LoriHall

Hi Lynn! Thank you for your reply. First of all, a big congrats on your success. I hope that I have the same story a year from now. What was your weight loss goal? I am hoping for 60-70lbs total, which would put me at about 160ish. I worry that I have too high of expectations. Did you experience much vomiting? The idea of throwing up when out is intimidating. How much pain did you experience after surgery? Am I looking at a week off work....or less? Thank you so much for getting in touch! Lori

Hi there....I am a 45 yr female (divorced, mother of 3 grown children) in the suburbs of Portland OR. I am having my surgery sometime in March with Dr. Emma Patterson at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery. I am starting with a BMI of 35. Would love to have someone to share the ups and downs with. I think support is going to be the answer to my success.

As I figured, this will be an exhausting 3 days. Mon/Tues are the evals and the welcome class (?) is on Wednesday. I asked to have them grouped together, so I would need less days off work. Yesteday I received a questionaire in the mail for the psych eval, so I can fill that out over the weekend and save a little time on Monday. Dan, I have requested Dr. Patterson since she did the seminar I attended and I was very impressed with her overall. If she is too far out, I will see Dr. Halpin as well. Remind me again when you see the surgeon.....

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!!

I too am in the various studies/appts process with OWLS. I spend 3 days at their offices next week. However, I am self pay, so it is moving along rather quickly for me. I think that no matter where you are having your surgery, the insurance just makes it a long process. Wish I had more that I could tell you that would move things along. All I can do is wish you luck as you work through it! Have you done your psych and med evaluations? Also, I am curious about what the physical therapist appointment is like. Any insights?

I too am self-pay, thus the reason it isn't taking as long as some people. I have been doing research for about a year, but only decided to actually move forward the 1st of the year. I will have my psych, ekg and med evaluations and meet with the dietician next mon-tues-wed. Then an appointment with the surgeon within a couple of weeks. They are not booked too far out, so am hoping for early March. Is your surgery going to be local?

Congrats Gabi!! I am sure you are excited and nervous. Hopefully I will be right behind you! Let me know how everything goes. When did you have your evaluations done? (trying to get an idea of my own time line.)

Hello! It looks like I will be an early March bandster. I have met with the surgeon's office and got the go-ahead. I have my pre-op evaluations (psych, nutrition, ekg, etc) done a week from Monday-Tues-Wed (they are grouping them all together to save me as much time off work as possible). They tell me that surgeries aren't out far, so I am looking at just a couple of weeks after my evals are done. Glad to have found a place where others are facing the same life changes as I am. I have been researching this for a year or more and finally decided to do it. My big decision was cost...I am a cash patient and wasn't comfortable going to Mexico. I am paying about $20k out of pocket. Look forward to keeping in touch here with others going through it with me!

Hello All.... I am just starting this procedure, with my pre-op appointments a week from Monday. I have met with the surgeons office and got the OK, so now it is getting all the work done and getting my date set. I am thinking it will be late February with Dr. Patterson. I had a low BMI (35) in the weigh loss surgery world, but was approved for lapband. Unfortunately, I am a cash pay patient, so I need to work on some financing as well. I just wanted to get in touch here and start building support for my pre-op life. It has been encouraging to read all the success stories here. Although the hiccup and slippage story surprised me! Glad you got it fixed and hope all is going well Jonnycat! Any other newbies out there that are looking at surgery soon?

My surgeon (I will be an early March banding) offers "Blis" coverage as part of her fee. It is an insurance policy that covers complications after weight loss surgery. Although, I do believe it is for cash pay patients only. They also have an option of buying coverage for an extended period. Check with your surgeon to see if they offer anything similar.