Hey everyone going through Kaiser Richmond!!

Where are you in the process?

anyone know where to get fills in the Sacramento area for self pay??? Maybe I need to also post under sacramento surgeons to see if anyone knows.

THere is a bariatrics practice right by my house in Sacramento but I haven't stopped by. Maybe that needs to be my project this week to get more details.........Dr. Laura Machado anyone know anything about her?????

Tina she's on here!!

LapBandTalk.com - LapBand Surgeon Dr. Laura Machado

JOhn I heard that the sleeve had the same requirements as the band so you should be ok. Anyway I'm sure you will be the only one in the class getting that I know it was just me and Candra for the band....don't sweat it. I can't believe how much drama they give you. And then other have no drama.

Thanks Riley. I was just on her website looks good. I just need to see if she does fills..................without her doing the surgery. It would be great if I could get Kaiser to pay but I doubt it. I am gonna call her tomorrow to see what she charges and if she is willing to take me as a patient. I think a doctor in town would be better so if I need fills or unfills I don't have to go to ER I can just drive down the road.............

Wish me luck. I think there is another lap band doctor in town here close to Sac State and my work. A girl at work that had gastric said I should call her surgeon.

I am gonna tell Robin tomorrow what I am thinking about doing. Wish me luck onthat too!!! LOL.

I really think I am considered a liability with Kaiser and they are handling my case and fills very different than normal.........I talked to someone at work who told me that leaving the band unfilled for to long does lead to being able to eat to much and weight gain.......she said I should look into a fill doctor in town and get a new start...

I will update ya'all once I do my research tomorrow......maybe we can get fills in town?? I will have to figure out the price but if only 100 I could maybe do that every two or three months. WOuld be more than I am getting from Kaiser right now!! :-)

Tina - will they do a fill in Vacaville? I got a small unfill there when Dr. Parks was there giving an orientation. I don't know anything about getting a fill from another program. What would you have to provide them before they did the fill - I can't imagine you can just walk in and pay for a fill and they stick the needle in you. That would kind of scary if you could do that. Let us know what you find out.

I am starting to think my body wants to stay fat for some odd reason - maybe it doesn't want to leave me unprotected? Ok that's just me and my anxiety ridden thoughts going on.

I called my life insurance company to see about pulling some funds out of my insurance - it won't affect the policy value and it won't be taxable. I told her I would call her back and then had to concentrate not to start bawling at work. I don't really want to do that but I feel like I am drowning sometimes. Then one of my managers sends me an e-mail saying he wanted to make sure I was working on this task his boss gave me - jeez does he think I need a babysitter? I was only given the task last Thursday afternoon and we were off Fri, Sat, and Sun. I told him of course I am working on it but I don't have all the data from the person I contacted and I would include him when I send out the final product. They are really starting to irritate me -

John,

Check your PM. Vitamins are a little different for Sleeve.

What time is that pre-op class on Thursday? How long does it take?

Thanks!

Ok IM HERE!!! hahahaa so sorry it took me until now to get on here but I just got home.. I made a few stops on the way home. SO here goes,

I GOT MY DATE!!!! February 9th.... OMG.....!!!!

2 weeks.. I cant believe it. I had to do Labs and Physical today after. I have to go back Thursday for Nutrition and Pre-op class and then I count down... OMG OMG OMG... Im so excited!!! My mom is coming in on the 8th and staying until the 14th im super excited for that too...SO yeah Im almost there... I am seriously on cloud nine... I have also made a new goal I want to be down a total of 40 lbs by surgery so I have 4 to go, I weight in at 222 this am... SO YAY......Love you all thanks!!

PAT GOOD LUCK!!!!!! Possitive thoughts!!!!!YOU Rock...

Ah Pam...........so sorry I am in the same boat financially. How did you find out about the life insurance and if I get laid off do I get to keep the life insurance?

I think if I get fills in town I would transfer to one doctor and have fills with one person. Just I think closer is better for me. I would like to get small fills every few weeks and work my way up slower.....like .25 every couple of weeks .......I can't do that with Kaiser it is just to far......I have been reading alot and many fill doctors have you come in every two weeks and give very small fi8lls and that prevents problems.........but to do that your doc needs to be close......also you can get some out quickly if your fill is to tight.............with Kaiser I try to avoid the long commute and that makes it hard.....

I would think Kaiser and Dr. Baggs would need to give an update to a new doctor.......I don't know if they will or if Kaiser will allow that because of HIPPA laws.........

But if I lose Kaiser than I will have to move somewhere else by default so either way...........not a bad idea to find out what is going on in town.

Also Laura Machado has a support group once a month I just found out.......not sure if anyone can go but sounds like a good group.

More information tomorrow. I will see what Robin says. I am sure it will all be written down so I will be careful what I say. But I think they need to know what is going on and that I am exploring my options to decide that I need to do...........

I am interviewing for jobs again and Health Net is my option if I get this other job:-) Dr. Machado does take that I think..............

So do us bandsters ever get to where we don't have to go in once a month???? I have been doing this for more than a year now..........once a month!!

Nicole,

That is so exciting. Only two weeks away. YAY! You must really be rockin. How cool that your mom is going to come stay with you and help you. That will be so great to have her comfort close to you.

I'm really proud of you and how great you're handling all of this!

Congrat Nicollie!!

Ok so what did Liz say???? It has already been put out there now!! LOL

They are scheduling really close out!! Nice.So you and John have orientation together it sounds like!!

LOL! If I get laid off officially I might move to Denver so I guess I could also try to find out who is the best bariatric surgeon out that way............................

I think they have some of the best surgeons in the country out that way...........some surgery center. I see it on lap band talk popping up once in awhile........

Heather you guys ok your way?? We were told today the cuts and layoffs are gonna be brutal this round? I hear IHHS is getting totally cut........that is disabled and elderly people........oh dear that will be bad. Maybe it is just the staff and not the actually funding......but that is harsh..........

Tina - my life insurance is a universal life policy that I have had for about 15 years so it has built up equity.

If you go to a new doctor outside of Kaiser that doctor will probably want you to get a copy of your Kaiser record pertaining to the lapband surgery. I had to do this when I went to a fertility specialist outside of Kaiser. I had to request the records through membership services and pay for the copies.

Why have you had to go to Kaiser every month? I had my surgery 8/08, went back in 10/08, 1/09, 6/08 and 9/09 twice -one was the unfill, and the last time I went was the beginning of 10/09 for th 1 cc fill bringing me up to 7 cc. They did not mention me coming back again. I think it depends on the surgeon - Dr. Im doesn't do tiny fills or frequent fills. If I lose another 20 lbs I may call to get another fill, but that won't be anytime soon.

I am pretty sure Kaiser won't pay for anything done outside of Kaiser unless it is an emergency and you can't get to any Kaiser facility. I would check into it before you tell Robin about it in case you decide against it. Once you get a fill outside of Kaiser I doubt they will treat you at Kaiser if there is a problem because they won't know what was done to you. You can't show back up at Kaiser with 5 cc in your band when they know they only gave you 3.5 cc. Just something to think about. Do you really want to sever your relationship with Richmond Kaiser?

I think for me it is mostly psychological at this point - I am hoping when my Wellbutrin kicks in in a couple of weeks I will feel stronger emotionally.

Pam sorry about the tears..........I know, I know. I think give me another month and I might be in tears with the layoffs..........

I do get fills in Vacaville sometimes but the wait is like 6-7 weeks if I want Vacaville. If I go to Kaiser Richmond I can be seen sooner..........right now I am trying to get in a little sooner than 6-7 weeks. But I wonder if Liz would let me see the first surgeon available instead of waiting for Dr. Baggs............but I do like Dr. Baggs he is just really, really, really booked up the last 3 months.....if I cancel an appointment it is another 6 weeks to reschedule..........so maybe I should ask for the first one available even if it is not Dr. Baggs.............

YEa I know if I leave Kaiser it is over for treatment there. I just wish I lived closer. I am gonna talk to Dr. Machado tomorrow. I sent her an email tonight.

I have a 50/50 chance of being laid off this month. It depends on how the money is divided between CPS and the Sheriffs office. CPS is the underdog. I have to agree that I also debate cause public safety vs. CPS. If is my house being robbed...........but than again it is my job being lost. I am just waiting to see what happens. If I make this round of cuts I will be cut in July for sure. I am hoping for July............really hoping for July instead.

I like Dr. Baggs alot and hate to leave but I would want him to talk to anyone I transfer to.

Well maybe I will not tell Robin. I really hate that they document things and pass them around.......I just hope what I say and what they hear are the same thing!! LOL. I don't like that being assertive can be intepreted as rude..........oh dear and I can't even defend myself!! LOL. But maybe that would be rude too.........I don't think I make a good patient I open my mouth to much!!!

Tina- That sucks. We haven't had much talk of the layoffs, they mention April but I'm trying not to stress about it. I know there's a ton of fraud in IHSS, they've got to get that under control.

Dr Machado seemed pretty cool, I went to her orientation a few years ago. Bobbie (Angel's aunt) had her for her lap band, you should talk to her next month at the meeting. And, there might be another doc at Sutter Roseville (?)

Oh and one last thing Tina- Which courthouse are you at tomorrow?

Way to go Coco!