OHLA meeting

I think I may be retiring a bit from the organizer position. I went to the meeting tonight and waited from 6:30 until 7:10 and no one showed up. The lady who arranges the room tells me that she sent some girl away because she thought the meeting was next week (I can only assume it's Ashleigh)... but no one else showed up. I paged you Ashleigh, but got no response. Sorry Kat

Kat...I feel as if I know you. I have been reading this site for a long while now and I have ached for your trials over the last few months with the hurricane, job, and insurance problems. This is my first night to actually post. I have decided to take the steps to try to have wls. I was driving home from work and was thinking of coming to the meeting. I am not one to put myself in situations where I don't have someone there that knows me. I guess I'm always worried about not fitting in -- that feeling is especially true since my weight gain. I do hope there will be events soon, I can introduce myself to some of the people I feel like I know.

Kat, I'm so sorry to hear no one turned up for your meeting, I know how that is we only had 4 people at our last meeting. In fact I posted a message to ask for ideas about support meeting advice, I'll copy it here but I so wanted to go tonight but I work late on Thursdays and it's about an hour drive...but I wanted to go and see everyone and get ideas. Hope everything gets better! Hi, I'm new to the board. I'm also a New Awlins native and love this board! I had my surgery in New Orleans at the now defunct Methodist Hospital in New Orleans East on Aug. 9, 2005. With the event of Katrina our whole support network collapsed. We still have our checkups with our surgeon, his nurse practitioner and nutritionist but our support group is now patient lead without a counselor and such. I'm very lucky since my husband had the surgery in Nov. 2004 and I went through everything with him so I was prepared. You seem to be so organized with your meetings, they sound great. I wish I could get to one, unfortunately I usually work late on Thursdays. We hold our meetings on the first Thursday of the month in Lafayette and we're looking for any ideas you have to help us keep our support group together. Do you have any resources you use to set up the structure of your meetings? Our attendance is waning and we think the support of the meeting really help us to work the program. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Good luck on your new job! Looking forward to hearing from you, Anne

Anne, my best success with our group was when it was in New Orleans (metarie) and pre-Katrina. My home was devastated and I was forced to relocate, so my meetings and schedule came with me. Originially, our meetings were at my home (we had a park for a back yard) and were very easy to host. 10-20 people came. There are still several of our members in New Orleans that cannot come to Baton Rouge for meetings so I will email you privately about them and about the way I have been able to make so many things available, even if so few utilize it Since Katrina, it's just too difficult I think for those who are transplanted to use the group setting. It's a shame because we have lots and lots of good resources for them. Kat

Hey Kat.....I do want to go to the meetings. But right now living off of unemployment I have to be VERY careful with gas these days! Its hard for me sometimes to even just go to the grocery store. And with my doc being in covington, i have to save up gas money for that trip. By the way, did you ever get that job? Christie

Not yet I haven't.... they are waiting on my references to answer questions.... but the truth is that I've found another job that might be a better answer. I'd be working FOR the insurance company... one that I know covers the surgery!! The catch is (isn't there always a catch?) I'd have to move to Dallas. Kat

Aww Kat, I am so sorry the meetings are not doing so well. I wish I lived closer, cause I would show up. Being so far from there and my work schedule keeps me busy. I was finally able to catch up on my house chores and I actually got to cook 2 meals this week .... lol Take Care of yourself and know I have you in my thoughts and prayers!!! Love Ya! Dee

I know hon, things are always not as we'd hope Take care of you and your family...

To be honest I would love to come to a meeting. I also spoke with someone else about us coming together. What holds me back is the Thursday night schedule. Our day starts at 4:30 because we commute to Metairie fromCovington every day. If the meetings were on a weekend it would be much easier. Maybe even switching meetings around to different areas. Diane

I've held the meetings in different places in two different cities, formerly on Saturdays at noon and now on Thursdays (third thursday) in the evening. The turnout has been the same since about 2 weeks before Katrina. The best turnouts were when I hosted a crawfish boil at my home... and a barbecue there too... The plain truth is that with all the goings on lately, a support group just isn't a priority for most people. Nothing wrong with that prioritizing, but I am beginning to think I'm spinning my wheels... and I personally may be also looking into moving for my own family's benefit too.