Anyone in Oregon??

[webkat 0]

Hi! I live between Salem and Portland and am VERY EXCITED about getting the Lap band! I'm so glad I found this group!

I am so frustrated with our health insurance, Health Net. the Lap Band site says they are a LB friendly company, but they must not be talking about Health Net of Oregon! They say it is a medical exclusion.

I plan to switch insurance companies and could really use some tips on what has worked for other OREGONIANS. I am currently looking at Kaiser, BC/BS and getting a SSI disability approval so I can get Medicare (the toughest option).

Looking forward to getting to know you all better.

~Kathy

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I don't know anything about how to get insurance to pay for it. I had an exclusion on my blue cross plan too. That's why I got a 2nd mortgage on my house and paid Dr. Tersigini $10,000.00 I don't have to worry about aftercare,

driving anywhere for problems, etc. I am lucky. He is a great dr. and

I practically live down the street from his office. I was there today, as a matter of fact.

Are you getting the band even if your insurance doesn't pay for it?

[webkat 0]

I'll get it one way or another!

I saw your sig tag earlier, looked up your Dr's website and emailed. I live in Newberg, so it's not too far away.

It sounds like you're very happy with your band. How long have you had it?

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I got banded 12-29 and have lost 30 lbs. It's coming off slowly, but I know I would have just gained more weight by now rather than being down 30.<br /> <br /> I started out with a lower BMI and he says it comes off slower for people who have less to lose. Also, I think it comes off slower for people in my age group.<br /> <br /> Feel free to ask anything you want about Dr. Tersigini.

[Band Chick 3]

So far I am not impressed with Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, LLC and Legacy Good Samaritan Obesity Institute of Portland, Oregon (Drs Jay Jan and Emma Patterson). Long story short... I went to their information seminar today and was treated horribly. The worst was when they refused to give me a packet because I have Health Net insurance. I had to argue with the lady that I plan to get new insurance or self pay, just to get a packet and attend the seminar! If I hadn't been hanging out here reading posts I probably would have given up and left like she wanted.

These are supposed to be great surgeons in their field but from what I've read and experienced they have crummy "bed-side-manner".

I'm not sure if I will continue working with them in hopes this improves or go to someone else :cry

[LKristyL 0]

Hey thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

on the OWLS office: I was banded through the Good Sam Oregon Weight Loss Surgery center on 5/8/07 by dr Jay Jan. He did a great job but I agree with the previous comments. their offices seem to be really overwhelmed with clients or they are just too busy to be customer service oriented...not sure which. Constantly standing at the counter waiting for help only to be treated like I'm at the mcdonald's counter with a rude teenager at the cash register....blank stares etc.:straight weird. That being said the whole day of the surgery i was treated very well. Dr Jan was very nice to me and my parents. And the surgery staff at good sam were very sweet.

on insurance coverage: My insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield who just opened up their acceptance of the lap band after several members "banded" together and fought them

I've been told that Kaiser will only do the bypass surgery. I'm not sure if it was the patient or how they do the process but my friend was told it would NOT be done laporscopicly either...ouch.

Sorry for the long post.

[ChLawr 0]

I was also banded by Dr. Tersigni on May 18th and have nothing but great things to say about their staff and everyone involved with the procedure. I live in Portland so it's a bit of a drive for me but well worth it.

[ms925 0]

Hi Denise, I have my first apt with Dr. Tersigni in July. I will be a self pay. Can you tell me how much time it will be before I get to go to surgery, or how he proceeds? Thanks

[ChLawr 0]

I had to wait for surgery about 4 1/2 weeks after my first appointment with Tersigni. It was a quick turnaround.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I don't know how quickly he is getting people in these days, ms 925 .He makes you get a pshc eval. He has a lady on staff now that can do those. I have no idea what she charges. I went to someone I had been to before and she only charged me $75. If you have anyone local that you prefer, I would go to them. This lady comes to our support groups and nobody likes her. She has a very monotone voice and if I had anything I needed to get off my chest, she would be the last person I would tell it to her. She is not a warm fuzzy kind of person in my opinion. I would ck prices around where you live, and find out what she charges, to base your decision. I guess pretty much all WLS make people get those. He also makes you get some blood work. Again, if you have your regular doctor order what he wants, you might be able to get insurance to pay for it. I had to get an EKG, but that was done at his clinic and I think it was around $100. You might be able to get your insurance to pay for that too, if your regular doctor orders it.

I had to work around my work schedule, so I first saw him in Oct. and wanted to have the surgery during Christmas break. So it worked out being 2 months from when I saw him first until I had surgery. I am sure you can schedule it right then with one of the nurses when you are finished with your first apointment.

Feel free to ask me anything else I haven't answered. You will like everybody there. They are all great!

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I just don't understand why people in Oregon go to Mexico when Dr. Tersigni

isn't that much more expensive. It makes it hard to get fills when you go to Mexico, and Dr. Tersigni gives 3 fills with the price of surgery, and free aftercare for a year.

Can someone explain to me why they would choose Mexico? I would think by the time you add airfare in there, the price would be close to the same.

[luv2bingo07 0]

I just don't understand why people in Oregon go to Mexico when Dr. Tersigni

isn't that much more expensive. It makes it hard to get fills when you go to Mexico, and Dr. Tersigni gives 3 fills with the price of surgery, and free aftercare for a year.

Can someone explain to me why they would choose Mexico? I would think by the time you add airfare in there, the price would be close to the same.

Hi Denise,

In answer to your question about why people choose to go to Mexico for surgery, for me, many reasons. First, insurance won't cover anything related to weight loss. Second, many US surgeons are not as highly experienced with Lap Band surgeries. Don't get me wrong...I know many people have had much success with their surgeries here. I am very happy for them as many of them had insurance to cover it. But, I also know that some are self pay too. I had started the process for surgery here in Portland a couple years ago, and the crap I had to put up with...not to mention the cost was enough to not want to have surgery anywhere in Oregon at all. So, here I was two years later and wanting to finally get this done. I was sooo ready to change my life and get healthy. Well, after researching on this forum and obesityhelp.com, among other websites, I realized that Mexico was the way to go. Not only for surgery, but for a nice mini vacation.

I researched several Mexican surgeons' sites. Dr. Ortiz was THE most experienced and qualified for this surgery as he has trained many of the US surgeons and still does. He has performed over 4500 lap band surgeries and he and his staff are wonderful all the way around. Again, I have heard of other Mexican surgeons, but I constantly ran into Dr. Ortiz name and talked to his patient coordinator several times. That was it for me. I knew and felt with all my heart and body that this is where I need to go. I, of course, made sure that I had a doctor for aftercare here and she is not too far from me. She is very reasonable for fills even though she doesn't have flouroscopy. Dr. Ortiz even recommends her to patients from here.

I really hope this clears some things up for you. I am very happy with my decision and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Good luck on your journey with your band.

Peace,

Judy

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I have heard too that Dr. Ortiz is a very good doctor. I guess I am just lucky that Dr. Tersigni is only 5 min from my house. I was a self pay too, and $10,000 seemed to be a pretty good price for me. By the time I added in air fare and fills, I wouldn't have saved much.

I have heard from a lot of people that they have had wonderful experiences with Dr. Ortiz.< /p>

[ms925 0]

Denise, I have an appt. with Dr Tersigni mid July and have been penciled in for surgery the 6th of August. I'm excited and scared at the same time. I will do my pshc exam here in Roseburg. He is 11K now. Did you stay in the hospital overnight? Do you go to the support groups? I hear he has them 2x month. I might be able to go once a month but not two since it is a little over an hour drive. Also do you have any regrets? Thanks...

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Yes, I go to all the support groups. I rarely miss them. I didn' t know he raised his prices. I was just there and asked if they were going to do that, and they said no . Maybe they forgot what I paid.

I don' t have any regrets. My only advice is to make sure you get your fills.

They make all the difference in the world. Since my last fill, I practically have to force myself to eat.

I had mine done in day surgery. I went in at 7 and they started by 8am and I was home posting on lap band talk by 11am. I would imagine you'll have to stay overnight since they make you do a swallow test the next morning.

I would be happy to offer whatever support I can while you're in town.

I think age has a lot to do with how fast we lose. He told me I wouldn't lose very fast because I started out at 212 and I am 54 years old. He said the younger and the more you have to lose, the faster it comes off.(if you

follow all the rules, of course)