juliew
Here we go again
Aug 12, 2014
Thanks to the ACA I now qualify for Medi-Cal. I started on it in January, but didn't get to see my new PCP until May. She brought up WLS to me almost right away during my first visit. She sent off a referral, to Sutter I think, but then she found out they didn't take Medi-Cal, so she sent it to another bariatric center. I got the seminar info in June and it was tonight (well last night) at Dameron in Stockton. It was run by Dr. Patrick Coates and a nurse and the coordinator. At least I think that's who the other 2 people were. Anyway, Dr. P Coates does the DS, but he didn't talk about how long or anything. My mom speaks to one of his PA's on Facebook every so often (cause she used to work for Coirin when she had her original surgery (an RNY) in 2005) and had asked her info about Coates and the DS around the time I got the seminar info. So I knew he'd only been doing the DS about 3 years. I need to get more stats than that. I've asked here on OH and through some posts in a couple DS groups I belong to on Facebook and cannot find anyone who has had their DS done by Coates. So I'm a bit worried about that.
Tomorrow I have to call my PCP and tell her I need a referral faxed to the bariatric office, from there I will get an appointment to meet with the surgeon and all the paperwork on what else I need to do before going to the next step. I already have a sleep study scheduled for the 26th of this month. I went to the ER in May because I was having major pain/pressure in the middle of my chest when I walked even 5 feet and it was hard for me to breath (way harder than normal, which is already pretty bad). I ended up getting admitted and was there from a Friday evening until Tuesday afternoon. The best the doctors could figure out is that I had a blood clot in one of my leg's and it had traveled up to one of my lungs. I also had a skin infection on my right leg/ankle/foot and I'm still having issues with it, so I have a home care nurse come over twice a week to bandage it up. I'm now on a blood thinner for a total of 6 months. Because of my breathing and probably because of how they saw me sleep in the hospital, they wanted me to get one. And since I have to have one before WLS and I admit that I've been curious just how many times I wake up without realizing it or stop breathing (cause I can be in bed for hours and wake up feeling like crap) I'm very ok with having it.
Ok this episode of Law & Order: SVU that I'm watching is about to end and it's past 2am, so it's time for me to get to bed. Tomorrow is another day (and probably another headache if the past week is any clue). Good Night!
too long
Feb 25, 2011
I went to the seminar in June, heard one of the surgeons and the nutritionist say the same exact things I heard in May, so that whole trip was a waste of gas. Except that I ate at the Soup Plantation down the road afterwards and it was good. lol But before I got to do that I remember I had to stand in line for an hour to sign up for the next appointment. They had one guy doing all the scheduling so it took forever. I had that next appointment in July, on the 16th I think, with Dr. Chu. Heard all the same stuff, nodded the whole way through thinking about getting the DS. Was basically told that being overweight was 100% my fault. Anyway I started working on an appeal letter to Kaiser soon after that, but I went on vacation at the end of July and work started being more hectic than usual so all I wanted to do on my weekends was absolutely nothing. So I'm still working on it.
But the letter may be nothing now as I lost my job last Friday so my insurance will cancel soon. I may try to get onto medi-cal, but based on their website I don't qalify. If I could skip appealing to an insurance company and go straight to the DHMC I would.
lookie what showed up
Jun 06, 2010
Everything I've heard from other Kaiser patients and even from the Nutritionist that did the "do you really want to get wls seminar" I took in March said that the seminar was all day and included meeting the surgeon and appointments to meet the Nutritionist out there and I think someone else. Well the paperwork I got said its 2 hours. So most likely they changed their way of doing things. Again. It also said that at the end of the seminar I turn in the paperwork they sent and if its all filled out they'll look into getting me the next appointment. I really, really, really need them to schedule as much as possible on the same day. I want this surgery, but my gas tank and my wallet (at the moment) cannot take driving over 2 hours round trip for an appointment lasting less then that. It just doesn't make any sense.
what the...
May 22, 2010
Anyway I email my PCP yesterday to see if she has a number to contact them at or if she knew how long it took for them to get in contact with me. A few hours later I get a reply.
"05/23/10 09:00 AM At FREMONT"
That's all it said. Nothing more. Um... WTF? I don't know even know where this place is other than its towards the Bay and she gives me a date 2 days away? My work would have flipped if I called and said I couldn't make it. As it was I changed my schedule for tomorrow to work 5am - 1:30pm instead of 8:30am - 5pm since another coworker has the day off for a vacation day and needed to even out the schedule. I didn't reply to my PCP until just before I started typing up this post because I'm still steaming from it. I basically said there was no way I'd be able to make that appointment and that I needed to get it scheduled way more in advance due to work. Also is there a number for me to contact them (like I'd originally asked). I'm really disappointed in her response. Did she really think just giving me a date, time and city was going to be an acceptable answer? Hopefully this time her response will include a phone number for me to contact them.
still waiting...
May 09, 2010
No word yet from Kaiser Fremont about scheduling me for my all day appointment. My mom said I should wait longer, but I want to get it scheduled already! Even if its not for a month or so, I need to plan the day for traveling and whatnot. Especially if it gets scheduled on a day I work.
I've been referred
Apr 30, 2010
Orientation Day
Mar 15, 2010
It has begun...
Feb 21, 2010
More facts:
- I have Kaiser.
- I'm deciding between the RNY and the DS.
- I am currently at my highest weight. 417 pounds!
- At the rate I'm gaining weight I'll be 500 pounds by the time I turn 33, which is a little more than 2 years. To anyone who questions me having surgery, the statement above is why. I'll take my chances on the table.