Question:
First meeting with Kaiser PCP

   — antiques55 (posted on April 22, 2003)

April 23, 2003
Hi, wow, you are on the ball girl! Great job...ok..as far as the psyc eval goes..there is a site that I got some really helpful information..its... lapsf.com ... if you click on lap gastric bypass surgery, download the patient information guide the information that my psycologist used is on page 13...I know its alot to download but if you print it out, take it to the exam then it gives the doc something to work on...I know you will not use that surgery center but I am not either and that was just fine because it pretty much covers all the questions that they want to know..just make sure that you white out the "fax this report to" because by accident my psyc doc faxed it to them..but its all worked out now... good luck! I hope that helps God Bless :)
   — Alisia P.

April 23, 2003
Hi!Kaiser is fantastic as long as you follow the rules. You are on the right track by scheduling things early. You can double up your nutritionist and psych appointments so by the time you see the endocrinologist you are one or two session from completion. It took me about 6-7 weeks to do everything and Kaiser APPROVED the surgery ONE DAY after Dr. Barzilay submitted the paper work! Keep going I am scheduled for 5/8/2003!
   — natjemison

April 23, 2003
Lori: You are so organized! I'm impressed. Kaiser has a really good program, but you must be in another area than me, because the average time in the Portland, OR area from referral to surgery is about a year!!! I got my PCP's referral in September and I'm still dancing around with the dietician and social worker. I've had 2 meetings with them and am waiting to schedule a 3rd. Only when I get past these ladies do I get to move on to meet with the surgeon and then HE can kick me back for "watchful waiting"! My next steps are to get up to exercise 5 times a week and keep food diaries and keep my weight either the same or lower. Not Much!! Take care and keep us posted on your journey.
   — NewJoolz

April 24, 2003
Thanks for all your input! I'm feeling particularly encouraged today. I had a message from the nurse in my PCP's office to call her and when I did, she told me that my PCP had put in an order for some blood work for me (fasting blood sugar, coronary risk, CBC, thyroid) that she wants me to have done 2-3 days before my next appointment with him. And she said that at the next appointment he'll do a complete health assessment and discuss WLS further. I'm still thinking that I'll have to go through 6 months with the nutritionist and a supervised diet plan since I really don't have anything for extended period that I can prove. I'm wondering if cancelled checks from Weight Watchers will work but am not even sure I have those to cover an extended period. I keep hearing different definitions for "extended period" covering everything from 5 weeks to 6 months. Seems like there should be some kind of national standard for all of this. Yea, I'm dreamin'. :)
   — antiques55

April 26, 2003
Wow!! You've got it all together. I don't know what area your in, but I'm from Bakersfield,Ca. I only had to see the nutrisionist one time, no group meeting or anything else. She seen how informed I was about the surgery and she thought that was great. My doctor told me there is something new with Kaiser, if the Dr. doesn't feel you need the the pyhc. evaluation he can defer that part of the process. Which my Dr. did. :) You will also need an EKG. From the start of the process ( the first time i seen my Dr. about WLS) to finish (surgery) was exactly 5 Months. I know that sounds amazing, but if you stay on them and call once to every two weeks and stay on them, it will go faster. e-mail if you have any ??. It sounds like your on the right track. Good Luck.
   — Sonia F.