Attend Bariatric Informational Meetings to receive preoperative education and get as much information as possible to help you decide if the surgery is right for you. Contact your primary care physician and ask to be referred to Kaiser’s Bariatric program.

For more information, read about our support groups.

1. Start exercising 20 to 30 minutes, three to five times per week, getting your heart rate up to 60 to 80 percent of your predicted maximal heart rate. To calculate your rate, subtract your age from 220. For example, if you are 40 years old, 220-40=180. Next, take 60 to 80 percent of the result to determine your predicted maximal heart rate, which in this example would range from 108 to 144.
2. Continue to attend the Holy Cross Hospital sponsored support group meetings, held every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at Holy Cross Hospital. For more information, read about our free support groups. You are required to attend at least three meetings before surgery.
3. Follow the instructions within the Bariatric program at Kaiser. Attend all the required classes.

1. Complete all of the above.
2. If initial sleep study diagnosis is obstructive sleep apnea, get the second (titration) sleep study done and start using your nasal CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) mask right away.
3. Make sure that you have all appointments with the necessary specialists scheduled to obtain medical clearance.

When you have finished the six-month program at Kaiser and they are satisfied with your progress, you will be referred to a Kaiser bariatric surgeon. You will meet with your Kaiser bariatric surgeon, who will then refer to additional specialists as needed.

1. Stay on course.
2. Exercise.
3. Take your vitamins, nasal CPAP and medications as prescribed.
4. For THREE WEEKS limit your diet to high protein, no calorie liquids only

1. Contact the Holy Cross Hospital Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) at 301.754.7290 to schedule an appointment.
2. The appointment should take place one week prior to your surgery.
3. During your visit in ACC a nurse will interview you. An anesthesiologist to assess your anesthesia needs.
4. In order to do a complete review of your medical history, all-preoperative testing should be completed prior to your ACC visit.
5. Ensure your primary care physician faxes your H&P (history and physical) and current laboratory work, EKG and chest x-ray results.

1. Do not take aspirin, aspirin products or any type of blood thinner for seven days before your day of surgery. Examples include, but are not limited to, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Aleve) and other cold medicines.
2. If you take any medicines (prescription or “over-the-counter”), please check with your physician and/or anesthesiologist regarding whether you should take them on the day of your surgery.
3. Starting 4 days before your surgery, as an infection control measure, wash your body from your nipple line to your thighs with an antimicrobial solution called Hibiclens (rinse thoroughly). You will repeat this cleansing every day until your surgery.
4. Use the nystatin swish/swallow as directed four days prior to surgery.

DO NOT take Glucophage 36 hours before surgery.

1. Stay on a clear liquid diet the day before your surgery. This includes water, coffee or tea without milk or cream, clear broth, Jell-O and clear juice without pulp (apple juice is OK, orange juice is not). Do not drink carbonated beverages on the day before your surgery.
2. As an infection control measure, wash your body from your nipple line to your thighs with an antimicrobial solution called Hibiclens (rinse thoroughly). You will repeat this cleansing procedure the morning of surgery.
3. You MAY be given a bowel prep to cleanse your bowels. If so, please follow the directions.

Have nothing to eat or drink after midnight on the day of your surgery, except a sip of water to take any medications you were instructed by the Anesthesia Department to take on the day of surgery.

1. As an infection control measure, wash your body from your nipple line to your thighs with an antimicrobial solution called Hibiclens (rinse thoroughly).
2. Bring with you to the hospital any medications that you take and your CPAP machine. (Your family or loved ones should keep the CPAP machine in their car until after the surgery.)