Hey BariPals!

I'm a So Cal Kaiser member and just started the process of exploring VSG. I'm convinced so far that this is the right move for me and I'm excited to be taking the steps to be the best version of myself that I've ever been.

I was referred by my PCP already and have had a phone visit with the Metabolic doctor/surgeon. I have an in-person visit scheduled this week! I also have a video class which I believe is an Options class next week.

Has anyone had bariatric surgery at Panorama City Kaiser? The doctor I have an appointment with is Dr. Alskaf.

Any advice or experiences you'd like to share regarding the process, the hospital or the doctor would be greatly appreciated!

Hi Angel mom, I wish the best with your surgery! I'm scheduled for feb 23rd, but I'm not at Kaiser, I have United healthcare and my surgery is at Memorial in Arcadia. I live in Culver City, so its quite the drive! I'm having the sleeve done with Dr Lamar.

Good luck to you.

Hi, I am with Kaiser in SoCal and I am about a year out.
i had my surgery at the South Bay facility.

timelines can vary because of Covid:

but if you are interested in timelines:

I first got referred by my pcp in May 2020.
my options class didn’t start until October though. They were delayed because of Covid and trying to figure that mess out. Options was TEN classes.
i also had to meet with a psychologist and get a ekg. Oh and I also went to online support groups.
i finished classes end of December.
had my surgeon appointment in January 2021. Then finally had surgery March 2021. (Surgeries shut down for a bit because of Covid several times while I went through the program).

i am almost a year out and I am down from 330 pounds to 175 pounds.

I got the sleeve surgery.

2 hours ago, DonnaGS said:

Hi Angel mom, I wish the best with your surgery! I'm scheduled for feb 23rd, but I'm not at Kaiser, I have United healthcare and my surgery is at Memorial in Arcadia. I live in Culver City, so its quite the drive! I'm having the sleeve done with Dr Lamar.

Good luck to you.

Yes, that is quite a drive but will be well worth it ❤️ Best wishes to you and much success on your journey!

1 hour ago, Orinskye said:

Hi, I am with Kaiser in SoCal and I am about a year out.
i had my surgery at the South Bay facility.

timelines can vary because of Covid:

but if you are interested in timelines:

I first got referred by my pcp in May 2020.
my options class didn’t start until October though. They were delayed because of Covid and trying to figure that mess out. Options was TEN classes.
i also had to meet with a psychologist and get a ekg. Oh and I also went to online support groups.
i finished classes end of December.
had my surgeon appointment in January 2021. Then finally had surgery March 2021. (Surgeries shut down for a bit because of Covid several times while I went through the program).

i am almost a year out and I am down from 330 pounds to 175 pounds.

I got the sleeve surgery.

Yeah, I've been reading a lot of posts about the long waits during COVID. Hopefully since things are starting to get more stable, it won't take as long. Things have moved pretty fast so far for me. I just had a PCP visit on 2/1/22 and she put in the referral; the Metabolic clinic called me the next day!

Not even a full year and you're down 155 lbs!! That's wonderful! If you don't mind me asking, do you have a lot of extra skin from the major weight loss? I'm 310 now and will be getting the sleeve. I worry about the extra skin and really don't want to have a bunch of surgeries.

Thanks for sharing ❤️

Yeah I do have extra skin but it’s easy to hide under clothes. Maybe someday I will get the extra skin removed.

i am still actually losing weight… I haven’t stabilized yet. My goal weight was 195 but I just kept losing. My intake that I can do seems to be more in line with the limited quantities of bypass patients rather than sleeve. But everyone is different, so who knows.
i am told it is impossible to lose “too much” and that the weight loss will eventually Peter off and stop. I revised my goal weight down to 165 pounds which would put me at ten pounds more to go.

the way my body seems to work is I stall for a long time, then drop a ton of weight quickly (ten pounds) …. Then stall again for a while… then drop more….

i have sensitive skin and the excess skin does cause rashes to occur. I get them under my breasts, in my midline area by my belly button and with the skin overhang in the pelvic region. They say that if you have documented skin conditions like I do then they will take care of the extra skin… but it’s recommended to wait a couple years. I think it also has to be overhanging by a certain amount. (I think I remember my pcp saying it has to hang lower than the pelvis bone)

I am with Kaiser SoCal in Orange county. I have my orientation on Monday. AngelMom do you have any idea how long after you finish Options it will take to get your surgery?

I am with Kaiser SoCal in Orange county. I have my orientation on Monday. AngelMom do you have any idea how long after you finish Options it will take to get your surgery?

Did you have your surgery yet? How did it go?