Looking for other Portland Kaiser patients!

I have messaged a few of you, but I am looking for info/advice for any experienced Portland Kaiser patients out there. I have taken the weight loss class, gone to the initial info. meeting and I have the group meeting with a social worker scheduled this coming week. Just wondering what the other "hoops" are....my husband and I are both teachers, so trying to schedule the surgery in the first part of the summer is really vital to us - just hoping that timing will work..... also, I'm curious what your experience with MaryLou Greenwood has been - I will be up front about this - she has really rubbed me the wrong way every time I've spoken with her - so I'm trying to figure out whether the issue is with me or if others have found the same thing - and maybe some insight in how to work with her better. TIA for whatever you have to offer!

Dear Wendy: I had my surgery thru Kaiser on August 22nd. Depending how much weight that you have to lose pre-op, you will probably have several sessions with Julie the medical social worker and Brenda the dietician. It took me almost 18 months to get thru all the hoops. I lost about 160 lbs pre-op. As for Mary Lou Greenwood, don't worry, she really rubbed me the wrong was also. To this day I still don't like talking to her. She tried talking me out of surgery 1 month before I was scheduled to have surgery Do you go to the support group meetings they offer? There is one next Saturday at 10am at the new building over by the hospital. It lasts 2 hours for pre-ops. If you have anymore questions, feel free to e-mail me. They really like you to be keeping a food diary and exercise journal also. Peggy

Thanks for asking this question. We seem to be at the same place. I will also be at the meeting on Wednesday. Suesan