So, I'm required by my doctor to attend a support group once a month until surgery. Being a group leader where I work, I was dreading this, but I came to enjoy it, The people were really helpful, and I looked forward to announcing that I had a date at this meeting. It ended up being a "speaker" who was basically giving us a sales pitch for vitamins. Such a let down. Since there is no meeting in January, and my surgery is right before the February meeting, I won't be back until March. A SALES PITCH? Really?

What!! That is just awful.

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The one I went to last month was on Aroma Therapy. Thought I would have an asthma attack before the evening was over. So I truly understand how you feel. I have really like the meetings where post ops spoke about their experiences and answered questions. That is one thing that makes this site so valuable. We sure give each other a lot of support and we need each other. And it would be so nice to get the same face to face.

Yep, basically a lot of info on how we are vitamin deficient going into surgery and the dire consequences if we don't supplement or if we supplement using "cheaper" vitamins. I get it, supplement! I got samples at least!

at least you got some samples, lol. When I left the one I went to all I had was a headache, lol

I came to a realization after surgery that the surgeon's office and the psych office were in a money making scam! No where in any pre op did anyone mention that the surgeon required a group therapy visit once a month post op. I canceled my appointment right after surgery. The "psych" was a 20 year, super skinny guy that had no idea what we were going through. He basically read a script at our pre op meeting. I get way more encouragement and information from this site.

I came to a realization after surgery that the surgeon's office and the psych office were in a money making scam! No where in any pre op did anyone mention that the surgeon required a group therapy visit once a month post op. I canceled my appointment right after surgery. The "psych" was a 20 year' date=' super skinny guy that had no idea what we were going through. He basically read a script at our pre op meeting. I get way more encouragement and information from this site.

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I thought the same thing from many of the requirements. Not only do you have to get a test, but 3-4 appointments later you are finally done. All about the all mighty buck! My surgeon office has their own dietician, physical trainer and nurse that you have I pay separately and it's not covered by insurance. That's an extra $730 to get a few appointments before and after care. Then they charge you for the 2-week diet and vitamins! I have already spent $1200 not including all of the copays for 2-4 visits at psychs office, gastro, cardiologist, pcp, and other requirements. I have been to at least 20 appointments in the last month. I guess I'm blessed to have health insurance but there has to be an easier way!

I thought the same thing from many of the requirements. Not only do you have to get a test' date=' but 3-4 appointments later you are finally done. All about the all mighty buck! My surgeon office has their own dietician, physical trainer and nurse that you have I pay separately and it's not covered by insurance. That's an extra 730 to get a few appointments before and after care. Then they charge you for the 2-week diet and vitamins! I have already spent 1200 not including all of the copays for 2-4 visits at psychs office, gastro, cardiologist, pcp, and other requirements. I have been to at least 20 appointments in the last month. I guess I'm blessed to have health insurance but there has to be an easier way![/quote']

Wow...expensive, but I'm sure quicker than here.

Everything here in Ontario, Canada is all covered by our health care. From start to finish there is the visit with your GP doctor, who sends a referral to a central database and you wait for orientation meeting.

Next step after that is the social services appt, then the psych eval and the group NUT class. After that there is the dietician appt. and then a meeting with "a surgeon" who isn't necessarily going to be the Dr. Operating on you (it's a conveyor belt system here), and then the EGD. After that was the Pre admin visit (nurse and anesthesiologist) and then surgery date. Ok so all-in-all there were/are 9 appts all covered by OHIP. Great.

However I have been waiting since DEC. 2011 to get through this conveyor belt system. That's 1 yr and 3 months from start to finish. Absurd. :s

HW 341 GW 150 CW 296 RNY 03/25/13

Omg that's crazy.

Im urged from the team to attend a Support Group Meeting but haven't gone yet.. don't really feel the need for it just yet.

Vachick- I forget, who was your surgeon? I shopped around, but found my area's leading practice to be too salesy and showy.

I ended up with internal surgeons that just happen to do wls. I didn't get pitches, I was on my own to get psych eval and find my own Protein shakes. They do have a nutritionist that I have to pay $100 for, and I have to attend 3 post op support group sessions at my hospital.