Re: Re: Hello, Im new to the group :)

[Guest guest]

Hi Cathy and thanks for the reply & welcome! Thanks for your

explanations. I did read post 817, before posting but as it didn't

have anything about the overview I wondered if it was a new thing or

how it fit in. Thats helpful to know the nutritionist will be at the

overview. So should I bring my diet history to this overview?? or is

that submitted later? At the overview will they give you a good idea

about whether you will qualify or not? Or do you have to wait and

apply and just " see what happens " ? Sorry about so many questions.

Anyone else can feel free to answer as well.

Hugs,

Hanni

> Hi, Hanni, and welcome! This is a great place to get your questions

> answered, and a very friendly group.  I'm further along than you, but

> I'm still pre-op. Right now, I've been accepted to the program and

> I've had orientation; I'm trying to lose 10% or so of my original

> weight so that I can be scheduled for surgery.

>

> If you go to the group website at and look up post #817

> it gives a good outline of the Kaiser process. Some things have

> changed slightly (they're always tweaking the program) and some

> things differ depending on which center you're assigned to, but you

> can at least get an idea of how it works. 

>

> As for previous weight loss attempts, the Bariatrics folks really

> like to see that you've tried other ways to lose weight before coming

> to the decision to have surgery. This is truly a major change in your

> life and it doesn't work for everyone. It's also got fairly

> significant risks, although (obviously) those of us on this list have

> decided that for one reason or another it's worth it. I've had a long

> history of different diet attempts, and although many of them have

> been on my own and not part of a group some of them at least were

> done through Kaiser - they have a weight management program I did

> some years back, and I also saw a Kaiser nutritionist while I was

> doing Atkins a couple of years ago. So they had a " history " on me to

> refer to, and that helped prove my case.  You might want to start

> noting down anything you can remember about previous diet efforts -

> when, how long, etc.

>

> The " Bariatric Overview " class is just that - a very basic overview

> of the surgery, the risks, and the possible results. It's pretty

> minimal. It's NOT the same as " Orientation " , which is a

> comprehensive, full-day session you'll be scheduled for once you're

> accepted into the program.  The overview class includes a very short

> meeting with a nutritionist, who will ask about previous diet

> efforts.  You may also want to call on your own and schedule a

> psychiatric consultation; tell them you're considering WLS and want

> an evaluation. That sounds scary, but the psych. will assess if your

> expectations and goals are realistic, and will send a recommendation

> to your doctor as well. Once the recommendation from the overview

> class and from the psych appt. get back to your doctor, she can write

> a recommendation for you to the bariatric program.  

>

> So it takes a while - this is NOT a fast process by any means - but

> it's really worthwhile.  Welcome to the beginning of a long journey,

> and I hope you'll enjoy the trip!

>

> Cathy C.

[Guest guest]

Hi Hanni, I'm . I have just begun the process also. Where are you located? I am in Modesto. I attended a support mtg here Mon. night. I also have psych and g/b overview scheduled for Apr and May. I have lots of questions too. The group has been very good with info. and support. From what I gather the time frame varies a lot. I don't know why. I talked to someone at the support grp mtg and it was only 90 days for her. We can pray for such a short wait!! Hanni wrote: Hi Cathy and thanks for the reply & welcome! Thanks for your explanations. I did read post 817, before posting but as it didn't have anything about the overview I wondered if it was a new thing or how it fit in. Thats helpful to know the

nutritionist will be at the overview. So should I bring my diet history to this overview?? or is that submitted later? At the overview will they give you a good idea about whether you will qualify or not? Or do you have to wait and apply and just "see what happens"? Sorry about so many questions. Anyone else can feel free to answer as well. :DHugs,Hanni > Hi, Hanni, and welcome! This is a great place to get your questions> answered, and a very friendly group. I'm further along than you, but> I'm still pre-op. Right now, I've been accepted to the program and> I've had orientation; I'm trying to lose 10% or so of my original> weight so that I can be scheduled for surgery.>> If you go to the group website at and look up post #817> it gives a good outline of the Kaiser process. Some things have>

changed slightly (they're always tweaking the program) and some> things differ depending on which center you're assigned to, but you> can at least get an idea of how it works. >> As for previous weight loss attempts, the Bariatrics folks really> like to see that you've tried other ways to lose weight before coming> to the decision to have surgery. This is truly a major change in your> life and it doesn't work for everyone. It's also got fairly> significant risks, although (obviously) those of us on this list have> decided that for one reason or another it's worth it. I've had a long> history of different diet attempts, and although many of them have> been on my own and not part of a group some of them at least were> done through Kaiser - they have a weight management program I did> some years back, and I also saw a Kaiser nutritionist while I was> doing Atkins a couple of

years ago. So they had a "history" on me to> refer to, and that helped prove my case. You might want to start> noting down anything you can remember about previous diet efforts -> when, how long, etc.>> The "Bariatric Overview" class is just that - a very basic overview> of the surgery, the risks, and the possible results. It's pretty> minimal. It's NOT the same as "Orientation", which is a> comprehensive, full-day session you'll be scheduled for once you're> accepted into the program. The overview class includes a very short> meeting with a nutritionist, who will ask about previous diet> efforts. You may also want to call on your own and schedule a> psychiatric consultation; tell them you're considering WLS and want> an evaluation. That sounds scary, but the psych. will assess if your> expectations and goals are realistic, and will send a

recommendation> to your doctor as well. Once the recommendation from the overview> class and from the psych appt. get back to your doctor, she can write> a recommendation for you to the bariatric program. >> So it takes a while - this is NOT a fast process by any means - but> it's really worthwhile. Welcome to the beginning of a long journey,> and I hope you'll enjoy the trip!>> Cathy C.

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