need lap band yesterday

i am currently on cobra from my state of oregon employees insurance bc/bs which specifically excludes obesity surgery and they wont even take care of you if something goes wrong. for this i pay over 1200 month including deductibles and co-pays. i will be switching to kaiser in january, however unless i could be sure i would be exempt from the year long diet program they require i will just self pay. beg borrow whatever. i will lose mu job within one month so i should obtain my financing before that happens (out on disability leave). i have a lower bmi (35-36) but i am 58, have more comorbidities than are listed. i have a 5level spine fusion from a fracture and just got a pain pump implant. i have developed most of my co-morbidities in the last 6yrs since i have become disabled and gained at least 75lbs. for some reason after a lifetime of starving myslef on one diet after another including pregnant womens urine injections. i find myslef unable to diet any more. i am primarily bedridden , have awful shortness of breath and feel like im dying. inclusing bp of 184/96 currently after 5motnhs on meds 153/86. i know that all my health issues would be minimized including my chronic intractible pain (carrying an extra 90lbs on my tiny frame) if i get the lap band surgery. i can go back at least to my pool excercize. something i had to quit because of pain and breathing. this was an introduction , but id also like to ask if anyone can recommend a surgeon in portland (east side) who will help me and not think i dont weigh enough to warrant. it. and/or those who have gone to mexico , can you recommend any docs who will do after care. thankyou , glad your all here, susan (ready to go)

Hi Susan, My doctor is Dr. Patterson out of the Oregon Clinic in NW Portland. She does both Lap-band and Lap-RNY. I wanted the band but dang BCBS of MN would not budge, so I had the RNY. My BMI was very low considered to most and I didn't have hardly anything close to your co-morbidities. Almost everyone I have met have asked if I was even heavy enough to even had the surgery but being very short is very deceiving. My BMI before starting the process was about 39 and then I ate everything in sight and it bumped up to 40.1 I think she would see your need. I am not sure if they except Kasier or not you would have to call (503) 227-5050 I hope this helps....best of luck to you! Nadine

thanks nadine, i will continue to try to contact her. i think she is so busy her phone is busy when i call. the e-mail offered is also not working. im just going to try to find the money and do it as soon as possible. my hyperventilating when i try to rest is killing me. i can barely eat anything or drink water without terrible gerd. kaiser makes you go through a year long diet program first and then who knows. ive been researching and thinking about this for two years but i wasnt heavy enough. well time and disability fixed that. i expect ill be alot fatter and sicker in another year. diets just dont work on me anymore. thanks again for sharing, susan

Susan - I'm a state employee also - I know the pain you are dealing with regarding surgery. At least you can get Kaiser....I can't. As for the lap band, I got an rny in Ensenada. I have heard of Dr. Ortiz being quite good for lap band in Tijuana. I have heard horrible things about Dr. Verbooten down there in Tijuana. They are both with obesitygoodbye.com I think. I'm not sure about getting fills, but I think someone mentioned on the South of the Border message board that there was a holistic doc in Portland that would do fills. I cannot remember where I read it for the life of me. Good luck to you! Mexico is a great choice if you just do your research and know the reputation of the doctor your are seeing! Dina

Hello Susan, I switched to Kaiser and I had to wait a year to have surgery. I have talked to the case manager there and they are trying to move people through the program more quickly. (As long as you follow the guidelines and "rules") I loved my surgeon and had no complications. Kaiser only does open RNY, but I was able to return to work in just two weeks. For me personally, I couldnt afford self pay or a trip to Mexico. I ended up being double covered with my insurance and my hubbys and had to pay nothing for the surgery. Best of luck to you! Sarah 2/16/04 -127 lbs.