Allie86

Hello I live in San Diego and am just about to start the wweight loss journey. Has anyone dealt with Kaiser in San Diego? Can you recommend a surgeon and Kaiser doctor? Also Anyone know the process they send you through and how long the wait is? Thanks

Baja Big Dog

Well Allie, let me get on my soap box, and now is when some people can leave...
The process that Kaiser uses is called the Options class, it consists of a 26 week program, and you cant miss a class, (they can be made up, and if you know your going to have to miss a class schedule it early, it is easier to make up before the end of your group.) This class will cover ALL aspects of this procedure, from the emotional issues you will deal with to the lifestyle and eating changes you will go through, so after you get the surgery, you are completely prepared for the future. I cant speak highly enough of this process, the education you will get is priceless!!

You will get sick of hearing me talk about this process that I at first scoffed at, I fought the idea of it completely. Well if you read on here about some of the situations, and problems people that have had surgery are dealing with you will soon learn the value of this class. Another thing about the classes is they will expect you to loose 10% of your body weight in the 6 months, this is to ease the operation by reducing the fat on the liver. So put some sand in your pockets when you go to weigh in on the first class!!

They will probably use Pacific Bariatric in San Diego, the do the surgeries at Scripps Mercy, this is a group of three surgeons, and they are very well experienced in the operation, I did the math one time and these guys had done about 5% of the GP surgeries in the U.S., probably about 11-12,000 by now, so they pretty much have a handle on the procedure. I know I couldn't be happier, as well as the people that were in my group that had the surgery.

Again, don't fight it, this will the best education you can get, it is invaluable.

The classes last 6 months, then you get an appointment with the surgeons, that takes about 4-6 weeks, and then they send there transcripts to India (for real!) to be transcribed, this takes another 3-5 weeks, then you see the phyc, and the anesthesiologist, and your scheduled in about 2-3 weeks for a date, which is about another 4 weeks. All in all if you dont have to make up any classes, you will be on the table in about 8-9 months. It will be over before you know it!!

This is the way they do it in Orange, and San Berdo counties, I assume it is the same procedure in San Diego.

Im here if you need anything...

Allie86

Thank you so much! I meet with the doc on thursday so now i am a little more knowledgeble about what he will say!

Baja Big Dog

Allie, make sure you play up the problems you are having related to your weight,also be prepared to tell him about all the failed attempts you have made to loose weight, they want to see some medically supervised diets that have failed, and I got through it with weight watchers,. also do some research and come up with some diets that you have tried and failed at, Im sure some people can chime in and give you some help with that, and they need to be somewhat untraceable.

Show up with a list of attempts, and some numbers that are the result of the attempts. Play it up, drop a tear or two when talking about how you feel about your failures at loosing weight.

Do you have any other problems from the weight? Apnia, Blood Pressure etc?

This is the first doctor you will see, he is probably the administrator for the gastric program, (The guy we had was about 120-125 lbs overweight!!!) I called him Kettle!! It was hard to talk about failed diet attempts with an over weight doctor, that determined if your gonna have this surgery!!

sicornejo

hay girl! did you have any problems with kiaser

mburgs

Hi, I'm in Orange County and think everything seems to vary based on region, but I can answer what I can! I think the most frustrating thing was not being able to find Kaiser southern CA when I first started.

Where are you in the process?

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Kat72895

Hi Southern Cal! I am just starting my gastric bypass journey. I spend many aggravating phone calls and much time trying to find out when and where to take my classes. I can start with orientation in the San Diego area on the 17th, but I live in Orange County. Orange County says that they do not have the Otions classes listed right now and I have to call back each day to see when one is going to be offerred. I am tempted to go ahead and take the classes in San Diego so I can just get started. I do work in San Diego and don't get off work till 6 pm, so it may be a better option for taking the classes there.

The biggest question I have right now is that my BMI, according to what I see online is 39. Is that going to disqualify me because it is under 40? I have no cholesterol or blood sugar issues, but I already need knee replacement surgery and can't get it because at my weight, the replacement wouldn't last long.

Any advice??

Kat72895

Can you tell me what you know about the orange county program?

mburgs

Hi Kat, there is an Orange County program, it meets at the Orange Health Pavillion. I got the run around up here too. The process is:

1) Attend both the Options Workshop and Weight Loss Choices workshop if you haven't already done so (I don't know the exact names, but the appointment center should know

2) The Options Workshop will explain the process- after the workshop you get a referral from your PCP who orders a series of tests

3) You meet with one of the program doctors (Dr. Esteban or Dr. Nanda, there may also be a third)

4) They make the decision to accept you into the program based on your medical tests

5) Psych evaluation

6) Start Options (there are weight lists of a couple of months)


A BMI under 40 without comorbidities may be a toss up, it will depend on the program and so forth but the qualifier is 40 or 35+ w/ comorbidities.

I have PCOS & Insulin Resistance and didn't know it until they did the blood workup.

As long as your PCP refers you you can talk to the doctors about it, if they see a history of weight gain and past diets they pretty much see where things are going. If you are truly committed you may still ahve a chance.

Good luck!

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Kat72895

Thanks so much. Keep us posted as you go through the process.