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MGoudie
on 6/18/08 5:28 am

I just found the fourm today and I am unsure how to search for the messages I want to read. I have been going to Kaiser Richmond for several months participating in their by program, which will be a long process. I attended one of two mandatory workshops and have an appt. to meet my surgeon on Aug. 1. I have lost 12 pounds since beginning the program and need to loose at least 10 more before they will consider setting a surgery date. I am hopeful I can meed that goal by my Aug. 1 appointment. I have always known Kaiser is slower than molassas. I was determined to have this surgery but now I have second thoughts.. Just little ones, like never having a tuna sandwich with bread again. The surgery doesn't bother me. It's been two years since my second knee replacement and I wear a CPAP at night. I'd love to deep six that thing. More about me.. I am 58, married with 4 grandchildren and a second grade teacher here in Woodland. Marcia

taz51501
on 6/18/08 8:05 am - Central Coast, CA

Hi and welcome to the Cali board! I have no experience with Kaiser but wanted to wish you well. Good luck on your journey. Sue

Keep doing what you're doing, Keep getting what you're getting.

Highest/Surgery/Dr. Goal/Goal/Current
301 299 180 170 159

Jeni H.
on 6/18/08 9:03 am

Lap Band on 10/16/08

hi Marcia! Welcome to the Calif Board! I don't have Kaiser either, but I can give a lot of support! You came to the right place! I am waiting for approval and a date for my surgery. I can't wait to sit on the "Loser's Bench" with all of these mighty fine people and friends! I wish you the best on your journey! Jeni

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are unwilling to move your feet. God, Please help me to move my feet!!!

cabin111
on 6/18/08 10:23 am

RNY on 10/09/06

Welcome!! Jump in the water's fine. Brian

Rockne
on 6/18/08 3:02 pm, edited 6/18/08 3:02 pm - South Orange County, CA

DS on 07/02/03

You needn't go through Kaisers nonsense with their options plan or losing weight prior to consult. And you can have a tuna sandwich with bread and not have these insane DIET restrictions if you get the DS. Consider the getting the forms from the DMHC (CA Dept Of Managed Health Care) and file a GRIEVANCE, not a request for IMR(Independent Medical Review) to get them to force Kasier to drop the diet requirement and THEY WILL! It's practically ROUTINE now! Here is the DMHC document that establishes that there is no proper basis for requiring a diet: http://www.hmohelp.ca.gov/boards/cap/bariatricrev.pdf SUMMARY CONCLUSION There is no literature presented by any authority that mandated weight loss, once a patient has been identified as a candidate for bariatric surgery, is indicated. There is a mixture of results that question whether weight or truncal obesity is a risk factor for complications after bariatric surgery. The more analytic studies have not found that body mass index (BMI) or total weight is an independent risk factor for complications or death from bariatric surgery. No institution that has recently published data on bariatric surgery describes a protocol requiring weight loss between identification of the need for surgery and the surgery. Many institutions in California have published results of surgery with particular focus on factors that contribute to morbidity and mortality. No paper from a California institution mentions mandated weight loss before bariatric surgery. Nor does any literature regarding the treatment for the morbidly obese recommend continued weight loss during the period between identification of the need for bariatric surgery and the surgery. Mandated weight loss prior to indicated bariatric surgery is without evidence-based support. Mandated weight loss prior to indicated bariatric surgery leaves the patient at increased risk from the patient’s comorbidities. Mandated weight loss prior to indicated bariatric surgery is not medically necessary. Mandated weight loss prior to indicated bariatric surgery would be deviant from the standard of care practiced in the United States and other published countries. The risks of delaying bariatric surgery, while not entirely known in the short-term, are real and can be measured. Any potential value of losing weight prior to bariatric surgery is theoretical and not supported by any data. An experimental study including fully informed consent to determine if there were a reduction in risks or other benefit from mandated weight loss prior to bariatric surgery is indicated. Thanks to my friend D. Cox and reposted for your perusal. It's a virtual certainty you'd prevail and the overturning of the pre-op diet requirement at the a grievance level would also streamline your WLS approval more quickly. You can see these diet requirement overturning decisions yourself http://tinyurl.com/42om93 mixed in with others. Not the least of which are many on the list demonstrating the superiority short and long-term of the Duodenal Switch. If you haven't considered the DS as one of your WLS options please take a look at the recent decisions below: ------------ The patient is a 25-year-old female with a body mass index (BMI) of 37.3 and significant comorbid conditions. She indicates that she has researched all the surgical procedures and has selected the duodenal switch operation for treatment of her obesity. The patient has completed a psychological evaluation and was deemed an appropriate candidate for weight loss surgery. The Health Plan has denied coverage for the duodenal switch surgery asserting that this surgical procedure is not medically necessary for treatment of the patient’s condition. This patient clearly meets the criteria set forth by the National Institutes of Health for surgical treatment of obesity with a BMI of 37.3 and co-morbid conditions. The duodenal switch operation has been shown to be effective for patients with a BMI of less than 50. Additionally, there is no data indicating that nutritional deraignment after the duodenal switch operation is any more prevalent or more serious than what is encountered with the gastric bypass operation. In fact, the lifestyle of patients after duodenal switch is generally free of the ill effects of the gastric bypass, such as the dumping syndrome and intolerance of solid foods. As cited above, there is a large body of scientific evidence available that shows the duodenal switch operation is more durable with a better long-term success rate when compared to the gastric bypass or the Lap Band operation. Based upon the information set forth above, I have determined the requested duodenal switch bariatric surgical procedure is medically necessary for treatment of the patient’s medical condition. The Health Plan’s denial should be overturned. ------------ A 60-year-old female enrollee has requested for laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (DS) for treatment of her morbid obesity. Findings: The physician reviewer found that with a BMI of 43.2 and multiple comorbid conditions, the patient met nationally accepted medical necessity criteria for consideration of weight loss surgery. Peer reviewed articles clearly demonstrate superior weight loss and maintenance of weight loss over the long term with the DS as compared to other surgical procedures. Published data also demonstrates that the Roux-en-Y procedure results in as much, if not more, protein calorie malnutrition as the DS. The patient’s assertion that the DS is the most effective surgical weight loss alternative is well supported in the literature and this option was a medically reasonable approach to surgical weight loss. Psychological, nutritional and cardiology evaluations indicated the patient was an appropriate candidate for the surgery. ---------- Good luck! Rock

(deactivated member)
on 6/18/08 3:10 pm - So. Cal, CA

RNY on 07/17/08

Welcome to the Cali board! Good luck with everything that is in front of you! Lola

Nicol
on 6/18/08 5:26 pm - Cameron Park, CA

RNY on 05/12/08

Hi Marcia, I have Kaiser too I had my RNY done at SSF. They are very slow but I think they are super through. I had my first appointment August 28, 2007 and my surgery May 12th. Once I met with Surgeon Everything flew by. I met with him April 27th I believe had pre op May 7th and surgery May 12th. And now that it's been 5 weeks that 9 months was actually a blur. Kinda like when you are pregnant you think you will be pregnant forever then you have the baby and all of a sudden the pregnancy FLEW by. Anyway if there are any questions I can help you with just ask. I know I went to SSF instead of Richmond but If I can help I will.

Nicol

horselovenlady
on 6/19/08 3:18 pm

VSG on 04/15/13

Hello: Welcome to the board, there are several forums to read on OH, all are good. I was born in the old Richmond Hospital, but raised in Pinole / Tara Hills. Raised my children in Suisun/ Vacaville. What type of surgery have you chose? I am going with Lap Band on July 22nd. Not matter what you choose everyone here is supportive. There are also board/forums for each type of surgery, I enjoy myself on almost all of them. Again welcome.

"Make good choices right now. Discipline doesn't always feel good but later on it yields a harvest in our lives if we make right choices." ~ Joyce Meyer ~

LB 7/2008 LB Removed 2/2012 HW:225 LW:165

Sleeve Date 4/15/2013 / HW:240 SW:228 CW:165 GW:140 HT: 5'2"

golfnfool
on 6/22/08 9:02 am, edited 6/22/08 9:02 am

I am going in Tuesday for my surgery at Kaiser Fremont with Dr. Hahn. It has been about 10 months since my orientation, the time has flown by. I am anxious as well as nervous. Hang in there, Kaiser is awesome once you learn to play within their rules.

Waiting impatiently for my surgery date!

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