"NEW" Anaheim Group Support Meeting Begins June 5

Hi everyone, ...just passing along:  WLS Group Support Meeting starting up in ANAHEIM for the LA/Orange Co. area!   Remember the Surgeon named:  "Dr. Rabkin of San Francisco", another one of the Expert DS and other WLS procedure Surgeons on the West Coast...  Well, he & his coordinator, Barbara Metcalf, are announcing the Grand Opening of their Support Meeting Group in ANAHEIM, CA in order to reach more folks and the growing need of 'group support' down in the Los Angeles/Orange Co. area!  Hold the date, Thursday, June 5th, 6-8 PM.   Dr. Rabkin, Barbara plus a Guest Speaker (a 2 yr post-op Duodenal Switch) will be there.  Also, Dr. David Caya, who is a postop DS patient of Dr. Keshishian's may join the meeting to speak about the benefit of using probiotics in digestive issues plaguing some post-op weight loss patients.    Their flyer is attached (as a .doc file)... plus here's their Pacific Laparoscopy website:  http://paclap.com/    It is a dual meeting:  An Information Seminar for weight loss surgery procedures - so please pass the info along and bring friends or family members who may be considering life-saving surgery and freedom from obesity!   AND it is a support group discussion meeting for both pre-ops and post-ops, too.  Sharing experiences and information about keeping on-track with healthy and routine lab results!  Have a question or problem you'd like some help with?  This is the place!  They plan to meet EVERY MONTH ~see attached flyer...  (Be advised that this is a temporary meeting site, chosen because it has great freeway access and plenty of parking. It’s not fancy and it is an older building. But in a year, they plan to use a near-by retirement community facility that is in the process of being built~will be luxury space.)   The purpose of this Anaheim support group is to reach out and make information available to this wide area (Los Angeles & Orange Co.) for pre-ops interested in learning about weight loss surgery, but ALSO to give those many post-ops who had the Duodenal Switch, Sleeve Gastrectomy or Roux-N-Y procedures a chance to meet with others for mutual post-op information.  It is vital to get continued "follow-up information"; about keeping up with labs and staying healthy and solving "problems".  Post ops are valuable in the Support Group arena as they help bring their individual experiences to the table, which broadens the pre-ops information by hearing how WLS has changed lives (most) in such a positive manner.  Also, many post-ops have questions about plastic reconstruction surgery after they have lost the majority of their weight, so this support group can be very valuable.   "NOTIFY YOUR PCP (Primary Care Physician) and INVITE  THEM TO ATTEND, TOO!" Please Note:  Mapquest states this address is:    "Chinese Grace Lutheran Church", 714-635-7807 It is close to the 5 Fwy, 57 Fwy, 91 Fwy, etc.  

Meets monthly the first Thursday

 After the first Wednesday (June 5, July 3, Aug 7 etc)  

 

Grace Lutheran Church

                700 W. South St, Anaheim CA 92802  

 

6-7PM    Informational Seminar-Inquirers

                           Barbara Metcalf RN, CBN

          John M. Rabkin MD, FACS

                Get Acquainted Social Hour-Postops 

 

 

 

7-8 PM   Open Support  Meeting- Postop

 

 

Direct Questions to the Group Support Leader:

 

 

 Chaplain Patrice Nordstrand  

 

2 years postop Duodenal Switch patient  

 

pnordstrand AT frontporch.net

   Meeting room is ground level; no stairs ~ refreshments will be served.   Pass the word and hope to see you there!  Regards, Sharon (aka harvener)  Redlands  Open DS, USC Dr. Crookes 12-5-03    (Lost 177 LBS)

Hi Jean L. Maybe that is YOUR calling, (as far as a social group is concerned)  :-) But, it's hard to get your professionals in the weekday times, as they usually have work duties then.  I agree... that most are in the evenings as the concensus must be that the majority of people are "working" in the daytime and attendance would be ineffective.   Also, I know evenings can also be difficult for (me-us-older-folk) in driving at night!... and especially driving out-of-town.  Anyhow, I'll pass your suggestion ON to Barb at the Anaheim group.  Thanks for your feedback.  Sharon (aka harvener), Redlands

Hi Sharon - I deleted my post as your response sounded kind of snippy to me - kind of like all I was looking for was a "social group".  I know there are many people that don't or can't work and are unable to drive at night that would benefit from a daytime group.  I apologize if I offended you....but thanks for responding and have a great week.

Oh~Jean, I've very sorry if my reply sounded "snippy"... in NO shape, manner or form was it meant to be, (even with the happy face I put)!  And I wasn't offended by your totally-understandable inquiry & request.  I added "as far as a social group" when I said maybe it's "your calling" - to start one... only because I wasn't suggesting you start up your OWN daytime group support meetings, as I know it takes WLS professionals to do that.  But creating a daytime "social one" you could create, which also offers 'support'.  I know our SCADS group (So. Cal. Area Duodenal Switch)  was begun as a 'social lunch gathering' for DS'ers to get together and share their experiences & joys... with no official medical output that could precipitate "liability issues".  I'm so sorry you took it totally differently and I apologize.  The written word is so vulnerable to interpretation, but if you knew me... you would not have thought that.  Sorry.  I wish the same good week to you.  Regards, Sharon (aka harvener), Redlands

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Post Date: 5/27/08 5:20 am
Hi Sharon - I deleted my post as your response sounded kind of snippy to me - kind of like all I was looking for was a "social group".  I know there are many people that don't or can't work and are unable to drive at night that would benefit from a daytime group.  I apologize if I offended you....but thanks for responding and have a great week. Hi Jean L. Maybe that is YOUR calling, (as far as a social group is concerned)  :-) But, it's hard to get your professionals in the weekday times, as they usually have work duties then.  I agree... that most are in the evenings as the concensus must be that the majority of people are "working" in the daytime and attendance would be ineffective.   Also, I know evenings can also be difficult for (me-us-older-folk) in driving at night!... and especially driving out-of-town.  Anyhow, I'll pass your suggestion ON to Barb at the Anaheim group.  Thanks for your feedback.  Sharon (aka harvener), Redlands   On May 26, 2008 at 8:22 PM Pacific Time, Jean L. wrote: Sounds like a great group.  I just with someone would start a support group that meets during the daytime hours in the LB/OC area....

Hi sharon Ok, we are good....and you are so right about the written word.  The LB area does have a social group that gets together on the last sat of each month at Starbucks and we all love it.... Take care

Hey Jean L.  ~ In case you haven't seen this, I came across a "huge" list of CA group support meetings; thought you'd like to take a look at.  Here's the URL:  http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/CA/a,messageboard/action,r eplies/board_id,4806/cat_id,4406/topic_id,3581086/ Regards, Sharon

Can't make June 5th, surgery is June 4th but its not too far and I have yet to find a group that "feels" right. I will check it out hopefully in July

Good Luck to you!  You have a great surgeon!  He was my DS "Leprechaun" in 2003!   After you're up & around, yes, give this group a try; they may have the 'right feel' for you - which makes all the difference in the world. Take care! Sharon