OH conferences

Do any bandsters plan to attend the OH conference in NOLA in September?

Just wondering cause I went to the TABS (Texas Association of Bariatric Surgery) conference in Dallas this past January, and while it was OK, it seemed like the majority of people there weren't bandsters.  

I kinda felt a little leftout.  

Anyone here been to an OH conference and how did you like it?

I went to the one in NY in 2009.  It was fun but we were the manority.  I did meet some awesome bandsters there though!  I found a lot of the information and sessions were more geared towards people who had had RYN.  Plus, a big thing for me was the difference in "standard of care" between Canada and the US. 

Thanks.

I wonder why it is that more RNY'ers attend conferences than bandsters?

I went the the one in Costa Mesa Ca last year.  It was a last minute decision to go.  I was lucky enough to go with 5 ladies from my local support group.

While I was the only bandster in our group the majority were RNY.  I just took the information offered, to help me on my weight loss journey.  You know the basics of Banded life if you read on this forum, and have an after care program with your surgeon.

The thing I loved the most was all the freebies that the vendors give away.  I came away with a lot of products to try before buying - ie protein shakes, vitamins etc.

The thing that I did not like was.....   OH says that the ticket price is $60.00.  If you put the code of some of the OH group leaders you get it for $30.00.  Because I waited until the last minute I had to pay $35.00.  I was ok with that.  While at registration on the day, 2 ladies in front of me said that they needed to buy a ticket and were only charged $20.00 each.  That pissed me off a lot.

Some of the speakers are just plain boring.  Some are really great. 

Speakers that I enjoyed listening to

Chef Dave
Dr Garth
Mary Joe  ( they are from the show "Big Medicine"    Mary Joe is a riot.

I will be going again this year if they have one close by.  I will buy my ticket early and then try and meet up with people from here that post. 

I went to one here in Seattle 2 years ago.  I really liked most of it.  There are booths with suppliers that give out freebies, usually a guest speaker and a cooking segment, etc. but my favorite part was the breakout sessions.  I went to one on plastic surgery and got a lot of questions answered, one on sex after WL, (I have no idea why I went to that one, but it was interesting), and on on nutrition.  All very informative.

This July they are having one here again and my support group that I lead and I are all attending.  It's band only so I know there will be plenty of us.  Jean M. is also coming from TN and is buying a table to sell her book, Bandwagon.  I will also be sitting on the Q & A panel representing the post op bandster POV.

Hopefully, you'll get some responses from others attending and you can meet some other OH bandsters.  Even if there are mostly other surgeries, you'll learn a lot.  You could also volunteer to sit on the Q & A panel because your results are AWESOME!!!!

Make sure you register early to get the early bird discount.  It will save you $30.  Your surgeon may also have a discount code that you can use.

I recommend going.  I enjoyed it!
Lisa O.

Thanks Lisa.   Wish Washington State  wasn't so far away from Texas, it would be interesting to attend a meeting with only bandsters.

I live about 60 miles south of New Orleans and I plan on going to the conference.  I've never been to one so i'm looking foward to it.

I used to work with a doctor who was from Thibodaux when I lived in Houston many eons ago.

I'm considering going, but just haven't made a firm decision yet.  It's an 8 hour drive for me.  Yikes.  And I don't fly.. hate it.