I'm new and I have Kaiser. I was wondering how long the process takes with them. Thanks!

It took me 1 month because I was having problems with my lap band and so I had it removed and converted to a gastric sleeve. I know people who have gone through Kaiser. They have their doctor refer them to that Options classes and usually surgery is scheduled right after completion. The Options class is a 12 week class. It prepares, educates, supports you for what you will have to change after you have surgery. It has a lot of information. I never took the class, but I heard it is beneficial.

Thank you!

It depends on where you live. KP in the northwest is a year long program. 2 months of nutrition classes, several group visits, nutritionist and social worker visit twice, food journal, exercise journal, and surgeon approval. It really is a long process. In the end, I think I am well prepared. My surgery is January 8.

So MBM1forever, how long did it take you from beginning to end?

The program took me about 1 full year with the supervised diet, classes, and whatnot.

I started in the end of January asking my PCP for a referral. Then I had to fill out a very long questionnaire. In March they had the first group class. I had to wait until May for the two month class. I also had a sleep study. That took two months for apt to results. I finally finished all the requirements in September and got a surgeon appointment in October. There were no surgical dates open till January. So it has been one very long year!

Wow, thanks you guys. Guess I'd better be patient. Good luck!

Which kaiser ? I'm in sacramento and there were quite a few steps (appointments and classes etc) but it only took 5 months and that's because I wasn't sticking to my diet exactly or I could gave done it in 3 months. Depends how much weight your surgeon wants you to lose first then the sooner you do you can have met all the other requirements

Northwest. Im in Salem. I just started and seem to be getting everything done pretty quick. Thanks!

I went through Kaiser in Richmond, Ca. It went extremely fast after my initial meeting, then the big group one. I started June 26th of this year and had my surgery on Aug. 5th.

Wow! That is awesome! Were you told it would take long?

I really had no idea about how long the process would take. By the sounds of the big meeting I had, it seemed like if you did what they told you to do, it would be fairly quick. I had a friend who did it almost 3 years ago at San Jose Kaiser. It took her about a year. I was sort of thinking it would take me that long too.

I remember at my first visit with the surgeon, he asked me how long I was thinking about doing this. I told him I had thought about it for a court le of years. He looked up my weight history of the past year and said I have already lost the weight I needed to qualify for the surgery! OMG, I was shocked and so happy!!

Very cool! I hope it doesn't take me a year!

No doubt

Really just depends how much weight they want you to lose and how soon you lose it. The other requirements can be met within a month or two. I was ready by 3-4 months. Good luck!