Anyone just starting this journey?? I would love to keep up with anyone who is new to the process so that I can know what to expect although I know each case is different. Anyone had their first consultation recently?? Or at the beginning stages of the process?? What’s been the experience thus far?

I have my orientation for Kaiser’s 12-week Options program on Wednesday. I am so so excited and nervous to do this- it does not feel real yet. I am from Southern California[emoji5]

I have my orientation for Kaiser’s 12-week Options program on Wednesday. I am so so excited and nervous to do this- it does not feel real yet. I am from Southern California[emoji5]

Is this the same as the healthy weight program with Kaiser I wonder? I start mine on 5/7!

I had the option to do my seminar online (thank goodness!) so I've done that and my consultation with my surgeon is May 23rd. Then I guess we'll go from there. My insurance does not require me to do any program before hand but the place I'm going to requires me to do 3 months with a nutritionist (1 meeting a month). I'm soo impatient at this point.

I had my first meeting with the nutritionist today. It went really well. I already started a low carb diet so we just went over what I've been doing, and coping strategies for my vacation next week (going to visit family who do NOT know I'm doing this, for good reasons). She also reviewed the pre-op diet; they use Optifast, it's $100 a week for the two week diet, but you pay for that and it's literally all you eat. Apparently my surgeon likes it because in addition to the protein, it has a lot of added vitamins that I would need otherwise. I'm going to do more research before the time comes. I can put the money aside with this much notice.

I also found out that my insurance doesn't actually require any kind of supervised diet, so I made my consult much earlier than I needed. I still can't move up my surgery due to a 12 month waiting period from my enrollment in the insurance plan. 12 months will be December 1st, but I'm going to push it back to January so I have my full FSA for next year for the initial deposit, and so I'm not coming off of surgery still being tired with people taking vacation for the holidays. I'm a medical coder, so at the end of the month, there's a big push to get charges out and if people are out over Christmas, somebody has to pick up the slack LOL. I don't want to worry about that while I'm still lacking energy from surgery. Also I'm going to have to talk to my PCP about a different form of Adderall, because I need it to work, but I'm on the extended release form and I can't open the capsule and sprinkle it on applesauce or something.

But I have a plan! And I lost 3 lbs this week! I'm feeling pretty good right now.

hello ChynaDollMUA id love go on this journey with you and maybe share some experiences......... i have my bariatrics workshop on Wednesday of this week the 25th i am excited and nervous.... does anyone else have people making them feel less than for going this route? i feel i need to do this and every time i lose the weight i gain it right back and most of the time even more than before

I have my orientation on May 22nd. I am really excited and want to get everything started. I looked into WLS a few years ago but I knew I was not ready to make the change. But I have come a long way and am a great place right now to move forward. I have spent the last 2 weeks researching all sorts of topics. From what I have read and watched it sure seems like there are a lot of things that should be bought before the surgery day. I have bought a few protein bars to try and protein powder. I joined a gym about 2 weeks ago and absolutely love it. Met with a personal trainer today which was scary for me cause I am always worry about people judging me. But it went great.

Is this the same as the healthy weight program with Kaiser I wonder? I start mine on 5/7!

Yes! So the referral will read healthy weight program-bariatric surgery. I only know this because I am a kaiser clinic nurse and see the referrals a lot lol. Is your orientation 5/7 or did you do that part already? How exciting! I will be at the South Bay med center. How about you?

I had my first meeting with the nutritionist today. It went really well. I already started a low carb diet so we just went over what I've been doing, and coping strategies for my vacation next week (going to visit family who do NOT know I'm doing this, for good reasons). She also reviewed the pre-op diet; they use Optifast, it's $100 a week for the two week diet, but you pay for that and it's literally all you eat. Apparently my surgeon likes it because in addition to the protein, it has a lot of added vitamins that I would need otherwise. I'm going to do more research before the time comes. I can put the money aside with this much notice.
I also found out that my insurance doesn't actually require any kind of supervised diet, so I made my consult much earlier than I needed. I still can't move up my surgery due to a 12 month waiting period from my enrollment in the insurance plan. 12 months will be December 1st, but I'm going to push it back to January so I have my full FSA for next year for the initial deposit, and so I'm not coming off of surgery still being tired with people taking vacation for the holidays. I'm a medical coder, so at the end of the month, there's a big push to get charges out and if people are out over Christmas, somebody has to pick up the slack LOL. I don't want to worry about that while I'm still lacking energy from surgery. Also I'm going to have to talk to my PCP about a different form of Adderall, because I need it to work, but I'm on the extended release form and I can't open the capsule and sprinkle it on applesauce or something.
But I have a plan! And I lost 3 lbs this week! I'm feeling pretty good right now.

Same! I take both Adderall XR and IR. I will be sad to stop taking it because AINT NOBODY have time to stop and take another pill (if I remember to!) you will likely end up taking an IR tablet twice a day.

6 minutes ago, jackiesays said:

Yes! So the referral will read healthy weight program-bariatric surgery. I only know this because I am a kaiser clinic nurse and see the referrals a lot lol. Is your orientation 5/7 or did you do that part already? How exciting! I will be at the South Bay med center. How about you?

5/7 is the day I start the online "healthy weight" class. My step-by-step email says I have to wait until I complete the 6th week to schedule orientation. I'm so anxious!

I'm in Oregon/SW Washington. Let me know how the class goes! I've heard it will involve a food journal, but I'm curious what else. Sounds like we're in the same phase of things. Let's stay in touch!

I had my initial assessment in January and I'm at the phase now where I've done most of the tests including sleep study, and first meeting with the dietician, etc, and I have an appointment on Monday where they determine fitness for the surgery. I'm hoping it goes well. I also have a second dietician appt next week, so after that, it's surgical consult and wait for a surgery time. I'm in Canada so everything is covered insurance wise, other than the optifast. I'd love to have a couple people to talk to about this. My husband is very nervous about the surgery and it's hard to talk about my excitement for it when he's worried.

5/7 is the day I start the online "healthy weight" class. My step-by-step email says I have to wait until I complete the 6th week to schedule orientation. I'm so anxious!
I'm in Oregon/SW Washington. Let me know how the class goes! I've heard it will involve a food journal, but I'm curious what else. Sounds like we're in the same phase of things. Let's stay in touch! [emoji4]

Totally! It sounds like the process is different in your area. I did not have to do a 6 week online class before orientation. I was scheduled for orientation two days after my pcp submitted my referral.

I had my first consult on 4/11. I have my 1st appointment with the nutritionist on 4/24. I have a long ways to go the insurance requires a 6 months process to make sure one is ready physically and mentally to get the surgery. I'm excited nervous, Don't know whether or not to go through but I know it's for my own good and to add years to my life. I wish everyone who is starting the best as this is a life changing journey we are about to go through.

My insurance requires the same and I said I’m just going to take that time to mentally get myself prepared! Good luck on your journey

hello ChynaDollMUA id love go on this journey with you and maybe share some experiences......... i have my bariatrics workshop on Wednesday of this week the 25th i am excited and nervous.... does anyone else have people making them feel less than for going this route? i feel i need to do this and every time i lose the weight i gain it right back and most of the time even more than before

Hi hun! I’d definitely be willing to support one another! I have had all support as of yet! Don’t let anyone make you feel less than! I did the same up and down with my weight and frankly I’m just tired of that! We are doing what is best for us and if people don’t support that, drop them

I may be wrong but I think if you are on a XR or SR medication they switch you to another version. Something. to do with transit times with pouches and sleeves. Our intestinal systems get boogered up, that's why we suddenly lose weight,at an increased speed.⚡?

So I just got back from my Options orientation at Kaiser and will be starting 5/7, which puts my finish date at 7/30! We just filled out a questionnaire on our health, mental health etc and a brief history. Then one of the bariatric surgeons, Dr. Zane, gave a short presentation and q&a session. He is SO nice! Everyone is right about him. Then at the end we had a choice of three tracks to join. Hope this helps!