Looking for an Oregon surgeon

Hi, I am looking for a surgeon in Oregon. I live around the Portland area, and would like to have Lap RNY. I have been to a seminar of Dr. Emma Pattersons but her prices are a little high considering I am self-paying. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Laura W.

Patterson's group (Legacy Good Sam) and OHSU are the only two I'm aware of in the Portland area and they are comparable in price. How far out of the area are you willing to go? There is also the Cagel/Dally group that operates in Vancouver at SWWMC but I think their prices are also similar. Lori

Thank you Lori for the info I am attending a seminar in Portland on the 15th for SWWMC. I really appreciate the info. Sorry to hear your lap band surgery was not very successful. I've heard alot of people say they've only lost about 25lbs with the lap band and for those of us that need to lose 100+ pounds that doesn't seem like the answer. How come you had the lapband instead of gastric bypass, if you don't mind me asking? Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again. Laura

I NEVER said my lap band surgery wasn't successful. I need to lose 200+ pounds and, quite frankly, if I needed something other than lap band I'd go with DS, not RNY. I've done a lot of research and the information I have suggests that the DS would be more successful for me than RNY could ever be. I also know quite a few people who've been successfully banded and have lost 100+ pounds in the same time period (if not less). There is one man *****gularly posts on the lap band forum who lost 180 pounds in 9 months. Why did I have lap band? Because, quite frankly, I am one of the few that these surgeries won't necessarily help. I have panhypopituitarism so I don't produce enough of the right hormones in the right combination to keep my body healthy. I can gain 10+ pounds in a day -- with no change in food or behavior. I actually have always eaten pretty healthy and have a healthy relationship with food. I don't need food to help with emotions (heck, if I'm really, really sad or busy I don't eat at all). I've always been amazed at how much food others are able to put away and me, with my tiny plate of food, amazed that I'm gaining weight and they're not. I also take so many medications that the malabsorption component was critical for me. I need to be able to absorb all of the medication I do take. Then there's the risk factor. I refused to accept the risk of the other surgeries. I didn't want to have surgery at all. In fact, I've been fighting my doctors for more than 20 years. When I found out my insurance would pay and that my niece had leukemia and my sister needed me to be around, I went for it. The complications from lap band are so insignificant that it was a no brainer for me (that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, it just means that on the scale of severity, I'd rather deal with a band slippage than with my intestines dieing). On another note, there was a woman who got RNY right after my surgery on the same day with the same surgeon. We actually started out about the same weight and height and had almost identical BMIs. She, obviously, lost much more right out of the starting gate (hey, I didn't think 30 pounds in 3 months was terrible, thank you very much) but then stopped losing. Now, 19 months out, we've lost about the same. And her window of opportunity to lose has slammed shut. I've actually just started losing again since January. I love my band and still have no regrets. My surgeon does not consider me a failure nor do most of my other doctors (we won't talk about one of them because he's a bit of a pompous azz -- a good doc but pompous). The other woman is now thinking of having lap band to see if it can get things moving in the right direction. Sorry for coming off sounding a touch hostile but I don't consider myself a failure. As a matter of fact I am confident that my band actually saved me from gaining another 150+ pounds in the same time period so, if you add the 150+ to the 55 I've lost, I'd like to think I've been rather successful. I have also had very conservative fills and a surgeon who listens to me and my needs. I have the larger band which, for most people, takes 4cc of fluid to just fill up the tubing and begin restriction. Some people have had their first fill all the way up to 6 or 8cc. My last fill in October (which didn't kick in until January -- unusual, but it happened) brought me up to 6.5cc. I've always had some degree of restriction. Now it is just better than before. As far as advice is concerned -- do your research. Don't trust us on the board (hey, you really don't know any of us from adam -- kinda like I keep referring people to Dr. Tersingi but I don't know the man -- I could just as easily work for him and be sending patients his way). Look at ALL surgeries. Think long and hard why you are chosing the surgery you have picked. If it is only because you expect to dump, for example, on sugars, only about 30% of the people who have RNY continue to dump past the first year. Statistically, lap band and RNY patients have lost about the same amount of weight in 5 years. DSrs have lost more and kept more off in that same time period. When you do look at the boards, pay particular attention to the people posting problems. The message boards are largely filled with people who have either done very well or very poorly. The "average" surgery patient has surgery and then gets out and starts living their life again and has no need for the message boards so be aware that you are usually getting the extremes but, sometimes, that is exactly what you need to see to help make a decision. See what complaints people have (there's a man on the lap band board lately that's been very PO'd because he didn't receive the information that they now give patients -- he had one of the earlier band placements before they realized how critical proper nutritional information was to give to patients) or what makes them happy about their choice of surgery. Most of all, trust your EDUCATED instinct. There are now plenty of books on the market that you may want to try and track down, too. Good luck! Lori

Patterson is supposed to be THE BEST and most experienced. I would have gone to her if i had lived closer. nancy

I agree that Emma Patterson is an excellent surgeon however Im with you I couldnt afford it, I went on the Oregon Medical board and did some research and drove to the North Bend Medical clinic and saw Dr. Tersigni. He does all types of surgery and is really supportive in helping othesr make those changes in their lives, so he has kept his prices affordable to those of us who dont have insurance to pay. Since most only pay for the RNY, which he does as well. I havent checked recently but Last I heard he was running a lap band special for $10,000. Im hosting a support group meeting this Satuday at 9am in McMinnville and i know there will be at least 5 people from the Portland area who have gone down and had surgery with him. You are welcome to join us, its for any one interested in surgery, those who have had surgery and any one inbetween. 2250 NE McDaniel Ln - McMinnville Senior Center 9am 4/28/07. Good Luck ! Gail Lap band 10/2004 size 20/22 now a happy 8/10

Hi Gail, Thank you for recommending Dr. Tersigni. I have an appt with him on may 16th. I am looking to have RNY, the lady in the office said that there was a long wait to have lapband surgery with Dr. Tersigni but since I am having RNY there is not a wait. Since his name came up more than once I am willing to travel the 200 miles to meet with him. The lady in the office was wonderful to speak with. It sounds like the hospital that he operates in is also wonderful. How did you find your whole surgery experience with Dr. Tersigni? I'd love to hear from you and anyone else that has had surgery with Dr. Tersigni. Thanks so much. Laura

If you're willing to travel I highly recommend Dr Read at the Corvallis Samaritan Bariatric Program. I'm not sure what they charge for the self payers but I can't say enough good things about him and his staff. Good luck Darla

Laura, I just met Dr. Deveney and his staff at OHSU in Portland. I could not be more pleased with the visit I had up there yesterday. First of all, the staff is wonderful. I met with Shannon briefly, who is the nutritionist and she took the time to talk to my oldest daughter about the first two weeks post surgery and gave her some great tips. Then I spent some time with Susan, one of Dr. Deveney's nurses. She always takes the time to answer questions as she can, is helpful in making me feel comfortable in the office. Dr. Deveney came in today and he looks just like his picture, here on OH. He is a very nice man, who sat calmly and answered every question and I left with all of the confidence in the world. He is very frank about the risks of the surgery, what is the best type of surgery for me, and the specific issues that I have. There was no aspect of the visit yesterday that seemed less than professional and helpful. I highly recommend that you at least interview with Dr. Deveney. Gayla

Laura, I was also self pay 8 years ago formy RNY.It was the best decision and I would do it again tomarrow. It has improved my life and my health. Dr. Tersigni at Bay Bariatrics has performed almost 1,000 cases. His Lap Band fee is $10,000 and his bypass fee is $24,000. He is a wonderful man and a great surgeon. I hope this help. Good Luck Robin