I've pretty much decided on my surgeon and hospital. I feel great about him and the hospital has nothing but great reviews. But, it's almost 1 1/2 hours drive through sometimes very heavy traffic. I'm afraid that afterwards it will deter me from attending the support meetings. There are programs closer but from what I've learned so far they usually charge a fee for people who did not have their surgery there. So I'm kind of torn about if I should look for a closer facility and go through having to get all my tests and diet visits transferred again, or should I just go with the dr. I've chosen and do my best to attend the support meetings?

What do people who go to Mexico do for support? Just come here or do they find local groups or what?

I really like the dr I've picked: William Johnson in Suwanee Ga. The hospital is Emory John's Creek. New and has a bariatric floor that I hear is top notch. I live on the southside of Atlanta. Just would like to hear other's input about how important the support meetings are.

We started a sleeve support group here in SO CAL, most are all from this very site. I drive about 30-40 minutes to meet, and would drive further if I had to. It's soooooo important for me to see, and speak to others that have gone through what I'm going through. NO ONE understands like other sleevers understand. After each meeting, I always get the push/boost I need to keep going to get to my goal.

Had surgery in Tijuana in December of '10. I use this site as my support group. Being a working stiff I probably couldn't make many meetings anyway. If I felt the need I could always try to find a group locally but things seem to be OK so far.

My surgeon's office is also about an hours drive away from me in horrible Dallas traffic (about as bad as Atlanta's!), so I don't go. The drive alone is enough to stress me out so much it's not worth it.

Also, his support group is for people who've had all types of WLS. I was a revision from a lap-band and think the band should be outlawed. That said, I don't think they want me there with a bunch of people who have or are about to have the band, because I would not be a very positive influence on them . This site works for me.

It might be worth it to try to start your own group from this website, or something like meetup.com if you feel it's just too far to drive.

I do use the support group at the doctors office. It's only once a month for me and the drive is about 30 minutes. I enjoy going.

I started going to support meetings 10/31/07 and have gone since. I had been attending two different hospitals open meetings. The one that I started with went through a lot of growing pains because of the TV show "Big Medicine" with the Davis. It grew too big- more than 400 people monthly. Now because of program changes it is down to around 50 - almost all who show the one time before surgery and never again seen. The second group is a smaller one- around 30 people give or take, 95% have had a WLS any where from last month to more 10 years. There is a large core group that shows up every month. My current surgeon does not have a support meeting. My old surgeon started to go vegan and that made for strange meetings. They are also held on a day that I work.

I could not make my doctors group times on Saturdays. Recently a couple of us from Dr. Guske;s office in Schaumburg IL started our own mini meetings and it has been great to share and mentor others!

I use the one my surgeon has... It's very close and easy.

It's a good experience, and I enjoy meeting others who had WLS.

My surgeon's office also said that studies show those who regularly attend support groups lose more, and maintain it!

I'll probably attend as many as I can for quite some time!

I love the support group I have found. I started going back in September, months before I even was sleeved and it has been such a great help to me. Many of our members are a year or more out, not many newbies lately. The group is not one through my surgeon, there is another one that meets during the day weekly at the hospital but I find they are not as real as the other group. The other group lives by the rule of nothing leaving the room, we can share what we want to and if someone happens to be in the medical profession we prefer not to know.

The folks who are farther out say the group has helped them to hang on and get through so much better. My surgeon even went as far as to say that most people who go to groups generally lose 10% more than those with no group.

If I lived far from a group I would imagine that I would try to get there at least once a month, but if it's impossible, this group and youtube are great places for support.

I'm with FatBGone. Our meetings are monthly and the office is about 45 minutes from me---an easy, pretty drive, and meetings are at 6PM. I enjoy going so plan to for the immediate future anyway. The last one I was only 6 days out from surgery and loved being the Poster Child! If I had horrible traffic, etc., I'd likely just lean more on this forum!

I've pretty much decided on my surgeon and hospital. I feel great about him and the hospital has nothing but great reviews. But, it's almost 1 1/2 hours drive through sometimes very heavy traffic. I'm afraid that afterwards it will deter me from attending the support meetings. There are programs closer but from what I've learned so far they usually charge a fee for people who did not have their surgery there. So I'm kind of torn about if I should look for a closer facility and go through having to get all my tests and diet visits transferred again, or should I just go with the dr. I've chosen and do my best to attend the support meetings?

What do people who go to Mexico do for support? Just come here or do they find local groups or what?

I really like the dr I've picked: William Johnson in Suwanee Ga. The hospital is Emory John's Creek. New and has a bariatric floor that I hear is top notch. I live on the southside of Atlanta. Just would like to hear other's input about how important the support meetings are.

I originally went to a doctor in my small town and although I'm not going to use him for the surgery, I was able to find out that in the rehab/exercise place associated with the hospital they have monthly, free, support meetings. They have bariatric psychs come and speak, NUTs, etc. Anyone can come! It might be worth it to call some of the bariatric docs in your area to see if that's offered anywhere?

I like this site because you can sort of pick and choose what things to read and reply to and ignore the things that don't seem to apply to you (and read them later if they start applying to you). I think I would not do well in a personal support group, I would probably just get annoyed with some people. I went to WW meetings and I hated those. I know that makes me sound totally anti-social, but I guess I have a very low tolerance for certain types of people, and I am terrible at faking interest. That is actually one of the reasons I am glad I am going out of country. I didn't want to have to go to seminars and meetings and stuff like that, I know it is great for some people, but I truly think I am one of those people who do not do well in large groups.

I had to go to support group meetings for 6 mos prior to surgery per insurance requirement. But I actually enjoyed them. Mine are a 2 hour drive away, but they are definitely worth the drive. I have been to one other group that was one hour away, but there was no comparison as far as quality. We usually have a very interesting speaker and have a great time.

mine has group on mondays, tues and sats and events...I will be going this sat.

I have attended a free monthly support group in my hometown starting in September 2010. I will never make the 2 hour drive into Atlanta for the meetings held by my surgeon's office.