Legacy Good Sam in Portland

Hi all, I hope you don't mind me coming to your site, but I'm just across the border in Vancouver and will have my surgery in Portland at Legacy Good Sam. For any of you that have had surgery there or gone through the OWLS program, what is the program like?  I'm super close to losing the required 5% of my weight that the insurance company requires and am curious as to what happens when I get my letter and start the OWLS program. Thank you in advance for any info.  I'm looking forward to joining you on the losing bench!!! Be Well, Debbie

Hi Debbie my name is Sheryl. I am currently waiting for an ok to have surgery. I find them to be efficient and kind to myself and others. I was supposed to have surgery last year but breast cancer reared its ugly head, chemo, surgery etc. So my WLS was put on hold until now. Currently, I am considered a high risk patient because of the type of cancer that I just fought. I have jumped through all the hoops, pysch evaluation, physical history,etc. When you lose your 5% they will then send everything in to your insurance company for an ok, then you will be asked to come in for a face to face evaluation with your surgeon, then a pre-op class to learn what to expect after surgery and finally they will schedule a surgery date for you. I am just waiting for them to review my letter from my oncologist and make their decision if I still am a good candidate and then I will have to pre-op class and then surgery scheduled. I am going for the Lap-Band. I hope this helps. Sheryl

Hi Debbie.  I live in Vancouver also and am seeing Emma Patterson.  Long story, but I love love love Good Sam.  Have you been through your psych. eval and all that stuff yet?  If not, once you are approved through insurance, OWL's will schedule you for 2 half day appts.  First will be to do the MMPI (multi something personality inventory test) as well as another short eating inventory.  They will also get an official weight and do the required EKG.  I think they have you go do the blood work at that time too.  The second appt. you will meet with the psychologist to discuss WLS, meet with the dietician and I think watch a video on the surgery.  Somewhere in between all that, if you haven't had a sleep study test or not currently using a cpap machine they will refer you to a pulmonologist to get the referral for the sleep study.  You may be able to get that scheduled now, so you don't have to wait.  Usually after all that is done, it's another month or so before you see the surgeon and then usually pretty quickly after that you are scheduled with a surgery date.  You then also have to go to a pre-op orientation.   Good luck.  If you want to talk, email me on my aol line and I'll give you my # since we are local. tk

Oh...I forgot.  2nd appt. you see the physical therapist and the nurse practitioner also.  They also have an endocrinologist on staff now, but I'm not sure if everyone sees him or not.  tk

Thank you both for your information!  This is exactly what I was curious about. Sheryl, I wish you the best of luck on your surgery.  You've gone through a lot, and deserve to have something go your way huh! Terri, I've sent you a message as I would love to chat since you are right here in Vancouver also.  I don't know your aol address, but if you send it to me I'll use that.   Good luck to you both, and thanks again! Debbie

I just went in to weigh in and I MADE IT!!! I hit my 5% required by the insurance company so now i'm on to the next step whatever that is! Waiting to hear back from them.  Terri, check your messages ok? Debbie

Debbie, don't fret about posting here!  I get along great with the Portland people.  I also had my surgery back in October 2005 (starting to be far enough back that I'm forgetting the steps I had to go through ~ and they may have changed a few of them anyway).  I had a wonderful experience and have nothing bad to say about it. Congrats on getting 5% down!  I was never able to but I was granted an exception. Lori

good to see you around! miss your face, kiddo, on the other bored, oopss,  board. soon? tee