Support Group this week and my plead for getting SUPPORT back in to these meeting locations

Christiana Hospital is having a special engagement tomorrow night at 7pm.  The topic is: YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW: HOW IMPROVING WOMEN'S HEALTH CAN TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY.   March 11, 08 7-8 pm at John H. Ammon Medical Education Center at Christiana Hospital. also PARTNERS IN CHANGE: PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY is on March 11, 08 (Tuesday) at 6:30-7:30 pm at PMRI.  This class has a limit on group size, so you must pre register at 302-661-3000.  Dr. Margaret Keenan, PhD. is facilating the meeting.  I believe it is recommended that you are at least 6 months post weight loss surgery.  This meeting meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month until June 10.  If you are signed up and can not attend, please contact PMRI so they can call people who are on the waiting list.  Again that number is 302-661-3000. And then of course this Thursday is Healthy Beginnings at 7pm.  The location is Concordia Lutheran Church, 3003 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE.  Pull into parking lot and go to the back of the building and enter through glass doors.  We meet every 2nd Thursday and 7 pm.  Any questions you can call me ( Nicki Zimmerman) directly at 610-322-8282 . ALSO this Saturday is PMRI support group at 10am-12 Noon (yes, 2 hours).  The topic is: WHAT SIZE DO I REALLY WEAR? JOIN US FOR A CLOTHES SWAP!  Lynn Vitalo, RN will be directing the discussion.  Please bring any clothes that you want to exchange or give a way.  The contact phone number is 302-661-3000. We have no excuse not to try and make one meeting this week.  I have been out from my gastric bypass for five years now and I do have to say that I am very SAD that the support groups do not get utilized like they used to.  There are more people who have had the weight loss surgery but the are not attending.  When I had it done the support group meeting rooms were packed.  It was standing room only.  Lets see if we can get those rooms full again.  I know everyone of us have some kind of change (positive and/or negative) that needs to be shared with others.  Maybe someone else is going threw the same thing and feels all alone.  Just think you could be the one to change their life or maybe they will touch you in some way.  I have some really awesome friends that I have meet going to these meetings, in fact most of my friends that I hang out with during the meeting times and outside of the support group meetings are people I have meet at a Weight Loss Support Group!!!!! SO I AM BEGGING YOU (AND I DON'T BEG,, PLEASE COME TO A SUPPORT GROUP MEETING.  MAKE IT YOUR GOAL TO COME TO AT LEAST ONE THIS MONTH, BETTER YET AT LEAST ONE THIS WEEK. 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND IF YOU WANT TO BE ADDED TO MY SUPPORT GROUP REMINDER LIST PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS AND I WILL INCLUDE YOU.  I AM TRYING TO GET A HUGE DATA BASE OF NAMES SO WE CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER.  MOST OF US HAD FRIENDS THAT WE WENT OUT TO EAT WITH THAT HELPED PUT THE WEIGHT ON OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS, WELL NOW HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE FRIENDS AND A SUPPORT TEAM TO BE THERE AS YOU LOSE THE WEIGHT AND OR GO THROUGH STRUGGLES. IT HAS BEEN PROVED THAT THOSE WHO ATTEND SUPPORT GROUPS ARE THE ONES WHO LOSE THE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF.  IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PUT WEIGHT BACK ON, THAT IS OK, NO ONE IS GOING TO JUDGE YOU!  I A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE PUT WEIGHT BACK ON AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE DO GO TO THE SUPPORT GROUP MEETING AND SOME HAVE LOST THE WEIGHT AGAIN AND SOME HAVE NOT, BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE GONE INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION LIKE WE WOULD HAVE IN THE PAST OR WOULD HAVE ISOLATED OURSELVES.  PLEASE COME!  ALSO IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD YOUR SURGERY YET PLEASE GET AN ANGEL-THEY ARE THERE TO HELP YOU AND GUIDE YOU THREW.  YOUR OUTSIDE SUPPORT TEAM IS GREAT, BUT UNLESS THEY HAVE GONE THREW THE ACTUAL SURGERY THEY REALLY CAN NOT UNDERSTAND.  PLEASE BRING YOUR SUPPORT PERSON AND/OR SPOUSE.  THE DIVORCE RATE IS VERY HIGH AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, LIKE 70% AND ON THE RISE.  FIVE YEARS AGO IT WAS 50%.  ANYWAY, THOSE COUPLES WHO END UP STAYING TOGETHER, 90% OF THEM THE SPOUSE JOINED THEM AT THE SUPPORT MEETINGS.  SO I HIGHLY SUGGEST IF YOU WANT TO STAY WITH YOUR PARTNER, INVITE THEM TO ATTEND. 

MY LAST BIT OF INFORMATION-IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE YOU HAD YOUR SURGERY DONE ALL LOCATIONS  OF SUPPORT GROUPS  ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE!!!!!!    (INCLUDING CHRISTIANA HOSPITAL-PMRI AND ST FRANCIS HOSPITAL AND ALL OTHER OUT OF STATE HOSPITALS). Thank you for listening to me, as I know what it takes to keep the weight off and you can never have enough support!!  Contact me if you have any questions! Thank You Again- Nicki Zimmerman  610-322-8282 or [email protected]

Listen to what Nicki has to say.  She knows what she is talking about.  You need the support from people who have been through the same things you have.  Please find the time to take care of yourself.  Remember how important you are.

Hope to see you soon.

Ellen

Hey Nicki, I should be there at PMRI Tuesday night. My brother will have my Mom. I might have to bring her with me to Healthy Beginnings on Thursday night.  See everyone there!!!  ((HUGS)) Elissa I talked to Jim and he sounds great. Should be going home soon!!!

Dear Nicki, I went to my first support meeting last night & let me tell you, it was great!   I'll tell you that I had a few negative, pre-conceived notions, but none turned out to be true.  Not one person there was pretencious or degrading ('cause I've chosen one type of surgery over another) or anything!  Everyone was bubbly & informative and since I am still pre-op, I gathered some answers to some of my pressing questions.  I still have lots more to ask next month when I have my endocrinology clearance, but this was a great start!  Members of the support group were extremely kind & gave some funny antecdotes too about their experience with the surgery & post-surgery.   I will tell you, Nicki, that your post made me try even harder to get to the support group.  I had kinda, sorta planned to go, but thought to myself, I'm gonna be all alone...I won't know anybody, etc.  But, I felt very welcome and seemed to fit right in!  Thanks again for your post! Sharon in DE

I agree with you that having and attending support meetings is very important.  I went in for banding on Feb 5th and the surgeon was not able to do it because of a big problem with my liver.  But we are still looking at alternatives to the band. Anyway, I find that coming here on the board is a great help to me.  I have met some great people and have started some friendships.  My surgeon is in Baltimore and it is difficult for me to attend the support groups there (they start way too early for me to get there from work).  Anyway, I have contacted the leader of the support group in Harrington (sent an email) but have yet to hear from her.  There is also a support group at Delmarva Bariatric Center, which is right around the corner from where I work.  Because that is where I began this journey but left when my surgeon left, I don't feel comfortable going there.  The few meetings that I did attend were nothing more than a social gathering for those who had  already had surgery.  There were many people there who were pre-op and their questions were almost brushed aside. "Stay after and we'll talk about that." is what I heard more than once.  Well what is the support meeting for if not to answer questions and give support! Anyway, I only wish there were more support groups downstate to attract those living in that area. JMHO.

I go to the Hebron carnival every year, Sharptown also.  You live in an awesome are, my boyfriend and his family live in Federalsburg and I go down every weekend.  Good Luck with your journey. Deanna

The week I decide to get the flu and broncitis is the week of support groups....Geez can't win can I.  Hope they were fun....see you when these bugs leave my body!

Feel Better Soon.  We all miss you and Tim too.  Hope to see you when you are feeling better. Love, Ellen

Thank you!  I miss you too.  I miss being healthy alot.  I am getting so depressed with the pains from the post herpatic condition and just getting broncitis/flu.  I don't know how to handle this situation.  See ya soon. Debbie