El Diablo

Lori, I didn't get that appt. until everything else was completed (see my sig) but I don't think that will be the case with self pay.

I think the consensus answer is this: You get out of what you put into it. For my part, to go to the extreme of a costly invasive surgery, I am going to work my butt off to achieve my goals and make it worth the money(even if insurance pays, it's still my money) and time. It's just a tool.

Oops, I see you are self pay Lori, should be a breeze for you. I'll race you to surgery. I'm expecting late Feb or early March

Hi, I am with D. Halpin, met with her 2 days ago, very nice. I don't think you can go wrong with any of their doctors, Dr. Patterson is very highly regarded also but she was not going to be available for a couple of weeks and I want to get this done NOW. The med eval is standard physical height/weight/history/current problems/history of diets etc.

Physical Therapist was mainly checking body structure and posture, things to do to improve those, learning exercises to improve core strength, setting some exercise goals

Psych eval was two written tests 1 short, 1 insanely long. Your answers help the therapist determine (along with your interview) if you have knowledge of how to eat healthy, any eating disorders (besides eating too much) basically if you are a mentally stable candidate for the lifestyle changes that you will need to make to be successful on the band, worst case you will have to attend some support groups and/or additional therapy to deal with any issues you may have to get you better prepared.

Dietician/Nutritionist To start you on a path to healthier eating and weight loss, you will have to lose some pounds before the surgery. I was told I needed to lose 15-30 pounds before surgery so I lost sixteen before I met with the surgeon so I wont have to do any liquid diet pre-op except for of course the day before surgery

sleep Study, when you do your med eval the doc may still have you do a sleep study, if so it's no big deal and you may have to do two sleep studies, it's annoying but necessary

Unless you are self pay, please don't get your hopes up for the surgical consult in a couple of weeks. The process is measured in months and a lot of it is getting insurance authorizations for every step you take.

Give me a call if you wish, we can help each other through the process and hopefully with our banding experiences.

Dan,

Which surgeon are you going to be with? Anything I need to know about my appointments next week? Mon/Tues/Wed I am having my med eval, psych, PT, dietician and 1st class! May be a grueling week. Luckily I they waived my sleep study. Hoping I have a consult with the surgeon within a couple of weeks.

Good luck with the insurance company!!

Hello All...

I'm a pre-bander in the Portland area...going through the motions. I've been working with OWLS for over a year now on various studies, appointments, etc. How long does this process normally take? It seems very frustrating to me. Should I change doctors & look @ OHSU. Seems like some of you are happy with them. Any advice??

thanks!

I am with OWLS too, I think if you look around the forum the process does take some time unless you are self pay. Have you had your appt. with the surgeon yet? If so, you're almost there.

What a funny thread. The things everybody wants to know but everyone is afraid to ask. I did actually LOL because I was thinking about this too (yes guys worry about stuff like this too) especially potentially stark naked fat guys worried if they will get a catheter stuck in their:eek::w00t::eek::ohmy::frown::mad::sneaky::eek:

Hi, I'm starting the process here in Oregon. I have had my surgical consult and waiting for everything to go to insurance.

I am in Milwaukie, did all my pre-surg testing at Legacy Salmon WA(insurance reasons I guess, I still don't know why) and now at Good Samaritan Portland for the consult.

Nice to "meet" you

Every vote counts, no taxation without representation, yes we can, I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ask not what you can do for your country....

Please vote in the poll only if you are in Oregon currently.

Hi Oregonners,

I'm in the waiting for docs to go to insurance and hopefully get approved stage.

I am in Milwaukie

Never any nausea or vomiting here, diarhea and it gives you bad breath like tasting a penny

Start exercising more if you haven't already. Don't let your post surgery exercise be such a shock to your body. And they say it will help you heal faster

Ok so I haven't posted in quite awhile due to disgust at myself. Its time for me to come clean and ask for help. Over the last year I have been holding my own with no loss but no gain until recently. I'm sure I need a fill but due to the economy and my business teetering on the brink of closure, I just don't have the funds to travel, let alone get fill. I'm sure my pouch has been stretched to a certain extent but I'm wondering can I start over. There's been days that I tell myself I'm going on liquids then I find myself eating something I really shouldn't. I've fallen into the old habits of diet soda, coffee with cream and sugar, a glass of wine at dinner etc. I really can't afford to go to a doctor so I'm asking for you opinions, and suggestions to get me back on track.

Please don't take this as negative, I see you are back on track but my statement may be important for someone to hear. I have not been banded yet so tell me to shut my mouth if you wish but.......all of those things you consumed cost money e.g. soda, wine, etc. Adjust your priorities for where your money goes. Can't afford a fill? Sounds like rationalization to excuse bad habits. A better way to look at it may be "I can't afford NOT to get a fill"

Again, no offense intended

:bored: Congratulations. I cannot weight/wait to be on the same path.

LOL, someone complaining about no delays and no "required" aka lets pump this guys insurance for all it's worth, tests.

The glass is half empty

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

All is well, about a week is expected to get my docs together and submitted to insurance. Nothing extra, my diet is good. No pre-op liquids, nothing but a big fat green light. Now comes the insurance waiting game, the surgery schedule is fairly clear so I'd be looking at about two weeks following insurance approval. :bored:

Good morning all, about to get ready for my appointment. My surgical consult is in a few hours. I have done a lot of stuff (see my sig) and I'm very hopeful that the doc says "time to submit all this to insurance". Hopefully no delays or extra things I have to do first. I WILL UPDATE this afternoon, good or bad.

Milwaukie here

I think you needn't worry! As ridiculous as the insurance companies may be, it seems to be a pretty common from what I've read here and elsewhere with not having documented weight and diet plans. It may just be a matter of starting the documentation now and go from there.

Hi,

x2 on the nervous, my surgical consult is today. I did the dietician and all that a bit ago, nothing to worry about, worse case scenario I bet you leave with some good advice, a pre-surgery weight loss goal and some new pills.< /p>

Let us know how it goes and good luck

Thanks,

I had not watched any news for a couple of days so this morning was a snowy shock:scared2: We had a good bit of snow last month :cursing: as you know, and I wasn't looking forward to pulling the chains back out but it seems to be over already

Great Site!

I have my surgical consult tomorrow. I have completed psych eval, sleep study, exam, dietician, etc. and lost some weight as recommended pre-surg. I am hopeful that I can actually set a date tomorrow to get banded. I attended the mandatory briefing last March so it's taken a while to get to this point(smoke nazis, yeah yeah its for my own good). I have Tricare Prime and they seem to be on the ball lately so I don't expect much of a delay. Knock wood.