have you had Dr Gorrin?

Hi Courtney, The support group meets the 4th Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7 p.m. at the downtown clinic of Peacehealth Medical Group in the basement. It is a great group of people and they are full of information. It is a combination of preop and postop patients and I plan on going every month. I am hoping that I feel up to going this month; being 6 days after surgery, I am not quite sure yet but, God willing, I will be there. Good luck to you on your journey. I hope to meet you soon. Kim

Hi - I'm also in Eugene and have been to the initial information session for Dr. Gorrin and Dr. Umbach. I'm on the waiting list, hoping that they get their Center of Excellence certification with Regence BC/BS, then I'll need to see if I'm qualified to have the surgery covered by my insurance. If that doesn't happen, I'll most likely take out an equity loan on the house to get this done. I am passed ready. I've been reading all the info on this board and a few others, so I think I know what I'm getting into. Hope to meet you ladies someday. Linda

Linda, Since you've been to the initial information seminar, I would imagine you can probably join the support group, which is on the 4th Tuesday of each month in the basement of the PeaceHealth Medical Group Downtown Clinic on Willamette. It is from 5:30-7 and is chock full of information. They have a guest speaker each month and there are a wide variety of patients -- both preop and postop. I am having RNY on the 22nd and cannot wait. I will be one week postop at the next support group meeting, hoping I feel up to going because I just love the support group. Everyone is soooo nice. Hope to see you soon. Good luck in your quest for WLS. Kim :dance:

Linda, I was waiting for the Center of Excellance certification and they indicated to me that it would be awhile. My insurance would not cover unless I went to a Center of Excellance so I was referred by Dr. Gorrin to Dr. Emma Patterson in Portland. I saw Dr. Gorrin on the first day they were open in Eugene and that was last May. At that time they told me it would be about 1 year for the certification. They may have a different timetable now but if your insurance covers and you find it will be a long wait you might consider Emma Patterson. It took 6 weeks from first appointment with her to surgery date. I had the whole workup done with Dr. Gorrin and everything then sent to her at Good Sam. I am now 5 days post op, made my first outing to the movies today. Still having some pain but moving faster and feeling better each day. Kathy

I checked with the office yesterday and they said that I can't go to the support groups until I am an actual patient. :-( Well, that's okay. Hopefully, that will be soon. I know they are expecting their certification this month. I don't know what is involved. I think it has to do with how many procedures they have done at their present location. I know Dr. Gorrin and Dr. Umbach came here from San Francisco, where they did lots and lots of these surgeries, so I feel they are very competent. I guess Regence just needs to make sure that the combination of the surgeons and the facility are a winning combination. Since Sacred Heart is the best hospital in the area, I don't know how that could be called into question, but I guess I should be grateful that they are taking the time to look out for me. 8-) Hoperfully, I'll be a patient and be meeting you all within a month or so. Linda

Hi Nancy, I am currently going through the program with Dr. Gorrin's partner Thomas Umbach. After attending the last support group meeting in October, I got the impression that Dr. Gorrin would be assisting in my surgery. It was confirmed for me that both surgeons are there working together. That made me feel even better. I have faith in both doctors and the team they have in Eugene is extremely supportive. Bridgette is the lead in the office and she is also an RNY patient of over 2 years now so it's helpful for me to hear her voice, as funny as that sounds, and see her in person......it gives me comfort to see just how healthy she appears and just to talk with her, she shares in the fears and experiences right along with all of us in the support group. I have researched Lap Band enough to tell you that I have decided against it, although I know Dr's Gorrin and Umbach do perform that surgery as well. It's a personal choice and I realize my obesity is more about genetics (some bad choices for sure) but if you were to look at my entire family and you would see the trend. I am the smallest in my family and have fought my weight since my pregnancy at the age of 27; currently I am 46. I have been researching to the point I'm nearly exhausted. Please feel free to visit my site from time to time and you might save yourself some steps....that's what I do. poke around looking at other people's journals and learning from their experiences and research, as well as my own. With both of those, I feel I am making a more educated and justifiable decision. I especially from from the WLS graduates forum. They are the true experts. I hope this helps you in some way. Best to you and maybe I'll be seeing you in the Eugene support group in the future. Darla

I think the Eugene Bariatric Center is expecting their Center of Excellence certification this month. I am getting so impatient. I know there is not much they can do to hurry it along, but when you want something so badly, you know how it is! I will call and find out if it is okay for me to come to the support group. I've been doing a lot of homework on this, but I still feel the more information the better. I also want to know if it is for real that this raging hunger that I have controlling my life will finally stop bothering me! Linda

Linda, Boy to I know that feeling. I am so tired of being hungry all of the time. I am so ready for surgery next week. I am sure that it is just fine for you to come to the support group, but it would not hurt to call and be sure. Hope to see you there. Good luck with your journey. Kim