My ongoing saga with OHSU.....

Well I FINALLY got ahold of Heather at the digestive center.  After leaving 5 messages...grr.. ANYWAYS she finally tells me that my paperwork has been submitted to the NP for review. THANK GOD! She tells me yet again it takes 2 weeks to get through the review and I have NO clue when they were actually submitted to them.  I pray I can get my appt soon, this is so ridiculous.  I know I know, I need to be patient.  I have a lot going in my personal life right now that is draining every ounce of patience I have left.  Wish me luck that I can finally get the ball rolling on this!! Thanks for all your support!! Angela

Angela, Yipeee!!! It will be here before you know it. I know it is hard to wait but you can do it , you have done it this long...... just a wee bit longer. The NP's are Awesome, and so knowledgeable. You are in excellent hands. One step closer to getting your surgery!!!! Doin the happy dance for you!!!  I  can actually dance now too!! Been workin out with Richard Simmons, and I was in a wheel chair last year at this time WOW it is worth it all!!!! Take Care I can't wait to hear the next good report!!! Christina

I don't think heather picks up her messages-but I have found calling her around 2:15 is more effective in getting an answer. Count yourself lucky though-she told me it would take a month with the NP to get through the review before the file got sent off for another month to the insurance company. Im frustrated too and contemplate jumping ship to a new place but then the whole thing would have to be started over. Good luck to you-maybe we will both get approvals soon!

Yeah I know, I felt the same way about jumping ship too and still kind of feel that way.  My friend went through good sam and it took her 5 months from start to finish.  I need my first appt and psych eval etc yet.  I have an appt on march 10th with the sleep clinic for my initial appt.  I didn't bother to wait for them to get me going on that one.  My pcp did that for me in January and appts were over 2 months out.  I hope this is all going the way it should.  I definitely need some postive things for me right now!

I can't advise about OHSU because I didn't go there - but I am very sympathetic to feeling like it's never going to happen.  I found some of the people along the way helped much more when I was nice (but persistent) and some needed firm (but persistent).  Eventually the woman at the insurance company was rooting for me. I did end up jumping ship.  The good thing is that it really wasn't like starting over because all the things I had done were recent enough that I was able to use them in the new approval process.  Keep doing all the approval steps because they will be needed and used where ever you end up going.  2008 will be your year! Patty

Patty, I sent you a message but received no reply.  I hope you're okay.  Let me know! Joy

By this message I am sending you some of the good luck I have been having with OHSU. I can't remember all the details (all my notes are at home right now; I'm typing this in Tacoma!) but it was way less than two weeks between Heather acknowledging my stuff and getting an appt to see the NP.  I'm going in next Friday, so I'll say a little chant for you when I'm in the building and maybe the good juju will rub off!

 I HAVE MY APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is on April 1st (uh oh april fools LOL) OMG things are finally moving along.  I need a sleep study and cardiac clearance according to them still.  I also need the psych test too but I assume that's later.  Right now I am so happy to finally after almost 3 months to get my appt with the NP and nutrionist.  Thanks to everyone for your continued support!!

Glad to see that you got your appts with the NP and dietician, Angela! As for appts for cardiac clearance and sleep study, I got mine thru referrals from the NP at my initial appt.  Now the only thing still pending is an appt with a psychologist which will be in about 10 days. I had a couple of overnite sleep studies at a Residence Inn just a very short distance north of the new Center for Health and Healing building.  I got a free breakfast downstairs each time. Best of luck on your journey!

I have my initial appt with the sleep clinic on Monday.  That was scheduled back in January.  Do you know if they do weekend sleep studies?