kimberjd
Written when I first joined obesityhelp.com.
Hi my name is Kimberly...a lot of my friends call me Kimmie or Kimmie Jo. I've lost over 100lbs once, but I've gained back a few...so for now it's about only 90lbs lost total. I once weighed over 360+lbs...My goal is to get to 150lbs, which is a healthy weight for both my height and body type. I've always sort of been chunky and then overweight through high school and now in my adult life. Being overweight for almost my entire life, I've just come to accept it...but I want to be healthy for myself and for my child.
I guess I'm here because I specifically want to learn more about Kaiser patients in my area who have had the gastric bypass surgery. So anyone who has Kaiser or knows someone who is going through this process would be helpful. I've been wanting to have the surgery for years but a recent event in my life, has motivated me to a path of self-improvement and I have no plans on turning back.
Thanks y'all...
Kimberly
November 21, 2006
Yesterday I met with my primary care physician for the first time. I've been with Kaiser for a little over a year now but I haven't been sick enough to go and schedule a regular appt. with my pcp. But I was so fed up with my weight issues that in October I made a new patient orientation appointment with Dr. Paula Melissa Jacob-Fox. I let her know my concerns about my past problems with my thyroid (I think they might be back because I have gained a lot of weight since these last few months...I was all the way down to 255 in March and now I'm over 300 again). I also informed her about my tinnitus (buzzing in the ear problems). She frightened me some because a few cases of constant tinnitus can be caused from benign or maligant tumors in the brain. So please pray for me on that one, she has referred me to audiology for some more testing. But I got my point accross about being referred for WLS. I was educated and had printed information for my doctor. Because it is through Kaiser, she immediately did a referral for a WLS orientation (and I know she did because I watched her type/send it electronically). She told me that even if I have a thyroid medical condition that she believes my obesity extends beyond that condition, so I would still be considered a candidate for surgery. She also informed me that this program was a comprehensive one and that since my BMI was 47 in the doctor's office (that's with jeans, a jacket, tennis shoes on) that she believed I would be approved. FINGERS CROSSED.
So now the wait begins. Accord to my physician their scheduling department will be contacting me to make that first orientation appointment. From my experience the referral/scheduling process is rather quick and the scheduling team tries their absolute best to get you in. With my son, we were able to schedule his eye exam, hearing test, and speech evaluation all within 30 minutes of each appointment on the same day...Being a single mom that works well for me.
I've done some research on people who have Kaiser and their experiences with WLS with that surgery. I think I will have to save $1500 for the surgery deductible. My co-pay for other office visits is only $15.00. Labwork, ultrasounds and x-rays are usually free. I'm trying to get my surgery referred to Dr. Zorn who is part of the Pacific Bariatic Group affiliated with Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, which is only a few hours from where I live. I have an WLS Orientation meeting that I signed my sister and I up for December 13, 2006 at 5:30 here in Downtown, Riverside. Hopefully they can tell me more about their experiences with Kaiser carriers.
I know I'm on the right path, even though some of my co-workers and friends are convinced that I can lose weight without the surgery. That mental attitude or judgement totally bothers me. Surgery, while yes it should be considered in some people's cases as a last resort, is now considered as one of the first medical options for the severe to morbidly obese people such as myself. I have lost weight...but I feel that I need surgery to help me achieve my weight loss goal of 150 lbs. Admittingly I would like to be thinner than that even, but I'm going to set reasonable expectations, follow the doctor's advice, and get myself ready before, during and after surgery.
Excited,
Kimberly
