Anyone in the Southern California Area?

[nmeyerad]

HI! I am feeling so great!! it is one week and I am so impressed with the education and help that Options offered. I read some of the issues on this site and realize that Kaiser is really preparing us for life beyond the surgery and how to be successful. I did my classes at Kaiser South Bay and then was tranferred to Kaiser West LA for my surgery due to scheduling issues. I have followed all the guidelines they give you during the classes and in pre -op and I really just can't believe how well I am doing. Best of luck and I hope you enjoy the classes. Please keep in touch!
Nancy

[CtryGodess]

Nancy,
My classes were at Kaiser Corona, but there isnt a facility in the area that will do the sleeve under Kaiser. They contract with Pacific Bariatric and Crown Surgical to do their WLS patients. I'm hoping to go with Crown because their office is in Corona and their surgery center is in Murietta. The reason I say they have not caught up with the sleeve yet is the surgeon they have listed for Crown they say only does the band and RNY. They dont have him listed as being able to perform the sleeve. The class I was in really pushed for the bypass, not the sleeve. Not much was mentioned about the sleeve, and the band was discouraged. After hearing some of the stories I have read on here, I can see why!

~~Julie

[nmeyerad]

Hey Julie, wow that is very different from my experiences here is Southbay and West LA. They are all really big on the sleeve and it seems to me to be so less invasive than the bypass. Of course they do the by-pass here too for those who have the comorbidty issues that make it a better choice.
I had high blood pressure but not diabetic with about a100 pounds or so to lose so that was why I chose the sleeve. I feel very lucky that I live close to two Kaiser Centers of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery! well I think West LA is actually working on the certification right now but Southbay center has had theirs for awhile.
Good luck and keep me posted.
nancy

[Rubbizfire]

Hello, I am in California but not in SOuthern California.

I had my Sleeve surgery done thru Kaiser Bariatric program on 2/3/2011.

I would love to chat and trade stories

[anutc4me]

I am in SoCal in San Diego County. I do not have a surg date yet. I had to change my medical group because the one I had will only approve RNY and I do not want to do that procedure. So now I have to wait until April to see surgeon and set date. I have already completed 2 rounds of weight loss program and received a referral from previous PCP and the Internal Med doctor from the Bariatric Consult. I'm hoping to get a date in June. In the meantime, I keep looking high and low for every shred of information I can get to be prepared for my new (or as I call it NU) life. Hoping to be in touch with many of you along the road.

[GoofySpice]

Looks like I am joining the party late as usuall
I am in Ventura county. I just got approval for the sleeve last Wednesday 3-9-11 have yet to hear for Cedar's for a surgery date. I may just have to ring them up Monday

[Alicia Eades]

yellow

[CtryGodess]

Wow! I'm such a slacker!! I realize its been almost 6 months since I posted here. Shame on me! I think it was most likely due to the run around I was getting, going back and forth between Kaiser and the surgeon's office. I got discouraged so I stopped logging in for a while. Lurking around the last couple days, I see such a change in some of the names I recognize!! AMAZING results!!
********UPDATE!!!********
As of today, Saturday, June 11th, I have been sleeved!! I got my sleeve on Tuesday. Having some soreness, had some gas pain, but doing much better now! Yesterday I would have given my left arm for a handful of Cheez-Its crackers, today it was an egg over-medium, and bacon. MMMMMM.....bacon....::snapping back:: Ok, I know its just baby steps, but I am SO looking forward to eggs and mashed taters at this point!! (Not together!! That would be gross!) I am basically living on chicken broth, iced tea, and sugar free popsicles. Just gotta stick it out for a few more days and I get full liquids! Yay! Never been so happy for cream of anything soup!! So far, I'm down 14lbs, and feeling pretty good! Had a bit of dehydration earlier this evening, but sip sip sip on my ice tea and feeling MUCH better!
Congrats to those who have done well!! I look forward to being part of the family again!

~~Julie
So Cal
Sleeved 6/7/11

[concernedwife]

My husband had sleeve surgery on May 13th. We live in Murrieta and are looking for a support group. Do you know of any in the area? We are willing to travel to San Diego, Corona, Riverside. Anywhere within an hours drive pretty much.

[CtryGodess]

Dr Suh's office has a support group that is full of wonderful people!! In the Administration building of Rancho Springs Medical Center. They meet the first Monday of the month at 7pm, unless its a holiday, then its the following week. I also get emails from a group under Pacific Bariatric in San Diego for their Corona support groups. Send an email to Coronasupport2@aol.com for info. I'm not sure how often they meet, but they just had a meeting last saturday morning. Hope this helps! Let me know if I can help with anything else!

~~Julie

[Alena33]

Hi Julie, I just had my surgery with Crown Bariatric - Dr Suh in Murietta and he is contracted with Kaiser since April this year to do the sleeve /my surg was 4/25/ Good Luck! Alena33

[CtryGodess]

Alena,
Dr Suh did my surgery last week too and I am a Kaiser patient still. I talked with Lisa at a meeting in April and she told me the contract was almost done. I called my case manager and asked to have my referral switched back to Dr Suh. After getting all of my reports to him, they scheduled me for June 7th. Yay!!!
~~Julie

[splendaaa]

I live near San Diego and am going to Mexico for the sleeve on Sept. 1st.

[christopher88]

hey guy i live in san diego, and had my sugery on the 15th of june. doing great so far. nice to see all you cali ppl here

[Nancy Stern]

Hi, I am in Santa Clarita. I had my sleeve 8-24-10 and have lost 70lbs and am goal! I love my sleeve. Kaiser won't do it because my BMI was 38 and I did not have the "right" co morbities so I was self paid in Northridge best money spent ever.