Support Group for Springfield area?? Mercy Hosp??

I am wondering when and where the support group meeting for the Pioneer Valley Surgeons/Mercy Hospital? I have attended a couple meetings for Baystate and am interested in possibly attending a couple from the other group. I also wonder if the Pioneer Valley Surgeons perform just Laproscopic or do they also do open surgeries. I am looking into all avenues. Thanks!! Laura R

I Laura, I choose Pioneer Valley Surgical Group, Dr.Faillo. He was wonderful to work with and did a remarkable operation on me. The staff, mostly Cheryl are very knowledgable and know what one needs to achieve the insurance approval. I choose to go to Mercy Hospital for the surgery since I had an unpleasant experience with another surgery at Baystate, not with the surgical staff, but with the floor nurses - not enough on each shift and they did not respond to my needs at all. When I discussed hospital with Dr.Faillo he suggested Mercy to me and then he sent me to the Mercy Comprehensive Weight Management Group. Dr.Kerocak and his staff are some of the best professional providers that have ever taken care of me. There is a nurse pratitioner, Candace; a nutritionist, Ann; a psych person, Mark; a nurse, Maggie; and the office receptionist, Barbara. These people guide you through the weight loss process from before surgery to afterwards. The staff makes sure that you have all the necessary tests done before hand, make sure that you see whatever specialists you would need for approval and clearences. They make my journey on this path so easy for me to travel. They have a wonderful series of support meetings that are intimate and very special. The meetings I now attend take place at Mercy Medical center campus at the Weldon Rehab center on Tuesday night, 2nd and 4th each month starting at 6:00. A member of the Weight Management team is there on the 4th Tuesday. Pre and Post op individuals come and share. I learn so much for these meetings. Everyone get to speak and ask questions or share ideas. The support is really amazing. I had gone to some Baystate support groups and felt like I was at a cattle call, so many people, 300 or more. I can not say enough about the wonderful care I got at Mercy. They have a special group of rooms just for Bariatric patients. The nursing staff is the best I have ever had. These nurses and staff know what is involved with WLS and they know the individual doctors requirement and keep you on track after surgery. I learned some wonderful very helpful tools from Ann Lynch the head nurse there. The Weight Management staff comes over every day to visit with you and see if things are ok. Such care in unheard of in medicine today. Now the down side. For whatever reason Dr.Faillo is not performing surgery at Mercy anymore. He has received permission to do WLS at BAystate and Baystate is pulling some beauriatic hocky pocky saying he can only do WLS at Baystate. What a crock that is to me. Hopefully things will work out and he will come back to Mercy. I know that Dr.Haag also of that group helped Dr.Faillo at my surgery. Dr.Haag does mostly LapBand. Dr.Faillo did a really remarkable job on me. I had 9 previous abdominal surgeries and had many scars and adhesions. After the surgery I expected to be in horrible pain, but that was not the case. I asked Dr.Faillo why the operation did not hurt so bad? He said he uses very tiny instruments and these do not cut up the skin, muscles, or other body parts so dramaticly. Here I was expecting such bad pain and it did not occur. Even the drain incision did not hurt. All in all I would do this again in an instant. I am 2 month post-op and I have lost 43 pounds. I take my vitamins (get them from the weight management group), and follow my rules. I can eat almost anything, bacon and fruit are not liked by my pouch so I avoid them. I chew well and drink lots of water (64-100 oz a day). I always try to eat protein first and take in 70-90 grms per day. Ann the nutritionist wants at least 1000 calories and 100 grms carbs. I try and avoid white carbs since these contributed to my getting fat (breads, pastas, crackers etc). I look for complex carbs to add to my diet. I plan out my meals and make sure that I have the foods I need. I found a wonderful protein prowder, Jay Robb's whey protein at my local Whole Foods Market and drink one or two glasses mixed with Smart Skim milk daily. I have more energy, I am melting away with inches going bye bye. I am thankful for having chosen Dr.Faillo, Mercy Weight management group, and Mercy Medical Center. I am so happy that at age 57 I made the decision to take back my life and go for WLS. Good luck for you, Monica

Hi! Welcome to wls group. We meet every other tuesday. We have both Spanish and English Supports groups. You are welcome to come. Our meetings start at 6:00 pm. We be so nice to meet you , hoping seeing you soon.

Hi Laura, The Pioneer group meets the last Monday of every month at 6:30 in the Chairman's Room at the Best Western on Riverdale Road. (Except May when it is the second to last Monday). These guys specialize in lap procedures but do open if necessary. Why do you think you might need open? Please email me if you need further info.

Shoot - just realized you didn't specify which surgery you are interested in. It is the lap band meeting that is on Mondays - but anyone is welcome to come and just find out about it. I don't know which procedure you want but it never hurts to find out all the information available. I had the band and am loving it so far.