So..... today I feel like I have taken another step closer to getting my sleeve. For those of who don't know how the SoCal Kaiser process works I will explain a little bit.

1. You have to see your PCP and get referred for the Bariatric/Options Program. (I completed this in Feb.)

2. You have to complete the entire Options Class (For me it was 12 weeks and I finished 6/22/2012, some programs are 24 weeks..Yikes! )

3. You have to complete tons of Labs. (completed this the first week of June)

4. You have to complete an abdominal ultrasound, chest xray, and ekg. (I completed this the first week of June.)

5. You have to have an appointment with the Prevention Medicine doctor. (I completed this Today!!!!! 7/10/2012)

#5 - Is where they let you know if they feel surgery is right for you and refers you for the surgery. All my labs came back great, with the exeption that my Vitamin D level was low. She gave me a prescription for this. My ultrasound, chest xray, and ekg all came back great as well. Well, SHE REFERRED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She was very happy that I continued to lose weight even after the Options program ended. I am so excited, and now I just have to wait a couple weeks to hear the confirmation that the insurance has accepted the referral, which she assured me they would.

Soooo... What are the next steps?

#6 Receive confirmation of referral. (I chose Pacific Bariatric as the medical group I wanted to go with. The Preventative Medicine doctor told me that most often they just refer to Dr. Suh with Crown Bariatric who has a pretty good track record as well. I wanted PBSMG because they're just awesome. My mom went through them.)

#7 Have an appointment with PBSMG where you see three of their doctors in one day and meet with the surgeon.

#8 Receive a call back after the appointment with a surgery date.

It's been a long process.... but.... it's all worth it and I feel so much closer.

A new life and a new day is ahead.

Congrats on your journey so far. It sure looks like you are getting close to your surgery. Exciting, huh?

Congrats on your journey so far. It sure looks like you are getting close to your surgery. Exciting, huh?

Very exciting! Seems like it took so long to get up to this point, but now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!!!

I have respect for all of you that have had to jump through insurance hoops. I have crappy bariatric benefits so much so that it was cheaper to go cash pay, believe it or not. Yes, I had to pay more than what people using insurance do. However, the huge benefit was how quickly the process went. I made the decision to have the surgery the very end of March. I had sinus surgery April 10th, went to a seminar and met with the surgeon within a couple of weeks after that and they were ready to give me a surgery date of May 15th. I ended up scheduling for May 22nd. Due to a couple of issues, I ultimately ended up having surgery on June 5th.

Congrats!!!!!

I have SoCal Kaiser too.... I don't start Options until 7/26, hoping to be sleeved in November.

That is great that you have successfully jumped through all of Kaiser's hoops! Best of luck to you on your journey

Congrats ...... your getting closer to having the surgery!

Congrats!!!!!

I have SoCal Kaiser too.... I don't start Options until 7/26, hoping to be sleeved in November.

That is great that you have successfully jumped through all of Kaiser's hoops! Best of luck to you on your journey

Thanks and good luck to you in your journey!

Congrats ...... your getting closer to having the surgery!

Thank you! It's been a long time coming. Can't wait until I get that actual surgery date.

Thank you! It's been a long time coming. Can't wait until I get that actual surgery date.

I know how u feel.... My surgery is Thursday and my husband is still waiting on his approval from bcbs federal

I know how u feel.... My surgery is Thursday and my husband is still waiting on his approval from bcbs federal

I have bcbs fed. How long has hubby been waiting?

I have bcbs fed. How long has hubby been waiting?

His paperwork was sent two weeks ago.... They approved me within three days

Somedays it feels like the Socal Kaiser process takes a while, but since January I have completed all 12 Options classes, completed all my labs, EKG's, xray, had my appt with Dr. Osana, completed the orientation with the surgeons at Kaiser Southbay, and just today I had my pre-op with Dr. Belzburg (no pre-op diet except the day before) and I have lost an addl 7lbs since I met Dr. Osana on June 11.. And now my surgery day is right around the corner 7/23. My pocess did differ from most whereas I contacted the Preventive Medicine Dept on my own and started the Options classes that way. I did not get a ref from my pcp. But, the time goes by relatively fast and it'll be worth the wait.

Somedays it feels like the Socal Kaiser process takes a while, but since January I have completed all 12 Options classes, completed all my labs, EKG's, xray, had my appt with Dr. Osana, completed the orientation with the surgeons at Kaiser Southbay, and just today I had my pre-op with Dr. Belzburg (no pre-op diet except the day before) and I have lost an addl 7lbs since I met Dr. Osana on June 11.. And now my surgery day is right around the corner 7/23. My pocess did differ from most whereas I contacted the Preventive Medicine Dept on my own and started the Options classes that way. I did not get a ref from my pcp. But, the time goes by relatively fast and it'll be worth the wait.

Thanks for sharing the information and congrats on getting your surgery date!!! It's only 11 days a way!!! That's awesome.