Hey everyone going through Kaiser Richmond!!

Where are you in the process?

Hi Everyone,

I'm sitting here eating one of the new Bariatric Advantage Raspberry chews that came today. Tastes like a Starburst. They're having a sale, buy 3 get one free. At 9.99 a bag, it's a decent savings. I'll try the chocolate later and give you a review.

Rachelle, I'm a Sleever too. Love my Sleeve. John and I had it the same day. One right after the other. Same two surgeons for both our surgeries, but my surgeon is Dr. Baggs.

John, I'm still barfing away as well. Got home last night at 8:30 and ate too fast. BAM! At least I'm managing to keep down vitamins now.

I'm loving spring. Walked to work twice this week. YAHOO!

Love reading the pouch test results and reading about how all of you are doing!

Hi everyone! I have my apt. for my barium swallow @ 10:55 in Walnut Creek to see if I have a hernia. No eating past midnight, which wont be a problem since I'm in bed before then and not much of a breakfast person. But I was hoping to weigh in @ goal in the AM. All week I have been fighting this 1-2 lbs from my time of the month crap. Any advise?

P.S. It is so adjitating since I was goal on last Friday :smile2:

I think the fill thing is changing a bit. Last year Dr Baggs was giving tons of tiny fills, Dr. Im would give infrequent but large fills, and I don't know what the other two were doing. It seems like they might be a lot more concerned with people being overfilled. I think they're all being a lot more conservative with fills.

And you will have to go to Richmond for fills, sometimes they'll do them in vacaville or pinole. You should write to member services and tell them you want a fill center in Sacramento and you're not alone. If we all do that, perhaps we can change something. They don't know how bad we need it if we don't tell them.

Ash honey, drink lots of water. Flush yourself out really well and it will take the weight along with it. Good luck tomorrow. I didn't know I had a hernia until I woke up from surgery and was told that I did and that it was repaired. Go figure, huh?

Good luck Ash, I know you will do fine! You have worked so hard.

BTW, what's the berrium swallow? Is that another apt I will have prior to surgery? Maybe they talked about it today in class but my brain must have been on info overload...

Rachelle, Sacto doesn't have anything up here for fills. As Heather said, call member services and write letters, and maybe it will change. I think Laurel contacted them and they said they haven't had enough requests for it which sounds weird since there are many people in the Sacto area driving to Richmond.

Ali – Yes they should have talked about the barium swallow in class. Info overload :smile2: Normally you do it after surgery. Band patients have it done while in recovery before discharge. Sleeve patients do it the next day before leaving the hospital. The one I did for my first band surgery was totally disgusting but the one I did for the Sleeve was much better. Not sure why it was better… They wheel you downstairs to the X-Ray department and you stand in front of a machine. You then swallow some crap that enables a doctor to watch the liquid go down your esophagus and into your stomach. They make sure things flow…

Thanks everyone! I just got off the treadmill-walked for 2 miles. I am drinking as much as I can. I have to do the Barium Swallow before surgery to see if I have a hernia. The Dr. suspects that I may have one as a result of my first pregnancy. Weird though. I think that I would rather know before hand too. Lee- I remember you saying that they repaired one for you. Thats good that they are able to fix it at the same time huh!

Ash,

I like that they are checking before hand; I wish you luck.

Hope all the Sacto people are planning on coming to group on the 24th!

I'll be at the next Sac meeting because I have to say good bye to my new BFF Nicollie :smile2: <3

Good job on the 2 miles Ash!! I betcha you will weigh in at goal tomorrow with even a few more .'s down!

I don't remember my barium swallow well I was soooo outta it, I just remember standing up and telling them not to look at my butt hanging out, and that I felt like I was gonna puke LOL

Where is the meeting???? What time?

Good Thursday evenin all...

Welcome Rachelle, congrats on your journey, these ladies and one cooool guy are a great support and info team!

Our support group meets each 4th Saturday at

Kaiser Point West Facility in Sac, off of Arden & Heritage,

11:00 - 1:00, All WLS surgeries, Kaiser AND Non Kaiser patients. We usually have a joint meeting for an hour and then separate to respective WLS groups, the sleeve is growing!!! Hope u can join us!

Usually afterwards the banders and 'sleevers' go to lunch.

This month we are preparing for Nicole (Canolie's) C Ya Later..because she is moving (we dont do Goodbyes...cause we always see ya later online! hehe) Plans are still being set for this month, and we will post them here for afterwards.

Had a great eve with Nicole (Canolie) & Chrissy (SodaPop) who came up to Lincoln to visit! Preparing for a much needed weekend getaway with me hubby of (& celebrating) 24 yrs!

Hoping the band doesnt react to much to Tahoe elevation, hehe. Here's to thanking God it is about Friday! :smile2:

Hi everyone,

Ali is correct in that I wrote to Member Services to request that we get a fill center here in Sacramento. My request was denied. They stated that Vacaville was close enough for Sacramento patients and that they had not had enough patients requesting that service. If more people wrote to ask perhaps that would make a difference. I don't know, but it is worth a try. I have to take a whole day off work to drive to Richmond and a half day off to drive to Vacaville.

Just finishing up week 3 post op. I am not feeling much restriction so am keeping my calories way down and praying that I lose enough weight to earn a fill on May 7th. I need to start really exercising again, but have been so tired this first week back to work. I have been walking, but that's about it. This is a lot of work isn't it?

Have a good weekend everyone. I will be sitting in class preparing for my administrative principal exam.

HEY EVERYONE! Long time no post...lol. I went to my surgeon appointment yesturday and I was already down 5 pounds in THREE days! Dr. Im is AMAZING. I love him. I also only have 14 pounds to go!! I woke up this morning and down another 1.5!!! GOOOOOOO ME! I am gonna try to get to goal in ONE month!

John and Bella - did they say it was normal to be throwing up so much? If it's normal at this point, how long is it supposed to last? Doesn't sound pleasant.

I am planning on being there on the 24th.