Kaiser loosing weght?

How much are you required to lose before surgery, and what happens if you cannopt lose the weight

Hi Brian, I was never told a set amount, but I lost 30 lbs, which was LESS then the 10% they usually like to see. I think that now they want people to change their habits and keep losing small amounts through the whole process. Good Luck and hopefully talk to you soon, Sarah

Well I was 476 when I met whit Julie and Brenda, and the other day I was 483. I am worried that they will not let me get an appointment with the surgeon until I am losing weight. before you saw the surgeon what did youi have to do?

I had Kaiser and dropped them. They wanted me to lose 120 lbs before surgery. They don't want to do surgery on anyone over 60 BMI>

Hi there, I have been through all the 'strings' now and have my appointment with the doctor next week finally. They want you to loose 10% of what you weigh. It takes about a year to get through all the requirments, but that is a good thing. They want to know you are mentally and physically ready for the surgery. They want to know that you have an excersise program set up and that you are doing it. They want you to go through a dieting/nutritional classes and to go through the sleep lab to make sure you don't have sleep apnea. I didn't mind going through all this. It gave me time to think about what I really wanted and how I can achive it. Every single person I have been in contact with has been absolutley fabulous! Good luck.... Christine D

~*~*Dear Brian~*~ I too went through the hoops of the Kaiser program.....It took me about 15 months to complete everything...I started out at 279.5 as my highest weight....Feb 2004..met with Brenda and Julie..only down to 269 lbs..they said to lose more weight...April came around and I hadn't lost any more but, I demanded to see Dr. Moiel anyway. MaryLou scheduled my appt..Met with Dr. Moiel in early May...he wasn't very happy I had only lost 10 lbs....but I insisted I had learned about my emotional eating problems, was exercising more and had waited almost a year and a 1/2 to have this surgery. He reluctantly scheduled my surgery for June 25th..I had some squabbles with Dr. Moiel before surgery, but I must say...he is the best surgeon at Kaiser. Took great care of me and truly cares for his patients. I am 3 1/2 months out and I have lost 63 lbs. Good Luck Brian...try and lose some weight and don't give up..you DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO MEET WITH A SURGEON...they cannot deny that, no matter what. If they do, file a grievance with Kaiser. ~*~*Warm thoughts~*~ Theresa S

Brian, I tried for 1 1/2 years to make it through the Kaiser program. I fulfilled every requirement (ie., "freedom from diets", sleep study, meeting with Brenda and Julie). The only thing I wasn't able to do was lose enough weight to be referred to the surgeon. I am sure I would still be languishing in the "your not ready" stage if I was still with Kaiser. I really think getting passed Brenda/Julie is a CROCK, a stalling tactic. I am sure there are instances where there is medical or value in requiring a weight loss, but not an across the board requirement. I changed insurance last January, and was approved by insurance in three weeks. Dr. Hong didn't require me to lose any weight, just encouraged it, and requested I not gain any. I had surgery April 6th, have lost 117 pounds, and feel like I have been given a new chance at health! I resent the almost two years lost fighting Kaiser. I don't keep food journals (a Kaiser MUST), was not even able to start excercising until I got 50 pounds off my frame (like I knew - once I started feeling better I WANT to excercise). Obviously you hit a sore spot with me. I think one needs to be prepared and educated about this decision, but there came a point where I felt it was my decision and that I had a right as a paying customer to have more say in my "readiness". Patty

is there some approval process I will need to go through to get to the surgeon, and have my surgery? I am just trying to lose weight before I make an appointment for the surgeon.

Yes, you must have your P.C.P. refer you to the bariatric program. Once accepted, you attend an informational seminar. After that, there are several steps required. To see the surgeon, you must be referred by the bariatric surgery program's staff. Good luck to you! Patty

how do you get by the staff?