What is going on.

Am I the only man in CO considering this surgery. It looks like 95% of the peeps are women. On any site I visit. I am seriously considering GBS, but am FREAKED OUT!!!! I am with Kaiser, I called today regarding the procedure, they had me call the Kaiser Weight Management program. Thw WMP said it is like a 2 year wait. 2 YEARS!!! I can't believe that if I get approved for the surgery, I would have to wait 2 years. What do the peeps reading this think? Rgds, Jim AKA Panik

Hi Jim - Is their weight mgt program called Colorado Weigh? If so, I "been there, done that". It didn't work (for me or really anyone in my particular class, though she did have a "success story" come talk).

Hi James! You're right, I haven't noticed many men in Colorado having WLS at all! But that's okay, we'll take you! With Kaiser, is that the only way you can go? I'm not sure how Kaiser works. In any event, don't give up - stay after them!

Hi, Jim! No, you are not the only man in CO considering WLS. Upon seeing my success with the surgery in Jan 2002 (so far I've lost around 165 lbs. and am 5 lbs. from my goal of being 1/2 of my former self), my husband had a lap roux-en-y done last Sept. He is doing wonderfully and has lost about 100 pounds so far. We are unsure about his actual weight as once you start becoming "skinnier", believe it or not, the number on the scale doesn't seem to matter anymore! We do not have Kaiser, but had no problem getting either of our surgeries approved by CIGNA. It was however, about a 6 mo. wait to get into seeing our surgeon, Dr. Otteman, in Ft. Collins. I agree, after you finally decide that surgery is the only answer, any amount of waiting is too long! Sheila

I noticed that there were fewer men having the surgery. I wonder why that is. Congratulations to you for considering it. I have Kaiser, too, and I wasn't willing to wait two years, so I borrowed and scraped up $25000 to have it done. I'm two days post-op right now. My brother had RNY a year and a half ago, and he looks and feels fantistic. Hang in there!

HI JAMES!! GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO HAVE GB, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS ON KAISER ALSO AND I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT SHE IS ALSO GOING THRU A LONG WAIT!! BUT HANG IN THERE!!! DO NOT LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU FROM GOING THRU WITH THE SURGERY!!!! I KNOW MORE CO-WORKERS WHO HAVE UNITED HEALTH CARE AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SURGERY ( AND APPROVALS ) WITH NO PROBLEMS? IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN CHNGE INS CARRIER? WELL JUST A THOUGHT? AND DO NOT BE FREAKED OUT!!!! HANG IN THEIR!! LOOK AT EVERYONE ON THIS WEBSITE THAT HAS GONE THRU IT!! LET THEM BE PART OF YOUR INSPIRATION TO NOT GIVE UP!!!! A FRIEND ON THE SAME CRUISE-- DIFFERENT BOAT!!! LUPE.... PS. IF YOU NEED ANY SUPPORT OR JUST AN EAR TO HEAR YOU OUT..... [email protected]. TAKE CARE......A FRIEND.

Hi, I had my surg last May but had Kaiser prior to my surgery. I got such a run around and spent so much money jumping through there hoops I changed my insurance. My surgery was done with in 6 months!! Feel free to emial me and I will give you more details if you need. Peggy : ) [email protected]

Your are right about Kaiser. I started with them last year but when I found out my company was dropping Kaiser at the end of this year, I switched. Now I am up against United Health Care with a complete exclusion. I am fighting that.

I Just wanted to say Hang in there . I was told straight forward by my sugeon to go to my primary care physian and get on a twelve week Dr. supervised weight loss program. So I did in twelve weeks I lost 25 lbs. Big Deal when you are 325 lbs to begin with. I went back to the surgeon. He suggest that I go on another 12 week Dr. Supervised weight loss plan. So I did this time I was put on a 1500 cal diet. Wow this is a lot of food. So now I have gained back 4 lbs in the first week. Back I go to my old diet plan. I really do not understand why I have to do these two Dr. supervised plans. I know I can't lose weight I have known this for 15 years. But any way hang in there. My Dad had the surgery 2 years ago lost about 150 lbs . Was 360 now he is so much healthier. He had diabetis,high blood pressure and several mini heart attacks and one major heart attack. He was approved and had sugery in 6 mo. I am not sure of his insurance though. Also, My surgeon Has a name of a lawyer who helps bariatric patients fight insurance companies. If you want the information let me know Annette

I know of a man in Rifle who had surgery last fall. I know he's lost over 200 pounds at this point. If you're interested in email him, let me know. I'm sure he'd be willing to email you. I have to agree about trying to change insurance if you can. Kaiser is notoriously slow. Almost everything I have read about them, no matter what state, is that they want you to go on their weight loss program for at least a year and, even then, that's no guarantee that you'll get approved. One other thing. I don't know about their surgeons directly, but if they are part of the Kaiser group, my guess is that they don't do a lot of gastric bypass surgeries, no matter which type. That's another factor to consider. There are several docs in the Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Greeley areas who do gastric bypass procedures frequently. I'm not saying that the Kaiser docs aren't competent or anything like that, but if you only do a few a year rather than several every week, you just won't have the knowledge. Good luck whatever you decide.