WLS Support group meeting in my home

I would like to start a support group meeting in my home. I was considering meeting every other week. So thats twice a month. This would be of course open to anyone, but especially the people who live in the Bristol, Litchfield, Waterbury area. I live in the Thomaston/Waterbury corner of Plymouth. I can accommodate up to 20 or 30 people. This would be a closed meeting for post surgery people only. The reason I would close it is because it would be just for us to discuss our issues and give each other help and guidance during OUR struggles. Basically its a selfish meeting for us. I dont care if I have only 2 or 3 people to start. If I have at least one person I will do it. It will grow on its own. We could run it sort of like an AA meeting, where we discuss a topic for the evening that needs addressing, or if there is a critical need in the room, that becomes the topic. The reason I want to do this is because there is not much for support up our way. Everything is either in Hartford, or Farmington or Danbury or New Haven. You have to travel forever just to get to a meeting. This would be something that could be permanent that we could put together ourselves in addition to those meetings, and that way if we can not make it to one of those, we would always have our home meeting. I know this is probably a new concept for some of you, but Im actually very used to home groups. In church we do home groups for all kinds of stuff. If anyone is interested please email me and we will work out the night and logistics together. thanks

Hi lauren Definately sign me up. That sounds great and I think you are right. It will catch on and start growing. Are you getting excited about your date coming soon? Don't worry I will be visiting you in the hospital for sure. We should get together over the holidays, I am sure the boys would like that. things have wound down at home with kids activities so we have more free time so we should definately get together. call me Tammi Ps I am down 46lbs now. Can't wait to hit that 50lbs mark, but with the holidays it may be hard, as long as I don't gain, which I shouldn't since I don't eat much anyway.

You know something? That is a great idea...you could literally start a WLS Anonymous!!!! For folks who have had the surgery and want to share theri experience, strength and hope..etc....sort of like another OA...only for WLS people...eventually there could be open groups as well if it caught on. Good luck with your meetings...what a lovely generous thought. In case you decide against having the whole world come to your personal home...churches are VERY good about letting people use rooms for worthy causes for a VERY nominal fee. Happy Holidays! See you when I am on the losing side...playing the waiting game now! Sher'

I'm not sure I should keep it closed though. What Im trying to avoid is seekers. People who have not made up their mind to have the surgery. If your in waiting or scheduled it should be open to everyone. I just dont want to waste the night answering questions for those seeking info. I want it to be a night for those that are "in the midst" of it or about to be. You know what I mean. Sher if your waiting and you want to come. You come. I doubt its going to get out of control, we dont have a lot of people on the boards from our area. So I know we will be a small group. Its just so hard for all of us to travel. Sher, you come if you want to. This whole thing is open for us all to shape it. Im just offering the place. In the summer it will be great, we can do poolside meetings and maybe incorporate some deep water walking exercise into our meeting. To me this sounds like its going to be a blast. Im hoping we can start right after the holidays and have the first meeting in January. I already have 2 people so we should decide on a night.

HI! I definitely will come and I appreciate your generous offer.. I wrote another response before this one and thought it was posting to the board..I hope you got it if it went private. You are a dear and generous soul!! Thank you very much! It will be nice to get out and share with others..I tend to hole up in here too much as it is anyway...support groups of all kinds are going to be good for me. My family is not in this state and holidays can be hard at times...I don't like being the refugee at other folks houses, so I usually end up working by choice. Sometimes it really gets to me. Some part of me will always be a kid at Christmas. This is not a new revelation, but sometimes I really realize how much I ate to deal with emotions or to numb them...I am not smoking...going cold turkey..and not overeating....so I don't have my "crutches" available to me. Keep me in your prayers that insurance says yes!!! Thanks again and Happy Holidays! Sher'

Lauren, What a great idea !!!...unfortunately i live way down in Branford..but just a thought...you should check with your local community houses,schools, libraries, etc.(call the townhall officestoo) They might be accomodating and give you guys a free room to use on the days you need it. Just a suggestion.. you are non profit..so its a possibliity. Hope it works out well because it is a great idea !!! Deanna

Hi Lauren! They faxed my paperwork in to Anthem today!! I hope you turn out to be right about the insurance...and thanks for posting all the helpful stuff about it! Sher'