Kaiser people.....

Just want to get it over with!

Hi Becca!

   Good luck with your surgery!  I only have 2 classes left till I can call a surgeon. I'm in Murrieta, so not sure what doctor I'll get. Sounds like Dr. Fadorka is pretty popular!  When did you finish your classes and how long is it going to be till your surgery?  Which one are you getting?

 Congrats..almost done that is great! I finished my classes on Dec 3rd. Was approved by Dr Fedorka on the 10th and saw Jeanie on Jan 6th for the psych eval. I have my consult with him on Feb 7th and will decide my surgery. I am pretty sure I am going to do the VSG. I am not sure when I will be scheduled for surgery, hoping by the end of the month. Keeping my fingers crossed. I will keep you all posted. Good luck to all of you!
Becca

Hi Becca!

  What kind of questions did the psych ask you? 

Thanks!
Sabrina

Hi Becca,

Welcome!  I'm new also to joining as a member, but have been lurking for ages.  Best wishes with all this.  I just wanted to comment how lucky you are to be able to have your surgery in San Bernardino.  Wish I could have had that option as it would be a little closer to home for me.  I live in the High Desert and took my classes in Palm Desert. (which in my humble opinion was truly a waste of time.  I knew more already before I went into that class and didn't learn anything of any value that one couldn't 't figure out on their own. But I digress.  Sorry.  I HATE Kaiser....)   From the very beginning they kept saying they would soon have San Bernardino open as an option area for surgery, but even as of earlier this week when I spoke to the weight loss coordinator for my area which is in Riverside, STILL tell me only Crown Barriatricss in Corona/Murrieta or Pacific down in San Diego.  Both areas are quite a trek for me.   I hope your whole time frame goes much quicker than mine.  This whole dang stupid Kaiser process to actual surgery next week in Murrieta will have taken me almost 16 months to the day from when I first put in my request for said surgery. And that is still with me being agressive on checking back "with the system" to get my scheduled appointments and tests scheduled.  Most this time has just been wasted time in that it's because  apparently there is such a tremendous back up of patients and one is on "waiting lists" for everything.  The closest support group for me is Redlands which still takes me an hour and a half to get to. (However I have just found one in Palm Desert sponsored by a non Kaiser surgeon that welcomes Kaiser Patients.  So I will probably start attending that after my surgery) 

There is a wealth of information on here on these various boards.  They are such a tremendous help! 

Take Care!

Holly Jean

Congrats Holly Jean on finally getting your surgery! I'm sorry that Kaiser was so difficult for you, not a pleasant experience. You live is the High Desert, as in victorville? That's where I am, and we have a few support groups to choose from. Dr Fedorka is very selective on who he choses as patients, I went to the Fontana classes so I'm not sure if he is just an option for them or if he is an option for all IE kaiser patients. I just had my consult with him today and he very critical (not in a bad way) of who he performs on and when he thinks they are ready. Just an FYI, crown, Dr Suh is a very good suregon and kaiser has a reimburement program for gas and lodging if you are 50 miles or more away from the hospital. May want look into that! I wish you the best of luck !
Becca

Hi everyone,
  I had my surgery through Kaiser Fremont.. and was just wondering if they are the only Kaiser that doesn't make you take classes?  I didn't have to do any type of classes, just lose the required 10 percent and pass my psych eval.

Just curious,

 I am meeting Dr dutta today .. I am going thru kaiser fremont and i have had to take a few classes plus do the 10% and phych eval plus a boat load of other things had to be current.. How was your expericance with kaiser and dr dutta?

I loved Dr. Dutta! He is so nice, made me feel completely at ease, and I felt completely comfortable with him.  Kaiser Fremont is my favorite.. they treat you like actual people, not just another patient, and Martha is the sweetest lady!  I actually had my appt for tomorrow cancelled by their office, which was supposed to be my 2 year checkup.  Dr. O'Brien actually called me, and spent about 20 min on the phone with me, went over my labs etc, and so now I don't have to go all the way down there. When I went, they didn't have any requirements for classes like the other Kaiser locations do, so since I went to my consult already at goal, I got my appt for my psych eval that day, and my total time from orientation to surgery was only 5 months.  I had the best experience with them, and Dr. Dutta. he is very highly recoomended by me :-)

Hi all!
I saw that this thread started with a bunch of Dr. Fedorkas patients and I want to throw my lot in with you all! I had my surgery with Dr. Fedorka on 12/17/2011 at St. Bernardines in San Bernardino. I'm about 7-8 weeks out now.
Everything went so fast going through Dr. Fedorka instead of waiting in line for Pacific Bari in San Diego. I'm so happy I had my surgery with Dr. Fedorka and his team, they've been amazing!
I'd love to add you to my friends lists if that's allright, since we're all surgeons knife buddies now. LOL.

Jessica