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!

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too long

Feb 25, 2011

I haven't updated on here in quite a while. Oops. 

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. 
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lookie what showed up

Jun 06, 2010

 When I picked up my mail mid last week guess what was in there? The envelope from the Bariatric center in Fremont letting me know I was scheduled for the seminar on May 23rd. Too little, too late. There was also a postcard saying I was scheduled for June 27th. I guess they didn't feel the need to resend all the info papers and everything so its a good thing I actually got the first packet. 

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. 
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what the...

May 22, 2010

 I've had Kaiser for just over a year now and this is the first time I've gotten upset with them. Yesterday was 3 weeks since my PCP had put in my referral to Fremont to get the appointment for the all day seminar thing and I had still not heard anything. I always have my cell phone with me and never received a phone call. I also check my email on a consistent basis and nothing there either. The only issue is with regular mail and that's because the postal worker for my apartment complex is a nut and holds my mail hostage. As in the Christmas card my parents who live less than a mile away sent me in December did not show up in my mailbox until February. 

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.

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still waiting...

May 09, 2010

 When I had my Pap appointment the other week the doctor had me make an appointment to get an ultrasound just to make sure everything was ok. I'm not sure if getting one was going to come up in the future to be sure I'm in the clear for weight loss surgery or what, but I'm game. So I had the appointment last Friday, the 7th. I had to drink 32 ounces of water 2 hours before the appointment and not go potty until afterwards. OMG. My bladder fills up really fast and after drinking 16 ounces I was afraid to move or I'd make a mess. haha I was bad and ended up going, but the made up for it by drinking a ton more water. I got the results of the ultrasound today and everything's normal. I found out the size of my ovaries too. Not sure why I needed to know that, but ok. lol

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. 


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I've been referred

Apr 30, 2010

 In my last post I said I was going to be letting my PCP know to get me to the next step that week, but it was a lie. I needed a Pap Smear test (even though I had one in March 2009) before I could get my referral. When I went to book an appointment mid-March, the earliest date was for the end of April so I decided to wait a week or two to see if anything new opened up. Yeah, that just led to the earliest date being the end of MAY! And because I'm me, I didn't book a appointment either time. Then about two weeks ago I decided to check again just to see if anything new had opened up and there was an appointment available for April 30th (today) at 8:50am. Getting up that early for that kind of appointment on my day off from work was not what I wanted to do, but I wanted to get this appointment over with so I booked it. I emailed my PCP today after I got home and two hours later I had a reply from her saying she's put in my referral. Now I just have to wait for them to contact me. How long will that take?  
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Orientation Day

Mar 15, 2010

I had my Orientation at Kaiser today. I had read/heard other people say their's was pretty much an all day thing so I was surprised when I was told it was only 2 hours long. Turns out they do it differently now. You go to the 2 hour thing and if you're still interested after that, you get signed up for the all day session, which for me will be in Fremont. I'll be emailing my PCP this week letting her know I can go on to the next stage in the program. Also I've decided that I want the DS (but shhhhh don't tell Kaiser that. lol). Being able to take NSAIDs and the malabsorption rate are the key reasons. I get headaches frequently and at random times so I need to be able to take something for the pain whether I'm at home or work. 
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It has begun...

Feb 21, 2010

I went to my primary doctor 2 days ago, Friday February 19th, and told her I wanted to start the program to getting wls. She gave me a number to call to sign up for the orientation seminar, but when I called later that day it said the number was no longer in service. I called the info desk at the hospital, but they didn't have the info or the right number to call so I emailed my doctor to see if she has another number I can call. She's not in her office over the weekend, so hopefully she'll get back to me tomorrow. 

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.

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About Me
Stockton, CA
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Jun 07, 2005
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