Question:
Just moved to Northern CA, Bay Area and thinking about wls.

Ive been looking on this website for a couple of months now and Im getting mixed reviews about kaiser and their 10 wk lifestyle class. Has anyone recently heard that you know longer have to take the class. Im going threw the first steps of being refered from my pcp. I have done sleep test and waiting for psh eval to be sched.(Dr. sure is taking his time about that)I figure I will go threw everything that needs to be done,then if I decide to go threw with it will already be done. Can anyone tell me if Im also missing a step. I have a back problem and I have 3 Dr. letters stating that this surgery will benefit my back. I just dont want to sit in a class for 10 weeks. Please Help!    — [Anonymous] (posted on April 12, 2001)

April 12, 2001
Hi, This is the information I got regarding Kaiser's 10-week Health Lifestyles and Weight Management class, and I got it from the head dietician at Kaiser San Fran and So. San Fran. "the 10-week class is GOING to become a requirement for the surgery". This is what he told me, so I figured I'd better do it. I just started my class last night and I think it's going to be really good. I'm the only one in the class who's trying to get approved for the surgery, though. Everyone else is just a normal, overweight person with 20, 30 lbs., etc. to lose. I think it's weird that there are not others in the class who are trying to get the surgery. As you know, with Kaiser if your BMI is over 50, you don't need any co-morbidities. It has to be at least 40 or above, and you need 2 serious co-morbidities for BMI of 40-49. My feeling is about the classes (and it took me awhile to come to this), they can only be helpful to me. And it takes months to get a decision even after your papers are submitted so you may as well take the classes and cover all your bases. Good luck! Hugs, Joy.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 12, 2001
Sorry forgot to say something...your doc also needs to refer you to a dietician for a one-time appt. You'll need clearance from the dietician to go along with your other papers/forms from your PCP, the psych eval., the sleep study, etc. The dietician asks about, and documents, your previous weight loss attempts (make sure you have them all written down beforehand, including doctor-supervised weight loss...this is what they really want to see). There's this big computer form that they fill out as they talk to you. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 12, 2001
See my page about what happened to me with NorCal Kaiser...run, don't walk to another surgeon and get new insurance...they don't know what they're doing when it comes to the nutritionist, which leads me to believe if they can't get it right at that non-invasive level, what makes me think they can get it right elsewhere. Also, their surgeons are fairly new...do you want a surgeon just learning this technique?
   — sandieguy

April 12, 2001
Dr. Rabkin is an awesome lap surgeon in the bay area. Visit his website at: http://www.pacificsurgery.com/Newsletter/Support_Groups/Calendar/calendar.html.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 12, 2001
Hi, I was told re: the weight mangement class, on march 27,01 that kaiser no longer required the class.
   — Dawn S.

April 22, 2001
Hello Just moved here, Where are you from originally? What part of California are you living and how do you like our lovely State. As to Kaiser. I live in San Jose, go to Kaiser Santa Teresa for my normal care, but all referrals from the Santa Teresa site go to South San Francisco. The surgery is also performed there. In Kaisers own criteria and Process it says that the weight management class is highly recommended if you have never gone thru any other weight management class before, such as Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers for instance. You are required to take a phsychiatric evaluation, see a dietician ( I actually had that over the phone due to time restraints),a sleep apnea test, have blood work up done and take any xrays necessary to document any bone disease or joint problems. My journey so far is at the 9 month and still waiting point. Dealing with the 2 facilities I mentioned and Kaiser as a whole as been nothing less than a nightmare. I do know that some have had an easier time of it and no one can figure out why some go thru hell and some don't. I do have numbers for each facility I mentioned above that could help you if you have to go thru Kaiser S. San Francisco. Hope this helps. By the way, I refused to attend the weight management classes but do not know if this has been cause for their delaying tactics or not. I truly wish you the best and if you like you can email me and if I can help in any way I would be happy to do so. Terilyne
   — Terilyne R.