Hello! I am so very new to all of this! Although I've been researching and preparing for my own WLS for almost 5 months, I am just now getting the ball rolling on paper with my PCP. I just got off the phone with a rep who gave me information regarding my orientation for the Kaiser Options Program. The orientation is on November 1, 2016. I have been researching and researching this program and it seems there isn't much information via the internet, but she informed me that I could request a direct referral for surgery. The sad part is that she said those requests are almost always denied. My one concern is that I have lost almost 10% of my body weight in four months while working with a specific diet plan and workout routine, as instructed by a friend who is a registered dietitian and wellness specialist. I'm an active person and I have been doing pretty well losing the weight I assumed would be needed prior to getting a referral for surgery. My issue is that this wasn't documented by a physician or even a program like weight watchers, etc. I have progress photos and meal plans I have been on, but I am unsure this will be sufficient enough to get a direct referral for surgery. Any advice? Either way, I'm anxious about this journey!! Thank y'all for the help.

depends on your insurance company and your BMI.

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Hello! I am so very new to all of this! Although I've been researching and preparing for my own WLS for almost 5 months, I am just now getting the ball rolling on paper with my PCP. I just got off the phone with a rep who gave me information regarding my orientation for the Kaiser Options Program. The orientation is on November 1, 2016. I have been researching and researching this program and it seems there isn't much information via the internet, but she informed me that I could request a direct referral for surgery. The sad part is that she said those requests are almost always denied. My one concern is that I have lost almost 10% of my body weight in four months while working with a specific diet plan and workout routine, as instructed by a friend who is a registered dietitian and wellness specialist. I'm an active person and I have been doing pretty well losing the weight I assumed would be needed prior to getting a referral for surgery. My issue is that this wasn't documented by a physician or even a program like weight watchers, etc. I have progress photos and meal plans I have been on, but I am unsure this will be sufficient enough to get a direct referral for surgery. Any advice? Either way, I'm anxious about this journey!! Thank y'all for the help.

call your insurance company find a preferred hospital, contact the hospital for their bariatric center, go to them and they will advise what you need.

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call your insurance company find a preferred hospital, contact the hospital for their bariatric center, go to them and they will advise what you need.

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I have Kaiser in Southern California. I'll call again to see if there are other options. I've already emailed my physician with the same question. I appreciate your help!

Have you started your classes yet? Which facility are you going to?

Have you started your classes yet? Which facility are you going to?

Hi! No, I haven't started yet. My orientation is on November 1st. How about you? I'm pretty nervous! I don't know what to expect. I live in Bakersfield, CA.

Edited October 17, 20169 yr by Chelsea Laurent

I have Kaiser in NorCal, but I think they may have similar approaches.

I think any weight loss is good, and my doctors have been pretty good about taking me at my word about my weight loss up til now. Once I was at orientation they weighed me and the expectation is you go in to get weighed at least once a month usually when you're having any of your follow-up appointments.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you generally get weighed every time you have a doctors appointment, so if you've had a doctors appointment at any time before for another reason, they can look at their records to determine how much weight you've lost.

Thank you so much for the input!!

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Have you started your classes yet? Which facility are you going to?

Hi! No, I haven't started yet. My orientation is on November 1st. How about you? I'm pretty nervous! I don't know what to expect. I live in Bakersfield, CA.

I live in La Verne so I attended the track of classes in Fontana. 12 weeks, once a week. We weighed in at the beginning of every class. You goal is to lose but it's very important that you don't gain. I lost 5lbs throughout the whole 12 weeks. I graduated in Aug 12th and have yet to have my surgery. I did everything that was expected out of me on time. Even had to get a sleep apnea machine. I had my final appointment with the doctor and the therapist last week. They signed me off to move onto to surgeon. They said it could take up to two weeks to get a call from them. I swear this has been the longest process ever! But I will say the classes are very informative. I enjoyed mine and learned a lot from them. If you have any other questions on the process let me know!

Oh wow, you're not that far from me! I just passed through there a few weeks ago. Small world! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. I really hope your process moves along quickly and you're able to get that phone call before the end of this week! I'm actually looking forward to my classes now!

At Fresno Kaiser they went back 12 months. Your highest weight recorded (Doc visits usually weigh) will be the one you start from. I'd highly suggest you go to your Kaiser. You can go to the

Health center to be weighed. Be sure they enter your weight on your record.

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Im a So Cal Kaiser, Fontana as well. The wait is long but worth the knowledge. I feel better prepared.

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Hello, friends! I hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends.

I'm back with another question. I'm enrolled in Options, as I discussed earlier, and it's going really well!! I'm going to be entering class 4 on Tuesday and I am down 7 pounds, so far.

My question is this: I am doing my behavioral assessment this upcoming Thursday. What should I expect? I'm not looking for ideal answers to all of the questions, as I'm sure that is impossible and I would like the freedom to answer myself, but I am the kind of person who worries a lot, and I get white coat syndrome every time I go to the doctor, so that should tell you something about my nervousness. I would appreciate any help! Just want to be prepared.

Hope y'all have a happy holiday season!

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My Psych Eval appointment was pretty low key. Really more of a conversation about my history of trying to lose weight and how I was approaching the changes that will come afterwards. I found it helpful to talk about the areas I was worried about. The doctor gave me some good advice on how to be successful after the surgery.

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