I am scheduled to go the orientation November 11. I called my doctor this week to get another referal because I did not go through with the last referal because I was sceptical, and that was last year for the first referal. I have waisted over a year procrastinating.

Anyway back to the orientation. After I called my doctor for the referal I got a call the next day for me to choose my date for the orientation. The day after that I got a call from my doctor's office stating that she already scheduled my blood work and for me to go have it done asap.

I am going to Richmond, CA Kaiser and this is all through Medi-cal.

What's next?

Hello everyone and right know I'm crying tears of joy as just got off the phone with my Insurance people and said that when my Dr. approves me for this surgery that they will pay 90% of the surgical costs. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to the Orientation meeting on November 9th and that should get the ball rolling. I cannot tell you how exciting and hopeful I feel right know.

Have a very Blessed day

Congratulations!!

Congratulations to you as well and the best wishes on your journey.

April

Hi Mollymai - I am also going to be attending the 11/11 orientation in

Richmond. Perhaps we will be able to meet up. 5 1/2 hours...sounds like we will be going over a lot of information.

I am scheduled to go the orientation November 11. I called my doctor this week to get another referal because I did not go through with the last referal because I was sceptical, and that was last year for the first referal. I have waisted over a year procrastinating.

Anyway back to the orientation. After I called my doctor for the referal I got a call the next day for me to choose my date for the orientation. The day after that I got a call from my doctor's office stating that she already scheduled my blood work and for me to go have it done asap.

I am going to Richmond, CA Kaiser and this is all through Medi-cal.

What's next?

How did you get into the Richmond program my doctor said it was closed. I had to go to South San Francisco. I went to orientation in September and I am still waiting just to get the nurtrition consult which they said would be at least two months to be scheduled. No idea when the other appointments will be made.

Hi Mollymai - I am also going to be attending the 11/11 orientation in

Richmond. Perhaps we will be able to meet up. 5 1/2 hours...sounds like we will be going over a lot of information.

That's is a good idea.

How did you get into the Richmond program my doctor said it was closed. I had to go to South San Francisco. I went to orientation in September and I am still waiting just to get the nurtrition consult which they said would be at least two months to be scheduled. No idea when the other appointments will be made.

I just called my doctor in Oaklnd Kaiser to get another referrel for Richmond Kaiser and they called me the next day to schedule my orientation.

At the end of the orientation in Richmond, they will give you either a surgeon appointment or a psychiatrist appointment - you have to do both but some people see on or the other first. After those two appointments and you have lost the required weight, you see your case manager and they will schedule your surgery. So the faster you lose required weight, the faster you get your surgery. Your surgeon will tell you how much you have to lose. I was banded in Richmond on Aug 26

At the end of the orientation in Richmond, they will give you either a surgeon appointment or a psychiatrist appointment - you have to do both but some people see on or the other first. After those two appointments and you have lost the required weight, you see your case manager and they will schedule your surgery. So the faster you lose required weight, the faster you get your surgery. Your surgeon will tell you how much you have to lose. I was banded in Richmond on Aug 26

How did you lose the required weight? What was you method?

Mastrosl - Call the bariactric unit and see if your appt got "lost in the mail." Just a gentle prodding. You can also see your appointments online at the Kaiser webpage. They will not put your psych appt on there so you'll have to watch for that one. Many times they have cancelations and they don't call around trying to fill them. So keeping in touch with them looking for those open spots can speed things up sometimes.

I followed the 1200 calorie food plan they gave me. The incentive for me was knowing I couldn't have the surgery until I lost the 20 lbs - I ended up losing 30 lbs before surgery.