i think i want this surgery and need advice or help

Don't know who you spoke with at OHSU.  However, the new office staff is totally and completely misinformed.  Medicare definitely does cover the DS as well as the RNY and the lap-band.

The office staff was different at the time I started my WLS process two years ago.  There has since been several turnovers, and they were all totally and completely clueless and disorganized.

Hi, just an FYI to OHSU - they no longer do DS either.  I just went to the info session last Monday and they announced it. Hope this helps.

Sorry, I don't.

The people at Legacy Good Sam, Oregon Weight Loss Surgery (OWLS) are very nice and compassionate. Other than a snafu on my surgery day, I have nothing but great comments about them.  They have ALWAYS responded to my phone calls within a reasonable amount of time.  They took the time to make sure ALL my questions were answered......and overall, it has been a great fit for me.

It is difficult though, having your surgeon in another city.  One good thing that OWLS does for their patients is have appointments available in Springfield monthly. Saves the long drive to Portland for follow up visits,which is great especially when you are trying to achieve the "sweet spot" with the band. 

I spoke to the people at OHSU or is it OSHU?  -- I haven't gotten to go to a seminar yet.  I scheduled it for March 23rd (when I'm on Spring Break from school).

:)

OHSU is the correct acronym for Oregon Health & Science University.

Make sure that Dr. Deveney will be the presenter at that seminar.  His partners, Drs. O'Rourke and Wolfe, both totally and completely diss the DS big time at the WLS info seminars and will attempt to steer you away from the DS during the Q&A session.

Why do they try to pull you away from the DS? 

Thanks,
Suzanne

 Read up for yourself Broadway Rose.  I had lapband at OHSU and have not heard about any discontinuation of this surgery.  They are in the middle of a large research project and I imagine it would be difficult to stop midstream.  I agree with Vicki however that the front staff are pretty clueless.  I am also happy with my surgery choice and most people are-We all after all have an investment in whatever we chose.

when I talked to Dr. Wolfe about my surgery he said that they have no way of knowing which surgery choice works better for any given patient.  They usually go with a patient's choice ( A choice you will have to make in as informed manner as possible).  The only issues the doctors have is whether a patient has conditions that pose a greater risk for a given surgery.  Dr. Wolfe, for example,  said that lapband was a good choice for me given that I had had several abdominal surgery for other reasons and scar tissue could be problematic for RNY or DS.  People with huge acid reflux or esophog. motility problems (the food doesn't move down well) are not very good candidates for lapband.  

Read as much as you can from blogs, research studies published on the web and information pages on this website.  There really is a lot to read and think about.  

Good luck in your research!

Tina

it's possible i misunderstood them... but i dunno.  lol

 Rose - If you can find it, a good book is Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies or Weight Loss Surgery:  A Lighter Look at a Heavy Subject.    They both tell about all the surgeries and give you good advice.  I think the last one does a better job, but most folks really like the Dummies book.

Linda