I wish I had good news!! Long story short...appeal Kaiser's 24 weeks in San Diego program. Reasoning is the OC is only required 12 weeks. I did 12 weeks much to my dismay as the entire class was like a bad sorority meeting weekly and I had also lost my job. Appeal was approved and basically Positive Choices BS'd me and sent me to Pacific Baritriatric knowing full well that the surgeons would make me finish the whole classes. Waited 5 weeks to get the surgery consult and in the mean time was told I could not continue the classes until the surgeon decided when they knew full well that the surgeon would would say return to classes. Pacific Bariatric is a mess!! They are unorganized; rude; condisending; they forgot to give the surgeon the notes about my appeal so I started to leave there thinking I was moving forward when the doctor didn't even know he had to appove my appeal!!! Basically the office staff is punishing me because I appealed. The doctors reasoning is that Kaisers long program is successful. So I said "you see multiple patients with all different kinds of insurance correct"? he said "yes that is correct". "so are you saying that all the other patients you see don't have the same success rate as the Kaiser patients because we have to wait a year?" Or rather, "that the Orange county Kaiser patients are less successful than the San Diego Patients even though they cover the same exact material in 1/2 the time?" I left in tears...I swear I wanted to slap the girls at the front. It was really ugly how they were basically treating me like I was cheating on a test or something. I was being punished because I exercised my rights to the same level of care as the people kaiser patients that live to the north of me!!! I am so upset!! I was soooooo excited thinking I may be able to change my life soon all to be let down and told I have to attend a class of bickering nasty women in order to get the care I need. It just makes no sense to me!!!! NOW I AM BEHIND EVEN LONGER - IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DID THIS TO ME ON PURPOSE!! Many hours of driving for nothing!!

I'm gonna need you to breathe calm down take a few breaths. It wasn't all for nothing your doing this for you to better your health sometimes you get a monkey wrench thrown at you every now and again but that's okay pick yourself and finish what needs to be done .And when it does your gonna shine like a star just think positive you will do great when your time comes!

R4C????

Update!!! Moving forward with a new surgeon! Scheduled for full consult next week. Yay! After that surgery date!!

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medically cleared - just waiting for a surgery date!! yay

Hi! im sorry to hear you had so much trouble. I am just now looking at beginning my 6 months of classes with Kaiser here in San Diego. Were you able to get out of doing the 6 months of classes? Are you still having surgery at pacific bariatric? Any tips for me??

Hi Alyssa: Yes I am still having surgery with PB. My surgeon is new to PB. Dr Fuller. It is scheduled for next Thursday! Yay! I only did 12 weeks of classes. Lots of appeals and many extenuating circumstances that got me to only 12 weeks. If you live close to Anaheim they only do 12 weeks but I hear its like a 3 month waiting list after the classes are over for a surgeon. Hmmm I would say finish the classes make friends with your group because you will need them thru the process. Once most of my issues got cleared up PB is awesome. Clear concise and thorough. Also attend their once a

month seminar. It is a requirement prior to surgery for them. Some instructors tell you that some dont. You can go to it any month. Who is your instructor at positive choices?

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Sounds like you are in good hands. Dr. Fuller & his team are fantastic!

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