Support Groups

I have another question.  The doctor said to find a support group.  I don't know if online is enough.  Does anyone know how to find a support group that I could go to?  I am in Modesto on the south side.  Thanks again.

Modesto WLS Support Group 1213 Norwegian Avenue, #40, Clubhouse Meetings are the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.  Contact Leader for time of meeting. Leader:  Cathy Ales Profile Contact

HI SHARON Here is a copy of the lastest support groups. I hope this helps you with what your looking for. Welcome to the board! Take care and have a wonderful weekend. CALIFORNIA WLS SUPPORT GROUPS
This list is a great resource for all of us as ongoing, in person support is SO important to long term WLS success!
Please post here to let me know of any changes that are needed as we want to keep this list up to date.
I especially need information about any groups that are no longer meeting as well as with any current contact information changes.

To be listed here we need:
Day/Dates and Frequency of meetings
Meeting time
Location
Sponsor or Facilitator Name
Contact person for information… Phone number and/or e-mail
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CALIFORNIA SUPPORT GROUPS (listed in alphabetical order by city):

ARROYO GRANDE
3rd SATURDAY of the month 12:30pm
Central Coast Life Savers Support Group Meeting
Open to all.
Arroyo Grande Hospital, Annex Building
Our original group has been in existence now for 6 years and has slowly branched out to cover two counties. We often provide special guest speakers at our Arroyo Grande group meetings. We've gathered for swimming pool parties and bonfires. All surgery types welcome!
Inquiries can be emailed to Karen at [email protected] or to Debbie at [email protected].
Central Coast Life Savors [email protected]

CHICO
Last Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm.
Bariatric Bypass Buddies Support Group
The meetings are held at 1520 Esplanade on the corner of 5th and Esplanade.
This support group provides pre- and post-operative information and support. It offers speakers, education and a close-knit, emotionally supportive network of people. The group is free and open to anyone thinking about or who has already undergone bariatric surgery at Enloe or elsewhere, and their family and friends.
Contact Sareena Smith @ 891-1651 for more information.

DAVIS
My support group is at UC Davis Medical Center.
It it the first Monday of every month at 6:30 PM in the Outpatient Services Building across the street from the Emergency Room.
There will be signs pointing the way. All post-ops are welcome regardless of where you had your surgery done. Plus there is now an OH affiliate at Travis AFB. Our meetings are slightly irregular but you could put me on as a contact person.
Nancy Shirley
707-374-5229
Must have a military ID card to get on base

FAIRFIELD
SATURDAYS
Please contact Alexis Miller at [email protected] for details.
Fairfield/Vacaville/Travis AFB also has a support group meeting twice monthly. Both on base and off base. Contact [email protected] for more details. Group consists primarily of military dependents that have had surgery at DGMC.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY
First 4 MONDAYS of each month, except Holidays 6:30 – 8:30pm Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, 9920 Talbert Ave, ground floor next to cafeteria.
Facilitated by Diane LeMont, PhD. Call 877-HEALTHY (877-432-5849) for more information.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY
First 4 THURSDAYS of each month except Holidays 6:30 – 8:30pm
11100 Warner Ave, Suite #112
Facilitated by Diane LeMont, PhD.
Call 877-HEALTHY (877-432-5849) for more information.

HAWAIIAN GARDENS
21520 Pioneer Blvd 2nd floor Medical building 2 Hawaiian Gardens, Ca. 90716 (800) 936-5545 This is a great support group..it does not matter who did your surgery! Everyone is welcome...Kim Do is our support leader. She is wonderful and very knowledgeable. We meet the second and fourth Tuesday of the month 7:00pm-9:00pm. Open to pre-op or post-op people. Agenda includes sharing and often times there is a guest speaker.

HOLLISTER
Third Wednesday of the month (starting October 17, 2007)
Time: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Where: Community Room ~ next to Pacific Valley Bank,
corner of Tres Pinos Rd and Rancho Dr.
Group Leader: Lori McClelland
e-mail: [email protected]
or download a flyer at: www.lorimcclelland.com click on OH Support Group.

IMPERIAL VALLEY


LANCASTER
Tuesday evening, 6:30 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Master,
725 East Avenue J,
Lancaster, CA. Call 661-723-7833 and ask for Liz.

LIVERMORE
3rd TUESDAY of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm Kaiser Bariatric Support Group 3000 Las Positas Rd., Conference Room 3 Peer support group for all weight loss surgery patients (pre-op and post-op) and guests; need not be a Kaiser member. No fee. For further information contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

MODESTO
Modesto WLS Support Group Meeting
Tuesdays
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
(This event repeats on the last Tuesday of every month.)
Location: 1213 Norwegian at the Garden East Apartment Clubhouse
Notes:
This is a new and exciting meeting in Modesto. It is for anyone who has had WLS or is looking into having surgery or supporting WLS patients. The gate to enter the apartments is about 1/2 block from Coffee. It has a roof over the gate and there will be signs to point the way. Walk straight back and to the right you will see the pool. We meet there in the club house. For more info contact: [email protected]

MODESTO
Memorial Medical Center Modesto
Support Group meets the first Monday of every month
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Sutter Health Education and Conference Center
McHenry Village
1700 McHenry Ave., Suite 60B Modesto, CA 95350
For more information contact The Health Center at: (209) 572-7262.
Modesto Support Group meets the first Monday of every month at 6:00 p.m. at the Sutter Health Education and Conference Center McHenry Village 1700 McHenry Ave., Suite 60B Modesto, CA 95350. For more information contact The Health Center at: (209) 572-7262.

MIRA LOMA
2ND SATURDAY of the month 11am - 1:00pm
Fobi Support Group
Mira Loma Country Village Sr. Park, Lounge 10350 Country Club Dr. For more information contact Cheryl Chapman at 714-289-0519

MURRIETA
1st MONDAY of the month 6 – 9pm
Hosted by Crown Bariatric
25520 Medical Center Dr., behind Rancho Springs Medical Center at the end of the cul-de-sac.
For more information please call 1-888-312-7546

NORCO
1st and 3rd SATURDAYS of each month except Holidays 10 – 11:30am
Norco Library 3954 Old Hamner
Facilitated by Summer Perry, PhD. Call 877-HEALTHY (877-432-5849) for more information.

OAKDALE
2nd TUESDAY of each month 7 – 9pm
Oak Valley Hospital in the Conference Room
For more information contact Sommer Rose-Souza at [email protected].

OAKLAND
3rd Saturday of the month 10:00 am - PostOp 11:30 am - PreOp location Held in the Health Education Center of Samuel Merritt College (next to Alta Bates/Summit Hospital in Oakland) 400 Hawthorne Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609. Rm 102 or 203 (There will be a flyer on the notice board as you walk in) http://www.altabates.com/clinical/bariatricintro.html

OCEANSIDE
(N. San Diego County)
2nd WEDNESDAY of each month 7:00pm (back on track meeting at 6:45, for post ops 1 year or more out who need help)
Hosted by Pacific Bariatric
Tri-City Medical center (in basement classroom)
Grou****ponsored through Pacific Bariatric, but all are welcomed so please do attend.
Contact: Serene Edwards at [email protected].

ORCUTT
2nd MONDAY of the month 6:30pm
Central Coast Life Savers Support Group Meeting
Open to all.
Mid-State Bank
Our original group has been in existence now for 6 years and has slowly branched out to cover two counties. We've gathered for swimming pool parties and bonfires- all surgery types welcome!
Inquiries can be emailed to Karen at [email protected] or to Debbie at [email protected].
Central Coast Life Savors [email protected]

PALMDALE
TUESDAY evenings @ 7pm
Donna Redmayne will facilitate the Tuesday meetings.
The Tuesday meetings are in Suite 2-A.
4th SATURDAY of the month @ 10am
Darrol Houser will be facilitating the Saturday meetings.
The Saturday meetings are @ office at 43845 10th Street West, Lancaster, in Suite 2-E.
ADDRESS: 43845 N. 10th Street West (across the street from Community Hospital). If anyone needs info, they can call me or Liz at 661-723-7833.

REDDING
2nd Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
3rd Thursday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For meeting locations and more information call us at 530-247-1757 or e-mail [email protected]. All are welcome.

RED BLUFF
Red Bluff Duodenal Switch Group Meetings
Modular Building across from the Coyne Educational Center
2550 Sister Columba Dr.
Red Bluff, CA.
For more information please contact us at 800-816-6647.
Red Bluff Group Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month.

REDLANDS
1st TUESDAY of the month 6:30 - 9pm
Crown Bariatric Surgical Group Support Group Meeting
1711 Plum Lane
For more information please call 1-888-312-7546

RICHMOND
Richmond, Kaiser
901 Nevin
Building A, 2nd floor, conference room A1 - A2
Richmond, CA
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Pre & Post Op:
Jan 9 and 23, Feb 23, Mar 12 and 26, Apr 9 and 23, May 7, June 11, June 25
POST OP ONLY:
Jan 16, Feb 27, Mar 19, Apr 16, May 14, June 18

RIVERSIDE
2nd Thursday of the month
6:00pm
Kaiser WLS Support Group
Facilitator Andy Woodward
Van Buren Medical Facility
3951 Van Buren Ave.
Riverside, CA 92503
Call 951-352-0292 for more information
Open to Kaiser Patients only.

ROSEVILLE
2nd Saturday each month 3pm to 5pm
Sutter Roseville Medical Center
One Medical Plaza
2nd Floor, conference rooms A/B
Open to anyone and everyone; all surgeries, pre-op, post-op, friends, family members, etc.
Contact information: http://www.salsa.md/Education.html

SACRAMENTO
Sac On Track
Meetings are held the fourth Saturday of the month at 10:30 following the LAPSF meeting.
A Support Group for Bariatric Surgery Patients in the Greater Sacramento Area.
Open to pre and post-ops alike.
Doubletree Hotel
2001 Point West Way
Sacramento, CA
email nursemary @comcast.net for more information or visit our website at www.sacontrack.com

SACRAMENTO
Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, Surgical Weight Loss Program
Meetings are held the Third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.
Meetings are open to all patients and their families and friends.
A Clothes Closet is offered to all.
Meeting is actually held in the Multipurpose Room at Bruceville Terrace Skilled Nursing Facility on campus of Methodist Hospital:
8151 Bruceville Road
Sacramento, CA 95823.
For more information, contact Terri Smith, Bariatric Coordinator at 916.423.5909 or go to www.slimlifecenter.com.

SACRAMENTO
Sacramento Duodenal Switch Meetings
Mercy General Hospital Campus
Greenhouse A&B inside the cafeteria.
Sacramento, Ca. 95819
For more information please contact us at 800-816-6647.
Sacramento Meetings are held on the first Friday of the month.

SAN BERNARDINO
4th TUESDAY of the month (Exception: December 11, 2007)
6:30pm in the San Rafael room at St. Bernadine’s Medical Center, 2101 N. Waterman Ave, corner of Waterman and Highland Ave.
Hosted by Western Bariatrics, open to all.
Phone Western Bariatrics at 909-475-5040 for more information.

SAN BERNARDINO
SATURDAYS, monthly
Inland Empire Loser’s Support Group
Next meeting date: January 26, 2008.
Meeting dates for 2008: February 23, March 22, April 19.
10:00am in the San Rafeal Room at St. Bernardine's Medical Center 2101 N Waterman Ave. (corner of Waterman and Highland), San Bernardino 92404.
Official OH Chapter for the Inland Empire, open to all.
Luana Ball and Steve Jacobsen - co-facilitators.
For more information and to join this group go to our OH Group site:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/sjacobsen53_group/welcome/
Or e-mail Steve at [email protected] for more informaton.

SAN DIEGO/LA JOLLA
2nd Tuesday of the month 7-8:30pm
Wittgrove Bariatric
Scripps Hospital, La Jolla in the Schaetzel Center
9888 Genessee Ave.
La Jolla, CA
Guests Welcome
For questions regarding the group, please contact Wittgrove Bariatric at (800) 342-3944.

SAN LUIS OBISPO
2nd SATURDAY of the month 1:00pm
Central Coast Life Savers Support Group Meeting
Open to all.
Sierra Vista Hospital Auditorium
Our original group has been in existence now for 6 years and has slowly branched out to cover two counties. We've gathered for swimming pool parties and bonfires- all surgery types welcome!
Inquiries can be emailed to Karen at [email protected] or to Debbie at [email protected].
Central Coast Life Savors [email protected]

SAN LUIS OBISPO
There is a brand new meeting starting in San Luis Obispo.
Where: Coast National bank Community Room
500 Marsh
San Luis Obispo
When: 4th Tuesday of the month from 6-8pm
First meeting will be Jan 22.
This group is being run by a trained support leader. They will be topic oriented meetings, questions and answer sessions, great handouts and lots of support.
E-mail [email protected] for more information. We are trying to get a preliminary head count for the first meeting, so if you plan on attending, please let me know.
Let’s kick off the new year with a great new support group!

SANTA ANA
Mondays
6 - 7:30pm
Hosted by Chapman/Coastal Center for Obesity
Chapman Medical Center Hospital on Chapman near Hwy 55 in Orange, CA, in the Board Room. This support group meeting is directed mostly to post-op people who are a year out or have had 100 pounds of weight loss or more, but all are welcomed and some pre-ops do attend. For more information and for some additional weight loss bariatric surgery support, check out my website at http://FreedomExpress.net/WLSsupport. The support group also now has its very own website: http://wlbss.com. WLBSS stands for Weight Loss Bariatric Surgery Support

SANTA ANA
Thursdays
6 - 7:30pm
Hosted by Chapman/Coastal Center for Obesity
Western Medical Center Hospital, 1001 N. Tustin Ave., the Basement, Conference Room 4
Thursday night support group meeting is aimed at pre-op, post-op under 100 pounds of weight loss and people just seeking information. For more information and for some additional weight loss bariatric surgery support, check out the website at FreedomExpress.net/WLSsupport.

SANTA CLARITA
2nd Tuesday of every month
6:30-8pm
Greenhouse Cafe on Bouquet Canyon Road
Saugus, CA.
Open to All….. Just show up!
Contact Cindy K for more information: 661-253-2900 (work)

SANTA CRUZ
This Santa Cruz area Yahoo group is for all weight loss surgery patients (pre or post-op) who wish to have a positive place to develop supportive relationships with peers in the Santa Cruz area, for getting together for discussions, walks or just for fun. We have monthly get togethers on the first Sunday of the month.
For more information join the group at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SantaCruzWLS
Email [email protected] for an invitation to join.

TORRANCE
Saturday – (Every other Saturday… next meeting 6/16)
11:00 am
South Bay Bariatric Surgery Support Group
Open to pre and post op, as well as their significant others.
All surgery types, all doctors.
For more information please contact Dr. Marcy Rosenzweig Leavitt at [email protected] for complete information and directions.

TURLOCK
1st Tuesday of the month @ Emanuel Hospital in Turlock Medesto.
Esther L Warda – Chapter Leader Turlock Bariatrics is the contact person for this group and can be emailed at [email protected] www.turlockbariatrics.com 209-669-1933

TUSTIN
1st and 2nd TUESDAYS of the month 7:00pm
Lisa P’s OC Weight Loss Support Group
Starbuck’s, 17245 17th St
Please join us! This will be a negative-free zone, where all can share, support and empower one another in regards to WL issues.
For more information contact Lisa P at [email protected].

TUSTIN
St. Pauls Episcopal Church 1221 Wass St., Tustin, CA 92780. Fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. room C If anyone has any question about either meeting please contact Cheryl Chapman (714) 289-0519)

VICTORVILLE
All meeting times are from 6:30 - 9pm
Located at:
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
9750 Keypoint Ave.
Hesperia, CA 92345
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE THIRD MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH UNLESS THE MONDAY FALLS ON A HOLIDAY
Hosted by Crown Bariatric, open to all.
Feel free to bring a friend or family member to our meetings, but no small children please.
If you have any questions regarding the support group please contact: Mo or Michelle at (888) 312-7546, (909) 229-0266 or (951) 736-0696
Phone number for directions only please (760) 244-7674.

VISALIA
2nd FRIDAY of the month
7pm – 9pm
Central Valley Obesity Surgery Support Group
Obesity Help Chapter Meeting
LOCATION PENDING
Open to pre and post op along with their significant others. All surgery types, all doctors.
For more information contact Darlene at [email protected]

VISALIA
2nd FRIDAY of the month
7pm – 9pm
South Valley Bariatric Surgery Support Group
Obesity Help Chapter Meeting
Kaweah Rehab Center, 840 S. Akers (in the Bear Room)
Open to pre and post op along with their significant others. All surgery types, all doctors.
For more information contact Jenn at [email protected]

WEST COVINA
1st and 3rd MONDAYS of the month
6 – 7pm
Kaiser Permanente Building
1502 West Covina Parkway
Room 4
Open to pre and post-op patients.
Guests and non-Kaiser members welcome!
For more information call 851-5263.

WOODLAND HILLS
Make It A Lifestyle Support Group
For 2008 we will be meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, barring any emergencies or necessary changes. If there are you will be notified via e-mail.
Some Saturday meetings may precede the Tuesday meeting. Also note August will be third week due to the Mediterranean Cruise.
Tuesdays:
February 12; March 11- Body Shop/skin care; April 8; May 13; June 10; July 8; *August 19 (3rd Tuesday); September 9; October 14; November 11; December 9.
Saturdays:
February 16; March 15; April 26 - Body Shop/make-up; May 10; (no Saturday meeting in June); July 12; August 16; September 6; October 4; November 22; December 6
As always the Tuesday meetings are 7pm, Saturdays are 10am.
They are held at the home of Monica Ganz.

SPECIAL ONE DAY AND WEEKEND SEMINARS:
February 23: Universal City; July 26/27: Oxnard; November 1: Studio City

To learn more go to makeitalifestyle.com.
E-mail Leann at [email protected] or Janice at [email protected] for information and directions.
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Certified Obesity Help Support Group Leader.
        Join the Inland Empire Loser's 
                     Support Group... 
           just click on the link below:
       Inland Empire Loser's OH Group Page

Online is not enough for some people. I attend 3 support groups each month, and participate online too. But I attended support groups for several months before I got into online participation. The support of others is similar post op stages is immensely important to fully understand what is involved with living after WLS. Also, you can listen and speak to other long term post ops to get a better understanding of how they manage to maintain their surgery too. Very informative for most patients. In fact, I went to a 4th meeting (OH in San Bernardino, CA) today too.