support group/Akron-Cleveland area

jamey · August 11, 2010

I had my surgery in San Diego in May. I just moved to the Akron area and wanted to know if there are any sleeve support groups nearby? I only got to attend one in San Diego before I moved and found it to be very helpful.

YOLANDA240 · August 11, 2010

I had my surgery in San Diego in May. I just moved to the Akron area and wanted to know if there are any sleeve support groups nearby? I only got to attend one in San Diego before I moved and found it to be very helpful.

Hello,

Welcome to Akron! Akron General Hospital has support group meetings once a month on Tuesday Here's their information:

You may register by calling the Akron General Need-a-Physician line at (330) 344-2462.

Both the patient information seminar and the bariatric support group are held in the Conference Center Auditorium located at Akron General Medical Center, 400 Wabash Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44307.

Patient information seminars for people interested in learning more about laparoscopic (minimally invasive) obesity surgery will be held on the following dates:

January 19, 2010 February 16, 2010

March 16, 2010 April 20, 2010

May 11, 2010 June 8, 2010

July 13, 2010 August 17, 2010

September 14, 2010 October 19, 2010

November 16, 2010 December 14, 2010

The information seminars will start at 6 PM and last until approximately 6:50 PM. The Bariatric Support Group follows at 7 PM. All are welcome.

jamey · August 11, 2010

Hi Yolanda,

Thank you so very much! I am so excited to have a group to attend. I am very happy with my sleeve and my weight loss has been unlike any I have had before. But now that I can eat a bit more I want to be with others who can provide some direction in staying on course and focusing on getting in that Protein (always a challenge!). Anyway, I hope to see you at one of the meetings!

YOLANDA240 · August 11, 2010

Hi Yolanda,
Thank you so very much! I am so excited to have a group to attend. I am very happy with my sleeve and my weight loss has been unlike any I have had before. But now that I can eat a bit more I want to be with others who can provide some direction in staying on course and focusing on getting in that Protein (always a challenge!). Anyway, I hope to see you at one of the meetings!

You're Welcome! Since I have not had surgery yet, my meeting attendance has been limited. I will be attending the August 17th meeting they will be talking about plastic surgery options. Hope to see you there!:thumbup:

jamey · August 11, 2010

Great, I plan to attend and look forward to meeting you! The time leading up to surgery seems so long I know. If you have any questions please feel free to message me!

Jamey

notthatgirl77 · August 16, 2010

Aw! I'm interested! I'm going to the Summa support groups (I was just sleeved a week ago!) I would love to meet up with you two! I live in Copley and would love to meet up with some others who are going through the same thing I am. I have amazing support from family and friends, but sometimes I just feel like they don't get it! Let me know! :wink0:

jamey · August 17, 2010

Hello notthatgirl! I would love to meet up sometime and compare stories and advice. I was going to go to the Akron General meeting tonight, but forgot my daughter is flying in from San Diego at 6:00 to Cleveland Airport.

YOLANDA240 · August 17, 2010

Aw! I'm interested! I'm going to the Summa support groups (I was just sleeved a week ago!) I would love to meet up with you two! I live in Copley and would love to meet up with some others who are going through the same thing I am. I have amazing support from family and friends, but sometimes I just feel like they don't get it! Let me know! :cursing:

It would be great to get together, I've not been sleeved still waiting on a date. How are you feeling after one week?

jamey · August 17, 2010

Yolanda,

have you got a date for your pre-op surgical consult yet? I think I recall you are looking at a Sept or Oct date for surgery. I have you in my thoughts for an expeditious scheduling!

YOLANDA240 · August 17, 2010

Yolanda,
have you got a date for your pre-op surgical consult yet? I think I recall you are looking at a Sept or Oct date for surgery. I have you in my thoughts for an expeditious scheduling!

Jamey,

I will have all of my pre-op testing on August 27th starting at 7 am. I'm scheduled to me with my surgeon Sept. 21st hopfully he will have a surgery date for me then. My plan was to talk to him about it at our support group tonight, but I think I will pass.

jamey · August 17, 2010

Next week for your pre-ops, that is great! I am sure everything will go well. Hopefully we can meet before your surgical consult! I wish I had know some people who had done this before my surgery. Isn't this site great?

TnT · August 17, 2010

Aw! I'm interested! I'm going to the Summa support groups (I was just sleeved a week ago!) I would love to meet up with you two! I live in Copley and would love to meet up with some others who are going through the same thing I am. I have amazing support from family and friends, but sometimes I just feel like they don't get it! Let me know!

I have my first consultation with Dr. Zografakis this week! Would LOVE to talk to you about your experience with Summa! (I'm in Newcomerstown Ohio, about an hour south of Akron)

notthatgirl77 · August 18, 2010

Hi Girls,

I'm so glad you started this thread! I'm doing pretty good. I had my one week follow up today (a few days late) and it went great. I'm just so tired! It's hard getting Fluid in, but I'm doing the best I can. Just thrilled that I'm off the clear liquid diet and onto the full liquid diet! So excited to put something into my mouth that isn't Jello or broth! :frown1: And that drain! Blah, that came out today and I think that made me feel 100 times better!

TnT- Dr Z did my surgery. He is amazing! The program at Summa is amazing and I can't imagine having it done anywhere else. The whole staff is wonderful and am just thrilled with the progress I've made so far. Looking forward to chatting with you all!

Hang in there Yolanda! Your surgery date is coming soon! :crying:

jamey · August 18, 2010

I am so happy to hear your one week went well, and I felt liberated when my tube came out. Just showering without it was so much easier. And it seemed that alot of the spasming stopped once it came out.

I had trouble getting all my fluids in. I found the best popsicle was Edy's No Sugar Added fruit bars. They are pretty low in calories, carbs and sugar. They are delicious and count toward your fluids. I found they really helped me because drinking (even tiny sips) was difficult for me and the popsicles seemed to go down easier. I keep those suckers stocked now, and Edy owes me a thank you card as I have single handedly been responsible for their profits this year, haha.

I am almost 3 1/2 months out now and am just now back to my old energy levels ,plus a bit extra. Of course, I sold a house, bought a house and moved across the country right afterward (glutton for punishment- no pun intended!). Hang in there. As you get more Protein and fluids in your energy will come back. And as you start watching those pounds melt away, it a natural energizer. If you watch American Idol you know that guy who sang that annoying song "Pants on the Ground"? My husband sings that to me every time my pants get too big and hang off me. It is not quite so annoying now, and I am looking forward to the next time he sings it (Just bought size 14, a first in 20 years!).

Edited August 18, 2010 by jamey