Kaiser process is going fast
Hello,
This is my first post although I have been lurking for about a month now.
I recently started on this journey after learning about VSG in May 2011. Prior to learning about VSG I was against WLS for myself. I have Ulcerative colitis and I did not want to mess with my intestines at all. When I learned about VSG I became encouraged and began researching. i believe this will be the best fit for me.
I am a little shocked with how fast this is going. I am also feeling a little bad since a few of my coworkers who have other types of insurance had so many other hoops to jump through and in one case had to wait over 16 months to have her surgery!!
I have Kaiser (I use the one in Fresno, CA) and on 5/23/11 I emailed my primary doctor (PCP) to ask about VSG. He referred me to a Bariatric Information Seminar. I attended the seminar on 6/1/11. After the seminar I needed to recontact my PCP and asked for a referral to the bariatric department. Around 6/24 I was contacted by the Bariatric department and scheduled for the bariatic orientation.
At the Bariatric Orientation I was weighed, measured and met one of the bariatric surgeons/doctors. After this orientation I was told to wait to hear for the bariatric department to be scheduled to meet with nutritionist and mental health. on 7/5/11 they called and I am scheduled for both THIS WEEK! After these meetings I have my first 1 on 1 with the surgeon to discuss exactly what I need to do prior to them allowing me to have surgery. I am expecting to meet with the surgeon before the end of July.
The nurse also told me that Kaiser takes your highest documented weight in the last year and they expect you to lose about 20 pounds from that before they schedule you for surgery. I have already lost 11 pounds and hope to loose another 10-15 before my appointment with the surgeon. The nurse said that if you have lost enough weight by your first appointment the surgeon will send the referral that same day for you to be scheduled for surgery!!
So I am working hard to eat the diet the doctor recommended and to exercise as much as I can in order to hopefully be refereed to have surgery ASAP.
~Heather
This is my first post although I have been lurking for about a month now.
I recently started on this journey after learning about VSG in May 2011. Prior to learning about VSG I was against WLS for myself. I have Ulcerative colitis and I did not want to mess with my intestines at all. When I learned about VSG I became encouraged and began researching. i believe this will be the best fit for me.
I am a little shocked with how fast this is going. I am also feeling a little bad since a few of my coworkers who have other types of insurance had so many other hoops to jump through and in one case had to wait over 16 months to have her surgery!!
I have Kaiser (I use the one in Fresno, CA) and on 5/23/11 I emailed my primary doctor (PCP) to ask about VSG. He referred me to a Bariatric Information Seminar. I attended the seminar on 6/1/11. After the seminar I needed to recontact my PCP and asked for a referral to the bariatric department. Around 6/24 I was contacted by the Bariatric department and scheduled for the bariatic orientation.
At the Bariatric Orientation I was weighed, measured and met one of the bariatric surgeons/doctors. After this orientation I was told to wait to hear for the bariatric department to be scheduled to meet with nutritionist and mental health. on 7/5/11 they called and I am scheduled for both THIS WEEK! After these meetings I have my first 1 on 1 with the surgeon to discuss exactly what I need to do prior to them allowing me to have surgery. I am expecting to meet with the surgeon before the end of July.
The nurse also told me that Kaiser takes your highest documented weight in the last year and they expect you to lose about 20 pounds from that before they schedule you for surgery. I have already lost 11 pounds and hope to loose another 10-15 before my appointment with the surgeon. The nurse said that if you have lost enough weight by your first appointment the surgeon will send the referral that same day for you to be scheduled for surgery!!
So I am working hard to eat the diet the doctor recommended and to exercise as much as I can in order to hopefully be refereed to have surgery ASAP.
~Heather
I live in Ceres, CA and have kaiser and also go to the Fresno Kaiser. Today was my first meeting with the surgeon and he only requires me to loose 5 more pounds and then my surgery can be scheduled. I am 5' 7" my highest weight was 258 and Dr. Adolfo Alvarez only requires me to be at 240lbs to have the surgery. So I only had to loose 18lbs not too bad I thought it was going to be more like 25 or 30lbs. Be aware though I though the nutritionist may not clear you the first visit I have to see her a month after the first visit but mental health cleared me the first time. And after I was cleared from both it still took about a month to get an appointment to see the surgeon.
Nice to read from Valley Girls! I grew up in Turlock and went to Fresno State!
I can't believe Kaiser Fresno doesn't make you go through the same OPTIONS Program that we have to down here in So. Cal w/Kaiser. We had 12 weeks of classes and had to lose 10% of our body weight in order to even receive a referral to see the surgeon.
Wish you luck on the fast track to getting sleeved!
I can't believe Kaiser Fresno doesn't make you go through the same OPTIONS Program that we have to down here in So. Cal w/Kaiser. We had 12 weeks of classes and had to lose 10% of our body weight in order to even receive a referral to see the surgeon.
Wish you luck on the fast track to getting sleeved!
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