pvsa anyone?

[Brockbabe82 0]

I was wondering for those of you who have had fills before how long it took you till you felt a good deal of restriction.

[Crystalclear224 0]

Thank you for finding that information out Kmartin. I have been to some of the post-op meeting and am shocked they are combining the two. I am interested in what the new format will be so I do plan on going on Monday if I am feeling better. I too had Dr. Haag do a surgery on me Friday 1/16. I had to have my gall bladder out and since Dr. Haag new me from the lap band I had him do the surgery. I hope you are feeling better and I wish you the best of luck with your lapband journey. Oh, what time does it start now that they are combined?? Is it earlier? I really can't wait to hear from the leaders why they are combining them, it really doesn't make sense to me. Again thank you for the information.

Brockbabe it took 4 fills for me to get good restriction but everyone is different.

[Crystalclear224 0]

Last Nights (1/26) support Group Meeting

I know it was their first time so it will be a little bumpy but I found the meeting last night to be boring. I've had my band for a year now and The first hour was nothing but about how you need to eat and think before you get the band. I always came home from the post-op meetings prior feeling better and like I learned something but I really feel that last night was geared more towards people who haven't had the band yet. I'm missing the post-op meetings already. I will however give it another try but I was just wondering if anyone else felt the same way?

[Kmartin121 0]

Hey Crystal -

Sorry that I didn't get to meet up with you there. Although I am not surprised. It was packed! I was a few mins late, so had a standing room spot in the back until people started bringing in chairs where there was no room for them and I headed out the back door. I was basically holding the door open for most of the meeting until I met a couple people and we spent the rest of the meeting talking out in the hall. One was just getting started and had just met with Dr. Fiallo, the other was a little over a year post op and has lost 120 pounds. She had a lot of valuable information, which is what I went to for, but didn't get from, the meeting.

I was extremely disappointed with the meeting. It was just what I had envisioned, but worse. I felt that they were just trying to sell the lapband to the preop patients. I had alot of questions, seeing as I just had the surgery, but anytime someone post op brought up a question, she told them that they weren't going to talk about it until later and moved on. I got the feeling that we've already had the surgery, so they are done with us. I hope that is not what they are really trying to convey.

I expected a post op support group to be just that, a support group. A group of post op patients with a moderator, learning what we need to learn and sharing experiences, good and bad. I feel very lost right now.

Do you think if enough of us bring it up to the office that they might bring the post op support groups back? It sounded like they weren't even going to think about it for at least a couple of months. Are there any other support groups out there that we can attend? I would definitely drive to another area to attend one.

[Crystalclear224 0]

KMartin,

It was crazy how many people were there Monday night.

I agree that it was not helpful at all for post-op patients. I have been to a few of the post-op meetings before they combined them and there was maybe 20 people total there so you really felt you could talk and ask questions but this meeting last Monday didn't convay that feeling at all. I know it was more helpful to me having a leader of the meeting be someone who has had the band and knows what we are going through like it used to. I think one of the best ways to let them know that this format is not working for us would be to talk to the people who used to run the meetings. They were there last week but didn't get a chance to speak.

Unfortunatly, I can't make next months meeting but l am willing to try and help get the old format back. It did sound like they weren't going to crack for at least the next few months. I'm not sure what to do. I don't know if calling the office is going to help. I wish I still had the email of the former leader. I'll look around for it and let you know if I find it so we can talk to her about it. She has it in with office and the surgeons.

I'm sorry I didn't get to meet you either. Maybe next time. I've had my band for a year now and if you have any questions please feel free to email me I'll be happy to help in any way that I can. Good luck and congrats your 14lbs.

[LISAMARIE1158 0]

l had my surgery 9/12 with Dr Haag

[luigismama 0]

I was going to ask what people thought of the meeting. I thought it was on Tuesday, so I showed up a day late! I was disappointed to hear that they were combining the meetings in the first place. I'd like to go to the next one- anyone know when it is? If it's as much of a bust as you guys said it is I think we can petition the office to separate them again. And if not, what's to stop us from creating our own post-op support group? We could meet at a coffee shop, rotate through people's houses, or maybe someone has an office space or meeting place we can use.

[Crystalclear224 0]

Luigismama,

I finally found the new list of support group dates on their website. The link is as follows: http://www.pvsurgical.com/bariatric/West_Springfield.pdf

The next meeting is 2/23 at 6:30 but I would get their early for a good seat. I got their 5-10 minuets early last time and still had to wait for them to put out more chairs.

I can't make the meeting in Feb. but I do plan on going in March to see if maybe it was just because it was the first time they combined them. Who knows maybe the have a plan on how to include those who have had the surgery more. We will see. :thumbup:

[Kmartin121 0]

I like Luigismom's idea of starting our own or at least getting together for coffee to chat once a month or so.

Someone at the PVSA meeting had a schedule of some other support groups from Baystate Medical Center, so I searched their website. They have quite a few. :thumbup:

Here is the link... Baystate Health - Weight Loss Surgery Program | Support Groups

There are some in February that I am going to try to attend. My daughter has gymnastics on Tuesday nights, so I can probably make the one this Tuesday while she's there. I might just have to leave a little early.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 6-8 PM - WOMEN ONLY GROUP

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6-8 PM - LAP-BAND GROUP

Thursday, February 12, 2009 10-11:30 AM Lundy Board Room - SPANISH SPEAKING GROUP

Thursday,February 12,2009 10 - 12 noon - GENERAL GROUP

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6-8 PM - GENERAL GROUP

Thursday, February 19, 2009 6 - 8 PM LOCATION: United Methodist Church of Lenox, 6 Holmes Rd., Lenox, MA -

BERKSHIREGROUP

Monday, February 23, 2009 6-8 PM Chestnut #2 - POST-OP ONLY GROUP

I think I am going to go to this one on the 23rd instead of PVSA's, because it is a Post op only group and that is what I really need.

Let me know what you guys think...

[kdm728 0]

I was at that meeting as well. I didn't care for this new format either. And I'm still pre-op. My surgery is this Friday!

Last Nights (1/26) support Group Meeting

I know it was their first time so it will be a little bumpy but I found the meeting last night to be boring. I've had my band for a year now and The first hour was nothing but about how you need to eat and think before you get the band. I always came home from the post-op meetings prior feeling better and like I learned something but I really feel that last night was geared more towards people who haven't had the band yet. I'm missing the post-op meetings already. I will however give it another try but I was just wondering if anyone else felt the same way?

[Brockbabe82 0]

Kdm you must be so excited!!! Good luck to you!!! Who is your surgeon?

Wishing you all a good week.:tongue2:

[LSF 264]

Hello all! I just found this link - I'm so excited. I was banded on 11/19th by Dr. Fiallo. I have no restriction and am going back in on Saturday for my 3rd fill. I did notice at my last appt that there is a pocket on the wall in the examing room with the meeting dates for us to take. I missed the January meeting but I'm hoping to make the next one. I'm concerned about the mix of the meetings. Look forward to getting to meet everyone

Lori

[luigismama 0]

Thanks for the info, Crystal and KMartin! I'll plan on being at the 2/23 meeting for PVSA. Maybe KMartin and those who choose to join her at Baystate can report back to us here what you thought of the post-op group. Then maybe we can start a real discussion about whether to form our own group, petition PVSA to go back to the original format, or go to the Baystate one. Basically, this is for US to get the support WE need dealing with and living with the lapband- we shouldn't feel obligated to stick with PVSA's format if it doesn't work for us.

Switching topics- I had my first cold with the lapband since June, and boy, did I have fun on that first day! My band was so tight that I couldn't even get cold medicine down. Thankfully, hot tea, and some low-sodium chicken noodle Soup got me back to normal.

For those who are wondering how many fills it takes, I had 4 before I felt like I had proper restriction, but everyone is different. Now I need ot commit to exercise and cutting the crap I let sneak back into my diet out. That's why I need post-op support pals!!

[Kmartin121 0]

First Off - Good Luck KDM!! We're here for you if you need anything.

I didn't make Tues meeting at Baystate because of the weather, but I am definitely going to make next Wednesday's LapBand only group.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6-8 PM - LAP-BAND GROUP

Let me know if anyone else will be there.

I am still planning on going to the BayState meeting on the 23rd. I agree that we should all compare notes, that way we can make the best decision for what we need.

I'll say one thing for sure... I'm glad we have this website!! I would be incredibly lost without it and all of you!!

[Watelu 0]

I have surgery scheduled with Dr. Haag on 2/23. Anyone else have their surgery at Noble Hospital? Pre-Op appointment on Tuesday the 17th! It's getting close!!