new here, first post

Hi all! Jeannette here new to this wonderful site and forums.

My hometown is in Portland, and most of my family still lives there. I have moved all over for awhile. Last spring I started working on WLS in Arizona, but I moved to Tacoma this summer. I had to get on medicaid in WA so that took awhile. My insurances are Medicare (as primary)and Washington State Medicaid (as secondary). I have found out that I can go to OHSU and have my Washington Medicaid cover the last 20% (Medicare covers 80%)even though it's a different state. Yay for hospital contracts! Well anyway....

I went to the OHSU education class on Nov. 3rd, and the next week faxed over my paper work with my last 2 years history. Plus I had a sleep study, heart, lung, and had seen a dietiction already this year when I lived in Arizona. So made all the calls to have things faxed. I did the faxing on Nov. 11th. There was some confusion that next week with OHSU and my new PCP in Tacoma and some insurance authorization. Last time I called it seems that has been fixed. I called OHSU last week and they said I was ready to be scheduled for my NP and Dietiction appointment at OHSU, but Leigh Anne wasn't there, and so I called yesterday and she is going to be gone all this week too. Next Monday I better get an appointment squared away!! or I will go crazy. I feel like I have been consistant.

My question is how far away is the appointment once you are scheduled? Then what happens?

Oh The only thing I haven't done is the pysch eval. I have an appointment on Jan 8th.

Any advice for me?
I am on disability for mental health reasons, but I believe I am mentally stable now for 2 years. Once I get my weight under control I plan to get off of disability and start my life anew hopefully soon. I am 27 now, and I hope before I turn 30 I will be able to mentally and phsically hold a job and take part in what life has to offer. I am feeling now for the first time, I CAN do it, and I WILL do it.

Thanks for any responses.

Hope is rising,
Jeannette

Jeanette, welcome to the Oregon board!

My question is how far away is the appointment once you are scheduled?
My appt was scheduled for six weeks from the time the clinic originally contacted me.

Then what happens?
You will be measured in height and weight and your vital signs.  The NP will be called into the exam room.  The NP will review your medical history with you.  Then she will ask which surgery you want, assigns a surgeon, and discusses your choice.  Then she will decide what needs to be done before your initial consult with the surgeon.

I see that Leigh Anne is away on vacation.  Is there a way to contact her back-up?  The phone number is 503-494-4373.

Best of luck!

Hello Jeanette,

Which surgery are you having?

I am having RNY

Hey Jeanette - welcome to the Oregon board.  The surgeons at OHSU are very skilled and I am sure you will have a wonderful outcome.  Please do make sure you take someone with you who will stay and check up on you at the hospital  I have been in OHSU twice and I believe I will never go back there again unless I am absolutely dying.  The hospital sucks. 

Leigh Ann is a new one on me.  Used to be Tara, then they added another gal, and now this is a new one.  I hope it's a third staff member rather than a replacement for one of the others.  They are so overworked there that things tend to fall through the cracks.

Linda