food diary

How much of a food diary does the dietician at Kaiser require when you have your one- on- one appt with her. Mine is coming up, on August 4th. Peggy

I am probably the wrong person to be giving advice on Kaiser's bariatric program. I went through all of the steps towards getting an appointment with the surgeon, but never made it past the Brenda/Julie wall. Brenda holds a lot of stock in keeping food journals. It would be a good idea to show up with lots of journals. Perhaps journals help some people, and it can be something for a bariatric program to suggest people do. Some people will be helped by that idea - others won't. Making it required will only make the people that don't respond to that idea feel like they have to just make them up to have something to turn in. That would be me. It was also lots of other people I met at Kaiser support meetings, but they wouldn't want to admit it. I am all for preparing patients for this surgery. Educating people for this surgery is so necessary. What I resented about the Kaiser program is their idea that "you have to prove that you are committed to lifestyle changes as a pre-op (i.e., lose 10 percent of your body weight, keep food journals) because that is an indication of post-op success". I was physically in so much distress that the requirement that I be formally excercising was not a reality. I was just trying to get through my day in pain. I was not able to feel physically able to exercise until about the fourth month post-op. Now you can't stop me. Not being able to do it pre-op was not a sign that I just lacked the committment. I knew once the weight started to come off the exercise begin. As a pre-op I was certainly vulnerable to the idea that I was not worthy of proceeding forward. Luckily, our insurance changed. Two months later I was scheduled for surgery. I have been so compliant and committed to the changes I have made in my life - it is wonderfully amazing. I was at the physical end of my rope. I am a half way intelligent person, was fully educated about the surgery, fulfilled the Kaiser preparation classes and screenings, and my co-morbids justified it. As far as I'm concerned that was enough. I resent that the Benda/Julie team delayed something that saved my life. Like I said, I am the wrong person to ask about Kaiser. I know many folks have succeeded at getting the surgery, and have a lot of respect and grattitude to Dr. Moeil. I was never deemed worthy to meet him, and I know if I had showed up without the required weight loss he would have sent me packing. Patty

Patty: I have already lost more than 10% of my body weight, I have lost 49 lbs since feb .23rd, my PCP has me taking Xenical which has really helped me, it is quite expensive. I went thru the 12 week freedom from diets class, I did not keep a food diary, I did maybe 4 or 5 weeks out of 12. I started writing down everything I have eaten for almost 1 month now. Hopefully atleast a couple of months of a food diary will satisfy them. I do exercise 4-5 days a week also. Hopefully things will go smoothly for me. again thanks for your input, any bit of information will help.

You have done great Peggy! Hopefully, you will be able to proceed with that great start. If you haven't already done so, schedule a sleep study. That is one more appointment to get out of the way. When you go for your appointment the best case will be that they recommend you for the review committee. Once it goes to the committee and is approved you get your appointment with the surgeon. If they feel you are not ready for that they will suggest you come back for either another session with each of them, or a session with a small group. Good luck to you Peggy! Patty

Patty: Hello again. I have been thru the sleep study, I have sleep apnea, and have to use a CPAP machine, I have for almost two years now. I am also going to attend a group support meeting on July 23rd. I think the only person that I have'nt talked to is the surgeon. Do you know if Kaiser makes you talk to a psychologist? Just wondering. Peggy

Can't say for sure - I would think Julie should be able to make the psych recommendation. It sounds like you have most everything in order to go forward. Many people are able to leave the CPAP behind once the weight comes off. It is a good thing I was able to, because I never was able to get used to it. I guess I was snoring pretty loud, but my family reports I am a silent sleeper now.

Hi Peggy, Patty is right on. Brenda really likes to see a long food journal. Mine was two sprial notebooks. I go to the meetings at Sunnyside too!! Keep up the writing down. I had lost mine for a few days and had to wing it, but still wanted to have it in there. Good Luck!! Sarah