Mon. Night Support Group Meetings

Hi, All! Mon.. 6/20, is the 3rd Mon. of the month, so I'm faced with my usual dilemma for that night -- both Middlesex and Hamden have meetings on that night and, of course, I can only attend one. The Middlesex Hospital meeting is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and is for both pre- and post-ops, whether or not you're a patient of Dr. Aranow. The Hamden meeting (at the Senior Center behind the Miller Library on Dixwell Ave.) is from 6:30 to 8 p.m., is for both pre- and post-ops and isn't affiliated with any particular doctor or hospital. So, are any of you thinking of attending one meeting or the other? Is anyone interested in going to dinner after the meeting? Please post a reply here or e-mail me. Since there isn't a particular program or speaker at either meeting, my choice of meeting will be made in large part on the basis of who else will be there -- who'll be providing me with support or who'd like my support. Please help me decide. Debby

Hello Debby, I am so upset (but on the other hand happy) I am not going to be able to make it to this next meeting because my son is in the championships with his baseball team and the game was Supposed to be Sunday but they just rescheduled it tonight to Monday at 5:30 - 7:30 So it looks like I will not be able to meet Kathy either and that is very upsetting to me. I WILL be at the next monday's. Wait is there one on July 4th??? Lisa

Hi, Lisa! I think you may have your dates a little confused. This coming Mon. is 6/20, the 3rd Mon. of the month, so it's a general meeting for both pre- and post-ops, just like the one we were at this past Mon. The following Mon., 6/27, is the 4th Mon., so it's for pre-ops only, with a panel of post-ops giving a presentation and answering questions. Kathy K. is going to be one of the panelists. The Mon. after that is 7/4 and there won't be a meeting because it's a holiday. Hope this clears it up for you, Debby

Debby, I had my surgery done in Michigan but live here in CT so I'm looking for a close support group. I live in Cromwell, so Middlesex would be the closest for me (I think). Could you tell me where exactly the meeting is there? I've never been there. I'm going to try to make it to that one. Thanks!! Pat

Hi, Pat! Middlesex Hospital is in Middletown which is just one town over from Cromwell, so it would be very convenient for you. Since I don't know exactly where you are in Cromwell, either get on Route 9 South or take I-91 South to Exit 22S, Route 9 South. Take Exit 13, Route 17. Bear right onto the Main Street Extension exit. At the bottom of the exit, take a right at the stop sign. Follow Main Street Extension until the first light, where you'll turn left onto Crescent Street. The hospital is at 28 Crescent Street. The 1st entrance you'll see on your left will be the emergency room entrance. Drive by that and immediately after the building will be another entrance on your left. Turn into that entrance. At the end you can continue straight into the closest parking lot. If that lot's full, turn right for another lot. If that's full too, you can park in the parking garage, but that's not likely to happen. The entrance to the hospital is clearly visible from the closest parking lot. When you walk in you'll see an information desk straight ahead. When you're almost at the desk, turn left instead and then take a quick right. The North One conference room (where the support group meets) is a short distance down the hall, on your right. First you'll pass through a small area with some chairs, then there'll be restrooms on your right. As you continue down the hall, there'll be another hallway on your right leading to elevators. Just continue straight past that hallway and you'll shortly see the conference room. Although it's on the right, the open doorway will actually be facing you, so you'll be able to see into the room as you approach it. If you see a room on your left with vending machines, you've just missed the conference room, so turn around and go back a few feet. (If you want something cold to drink, with no carbonation, caffeine or calories, one of the vending machines, in addition to plain water, sells Dasani flavored water (raspberry or lemon) for $1 per bottle.) Just in case you get lost, the hospital phone number is (860) 344-6000. The meeting is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. I've decided to go to the Middlesex meeting Mon. night and so far there are at least 3 of us who'll be going to dinner afterward (most likely in Cromwell). Would you like to join us? I like the comraderie and additional support that we get from going out after the meeting. We do it over dinner because some of us don't have time to have dinner before the meeting, but the food isn't the main point of going out; being together and getting to know each other better is the point (though not having to cook and being able to take leftovers home for another 2-3 meals isn't bad). If you'd rather have dinner before the meeting and you're not bothered or tempted by seeing others eat, you're still welcome to come and sit with us just drinking water or decaf coffee or tea while the rest of us eat. Hope to see you Mon., Debby

Debby, Thank you so much for the wonderful directions!!! I'm going to make every effort to be there Monday. As for dinner, if I make it to the meeting, I'd love to go - thanks!! Pat