I have kaiser, and for around the last month i've been researching WLS, but my pcp had been on vacation until the 7th so i was waiting to email her about it. The 7th came and went and i still haven't worked up the courage to email her...i guess i am just nervous about what she will say. Am I going to have to go in for a physical to get a referral to a surgeon? I've gained around 30lbs since the last time I saw her (in March)...but even then my BMI alone qualified me. (I have no other health problems from my weight)

Also guess I am nervous about my family finding out. I broke my right foot on 11/25 so I can't exaclty drive myself to appointments or anything.

Was anyone else nervous/embarrassed about talking to their doctor? Any experiences having WLS through Kaiser?

My doctor is very petite. I've been seeing her for years and she has seen my weight fluctuate up and down. She had never mentioned wls, so I had no idea how she would react. I had wanted to ask her numerous times but was always kept silent out of fear. Finally one day I went to see her and at the end of the appointment I told her I was thinking about wls and what did she think? To my pleasant surprise she was supportive and offered to get the necessary paperwork started for me to see the necessary specialists...and that is how I began this amazing journey.

I spoke with my pcp, who is an older gentlemen, very very old school. I mentioned it to him and he said Oh no, you just need to eat one big salad a day, you have to lose 100 lbs but if you just eat one time a day and make it a big salad it will fall off" well....... looking into a new pcp, lol

My doctor is very petite. I've been seeing her for years and she has seen my weight fluctuate up and down. She had never mentioned wls, so I had no idea how she would react. I had wanted to ask her numerous times but was always kept silent out of fear. Finally one day I went to see her and at the end of the appointment I told her I was thinking about wls and what did she think? To my pleasant surprise she was supportive and offered to get the necessary paperwork started for me to see the necessary specialists...and that is how I began this amazing journey.

Yeah my doctor is petite as well. I barely ever go

To her so I don't know her personality very well. I guess I just need to suck it up and email her though.

I spoke with my pcp, who is an older gentlemen, very very old school. I mentioned it to him and he said Oh no, you just need to eat one big salad a day, you have to lose 100 lbs but if you just eat one time a day and make it a big salad it will fall off" well....... looking into a new pcp, lol

One big salad a day, why didn't I think of that?? Lol yeah definitely look for a new doctor.

Just be upfront and tell your PCP that you want to take all the necessary test taken pre op and make sure he/she knows what to prescribe you in case of an event.

I am due to goto my PCP in Jan and I am going to give him the run down on my situation. I am going take a full bloodwork panel and get him to prescribe me my post op meds for after my surgery Feb 17th so that I have them on hand when I come home.

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Oh yeah i forgot to mention. Theres no need to be afraid of your PCP. They are there to help you get better. The more they know the more they can help. A good Dr will do research on their behalf to help aid you on your journey.

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My PCP works out and believes the key to being healthy is eating right and exercise each day so who doesn't - right? I have been nervous for years every time before seeing him because he always told me I needed to lose the weight I gained over the last 10 years. Well, when I told him I was thinking of WLS and the sleeve in particular, he jumped right in and said there was no reason for me to not do it. He has been a big encouragement all the way! Now, I don't think of cancelling my appointments because I've gained weight since my last appointment with him. What a relief!

I was very nervous to speak to my PCP because I never met her. It was my 1st time seeing her and I went in EDUCATED about what I wanted with guns blazing for a referral. Of course, at first she asked why would WLS be the answer. But I knew what I wanted and what I was talking about. She had no problem setting up the referral. I think it will make the differance if you can talk to her and know what you want and why. I think it would be best if you could have a face to face with your PCP. Just remember, your Dr works for YOU. If she is not willing, find another Dr who is.

I have a friend who had Roux-en-y thru Kaiser. She said there are some hoops you have to jump thru, but if your serious, it will be worth it.

Hi Sterf,

I am in the beginning stages of getting approved by Kaiser for WLS. I was told by a coworker that has had the surgery that one of the things I need to be sure to do is to speak up. Her doc would not approve her for the referral until she was able to ask directly. I made an appointment to see my PCP and just took the bull by the horns. I didn't beat around the bush and I asked "I am interested in WLS. What do I need to do to start the approval process?". My Dr was very supportive even though I've only seen her once prior. She told me that I needed to attend the Weight Loss Surgery Overview class (free) first and that after the class I could ask her for the referral. I went to the 2 hour class and then contacted her to let her know that I still was interested. The class gives you the info in a "clinical" way, just straight info, no frills. LOL It was at this class that I learned that Kaiser does three types of surgery: RNY, Lap Band, and the Sleeve. The info I got there has me interested in the sleeve over the RNY. Now I wait to be contacted by the Bariatric Surgery Dept and go through their approval process. I understand it takes 6 months. They want you to take some classes, join a support group, lose some weight, meet with a psychologist, and some other things. I learned that Kaiser will use your highest weight in the past year to determine your "qualifying" BMI. They don't penalize you for losing weight as they want you to anyway. The class will give you all the info, but you have to be direct and ask your PCP for the referral to the class.

Big hugs to you. It's intimidating but no one is going to give you the surgery unless you are able to speak up and be an active participant.

As for family. I've only told a few (my mom, husband, daughter) and a few friends. Based on the reaction from some of my friends who haven't had WLS, I won't be having an ongoing discussion with a couple of them. I need support, not someone to second guess me. I've talked with friends and coworkers that have had WLS (no one has had the sleeve - all RNY'ers) as I am interested in their experience. But beyond that, I'm not ready to talk to people about it. It's a decision I've made based on very personal issues. I can't expect others to understand, so I don't want to defend how I feel. They will find out soon enough

Let's keep in touch. We're so close in the process, it'd be nice to have someone close to the same timeline.

~Kari

It took me a while to muster up the courage to ask my doctor. See - my doctor has pictures of herself all over her office and exam rooms of her running the Boston Marathon and other healthy fun stuff like that. At first it made me kindof ashamed for the condition I'm in. I used to be a runner. I used to be in great shape. I always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. I left, tail between my legs. I got home and was bummed for quite a few days. Then I realized, well damn. i'm never going to be able to do that unless I rip off this band-aid. So I made another appointment and I said "well, I'm considering weight loss surgery" She had a smile on her face that would rival anything you've ever seen and said "I was hoping you'd say that!" She filled out the form and faxed it to the surgeon's office while I waited. She came back in and told me that its not a light decision so she doesn't just spit it out to patients -she wants the to come to that decision. It means they've actually put thought into it and have become their own patient advocate.

I don't lie to my doctor - I'm honest with her. I didn't want to keep that from her. I went to her, prepared with every reason she should refer me to the surgeon's office for the surgery and didn't need any of it. I hope you have a similar experience!

I think its normal to not want people to know that you're thinking about this decision - but the reality is, as a healthcare professional - they know that you are. Just rip off the bandaid. Its a great sense of relief when you do.

I was very fortunate that my PCP is the one that brought it up, I had not really seriously considered it an option (for whatever reason), but he got the ball rolling...

One thing I have decided about a year ago is that I was not going to hold ANYTHING back from my PCP...they are there FOR YOU!!! If you feel they are not, then its time to find a new PCP...

Sterf- go for it! If you have read the stories of other WLS patients on this forum, you will be so glad you have Kaiser. I went through Kaiser Richmond, not SF, so the process is a little different, but from people I have talked to, it's pretty close. You can see the series of dates in my signature- my process could have gone faster, but I had to wait for thyroid numbers to be in range. You will not be weighed until orientation, so any weight loss prior to that will not count toward your goal. The process is fast and easy and nothing to be embarrassed about. Your pcp will have very little involvement. You can email them to make the referral to overview class, then once you attend the class, you email them again to decide whether or not you want to pursue surgery. Once you get your orientation class date, the bariatrics dept takes over from there. All you have to do is show up to appointments and follow the meal plan. The process is easy and goes very quickly.

I only have a $15 co-pay, but I think I only had to pay once during the whole process. (check your plan). $15 + meds at hospital discharge for a life changing surgery. Feel free to contact me for more info. Good luck!

hi sterfa

I have had my wonderful dr. for the past 4 yrs. - then all of a sudden my dr. became my next door neighbor. So we see each other on an occasion to say hi & stuff.

It was never a problem talking to my dr. about personal stuff (ex.my weight) when he was "only" my dr. now, i was afraid to talk to him about the WLS. since he was also my neighbor.

i finally got the nerve to talk to him about WLS, to my amazement he said "yes i think you would be a good candidate." you could have knocked me down with a feather. i was so excited. I was afraid he would give me the old "diet and exercise bit too. Boy did i misjudge him.

One big salad a day, why didn't I think of that?? Lol yeah definitely look for a new doctor.

i absolutely love that "about one big salad a day, why didn't i think of that?" If i had a quarter for every time i heard such a silly or similar statement like that, i'd be filthy rich. Seriously, i think its insulting, condisending (msp) to be told such a statement.

Of course eating better, exercising, all that good stuff is the way to go. If we could all do that there would be no obese people around. In my case, and so many others, its very hard to lose the weight, but we are eventually somewhat successful for a while - then gain the weight back, yo yo up and down. Maintaining the weight for me is so very difficult.

Making a short story long - don't be embarrassed to talk to your dr. as said he is there to help you. if you are uncomfortable, find a new dr.

kathy

My PCP "doesn't believe in WLS". I'm going ahead although he managed to delay me for a year.

I was nervous with my PCP but I went in armed with all the information I could find. She took it home and read it - she hadn't heard of the sleeve before. She called me that night to say she was thrilled for me. She asked if I needed anything from her and offered to help out any way she could. It was a really positive experience.

I used to go to a PCP that kept suggesting WLS and anything to get me to lose weight. I once went in with a sprained arm after falling and he went off on how my balance was affected by my weight. I felt like if I showed up with an chainsaw hanging off my leg, he would still say something like, "Well, if you weren't so obese, it could have cut right through you!" I was so frustrated because I wasn't ready for WLS yet and just wanted him to help me be the healthiest I could be at that weight.

I switched to this PCP and at the first appointment, I basically told her that I knew I was obese and I was trying to eat healthy but if I wanted or needed her help, I'd ask. After that, she never brought it up. I think she was shocked when I went in to see her about it since I'd been so adamant that I wasn't doing the bypass/band.