I'm meeting with my PCP on Monday to request a referral to the bariatric surgery dept. I was able to grab a spot in the Preparing for Success class scheduled a couple days after my appointment.

I have a couple questions about the Nor Ca Kaiser process and if any of you have been down his road that can help, I would GREATLY appreciate any feedback.

One question I have is, how long in the process do you have to wait to start loosing weight? Sounds crazy, I know. But I have gained about 15 lbs to meet BMI requirementS, andI'm already dying to start working it off.

Question #2 how long is the options program that you have to complete? I've heard all types of different answers to this (sixteen weeks, six months, a year...) I guess it probably ranges from districts.

Okay, I think that's all I have...

Thanks all!!!

I am a N Cal Kaiser patient, and have just completed my pre-op requirements in the Fremont program. Do you know which hospital you'll be a patient at? They each have slightly different pre op requirements. Fremont has no Options class requirements. Fresno does, as does Sacramento, I believe.

Your weight used to "qualify" will be your highest Kaiser documented weight in the past year. If you have a qualifying BMI on your electronic medical record, then you can begin losing weight. I lost 10 lbs before I met with my surgeon for my consult and he then only had me lose another 10. The rule of thumb is 10% of your weight, although that's not always a hard and fast number. Some surgeons in Fresno do not give you a "goal" weight.

I had to have a current mammo, general labs/blood work, and attend the preparing for success class. When I talked to my PCP, she told me about the class and I had to attend it and then let her know if I was still interested before she made the referral to the Bariatric Dept.

Keep me posted on how things go, and I'll be happy to share what I can as far as info goes.

Wait... So you didn't have to go trough the options program for Fremont???

I'm signed up to attend the preparing for weight loss class on the 6th of this month. I'm meeting with my PCP on the 11th to request a referral.

She and I have discussed weight loss surg before and she is one that will push excersise

. So I'm hoping she will work with me this time.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your highest weight? I'm @230.

Did you have to prove a history of previous weight loss attempts? I've done weight watchers several times and been to a weight loss md that supplied me with ephedrine. O course I lost weight but ALWAYS gained it back... Blah blah blah... Story of our lives, right?

How long has your over all process taken?

Sorry for all of the questions... You are the only person who has responded to me, and I don't know of anyone personally that has gone trough Kaiser.

Can I request Fremont? Or do they assign you???

Okay, I'm done.

Thanks again for all of your assistance!!!

Wait... So you didn't have to go trough the options program for Fremont???

I'm signed up to attend the preparing for weight loss class on the 6th of this month. I'm meeting with my PCP on the 11th to request a referral.

She and I have discussed weight loss surg before and she is one that will push excersise

. So I'm hoping she will work with me this time.

If you don't mind me asking' date=' what was your highest weight? I'm @230.

Did you have to prove a history of previous weight loss attempts? I've done weight watchers several times and been to a weight loss md that supplied me with ephedrine. O course I lost weight but ALWAYS gained it back... Blah blah blah... Story of our lives, right?

How long has your over all process taken?

Sorry for all of the questions... You are the only person who has responded to me, and I don't know of anyone personally that has gone trough Kaiser.

Can I request Fremont? Or do they assign you???

Okay, I'm done.

Thanks again for all of your assistance!!![/quote']

Hi Kimikat!

I went through Kaiser Richmond and had my surgery 11/26. My highest weight according to Kaiser was 218 day of surgery was 199 and current weight is 194.

I did not have to attend the options courses. I requested a referral from my PCP, who had me attend an information class for 2 hours. Once I decided to proceed he sent a referral to the Richmond Bariatric dept. I live in the East Bay and they determine which location is closer to your home and then send the referral there. Next I had to attend a 4 hour class on bariatric surgery and nutrition. At that class they gave me an appointment for a consultation with a surgeon. The surgeon gave me my goal weight for surgery. Following the surgery consult they set me up an appointment for the psych evaluation. Once I reached my goal weight I contacted the bariatric department and the case manager set me up with a surgery date. For e it all happened quickly. My 4 hour bariatric class was Sept 13th and I had my surgery just over 2 months later

Your past sounds similar to mine. I also have done Weight Watchers for years ad had been to the MD who prescribed me phentermine.

I'm happy to help answer any questions you have about the Kaiser process

Jules

Wow! This is all pretty great news.

I was completely set on going to Dr. Joya in Pv Mexico because I didn't meet the BMI requirements last time I met with my MD. She made it very clear that she would not refer me unless my BMI was 40(+). Once I made my mind up that this was going to be IT, I started to really think about how much money I would save by having it done here. I mean, sheesh, I pay an arm and a leg for my insurance premiums as it is, I should use my insurance if I can.

So now I meet the BMI and them some.

I live in Modesto, and according to my calculations Sacramento, Fremont and Richmond are all about the same distance (give and take a few miles). I wonder if they would allow me to have a say so in the facility??? I have family in Fremont, so that would be great.

I think you can request Fremont. Just make sure any classes you attend are through Fremont. I know in my orientation and nutrition class when people asked about going to Fremont instead they were told they would have to take the class over at Fremont. You couldn't transfer the "credit" for the class

My BMI was at the very low end but I had borderline high blood pressure so my PCP approved

As you go through the process feel free to ask me any questions! I had a really good experience

Good to know.

I'm scheduled for the Preparing for weight loss class in Pleasanton on Thursday. Do you think that class is okay to take outside of the "jurisdiction"? Just the classes after your referral have to be in the same location as your surgery?

Boy, that's going to be a killer on my work schedule. Seems like I will have to request a bit of time off just for the qualifying appointments.

We're you able to take FMLA time???

~kimi

One other thing I forgot to mention... Support groups. Kaiser recommended attending them so I went several times prior to my surgery and it really helped to have people who have experienced the process and surgery to talk to. I'm not usually a big support group advocate but in this case I cannot describe how much it helped me get my questions answered, get to goal weight, and get through surgery

It also meant I didn't have to attend another class at Kaiser since the support group counted instead if the 4 hour bariatric lifestyles class

Good luck and keep me posted on your progress

Yes you can take that first class anywhere. I also took it in Pleasanton ( I work across the street from Kaiser Pleasanton)

I didn't take FMLA I had sick time banked so just took a week off. Am going back to work tomorrow. I think you can get short term disability through the State of CA or FMLA depending on your employer

Awesome!

Thank you SOOOOO VERY MUCH for all of the information. Definitely takes a lot of the anxiety away.

~kimi

Anytime! I know when I first joined VST I couldn't find much on Kaiser in Northern CA so I'm happy to pass along what I've learned!

Thursdays class is basically just 2 hours of information and high level questions / answers. It's required to get the referral

As for the others Richmond is REALLY good about combining as many appointments as thy can to make it easier on those of us who work so I'm sure Fremont and Sacramento do the same. They were also helpful in scheduling as early as possible for me so I could still get to work etc

Good luck! And let me know if you think of any more questions

Julea

Anytime! I know when I first joined VST I couldn't find much on Kaiser in Northern CA so I'm happy to pass along what I've learned!

Thursdays class is basically just 2 hours of information and high level questions / answers. It's required to get the referral

As for the others Richmond is REALLY good about combining as many appointments as thy can to make it easier on those of us who work so I'm sure Fremont and Sacramento do the same. They were also helpful in scheduling as early as possible for me so I could still get to work etc

Good luck! And let me know if you think of any more questions <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Julea

Julea... How was your first day back at work??? Do you feel that a week after surgery was plenty of time for recovery?

~ kimi

Hi Kimi

First day back was good but tiring. I didn't realize how stiff I would get sitting at my desk so when I would finally get up my incision would be sore. Nothing terrible just made me more aware of it.

Today was a better day as we were out of the office doing a team activity so less sitting for long periods of time

How are you doing? Ready for class Thursday?

Jules

Well glad that the first day wasn't too bad. Do you feel like you are getting around as "normal"? Or do you feel that you still have to take it easy? I am a medical biller, so I sit most of my days Ido walk on my 15 min breaks and sometimes at lunch.

I'm very excited about my class on Thursday. Ready to get this ball rolling.

I feel like I'm getting around normal most of the time. I really have no soreness or pain unless I move wrong and then my side will hurt. Other than being careful with bending and lifting I'm doing pretty much everything as usual

Let me know how Thursday goes and what you think . Hopefully your experience will be as quick and easy as mine has been

Jules

Good luck in your class on Thursday. It will give you a good jumping off point as to what to expect to learn about. Most of their info is geared toward RnY, but don't be deterred. They don't really address too many specifics, you'll get the chance to do that at your Orientation, and then again at your consult appt. Keep us posted on how it goes.

I also find it amazing how quickly some go back to work! Jules, I hope I am as fortunate as you in my recovery