really bummed need information

Well I need some information .. I was going to have surgery done by Dr Deveney. .but was just informed that OHSU and Dr Deveney will no longer be taking my insurance.. so I have been referred to Dr Patterson.. or Dr Hong.. I know nothing about her.. and if anyone has had her please let me know what you think

I have been to Dr. Patterson's informational seminar. She is great and knows her stuff. I haven't really ever heard anything bad at all and I know she is one of the top surgeons in the country. I also know she requires that you jump through more hoops than any other doc, every test under the sun, the famous patterson cottage cheese and tuna fish pre-op diet. I have chosen her to be my surgeon and am very sure it's the best choice for me. Brandi

what sort of hoops.. and what is the tuna fish cottage cheese diet

Hoops meaning TONS of tests from what I hear, lots of blood tests, blood gas test, sleeping test (which most docs require), and the cottage cheese and tuna diet is just that....cottage cheese and tuna for 4-6 weeks I think. I am not sure on the details exactly since I haven't had an actual appointment with her yet, this is all just what I have read from other people's profiles. Visit Dr. Patterson's patient forum, and read the profiles of all her patients. That is how I learned everything. I know she is a stickler for great after-care as well. She also does LAP which means less scaring, less hospital time, and faster healing. I know she requires you loose a certain amount of weight before surgery, it's a percentage of your total excess weight. like 10-15% (I think) of your total excess weight, not your total weight, so if you are 150lbs overweight (like moi) I think she would require I loose 15-20lbs before she will do the surgery. The more weight you loose pre-op, the better. Check out the profiles on this page: http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/forums/ptdir.phtml?ID=1005011593 You have to weed through alot of blank or incomplete profiles, but ALOT of these really helped me get a better understanding of how Dr. Patterson works. Brandi

Hi renee, I just seen your post on the MB and decided to check and see if you posted it on the local board.. I honestly thought that since OHSU is a teaching hospital that they took "everything".. I guess that isn't the case any more. (Or maybe I was misinformed as usual about that??) I don't know anything about any of the doctors around here. I wish you the best. and sorry your not getting the surgery YOU wanted.. I understand how feel about just wanting "any" type of WLS surgery.. but just make sure you are completly comfortable with that decsion before you go under.. I personaly did not choose a "a type of WLS proceedure" I chose my surgeon and went with what he did. had I been given a choice of which surgery I wanted I would probably still be agonizing over it now.. I am horrible at 2nd guessing myself and making decsions.. so hoop jumping aside maybe this was "suppose to happen"?? yeah, right!! she says.. it's easier to be/think postive for someone else than your self. and I really hope that cottage cheese and tuna are NOT mixed together... OMG YUK!! (it's probably to shrink your liver before surg.) keep us up to date theresa

I highly recommend Dr. Patterson. Good luck to you! Julie lap rny w/ Dr. Patterson

Oh, I wanted you to see my favorite profile of Dr. Patterson's patients.... this one.... http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/forums/profile.phtml?N=W1001030920&ID=1005011593

Brandi, I loved this profile as well! So upbeat and informative. And the change in her is remarkable! Pre-op, she looked unhappy. Her more current picture....she's just glowing! Michele

Teresa.. they did take my insurance.. it is a decision not to made in the last couple of days.. I am not usre about the tuna cottage thing .. I hate cottage cheese.. and why in heavens name would a good doctor have you only eat cottage cheese and tuna.. especially for 4 to six weeks.. that sounds bizzare

I don't know either doctor but I've heard good things in the past about Patterson. And I think someone else (Perry????) had Hong recently. Sorry to not be able to give you any help on this. Dina