Hi, anyone else from the NW?

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm Laurel and have just started this journey. Is there anyone

else here from the Portland/Vancouver area?

Can y'all give me an idea of what I will be going thru pre-op? From

some of the posts it sounds like a lot! I have an appt to bring up

the subject with my pcp on 4/16 so I am really new to this process and

any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Laurel

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurel & welcome to the group! There is a lot to go

through pre-op!! I'm not familiar with the NW area at all, and I do know

that regions differ greatly! You've embarked on a life-altering journey,

and this group is an excellent place to get support and encouragement. Ask

your questions and voice your concerns and you will find many people here

who have had similar experiences and can give you valuable information. We

all are here to help and support you on your journey!

Hugs,

Jen

gyelles wrote:

Hi, I'm

Laurel and have just started this journey. Is there anyone

else here from the Portland/Vancouver area?

Can y'all give me an idea of what I will be going thru pre-op? From

some of the posts it sounds like a lot! I have an appt to bring up

the subject with my pcp on 4/16 so I am really new to this process and

any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Laurel

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurel,

I am from Portland and just got my surgery date yesterday...yipee!

Its been exactly 1 yr since my referal from my PCP.

Here's the quick and dirty version of what i went through as it is a

bit different from the Calif folks:

referal from PCP

fill out mega long questionaire from the bariatric program

attend orientation meeting

attend 5wk weight managment class

group meeting with social worker

attend monthly support meetings

2 individual meetings with social worker and nutritionist

file goes to case review and if approved then you get an apt to meet

with the surgeon and he has the final say so and then gives you a date

they will want you to be losing weight through the process and here

they count your loss from your PCP referral...they never tell you

exactly how much you have to loose, but it does seem like it ends up

being at least 10%

surgery is scheduled 3-5wks after your surgeon's apt and during that

time there are several preop apts to go to as well.

Hope that helped a little, there dont seem to be too many people on

this board from this area, if you have any other questions, feel free

to ask or even email me privately if you want seaquinta@...

Good luck...its a long haul but I know it will be worth it and it

really does go by quickly!

Take Care

Shanna

> Hi, I'm Laurel and have just started this journey. Is there anyone

> else here from the Portland/Vancouver area?

>

> Can y'all give me an idea of what I will be going thru pre-op? From

> some of the posts it sounds like a lot! I have an appt to bring up

> the subject with my pcp on 4/16 so I am really new to this process

and

> any info will be greatly appreciated.

> Thanks,

> Laurel

[Guest guest]

Hi Shanna,

We don't often hear from folks up in your neck of the woods. Congrats

on getting a surgery date. So . . . when will you having surgery?

All the best,

Kay

open RNY 12/1/03

skeaquinta wrote:

> Hi Laurel,

> I am from Portland and just got my surgery date yesterday...yipee!

> Its been exactly 1 yr since my referal from my PCP.

> Here's the quick and dirty version of what i went through as it is a

> bit different from the Calif folks: . . . ...its a long haul but

> I know it will be worth it and it

> really does go by quickly!

> Take Care

> Shanna

[Guest guest]

I am scheduled for may 3rd...I am so excited, I cant believe it is

finally going to happen!!

Shanna

>

> > Hi Laurel,

> > I am from Portland and just got my surgery date yesterday...yipee!

> > Its been exactly 1 yr since my referal from my PCP.

> > Here's the quick and dirty version of what i went through as it

is a

> > bit different from the Calif folks: . . . ...its a long haul

but

> > I know it will be worth it and it

> > really does go by quickly!

> > Take Care

> > Shanna

[Guest guest]

Hi Shanna,

That is great! Please, let us know how your journey progresses.

All the best,

Kay

open RNY 12/1/03

skeaquinta wrote:

> I am scheduled for may 3rd...I am so excited, I cant believe it is

> finally going to happen!!

> Shanna

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much! That is just the sort of info I was looking for.

How long ago did you have your surgery? Hope everything went well.

Laurel

skeaquinta wrote:

>Hi Laurel,

>I am from Portland and just got my surgery date yesterday...yipee!

>Its been exactly 1 yr since my referal from my PCP.

>Here's the quick and dirty version of what i went through as it is a

>bit different from the Calif folks:

>referal from PCP

>fill out mega long questionaire from the bariatric program

>attend orientation meeting

>attend 5wk weight managment class

>group meeting with social worker

>attend monthly support meetings

>2 individual meetings with social worker and nutritionist

>file goes to case review and if approved then you get an apt to meet

>with the surgeon and he has the final say so and then gives you a date

>they will want you to be losing weight through the process and here

>they count your loss from your PCP referral...they never tell you

>exactly how much you have to loose, but it does seem like it ends up

>being at least 10%

>surgery is scheduled 3-5wks after your surgeon's apt and during that

>time there are several preop apts to go to as well.

>Hope that helped a little, there dont seem to be too many people on

>this board from this area, if you have any other questions, feel free

>to ask or even email me privately if you want seaquinta@...

>Good luck...its a long haul but I know it will be worth it and it

>really does go by quickly!

>Take Care

>Shanna

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ok, I'm a little tired, ignore the last post after the thanks part!

Shanna, has anything caused it to be delayed or is this considered

normal?

Laurel

skeaquinta wrote:

Hi Laurel,

I am from Portland and just got my surgery date yesterday...yipee!

Its been exactly 1 yr since my referal from my PCP.

Here's the quick and dirty version of what i went through as it is a

bit different from the Calif folks: . . . ...its a long haul but I know it will be worth it and it

really does go by quickly!

Take Care

Shanna

[Guest guest]

skeaquinta wrote:

>I am scheduled for may 3rd...I am so excited, I cant believe it is

>finally going to happen!!

>Shanna

>

>

>

Yay! Will you be at Sunnyside?

Laurel

[Guest guest]

I have not had my surgery yet, I just got my surgery date on friday

and am scheduled for may 3rd.

let me know if I can be of any more help, procedure up here is a

little different then the calif folks.

Shanna

>

> >Hi Laurel,

> >I am from Portland and just got my surgery date yesterday...yipee!

> >Its been exactly 1 yr since my referal from my PCP.

> >Here's the quick and dirty version of what i went through as it is

a

> >bit different from the Calif folks:

> >referal from PCP

> >fill out mega long questionaire from the bariatric program

> >attend orientation meeting

> >attend 5wk weight managment class

> >group meeting with social worker

> >attend monthly support meetings

> >2 individual meetings with social worker and nutritionist

> >file goes to case review and if approved then you get an apt to

meet

> >with the surgeon and he has the final say so and then gives you a

date

> >they will want you to be losing weight through the process and

here

> >they count your loss from your PCP referral...they never tell you

> >exactly how much you have to loose, but it does seem like it ends

up

> >being at least 10%

> >surgery is scheduled 3-5wks after your surgeon's apt and during

that

> >time there are several preop apts to go to as well.

> >Hope that helped a little, there dont seem to be too many people

on

> >this board from this area, if you have any other questions, feel

free

> >to ask or even email me privately if you want seaquinta@m...

> >Good luck...its a long haul but I know it will be worth it and it

> >really does go by quickly!

> >Take Care

> >Shanna

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

this is considered pretty typical as far as time frame, there are a

few things that might make your journey quicker, (I started from

square one).

Here's my advice to get you going since the time between apts can be

long;

make sure you are up to date on any annual stuff, pap, mamogram if

needed etc.

sign up for the 5wk weight management class, during which start an

exercise program and start losing some weight.

have your pcp send you for any test you think you might need, ie:

sleep apnea and make sure things like high blood pressure or diabetes

or whatever else you might be having issues with are addressed.

Above all,I think the thing that moves you along fastest is if you

have lost weight, they want to see that you are commited to making

changes in the way you are eating and that you are exercising at

least 4 days/wk. I know one gal that got through the program in about

5 months, but she had done all these things and had lost about 60lbs

by the time she was refered to the surgeon so, its up to you, to some

extent, but it still takes awhile.

hope that helps, sorry so long

oh, one more thing, UGH, the dreaded food diaries, start keeping

those, the dietician will want to see those when you meet with

her...time of day, quantities, emotions (they will cover this stuff

in your 5wk class)

Shanna

>

> >Hi Laurel,

> >I am from Portland and just got my surgery date yesterday...yipee!

> >Its been exactly 1 yr since my referal from my PCP.

> >Here's the quick and dirty version of what i went through as it is

a

> >bit different from the Calif folks: . . . ...its a long haul

but

> >I know it will be worth it and it

> >really does go by quickly!

> >Take Care

> >Shanna

> >

> >

>

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

yes, all portland/vancouver area kaiser is at sunnyside...that's

where the surgeon's offices are too, and most of the other apts you

will have to do.

>

> >I am scheduled for may 3rd...I am so excited, I cant believe it is

> >finally going to happen!!

> >Shanna

> >

> >

> >

> Yay! Will you be at Sunnyside?

> Laurel

[Guest guest]

Laurel,

One more thing...if you think you might like to attend a support

meeting, there are several of them, i am not exactly sure of the

times and places of all of them, but the one I go to is held at the

town hall building next to the interstate office (off I-5) upstairs.

We meet the 2nd tues of the month, 7pm. You wont be officially signed

up for support meetings until you are accepted in the program, but no

one checks to see if you are " supposed to " be there. Its a great

group and a nice mix of pre and post-ops. You could also call health

education and ask them when and where the bariatric support group

meetings are.

Shanna

> >

> > >I am scheduled for may 3rd...I am so excited, I cant believe it

is

> > >finally going to happen!!

> > >Shanna

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > Yay! Will you be at Sunnyside?

> > Laurel

[Guest guest]

skeaquinta wrote:

>this is considered pretty typical as far as time frame, there are a

>few things that might make your journey quicker, (I started from

>square one).

>

>

Shanna, thank you so much! I want to be prepared and proactive. Let me

know if you want visitors when you're in the hospital. May 3rd will be

here before you know it- then 'll have a whole new set of questions!

BTW are you in a support group yet?

Thanks,

Laurel

[Guest guest]

skeaquinta wrote:

Laurel,

One more thing...if you think you might like to attend a support meeting, there are several of them,

Wow, you're good! I had just replied with

that question! I will try to come.

Thanks, Laurel

[Guest guest]

LOL, I think I was writing you about that the same time you were

writing, funny...I've been going to support meeting for about 10mo

(see previous message).

Hey, the more visitor the merrier (hopefully I'll feel that way in

the hosp...LOL)

Also, if you are interested (not sure exactly where you are located)

I do water aerobics with another pre-op on tues and thur nights at

8:15pm at marshal pool in vancouver...if you are interested, come

check it out (and by the way, no need to be worried about how you

look in a swim suit, most are in the same range as we are)

take care

Shanna

>

> >this is considered pretty typical as far as time frame, there are

a

> >few things that might make your journey quicker, (I started from

> >square one).

> >

> >

> Shanna, thank you so much! I want to be prepared and proactive.

Let me

> know if you want visitors when you're in the hospital. May 3rd

will be

> here before you know it- then 'll have a whole new set of questions!

>

> BTW are you in a support group yet?

> Thanks,

> Laurel

[Guest guest]

skeaquinta wrote:

Also, if you are interested (not sure exactly where you are located) I do water aerobics with another pre-op on tues and thur nights at 8:15pm at marshal pool in vancouver...if you are interested, come check it out (and by the way, no need to be worried about how you look in a swim suit, most are in the same range as we are)

Thanks, water aerobics are my favorite form

of exercise. I will try to see you tomorrow.

Laurel

[Guest guest]

awesome! ...it is a deep water aerobics class just so you know, so

you have to wear the thingies that go on your ankles. hope you can

make it!

Shanna

>

> >Also, if you are interested (not sure exactly where you are

located)

> >I do water aerobics with another pre-op on tues and thur nights at

> >8:15pm at marshal pool in vancouver...if you are interested, come

> >check it out (and by the way, no need to be worried about how you

> >look in a swim suit, most are in the same range as we are)

> >

> >

> Thanks, water aerobics are my favorite form of exercise. I will

try to

> see you tomorrow.

> Laurel

[Guest guest]

skeaquinta wrote:

>awesome! ...it is a deep water aerobics class just so you know, so

>you have to wear the thingies that go on your ankles. hope you can

>make it!

>Shanna

>

>

I prefer deep water. My husband is going to come too (it's not a women

only class, is it?). He broke 3 ribs last Sept and they still aren't

healed. The pain has kept him from moving much and he has gained a lot

of weight. The exercise will do us both good.

Do they have the thingies or should I buy some?

BTW I signed up for the 5 wk weight management class today and will

start 4/19.

See you tomorrow!

Laurel

[Guest guest]

Its not a women's only class....although i have never seen any men

there...LOL... i am sure all the girls would love it though!

They have all the equipment there, no need to worry about that.

Great news about the class too!!

Shanna

>

> >awesome! ...it is a deep water aerobics class just so you know, so

> >you have to wear the thingies that go on your ankles. hope you can

> >make it!

> >Shanna

> >

> >

> I prefer deep water. My husband is going to come too (it's not a

women

> only class, is it?). He broke 3 ribs last Sept and they still

aren't

> healed. The pain has kept him from moving much and he has gained a

lot

> of weight. The exercise will do us both good.

>

> Do they have the thingies or should I buy some?

>

> BTW I signed up for the 5 wk weight management class today and will

> start 4/19.

>

> See you tomorrow!

> Laurel