Aloha!

Hi there! I'm new to OH, I am just starting this journey for myself. I started researching it when I got my new insurance (HMSA) in March. I saw my PCP two weeks ago and she suggested it might be a possibility, but wanted to rule out other causes for my weight problems first. I see her again on Thursday and am going to tell her I want to do it, and get this moving ahead. On another note... who am I? I am 28 (for a few more days). I am a wife and a mother - with a 6 and 7yo. I am also an RN. I work in Labor and Delivery. My family and I live on Kauai, but are originally from Washington state. I've always struggled with my weight - obesity runs in my family, and it seems the only way any of us have ever taken the weight off has been through starvation/anorexia. I've tried all the diets out there, and what it comes to right now is plain and simple... I'm an addict. I love food, I'm addicted to it, and it feels better to me to eat/self medicate, then to deal with my problems. I need WLS, so I CANNOT do this to myself any longer.. I want to be there for my kids. I want to live long enough to enjoy my future grandbabies, and I want to be able to ENJOY them in ways I cannot with all this extra weight. My current BMI is 53.2, so I know I qualify, but I'm still so new I'm trying to figure out the best way to go about getting it done. I don't want to stall... I want this surgery yesterday! Seriously, once I've researched something enough to know what I want, I am ready to move on it immediately. I look forward to getting to know all of you and supporting each other through our journeys.. Cassandra

Hi Cassandra!!! Welcome to the OH!!! I live on the island of Oahu. My daughter has lived in Washington for the past 10 years. She lives in Tacoma. What part of Washington are you from? I had lap rny on January 10, 2005. My BMI was 51. I'm only 5' tall and weighed 261 pounds. I too have always had weight problems for as long as I remember. Actually, my daughter is the same age as yourself. She's not married so I'm still waiting to become a grandmother. Although I keep saying that 50 is too young to be a "grandmother"! Especially now with my new body!! Ha! Ha! I know exactly what you mean about being around for your family. As it was I was never really able to play with my children because of my weight. And I also wanted to be around for my grandbabies too!! There are doctors here on Oahu, but I chose a doctor that comes to Oahu every month from San Francisco. A lot of people come from the other islands to Oahu to have their surgery here. He came highly recommended!!! His name is Paul Cirangle and he belongs to the Bariatric Associates of San Francisco. The week that I had my surgery he was here for 2 weeks and did 15 surgeries. He did 2-3 per day. He is an awesome surgeon and very knowledgeable about this type of surgery. He is also very strict about your post op care. I think that's why I have had absolutely no problems at all after my surgery. Also, unlike a lot of the other surgeons here in Hawaii who have you attend so many support group meetings, see a psychologist for months, etc. and than you end up being on a waitlist for 1 year. I started my process in mid September, and after having the necessary tests, and I saw a psychiatrist once, I had my surgery date by December, 2004. He is a very caring person and is very supportive of all his patients. He is also available 24/7 either by e-mail or his cell phone. And he always gets back to you within less than 24 hours by e-mail. If you call him on his cell phone unless he is in surgery, he will normally answer! Let me know if you would like more information about Dr. Cirangle, or if yoiu have any other questions. Again welcome and have a wonderful week!!! Aloha, Pat 261/146/130

Hi Pat! Thank you for the welcome! I did check into Dr. Cirangle, but the first thing they told me was that he has a $4000 upfront program fee that's not covered by insurance. If I can find someone who doesn't it will be better, as we're not in a financial place to do that right now, and I really don't want to wait that long if I can help it! The good news, is that I have a great doctor here on Kauai who is gung ho about the follow up.. hopefully that will be what I need. I'm from the other side of the mountains in Washington - Spokane. I'm so glad you got yourself healthy for your future grandbabies!! Doesn't if feel great??? Imagine taking them to the park and actually playing with them!! I want to do that now before I miss out on my babies lives.. They're 6 and 7, and they are so active.. I hold them back becasue I don't want to be that active, kwim? My son wants to learn to surf, and I want to do that with him! That's a big goal for me. Anyways, nice to meet you! Cassandra

Welcome Cassandra!!!! I just had my surgery done on Tuesday (Lap RNY) and got released from the hospital Thursday.......It was a LONGGGGGG battle for me to get to this point, so I just want to let you know not to give up hope, it will happen!! We live on Oahu, we moved there in August 2005, and I had my surgery done in California. It was because of my insurance, and only one doctor on the island (well, LOL, I guess in the state really) who accepted it, besides the military surgeons and they were deployed....so, California was still in network for us, so my surgery is fully covered...of course because it isn't something that isn't seen as medically necessary (LOL...that's a whole other topic right there!!) they didn't pay for travel expenses....but we really haven't spent much money out of pocket and assuming everything goes without complications all you need to spend is like 8-10 days, just so you can get your one week follow-up. I am flying back to Oahu with my husband and baby on Wednesday (the 19th). The surgeon I had was Milton Owen's and he has been great....his office knew I was down into a time crunch, due to my husband about to deploy and from being screwed around by another surgeon in California, and I had a date pretty much right after I contacted them---they have no waiting lits....I did however have all of my labs and other stuff done from a previous waiting list, but they require different things for different people. They also have I beleive 3 surgeons who work together, it's not just Dr. Owen's....I met another one, and I am not even going to attempt to spell his name but I'll call him Dr. H--he was very nice too...he's the one who pulled my drain out. They have a website, www.coastalobesity.com The girls who coordinate everything are absolutely wonderful. But anyways....that's always another option if your insurance covers different states is to travel out of Hawaii--who knows, maybe you could contact them and have them pay for travel too, it would be under your benefits. But, Good Luck to you, and welcome!!!!!

Aloha Cassandra, I also live on Kauai and am an RN, I had surgery (VG) with Dr Cirangle 3 weeks ago. I was very pleased(The first week was HECK - Major Nausea). My clothes are loosening up. I'm onto soft foods now. Hopefully we can get a Kauai support group going. Aloha, Joan