filling my pill holder the first couple of times.
• I posted the sample pre-op diet on the fridge.
• I refer to the sample foods page when planning my meals. I start each week with a blank diet journal page and fill it out at each meal.
• I took the Protein powder page when I shopped for Protein Powder.

I am doing well at preparing for surgery.

• I am taking 20-30 minutes to eat each meal and following the pre-op diet very closely, with a little cheat about once a week.
• I am taking the vitamins.
• I am working out 5 days a week.
• I have given up coffee. Thank goodness I quit smoking 20 years ago! One less thing to do before surgery :-)
• I have tested protein powders.
• I have attended a support group a couple of times and plan to continue (Kaiser Fremont, 2nd and 4th Friday evening at 6)
• This week I am concentrating on sipping my Water throughout the day. I have bought a pretty carafe that holds 48 oz. and I have started using a smaller glass. The psych recommended setting the glass down between sips to prevent gulping the water down.

I am so grateful to Kaiser for having so much education about the process and how to prepare. I am still a bit scared, but all the prep helps me feel like I am doing everything I can to be successful.

I don't know how to move this topic, but it is a better fit in a forum besides the post-op one. I only saw it because i was looking through post-op questions to get a better feel for issues I might be facing in the days and weeks following surgery.

Lynda

Oops. I forgot to update my ticker weight. Now it is correct.

Lynda

Thanks so much, Lynda! I went to the orientation and found the 12 week class isn't required, but they strongly recommend it. They also said they'd like for us to lose 10%, but it's not required. Not that I"m not going to do these things, I'm just glad they aren't as stringent as I thought.

I thought this was the best place to post, for people have already gone through the process?

Thanks, again! : )