Support Group, who attends one?

[NtvTxn 1,262]

Who out there, pre-op and post-op, attend a monthly support group? I had surgery in Dallas in 2010, but at that time we were living in Wisconsin. Sleeve surgery is NOT popular up there at all, I'm not sure why....anyway, although I was having surgery in Texas, I knew I needed to find a support group, so I found one near-by where we lived. I started attending the morning meeting once a month and my husband and I would attend the evening meeting the following week. Same women in charge, but different people attending. It was wonderful, I met other people who were post op, 'newbies' and people all they way to six years out. Sadly, other than ME, there was one woman who had sleeve surgery, everybody else was going to have or did have by-pass/RNY. Still, it was great being in the presence of others who could answer questions, provide insight, everything. I kept on attending post-op, and was a regular.

Fast forward to August 2011. We came home!!!! Yay! I jumped right in, attending my first support group at Forest Park Medical Center the following month. Quite a drive from the Valley Ranch area, but well worth the trip. We'd make a date night out of it, Star Bucks before and dinner after! We moved to Plano this past Nov. I had fallen out of the habit of going during all the moving stuff, holidays etc. I was going to go this week, (last night) but after a google search for someone else, I found TWO support groups that are MUCH closer and 'everyone is welcome'. I decided to try the one at Baylor Plano yesterday evening and was thrilled!!! There was a doctor (PhD) that spoke for almost an hour, he is the one that people talk to for the psyc eval prior to surgery at that facility, and is also something or other at Southern Methodist University. Very, very knowledgable, he was by far, the best speaker at a support group, that I've attended. There were also two men there from Bariatric Advantage, with a lesson in Protein from food and supplements.....question and answer session with the doctor and these guys...and of course they had samples. I'm on the email list and will continue to attend. I think it's very important to attend one on a regular basis. It is totally different than this forum, which has it's place for all of us, but it doesn't take the place of an 'in person', hands on support group. There were probably 40 people there last night. ALL but three were or were going to be sleeve patients. Two had RNY and one had been banded.

There is another one at Medical Center Plano the second and fourth Thursday of each month. I'll attend it Feb 28th. I hope it's as good! Two or three times a month, sounds good to me. There was a full house last night and apparently that is the norm. The lady said, long term, the most successful patients attend these meetings. I hope that's right.....but never the less, I met some really great people!

How 'bout anyone else, what is your experience??!!!

[nyc8dove 40]

this website is a support group!! I have to go to one pre-op. I don't have a date yet. But hopefully I will soon. Good luck to you.

[simplejaxgirl 135]

I attend my surgery groups support groups each month. I need all the help and support I can get!!!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[nyc8dove 40]

thats awesome! i cant wait to get sleeved...im going on month 6...i have two more pre-op tests to go and hopefully approval will be on its way.

[notime 340]

I go every month. Our moderator has a wonderful variety of people she invites to inform us: personal trainers, yoga instructors, the surgeons, cooks, etc. One time she brought a "fat suit" for us to try on to demonstrate how much weight some of us had lost and to encourage those who were still on the road to losing the weight. Sometimes we play games involving knowing facts about Protein, cooking, nutrition values, physical and workout matters, etc. In warm weather, we meet early to take a walk through the neighborhood.

I'll pass on to her the ideas of a psych. professional and the Bariatric Advantage folks. Thank you.

[Oliver's Mom 258]

My program has a monthly meeting. There is one for those who are > than 6 months post surgery, followed by one for pre-ops, newbies, and those who have had surgery and are < than 6 months post surgery. It was required to attend two prior to surgery but I went to 4. Many of the people in the > than 6 months stay for the 2nd meeting. There is usually a large group that attends. It's nice to have folks in all stages of the process - the conversations are great, the info & the tips are great and it's nice to be around in person those who are travelling the same road. There was no meeting in December, but I plan to attend every month. I like it and I feel supported. Similar to how I feel about this site.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I agree, it's nice to be around those who are traveling the same road, or to encourage those that are thinking about it, or are just getting started!!! It beats a Pampered Chef part any day!!!

[lilac lass 34]

Boy did I need this post. I had my surgery at Baylor Dallas but haven't got to any of the support meetings. The support options for the clinic is once a month. I have been meaning to get there but to be honest, I don't like going to the clinic, walking to my car in the dark, and driving home alone. My wonderful husband has other obligations and wouldn't be able to go with me. Plano would be easier to get to.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

Boy did I need this post. I had my surgery at Baylor Dallas but haven't got to any of the support meetings. The support options for the clinic is once a month. I have been meaning to get there but to be honest, I don't like going to the clinic, walking to my car in the dark, and driving home alone. My wonderful husband has other obligations and wouldn't be able to go with me. Plano would be easier to get to.

You should come next month! Second Wednesday of every month from 6:30 - 8. The address is 4700 Alliance Blvd Plano 75093 The phone number for additional information is 469.814.5677 Everyone is welcome, my surgery was at Forest Park Medical. It's in the conference rooms on the Garden Level of Baylor Plano’s main hospital. Park in the garage, it's well lit and come in the front doors. The elevator is directly in front of you, take it down to the garden level. There are signs. I really did like it, a lot of people, everyone was real nice. A lady named Marsha runs it, she is the coordinator of something, I can't remember what...but it is very well lit and not scary to walk outside after dark. A group of us walked out together, still visiting from the meeting! There is actually another meeting at Medical Center of Plano, we passed it on our way to the one last night. They have meetings the second and fourth Thursday of each month, 6 - 7 PM. The next one is on the 28th, I'm going to go to it as well. I love these, all the people and the speakers are usually interesting. You might want to come to it too!! Good luck, I hope to see you at one of them!!

[lilac lass 34]

You should come next month! Second Wednesday of every month from 6:30 - 8. The address is 4700 Alliance Blvd Plano 75093 The phone number for additional information is 469.814.5677 Everyone is welcome, my surgery was at Forest Park Medical. It's in the conference rooms on the Garden Level of Baylor Plano’s main hospital. Park in the garage, it's well lit and come in the front doors. The elevator is directly in front of you, take it down to the garden level. There are signs. I really did like it, a lot of people, everyone was real nice. A lady named Marsha runs it, she is the coordinator of something, I can't remember what...but it is very well lit and not scary to walk outside after dark. A group of us walked out together, still visiting from the meeting! There is actually another meeting at Medical Center of Plano, we passed it on our way to the one last night. They have meetings the second and fourth Thursday of each month, 6 - 7 PM. The next one is on the 28th, I'm going to go to it as well. I love these, all the people and the speakers are usually interesting. You might want to come to it too!! Good luck, I hope to see you at one of them!!

I put it on my calendar and am going to get myself to a meeting! Thanks!

[busybeingme 112]

Who out there' date=' pre-op and post-op, attend a monthly support group? I had surgery in Dallas in 2010, but at that time we were living in Wisconsin. Sleeve surgery is NOT popular up there at all, I'm not sure why....anyway, although I was having surgery in Texas, I knew I needed to find a support group, so I found one near-by where we lived. I started attending the morning meeting once a month and my husband and I would attend the evening meeting the following week. Same women in charge, but different people attending. It was wonderful, I met other people who were post op, 'newbies' and people all they way to six years out. Sadly, other than ME, there was one woman who had sleeve surgery, everybody else was going to have or did have by-pass/RNY. Still, it was great being in the presence of others who could answer questions, provide insight, everything. I kept on attending post-op, and was a regular.

Fast forward to August 2011. We came home!!!! Yay! I jumped right in, attending my first support group at Forest Park Medical Center the following month. Quite a drive from the Valley Ranch area, but well worth the trip. We'd make a date night out of it, Star Bucks before and dinner after! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> We moved to Plano this past Nov. I had fallen out of the habit of going during all the moving stuff, holidays etc. I was going to go this week, (last night) but after a google search for someone else, I found TWO support groups that are MUCH closer and 'everyone is welcome'. I decided to try the one at Baylor Plano yesterday evening and was thrilled!!! There was a doctor (PhD) that spoke for almost an hour, he is the one that people talk to for the psyc eval prior to surgery at that facility, and is also something or other at Southern Methodist University. Very, very knowledgable, he was by far, the best speaker at a support group, that I've attended. There were also two men there from Bariatric Advantage, with a lesson in Protein from food and supplements.....question and answer session with the doctor and these guys...and of course they had samples. I'm on the email list and will continue to attend. I think it's very important to attend one on a regular basis. It is totally different than this forum, which has it's place for all of us, but it doesn't take the place of an 'in person', hands on support group. There were probably 40 people there last night. ALL but three were or were going to be sleeve patients. Two had RNY and one had been banded.

There is another one at Medical Center Plano the second and fourth Thursday of each month. I'll attend it Feb 28th. I hope it's as good! Two or three times a month, sounds good to me. There was a full house last night and apparently that is the norm. The lady said, long term, the most successful patients attend these meetings. I hope that's right.....but never the less, I met some really great people!

How 'bout anyone else, what is your experience??!!![/quote']

My hubby and I are both pre op and go to support group every month... Love it! So helpful!

[Fiddleman 4,376]

I go to a support meeting with my wife once a month even though it is an hour drive one way. The reason is that it is a good chance to learn and also mingle with others who are also on the same journey. It is also a good time to have some face time with your NUT. It is important to go to support groups because of team building. You help others and they help you. Everyone will be at different stages of the process and helping out others is equally as important as your own enrichment. I see a lot of the same goals achieved with active involvement in VST , but it is still just an online community without actual face time with people where you can connect through physical presence. Just my 2 cents on the matter.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I go to a support meeting with my wife once a month even though it is an hour drive one way. The reason is that it is a good chance to learn and also mingle with others who are also on the same journey. It is also a good time to have some face time with your NUT. It is important to go to support groups because of team building. You help others and they help you. Everyone will be at different stages of the process and helping out others is equally as important as your own enrichment. I see a lot of the same goals achieved with active involvement in VST , but it is still just an online community without actual face time with people where you can connect through physical presence. Just my 2 cents on the matter.

I agree, with everything you said.