For all of you who have gone through Kaiser to get your WLS, how long was the process from start to finish? Can you also explain how things worked from the time you went to your PCP to the surgery date? I'm confused on how things work. I'm going to go beg my PCP for a referral tomorrow morning, so wish me luck. If I get shot down, I'll just do Plan B, self pay. Thanks! Lisa

Hi Lisa,

Check out my thread in the Tell Your Story section. I think you can search for my user name: lsereno to find the thread. I've written extensively about my experience with Kaiser Nor Cal going through Fremont Bariatrics. I saw my Dr. in November and asked for a referral. I am scheduled for surgery on May 17.

You do not need Dr. approval to attend the Overview class and you must attend it before being referred to the Bariatric program. Once you attend the Overview class, your Dr. can refer you to the Bariatrics program. If you meet the basic criteria, Bariatrics will schedule you for the WLS Orientation Class. At the end of that class, you can make an appt. for the next step: meeting with the surgeon, nutritionist, and program coordinator. At that meeting, you will learn what you must do to qualify for the surgery. For most, you must lose 10% of your body weight, follow the suggested diet and exercise plan, take the recommended supplements, attend at least one face-to-face support group, and take any required medical tests or immunizations. When you are within 5 lbs. of the goal weight they set for you, you call and make a psych appt. Once you are at your goal weight and all other criteria have been met, your file goes to the surgeon for review. After the surgeon reviews the file, the surgery coordinator calls you to schedule your surgery and pre-op appts.

Best wishes on your journey!

Lynda

For all of you who have gone through Kaiser to get your WLS, how long was the process from start to finish? Can you also explain how things worked from the time you went to your PCP to the surgery date? I'm confused on how things work. I'm going to go beg my PCP for a referral tomorrow morning, so wish me luck. If I get shot down, I'll just do Plan B, self pay. Thanks! Lisa

I posted a similar post a while back. You have to go sit through a seminar first. It's like an introductory seminar where they cover all the different types of surgeries available. From what I've heard, the point of this seminar is to scare people away. If you go in there with all your information and fully prepared, it shoudl be okay. That's what I've heard at least... lol. I am going to that seminar next Tuesday, May 10. The seminar is in Vacaville. Tell your PCP you want in on that seminar. And don't put up with any shenanigans from your PCP! Mine heckled me and tried to tell me I didn't qualify. I said "Actually, my BMI is 43 and the required is 40." He said "Well, you're too young." I said "The required age is 18 and I'm 24." In the end he gave me a referral and was not happy about it. Just stick to your guns, girl! lol. Ask to go to the seminar in Vacaville on Tuesday! We can be buddies Message me if you want more info

You don't need your Dr's OK to attend the Overview class, so try to go to the first one you can because it's a required step before getting the referral to the Bariatric program. I didn't think the point was to scare people away. What they told us is they found so many people decided not to have the surgery after going to the longer Orientation class that they make all people go to the Overview class first so they understand WLS surgery and the alternatives. I thought the class was pretty good. The instructor also told us about how Kaiser's Bariatric program works.

Lynda