Re: Hi from San Lorenzo :-)

October 17, 2005

Hi and welcome,

I am pre-op waiting to lose about 5 more lbs. before I can get a surgery date.

As far as your PCP, I don't know anything about him as I go through ez for my PCP, but as far as the process, I think you will do fine. I was approved with a BMI of 50.2 and ABSOLUTELY NO Co-Morbities. From what I have read, I believe a BMI of 50 doesnt require you have anything else wrong.

Keep us posted and best of luck in your journey,

Barbara (LTLJSMOM)

From: Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 2:45 PMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: Hi from San Lorenzo :-)

I'm so excited to be accepted by this group! I am at the beginning ofmy wls journey and have been driving my friend who already had thesurgery batty with my questions. LOL! Now I can direct them at youguys. ;-)I have an appt with my pcp tomorrow at 11:45am. His name is Dr. ElmerChang, and unfortunately I don't have much experience with him. He'sbeen my pcp for a couiple years, but I'm ashamed to say, I've only methim a couple times. In the past I've tended to be the patient thatonly comes in when their sick, which hasn't allowed much time forrelationship building with the doc. BUT, I've screwed up my courage totake the plunge and tell him what I want. Anyone know how friendly heis to wls? He works out of Union City and Hayward. My BMI is 51.6, and I have some mild health issues, such as feet andknee problems, tiredness, inability to lose weight long term (yo yoeffect), and tendency towards athsma when URIs strike. My dad justrecently died of Heart Disease related problems (at 57), and frankly,his passing has been one of the final straws that has put me at thisplace in my mind. Also, my daughter is starting to plump up,and it's killing me not being able to exercise with her and encourageher more. So, I've decided to go for wls so I can get my life back andbe the kind of Mom I need to be for my kids (and me!) What do you think I should say to my doctor? I don't have anyco-morbities that would automatically qualify me. What do I do if heturns me down? I've been having trouble sleeping, thinking about thisand how disappointed I will be if that happens. I know I need to stickup for myself and be persistent and clear about what I want. Do youthink the doctor would laugh at me if I brought a "speech" to read infront of him? I'm such a chicken sometimes when it comes to asking forwhat I want, especially with doctors. Help! :-SSo anyways, thanks for accepting my membership. I've been reading themesseages and you all seem great!

October 17, 2005

Hi from San Leandro. Used to live there a

little over 7 years ago.

I think that most of us have had relationships like

yours with the PCPs so don't worry about that. As for

asking what you want....as silly as this may seem or

unsensitive (and it is not), just ASK. You know that

saying...a closed mouth don't get fed and he just

might surprise you and do the referrals that you need

to be approved.

Just whenever you talk with him, let your focus be on

a better quality of life. Like you said about being

able to exercise and not too much focus on the weight

loss. We already know that that is part of this

thing. You just don't want to send a message that you

think this is a quick fix because you and I and others

here know this is not a quick fix.

I wish you luck and try not to worry about this if you

can. Keep posting and stay in touch.

Pam Marsh

--- chanchiluv@...> wrote:

> I'm so excited to be accepted by this group! I am at

> the beginning of

> my wls journey and have been driving my friend who

> already had the

> surgery batty with my questions. LOL! Now I can

> direct them at you

> guys. ;-)

>

> I have an appt with my pcp tomorrow at 11:45am. His

> name is Dr. Elmer

> Chang, and unfortunately I don't have much

> experience with him. He's

> been my pcp for a couiple years, but I'm ashamed to

> say, I've only met

> him a couple times. In the past I've tended to be

> the patient that

> only comes in when their sick, which hasn't allowed

> much time for

> relationship building with the doc. BUT, I've

> screwed up my courage to

> take the plunge and tell him what I want. Anyone

> know how friendly he

> is to wls? He works out of Union City and Hayward.

>

> My BMI is 51.6, and I have some mild health issues,

> such as feet and

> knee problems, tiredness, inability to lose weight

> long term (yo yo

> effect), and tendency towards athsma when URIs

> strike. My dad just

> recently died of Heart Disease related problems (at

> 57), and frankly,

> his passing has been one of the final straws that

> has put me at this

> place in my mind. Also, my daughter is

> starting to plump up,

> and it's killing me not being able to exercise with

> her and encourage

> her more. So, I've decided to go for wls so I can

> get my life back and

> be the kind of Mom I need to be for my kids (and

> me!)

>

> What do you think I should say to my doctor? I don't

> have any

> co-morbities that would automatically qualify me.

> What do I do if he

> turns me down? I've been having trouble sleeping,

> thinking about this

> and how disappointed I will be if that happens. I

> know I need to stick

> up for myself and be persistent and clear about what

> I want. Do you

> think the doctor would laugh at me if I brought a

> " speech " to read in

> front of him? I'm such a chicken sometimes when it

> comes to asking for

> what I want, especially with doctors. Help! :-S

>

> So anyways, thanks for accepting my membership. I've

> been reading the

> messeages and you all seem great!

>

__________________________________

Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!

http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

October 17, 2005

From what I understand, with a BMI of 50 or above you do NOT need to

have any co-morbidities. You qualify just from having a BMI at that

# or above. If it's between 40 and 50, then you need to have 2 co-

morbid conditions.

Just talk honestly with your PCP. You might find that he's eager to

help. I was all worried about asking my PCP and I finally worked up

the nerve. I was expecting to have to battle with her and she said

sure and submitted me. I had surgery in May.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Tina

Dr. Baggs

Orientation: 330

Surgery: 294

Today: 219 (and holding for some reason)

-111

>

> I'm so excited to be accepted by this group! I am at the beginning

of

> my wls journey and have been driving my friend who already had the

> surgery batty with my questions. LOL! Now I can direct them at you

> guys. ;-)

>

> I have an appt with my pcp tomorrow at 11:45am. His name is Dr.

Elmer

> Chang, and unfortunately I don't have much experience with him.

He's

> been my pcp for a couiple years, but I'm ashamed to say, I've only

met

> him a couple times. In the past I've tended to be the patient that

> only comes in when their sick, which hasn't allowed much time for

> relationship building with the doc. BUT, I've screwed up my

courage to

> take the plunge and tell him what I want. Anyone know how friendly

he

> is to wls? He works out of Union City and Hayward.

>

> My BMI is 51.6, and I have some mild health issues, such as feet

and

> knee problems, tiredness, inability to lose weight long term (yo yo

> effect), and tendency towards athsma when URIs strike. My dad just

> recently died of Heart Disease related problems (at 57), and

frankly,

> his passing has been one of the final straws that has put me at

this

> place in my mind. Also, my daughter is starting to plump

up,

> and it's killing me not being able to exercise with her and

encourage

> her more. So, I've decided to go for wls so I can get my life back

and

> be the kind of Mom I need to be for my kids (and me!)

>

> What do you think I should say to my doctor? I don't have any

> co-morbities that would automatically qualify me. What do I do if

he

> turns me down? I've been having trouble sleeping, thinking about

this

> and how disappointed I will be if that happens. I know I need to

stick

> up for myself and be persistent and clear about what I want. Do you

> think the doctor would laugh at me if I brought a " speech " to read

in

> front of him? I'm such a chicken sometimes when it comes to asking

for

> what I want, especially with doctors. Help! :-S

>

> So anyways, thanks for accepting my membership. I've been reading

the

> messeages and you all seem great!

>

October 18, 2005

Actually, I think BMIs between 40 and 50 only need one co-morbidity;

35-40 require two. But you're right that anyone over 50 BMI should

qualify.

Cathy C.

>

> From what I understand, with a BMI of 50 or above you do NOT need

to

> have any co-morbidities. You qualify just from having a BMI at that

> # or above. If it's between 40 and 50, then you need to have 2 co-

> morbid conditions.

>

> Just talk honestly with your PCP. You might find that he's eager to

> help. I was all worried about asking my PCP and I finally worked up

> the nerve. I was expecting to have to battle with her and she said

> sure and submitted me. I had surgery in May.

>

> Good luck and keep us posted.

>

> Tina

> Dr. Baggs

> Orientation: 330

> Surgery: 294

> Today: 219 (and holding for some reason)

> -111

October 18, 2005

BMI'S between 40 and 50 require one life threatening

co morb or two less severe.

Laurie

__________________________________

Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!

http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

October 18, 2005

Hi , just got on-line today so I was wondering how your appointment went.

I just had my surgery 10/12 and I am feeling very good, I am doing everything by

the book. I lost 42lbs. before the surgery, day of surgery I was 273. I gained

8 lbs. in the hospital from all the fluids, I have lost that 8 +. I am on stage

2 now and hopefully go to stage 3 when I see my surgeon the 10/25, that's when

he takes out the staples. So far I am enjoying my journey and this site has

been a tremendous help.

Marita

>

> I'm so excited to be accepted by this group! I am at the beginning of

> my wls journey and have been driving my friend who already had the

> surgery batty with my questions. LOL! Now I can direct them at you

> guys. ;-)

>

> I have an appt with my pcp tomorrow at 11:45am. His name is Dr. Elmer

> Chang, and unfortunately I don't have much experience with him. He's

> been my pcp for a couiple years, but I'm ashamed to say, I've only met

> him a couple times. In the past I've tended to be the patient that

> only comes in when their sick, which hasn't allowed much time for

> relationship building with the doc. BUT, I've screwed up my courage to

> take the plunge and tell him what I want. Anyone know how friendly he

> is to wls? He works out of Union City and Hayward.

>

> My BMI is 51.6, and I have some mild health issues, such as feet and

> knee problems, tiredness, inability to lose weight long term (yo yo

> effect), and tendency towards athsma when URIs strike. My dad just

> recently died of Heart Disease related problems (at 57), and frankly,

> his passing has been one of the final straws that has put me at this

> place in my mind. Also, my daughter is starting to plump up,

> and it's killing me not being able to exercise with her and encourage

> her more. So, I've decided to go for wls so I can get my life back and

> be the kind of Mom I need to be for my kids (and me!)

>

> What do you think I should say to my doctor? I don't have any

> co-morbities that would automatically qualify me. What do I do if he

> turns me down? I've been having trouble sleeping, thinking about this

> and how disappointed I will be if that happens. I know I need to stick

> up for myself and be persistent and clear about what I want. Do you

> think the doctor would laugh at me if I brought a " speech " to read in

> front of him? I'm such a chicken sometimes when it comes to asking for

> what I want, especially with doctors. Help! :-S

>

> So anyways, thanks for accepting my membership. I've been reading the

> messeages and you all seem great!

>

October 18, 2005

> If your BMI is 50 you do not need co-morbidities I am proof of that. My BMI

was exactly 50 and I was approved.

Kristie

>

> Date: 2005/10/18 Tue AM 10:33:24 PDT

> To: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients

> Subject: Re: Hi from San Lorenzo :-)

>

Actually, I think BMIs between 40 and 50 only need one co-morbidity;

35-40 require two. But you're right that anyone over 50 BMI should

qualify.

Cathy C.

>

> From what I understand, with a BMI of 50 or above you do NOT need

to

> have any co-morbidities. You qualify just from having a BMI at that

> # or above. If it's between 40 and 50, then you need to have 2 co-

> morbid conditions.

>

> Just talk honestly with your PCP. You might find that he's eager to

> help. I was all worried about asking my PCP and I finally worked up

> the nerve. I was expecting to have to battle with her and she said

> sure and submitted me. I had surgery in May.

>

> Good luck and keep us posted.

>

> Tina

> Dr. Baggs

> Orientation: 330

> Surgery: 294

> Today: 219 (and holding for some reason)

> -111

October 18, 2005

> Marita,

Can you see your staples, I don't think I have staples? My appt. is on 10/21

Kristie

>

> Date: 2005/10/18 Tue PM 03:27:35 PDT

> To: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients

> Subject: Re: Hi from San Lorenzo :-)

>

Hi , just got on-line today so I was wondering how your appointment went. I just had my surgery 10/12 and I am feeling very good, I am doing everything by the book. I lost 42lbs. before the surgery, day of surgery I was 273. I gained 8 lbs. in the hospital from all the fluids, I have lost that 8 +. I am on stage 2 now and hopefully go to stage 3 when I see my surgeon the 10/25, that's when he takes out the staples. So far I am enjoying my journey and this site has been a tremendous help.