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Do you go to Support Groups?



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Okay I have write this because I am tired of my mother bugging me!!! :) How many people go to the post-op support groups put on by your surgeon/hospital?

I have not gone yet.....I really have no desire to go right now. I feel that I am doing great, I have had not major issues come up and I love coming onto this web-site for my support, my closest friends, coworkers and family all know and are great support. The support groups are clear across town, I would have to get off of work early and I am just not the kind of person to share anything in person in a large group of people. I feel great about my weight loss and how strict I have been with exercise and eating, and than my mom every two weeks has to bring up the question of if I have gone to a support group and than I feel guilty. I told her that right now I am happy with coming onto this website with my questions, so maybe that will keep her mouth shut for awhile!

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I have been going to my support group meetings, and I love them. I don't go because I need help -- I feel like I'm doing pretty good too. I go because it's nice to connect with people who are having the same experiences and have been through the same things.

If you really don't want to go, don't go. I can understand it being a hassle to get to with work and all. Just remember that they are there, and they are usually about more than "problems". Hope that helps! :bolt:

Maria

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Our support group meets once a month. THe first time, I was just home from having my band,,,and this month,,i HOPE to be working,,,and I've applied for a 3p-11p job,,so I guess I'll miss it too. I DID go to a pre-op support meeting and there were about 25 people there,,all of whom had gastric bypass, They said there WERE some bandsters that come, but none showed up that night. I got alot of insight from the folks that were there tho. Thye also have an "Angel" network, made up of people who will call you and check up on you,,just to chat,,answer questions,,offer support, etc. They're people who have been banded/bypassed and are willing to chat. In my paperwork pre-op, it stated that I was required to attend , I think, at least 2, but I'm sure they'll understand my situation,,bbesides,,,I've got YA"LL!!!!!!!!

Banded 1/29/07

Dr Ken Cleveland-CMMC-Jackson, MS

331/298/150

no fills to date

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There isn't a group available where I am, I know several bandsters, but none seem interested---so it hasn't happened. The closest one to me is 285 miles away---and it meets once a month. IF I happen to be in the city they have it on the day they have the meeting, I would go---mainly to put faces to names on here!!! But I feel great about the support I get here. I have made many friends close enough we now support by phone as well.

If you make an effort to attend at least one meeting, then you would have a better idea of whether it is for you or not. You might be pleasantly surprised---if not you can say you tried it and it didn't fit!

Looks and sounds like you are doing really well---congrats!!!

Kat

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Presby Hospital in Dallas has a support group once a month. I enjoy going and a nutritionist is there--to answer questions! I even went to a meeting prior to having the surgery.

Denise

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Well, you have to be the one wanting to go to the support group, it can't be just because your mom wants you to...

I don't have any support group available where I am, but even if I had I think I'm doing fine by my own and getting tons of useful information and support right here at LBT.

niki

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i have not been to a support group yet but i plan on going. i am just kind of scared about talking about myself in front of strangers. i love this from i found it on my friends computer so i had to go buy my own computer. still try to learn how to do thing on here. have not learned how to get my ticker on my page. i gess that what you call it . this form has help me when i need support. i have three kids so it is very hard to get time to go.

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I started going to the support meetings last May 06 (I was banded March 20, 07). It started out that the RNY people met on the First Monday of the month and the LB people met the third. Now they have changed it and everyone is meeting on the third. It is a 45 min drive, but I enjoy going. The first part of the meeting there is a professional person that talks to us, the last part is for everyone to bs or ask questions or just catch up.

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I rarely go. When I do go, it's because there are a few girls there I enjoy hanging out with, and we're doing something either before or after the meeting. The support group meeting is just our excuse to go have margaritas and talk about life. :)

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

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