Portland area support meetings?

Hi I just had lap band 11 days ago and I had mine in Mexico. I would love to get together with fellow lap banders. Please let me know what you find out?  Thanks  Melissa. I have also posted on the lapband Forum on this site.  Where do you get your fill done?

Hi Melissa! How are you feeling so soon after your surgery?! I remember 11 days out...ouch! I have been getting my fills down in Coos Bay (we got 3 free fills with self-pay), but I have only had to use 2 fills. I am looking for somewhere closer to Portland now that I have insurance that will pay for it! I was even thinking of using a fill center so I wouldn't have to drive 300ish miles down to coos bay for my next fill! Gas is crazy!

Hi  My doc in Mexico referred me to Dr. Kelly Fitzpatrick she is suppose to be wonderful. She works out of Eugene but is in Portland a couple times per month. Her cost is 190 for the first fill and then 160 I think after that. I have free fills if I go back down to Mexico Hmmmm lol. I also heard NW fills is great but that is in Arlington in Wa. So when I weighed out the price of gas and airfare. I decided just to go to Dr. Kelly.  It would be cheaper to just pay her lol.  I am scheduled for my first fill on July 19th.

I believe the OHSU support groups are open to anyone. Linda

I also live in Gresham,  Kaiser has a support group meeting on the 4th  saturday of the month at the new sunnybrook bldg just adjacent to kaiser sunnyside hospital.  You do not have to be a member of Kaiser to go to the meetings.  The Post op meeting is at 9am- 10am and the pre-op is 10 an to noon.  Alot of post-op's go to the pre-op meetings also. Peggy

Thank you all for your great advice on group meetings--I am going to keep my eyes peeled for smaller groups in this area that maybe get together once a month somewhere? I looked on a few yahoo groups, and I see them happening there, I just haven't found one close to Portland on my end of town----YET!! LOL