Hi! Newbie Here!

Hello Everyone! I am a newbie here on the boards. I am looking into WLS. My insurance does not cover it, so I'd be a self-paying person. I have read alot of this website's success stories and they are very inspiring. I have several questions: 1) What did the surgery cost you (if you know)? I have got quotes that range from $22,000 to $30,000, but wonder if there were complications, how much higher could those figures go? 2) I would like to know if there is any support group where a person interested in the surgery can talk to a person(s) who has been through it? 3) Also, how many have utilized the Legacy Health System Obesity Institute and staff. What were your impressions, etc.? I think that is all for now! Thanks! Kristal

Hi Kristal...WELCOME! I can't tell you yet what the surgery has cost me...just haven't added up the amounts. As said in the previous post there is a support group meeting in Salem in the basement of the hospital this evening (I'll be there for the first time...have been going to one in McMinnville but want to see how this one is). Maybe I'll see you there? And I had my surgery through the Obesity Institute and Oregon Weight Loss Surgery (Dr. Patterson, Dr. Hong, and Dr. Jan). I have been very impressed with both clinics and my doctor (Dr. Hong). I've felt well cared for even after my surgery. Their aftercare program seems thorough enough for me, though I haven't had any real complications so I couldn't answer about how their care is for that. My nutritionist has been Kelly at the Obesity Institute and she has been wonderful about replying when I have any questions about what I should be doing. She will email back and forth or call as soon as she's able to. I've always been able to get hold of her pretty quickly. I hope this info helps...and I look forward to meeting you. Best of luck on your journey! Sharon Heintz

Hi Kristal, Call the bariatric program at Samaritan in Corvallis, you can go to one of the orientations and have all your questions answered. That's where I had my surgery and I had a wonderful experience there. Good luck. Darla

Krystal I to am in the process. I do not know if Cigna will pay for my surgery yet so I am not in the same boat as you but in the same process. when I had my appointment with dr jan they said that with compliclations it could increase but it hard to say how much it would depend on what kind of compliclations. I am in portland and to interested in meeting others in the process weather its begining middle or end.