Orientation Today Kaiser Fremont!

Hello Everyone!

Today I went with my mom since we are both planning on having gastric bypass to our orientation at Kaiser Fremont!  The two hours went by very fast and the surgeon that spoke was wonderful he truely helped us understand exactly what is going to happen before, and after surgery.  He spoke to everyone in a way so that everyone could understand, thank goodness because the last orientation I went to in Richmond the surgeon spoke almost in a different language that only someone with a medical background would understand :)  So orientation went awesome and we were told that we will receive a call this week to set up our next appointment that will be in a approximatly a month which is awesome because I really want to try to lose almost my whole ten percent by that time so that I can schedule surgery!  I am really hoping to have my surgery during Christmas time so that I do not have to take a lot of time off during the time the kids are in school, especially since I just received a promotion...but we'll have to see how that all works out!  How was your orientation when you had yours? Id love feedback to hear how different orientations are?


Have a great Sunday!

*~*Desiree*~*

Hey Desiree -

I'm glad to hear your orientation went well.  I felt the same way when I went to the Fremont orientation.  To my surprise I received a call by Tuesday.  I was shocked they called me so fast.  The faster you drop your 10% the faster you will progress thru the process. 

BTW congratulations on the promotion at work!

I am thrilled that you had your orientation today!
I did that June 30 had my Psych eval 3 days later and Nutritionist  and doctor consult a week after that.
I have been at my target weight and waiting for Nancy the surgery scheduler to call.
Which doctor were you assigned? (I have Dr. Hahn.. he has a long waiting list...  as I am finding out)

You are not put on the surgery wait list until have lost your 10%. When you meet your surgeon your surgeon he or she will go over your history talk about procedures. It is at this consult you will be given your target weight. ( I was 198 my target was 179=10%)
The binder you were given... read it like it is your best friend. I think I have read it about 7 times, and learn and see things every time I re read it.

Welcome to the journey!!

Thank you Michelle! I love my new job its wonderful and I was speaking to my mom today and said I know that the doctor has told us to take a month off but I think that I will only take two weeks so that I do not leave my job with a sub in my position and I can get back in there so its not so hectic but the more we got talking about it my mom said that I really need to take the four weeks off so that I am able to adapt to all of the changes that will be happening after my surgery and I think that is very true so I am really going to take that into consideration after the surgery!  But before the surgery I need to hurry up and get this ten percent off so starting tomorrow even if it kills me I am going to follow that 1200 calorie diet to a T so that I can hopefully get some weight off before meeting with the surgeon.  I want to speed up the process on my end any way I can and I know that by getting the weight off it will happen a lot faster.  The surgeon that spoke today said that after we have lost our ten percent then we should have our surgery scheduled within 4-6 weeks after that so that was awesome to hear!  I was actually not assigned a surgeon and do not have a preference on which surgeon does my surgery as long as I am not given a surgeon that I am going to be there guinea pig and all of the surgeons there seem to have done many surgeries so I am not picky on who does mine :) I hear that a lot of people want Dr. Hahn and am not to sure why? I'm thinking maybe by looking at the pictures...he is easy on the eyes? Maybe thats why?? lol I dont know!  I love having feedback from all of my lovely friends on here so please keep it coming :)

Desiree,

Congrats on going to your or orientation... How exciting it is to be starting the process. I went to the orientation in Richmond (Vacaville) and really got alot from it. The surgeon who was there was very informative (Dr. Baggs). The most frustrating part for me was the other people that were there not listening and asking questions that were already answered if your ears were open.

I started my process in June and had my Orientation mid June, 10 days later meet with the surgery, 2 weeks later meet with physic, and them meet my goal weight mid July and meet with case manager a week later. My surgery is scheduled for 9/27/10 and am counting down the two weeks I have left. I pray the process moves quick for you and , just know follow the pre op meal plan and you will meet your 10% before you know it. I started my pre-op meal plan the day after orientation and by time I meet with the surgeon 10 days later I had dropped 10 lbs. It was only 3 weeks later I meet my required weight loss. Mine was not 10 % it was more like 5%. (18 lbs total)  JUST REMEMBER EAT YOUR PROTEIN FIRST!! This really helped and you do stay fuller longer and will not have the need to snack in between. 

Good luck and know we are all here to support you...

 

Desiree,

Hey my friend, I'm so excited for you!!!  You know you can call me anytime with any questions you might have.  Shoot, come on over to my office and chat anytime!!!  I am so happy that you and your Mom went together, it's an awesome thing.

Hope you can come to lunch this coming Sat too and bring your Mom.  I love the suggestion that Roberta gave you too, because you'll need that after surgery and it works really well.  Protein first.  If you can remember to eat 75% of your meal as protein and the other 25% veggie, or carb (healthy of course) it makes a huge difference or another way to think about it, eat 3 bites of protein before eating your 1 bite of veggie or carb.  Personally, I try to make what I eat count as much as possible.  I keep nuts, beef jerky, protein bars in my desk for when I get the snack urge.  The candy on my desk is all sugar free but it still gets eaten, just not much my me.

Hope to see you soon!

Hugs,
Barb

Hi Desiree,

I attended my orientation at the end of last May and by the time I met with the surgeon in June, (Dr  Chu) I had already dropped my 20lbs they would require and was approved for surgery.  My psych was mid July and I got my surgery scheduled for Sept 16..............3 days  and it will be a year.

I think I would have been scheduled quicker but they use the summer months to fit in a lot of teachers as they are pretty good about working around their school schedule.

I thought the process went very quickly..........I was surprised. 4 mos and I had my surgery.  I hear others go through years of process.

Good Luck and hope to see you at the luncheon Barb talked about.

Debbie

My surgeon is Dr Hahn, has done surgery on 4 of my friends from support groups, and my hairdresser Ray who has lost 140 pounds, and is half who he use to be!
Dr Christine Chu is outstanding as well, a few in my support group had her as their surgeon.
Dr Dutta , I think is easy on the eyes...lol   and very good surgeon.
Dr Dennen, I hear is great as well .