I was wondering has anyone been to a WLS support group meeting? There is one coming up in my area and I'm debating on whether or not go. It's open to anyone who has had any type of WLS. What has been your experience with these? Please feel free to respond whether positive or negative. Thanks!

I have been to one that is supported by the hospital where I hade my LB surgery. Sometimes I pick-up some good advice. What I like is just meeting others in person who have the LB and talking to them. Of course we share stories about our doctor too.

I probably would go just to see what it was about and how it is structured. Again, it is a way to actually meet others who have been banded. It's a chance to ask any nagging questions you have and get immediate feedback. If you don't like it, you never have to go back.

I have been to a couple. Each one has a different topic. The one's I have been to were on liquid calories, exercise (showed us chair exercise), and the one coming up is on Vitamins (with samples). They are nice to get a little more info to educate yourself, but also you do get to meet some people who have gone through or are going through what you are experiencing now. At my group meetings the nutritionist is also there so that if you have a few random questions, she is available.

Worst case scenerio....you don't like them and don't have to go again.

Best of luck to you!!!

My surgeon requires that we go to one before being banded. I've been to 3 and I haven't even been banded yet! There is a nutritionist there, and its nice to meet others who have been through it. My DH even went with me once.

Go, and see what you think. Worst case you don't have to go back.

I think support group meetings are great. You might need to try more than one place to find one you like. I go to one that is all weightloss people. The other is a very small one with people I have met on this forum and they all have bands. I love it I have become great friends with these people and we talk everyday on the phone. I went to one a couple of months but almost everyone had the Bypass and they kinda looked down on the two of us who had the Band. Stopped going to that one.

Cheri

I think support group meetings are great. You might need to try more than one place to find one you like. I go to one that is all weightloss people. The other is a very small one with people I have met on this forum and they all have bands. I love it I have become great friends with these people and we talk everyday on the phone. I went to one a couple of months but almost everyone had the Bypass and they kinda looked down on the two of us who had the Band. Stopped going to that one.

Cheri

That happened to me too! They treat bandsters diffrent! I went to a lapband meeting, there were only 6 of us there, but I got a lot of info! The other 2 that I went to were for everyone, but I did feel singled out because of my choice in surgery..

My hospital has groups or classes every other Saturday. One Saturday is a Behavior Modification class and a Nutrition class. On the Saturday 2 weeks later it is a support group run by the clients. There are folks there with sleeves, bypasses, etc, though most of us are banded. I just went to support group yesterday and love it. There is nothing like getting support from others who have been or are where you are.

My program requires you to attend at least 4 support group sessions pre-operativly, and 4 post op. At first I wasn't happy about being forced to do this once a week, but now I look forward to the pre-op meetings, its fun to see where everyone is in the process and how they are moving along.

I think I will start going to the ones at my hospital during my 6-mo. supervised diet. I am required to go to one pre-surgery. I figure I might get some tips on the diet (like where to get the good protein powders etc.) and get motivated seeing other people who are post-band and doing well. And even the ones who might not be doing so well, maybe I can learn something from them too. It certainly can't hurt to go.