Support Groups

Where are all the support groups? I cannot find one in my area. Anyone have any info for the Western Suburbs??? Please share. Thanks

Back near the end of December I replied to a similar thread that you posted. Here is a cut and paste of what I wrote.

Post Date: 12/26/10 7:06 am
Last Edit: 12/26/10 7:15 am
There are support groups out there but the doctor's offices do not seem to be updating their info on OH anymore. The one public support group that I know about is at Alexian Brothers Med Cntr in Elk Grove Village. Here is their link for the info. http://www.suburbansurgicalcare.com/html/support.html 

There is a support group down in Joliet. A few of the regular posters on the daily roll call attend it. Hopefully one of them will pop into your post and give you some info.

My doctor has support group meetings but they are not open to the public. I can take you as a guest if you are interested. The meeting is held in Downers Grove.

There are support groups in and around the Chicago city and up into Evanston areas but I do not know where exactly they are at.

edited to add - come and join us on the daily roll call - we love to have new board members join us

Do all support groups charge a fee to get in? That is ridiculous..I remember the post but did not find anything. I am in Riverside and was looking for a group outside the city of chicago. Seems like Joliet is such a long way to drive but if its free then I will check it out. Thank you for the information and your time.  Your support group is only for your Doctors patients?

Yes, some doctor groups charge a fee and it is not really ridiculous because it is over and above the fees that are being charged to the insurance. And you also need to realize that you may not a current patient of that particular group - someone has to pay for holding that group. Everything is not free in life. Keep in mind that they have to rent the room for the meeting also. Some have minor fees of $10 or $15 and this is becoming more and more common. My doctor has an up front fee that he charges his patients which goes towards the support group costs to run the group. It does cost a lot of money to put on these groups from the materials that are handed out to the expertise of the speakers (keep in mind it is not free for the speakers to come and talk) to the facility that it is held in. One has to expect and accept in life that everything is not free and one needs to pay a fee somewhere down the line.

Yes, I can bring a guest on occasion but I paid 7+ years ago for my support group fee (for life) as did all the rest of the patients that go to Dr Rosen. He and his group are not getting rich from their group but we as patients can tap into the knowledge of his staff when ever we need it. We also have access to the taped videos of the group meetings on line which is costly for them to maintain.

Let me know if you are interested in attending one of my support group meetings. I would love to support and get to know you at it or even here on OH.

I am sorry we agree to disagree. Paying for support is ridiculous to me. I don't remember seeing fees in the past for any support group.  Well whatever. I will not pay for support. I'm basically looking for a group of people to talk/discuss and share food recipes and info concerning the post op and how things have changed and what they are doing to incorporate that in their lives. Lots of talking and discussion on a smaller bases. No need for speakers and if its held at someones house each week thats fine with me too. OH is great and full of INFO but sometimes you just want to see and hear a real live person. A smaller group is better for me than say 50 people with a speaker. Don't mean to sound so cynical  just frustrated all around.

I am in the medical field so i know how the Politics work with Insurance and the doctors. After so many years you become frustrated and compliant and just go with the flow.....lolol I gues i'm getting old and refuse to be a conformist..my way of fighting back..lololo.. I am in the process of calling every hospital within a 30 mile radius to inquire about a support group. If i do not find one I may start one from my home. Need to do more research. No fees will be charged. But I will require everyone to bring a new recipe every time the attend...lololol Thanks for the info and fast respond rate. Have a wonderful day.

You might have thought during the day that my "silence" was conceding to your high handed attitude. I have better things to do during the day and that is to make a living. I am not the type of person to be silenced anymore with someone trying to squash me. I let that go the day I had surgery almost 8 years ago; I regained my self-esteem and an attitude to speak for myself.  You seem to want to proceed and "argue" the issues.  Just give it up. I will not be roped into a major disagreement but I will speak my mind because of how you have come across with an attitude in your post. You also are a "newbie" to OH compared to some of the rest on this board. My DH had his surgery with the Kane Center 7+ yrs ago and you know what? They had a co-pay for support groups back then and still do! So do not tell me that paying for a support group is something that you do not remember seeing. Please do your research before you post a statement.

Blah, blah, blah, blah blah . . . I am in the medical field . . .  let it go. Look who is becoming mean and cynical. Find yourself a doctor that has a support group and go to it. We have tried to give you info but you are the one that that has come back with claws and fangs.

If you cannot find a support group then create your own. BUT remember you need experts in exercise, medical and nutrition to make sure that you do not fall down a slippery slope. Oh I forgot you are in the medical field . . .  Also do not create "rules" with requirements to attend your support group like bringing a recipe because that is not everyone's expertise. That could cause them undue stress to achieve to attend. Let those people decide how they can contribute to the group. In other words do not be a control person.

I will not answer anymore of your posts unless they are constructive. . . .and are contributory to this board.

PS - more than likely you are not getting old because I am sure that there are many others on this board that are older than you judging from your avatar. I think that you are burned out.

Wow did you misread me or what? High handed attitude? Thought people were entitled to an opinion. As far as squashing you I don't even know you. I just asked for some info and was aghast that there was a cost (and voiced my opinion). Did not expect a counter attack. Sorry to have bothered you. No disrespect was intended and sorry you took it that way. I will not bother you again.

Hello

There is one in Joliet at Silver Cross Hospital (BMI Surgery).  I haven't been there for over a year.  It is a good support group and often have guest speakers.  My problem is that it's way too big.  When I went they held it in the auditorium because it is so big.  There were at least 50 people there.  To me that is too big.  I was looking for something a lot smaller.  Since I have been there in awhile it might be different now. 

Thanks for the Info!