SMMC LB support group chicas

[TheGh0st 9]

Would someone please post information on the local lap band support groups, dates, times, locations, and if they are open groups that welcome people who are pre-band and significant others...I am starting my third month of doctor supervised weight loss and preparing to schedule my other pre-surgery appointments. I am eager to get involved in a network of support. I like in downtown Kansas City, MO, and will be working with SMMC and Dr. Hohen (pending insurance approval!)

Besides Dr Hoehn/Hitcocks support group which is only open to their patients. There are 3 groups I know of that meet locally and are open to patients of all doctors.

There is a yahoo group called KCBandsters that meets at 7:30pm on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Antioch Library of Shawnee Mission Parkway & Antioch. This group was founded by a woman that was banded in Mexico 7+ years ago before it was FDA approved in the US. It is a peer based support group.

There are two other groups I know of open to all patients one is held at the New Hope Bariatric Center at 435 & Nall at 10am on the 2nd Saturday of each month. It is run by Dr. Malley's staff but is open to all patients and does draw in quite a few bandsters that were banded in Mexico and at other docs around town. The other is held across the street from the one just mentioned at Heartland Spine & Specialty on the 3rd Saturday at 11am. This one is also supported by a local doc but is run by a local bandster.

My husband thinks I'm a bit Bandster crazy but I like to go to two support groups each month. I go to the KC Bandster Group at the Library as well as one at New Hope. There are unique positives to both groups. If I had to chose only one though I would pick the KCBandster group. The Doctor based support groups are great but there is an undefinable sense of freedom at the KC Bandster group. I've always been one to be open and speak up but even so sometimes at the doctors groups it's hard to not get the feeling that people are holding back on there questions and there answers for fear of being corrected or judged by the non-banded staff, no matter how great the staff is.

[TheGh0st 9]

That whole idea makes me nervous and I really don't know why. Both would require a surgery if they "broke", but I just have visions of something going wrong and someone getting blocked off. Plus - fills don't bother me. I'm the same way with any mechanical implant that you don't have some type of access to, they creep me out. Like I said - I picture getting home, putting up my garage door, and starting to slime. :tongue:...

I must have a morbid sense of humor but after you said mentioned your concern about the garage door openers effecting the new remote control band. I can't stop laughing when I think about it. I keep picturing some poor bandster minding there own business then a plane flys overhead and poof their band swells up and they can't swallow their own spit. I hadn't thought of that before and I think you're right it would make me a little bit nervous if I had one of those bands.

[TheGh0st 9]

Quick clarification. I am NOT trying to suggest anyone here should not attend Dr Hoehn/Hitchcocks support group. I found it to be a great group and attended it religiously for the first year and 1/2. It just wasn't the same for me after Billy left which is when I switched to going to the group run by Malley and attended by a lot of the same people I already knew from the KCBandsters group.

I've heard Billy is back though and may just pop in to say Hi to her one of these months.

[KCbigguy 0]

Thanks for the great tips :smile: I will probably check them all out. I need all the help I can get.

J

Besides Dr Hoehn/Hitcocks support group which is only open to their patients. There are 3 groups I know of that meet locally and are open to patients of all doctors.

There is a yahoo group called KCBandsters that meets at 7:30pm on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Antioch Library of Shawnee Mission Parkway & Antioch. This group was founded by a woman that was banded in Mexico 7+ years ago before it was FDA approved in the US. It is a peer based support group.

There are two other groups I know of open to all patients one is held at the New Hope Bariatric Center at 435 & Nall at 10am on the 2nd Saturday of each month. It is run by Dr. Malley's staff but is open to all patients and does draw in quite a few bandsters that were banded in Mexico and at other docs around town. The other is held across the street from the one just mentioned at Heartland Spine & Specialty on the 3rd Saturday at 11am. This one is also supported by a local doc but is run by a local bandster.

My husband thinks I'm a bit Bandster crazy but I like to go to two support groups each month. I go to the KC Bandster Group at the Library as well as one at New Hope. There are unique positives to both groups. If I had to chose only one though I would pick the KCBandster group. The Doctor based support groups are great but there is an undefinable sense of freedom at the KC Bandster group. I've always been one to be open and speak up but even so sometimes at the doctors groups it's hard to not get the feeling that people are holding back on there questions and there answers for fear of being corrected or judged by the non-banded staff, no matter how great the staff is.

[thin2bme 2]

Thanks for the info on all of the support groups Ghost, I might attend some of those also, maybe I'll check out the one this Saturday at the Heartland Hospital, surgery date for me is coming up next week and I agree with John I can use all the help I can get.

[TheGh0st 9]

Just found out this months KCBandsters City wide meeting will be Monday the 24th not the 17th. Sorry for the confusion.

I also haven't seen any reminders sent out on the support group that meets at Heartland Spine. I think there have been a few months that meeting hasn't been held due to scheduling conflicts with the leader of the group. I can PM you her e-mail if you want to double check. I attended this group a couple times but at the time it was just to small only 3-5 people and my DH was bugging me to stay home more.

[thin2bme 2]

Well, my day is almost here, Dr. Hoehn's office called me this morning about 11:00 to advise he could not do surgery this Friday (Good Friday) and wanted to move it up to this Wednesday. Well, talk about nerves kicking in... Anyway, effective immediately that means I'm not on pre-op liquids only til day of surgery. Then it looks like those same liquids continue through til Saturday when I'll be able to add creamy Soups and yogurt, yippee, I know those will be heavenly come Saturday. Bring it on, I'm ready!!

[TheGh0st 9]

Congratulations!!!

I know its a shock to the system to have the date moved up but it will all be for the best.

[thin2bme 2]

Thanks Ghost, I just got home from work and just ate a popsickle, boy it tasted good, after only having hot tea and Water all day at work since I wasn't anticipating this to be today. Anyway, all is well, I'm going to go get a Protein Drink now and maybe some broth, hopefully, this will get me through to bedtime, hehehe!!

[TheGh0st 9]

I seem to remember the 2 days going a lot faster and easier than I expected. I figured by day 2 I'd be ready to eat my own arm off but I wasn't. Good Luck and make sure to let us know how you are doing after the surgery.

[thin2bme 2]

Well day 1 liquids finally over with, it really wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, now on to Day 2. I came prepared to work today with Protein drink, sf popsickles, tea and forgot my chicken broth, but DH is going to bring it to me. I can do this, no doubt in my mind, the protein drink kind of takes the edge off of my hunger, then into surgery tomorrow morning!!

[queenofall 0]

Best thoughts to you on your big day, Thin2bme! Looking forward to hearing about it in the next few days:thumbup:

Glad to hear the two liquid days were not too hard on you.

[KCbigguy 0]

:thumbup: I'll say a prayer for you tonight and look forward to hearing how it went :Dancing_shocked:

John

[Wheetsin 714]

With 20/20 hindsight the blessedly short 2 day pre-op diet wasn't hard at all. At the time, what was the hardest was remembering that I was supposed to be on it. I would be at work and think, "Hmm, I should make so and so for dinner.... Doh! No food for me!" The first day I did that easily 10 times.

[thin2bme 2]

Well, surgery went fine, right before they took me down to surgery they gave me a "highball" and I don't remember anything after that until I woke up in the recovery room. I got home last nite about 5:30 but was too tired and sore to post. Today has been about the same as yesterday except that I had to make myself drink a Protein drink and eat a little bit even though I wasn't really hungry. I'm still on Clear Liquids through tomorrow and Saturday I get to add creamy Soups, yogurt, and V-8 juice, yummy! I go in next Wednesday to have the staples removed. I'm a little bit afraid that he put my port right where the bottom of my bra goes, but I haven't put one on yet to see, guess time will tell. Anyway, I'm glad to be an official bandster now and can't wait to put it too work.