Mississippi Support GROUPS? Need some info.......

Hey again Mississippi Here's a Thought- Checking into this whole WLS business, I've found a number of folks who say that statistically- Those who keep in touch with others in the same boat- Support Groups, tend to do much better in the long range Than those who "go it alone." So I thought, What if we help get the word out About All of the Support Groups around our state. Yes? If you look under "peers" There's a list of everyone in Mississippi that has A profile page on this site, And most of them are "Learning About Surgery", or "Hoping to have Surgery." There are also plenty of folks who are Post-Op. What I'm "planning" on doing, Is getting the info on all of the support groups And where/when they meet, and e-mailing the whole of the state. So- What's the info on support groups in your area? In North Mississippi/Oxford- Support Group Meets in the Magnolia Auditorium At Baptist Memorial Hospital 6:00pm till 7:30 pm, The first Tuesday of each month Upcoming- Nov. 1st ,.Bariatric Surgeons - (Dr. Walker Byars and/or Dr. Michael King ) Will be there, To give suggestions and answer questions and such. Dec. 6th, The Baptist Weight Loss Christmas Party! At both of these Folks typically share - Where to buy the best protein stuff at the best price, What they have found to be helpful, What they have found that caused them problems, (eating or losing) Etc... There are also Information Seminars Co-Sponsored by Baptist Weight Loss Center & The Center for Bariatric Surgery/ The Surgical Clinic of North Mississippi Their website is- http://www.surgicalclinic.ms/BARI_welcome.php Phone: Local: 662-234-3303 Toll free: 800-969-6908 In Memphis, Meetings in Seminar Rooms 2-3 At Baptist Memorial Memphis Hospital Upcoming- Oct. 24 -7 p.m. Nov. 19 -11 a.m. Nov. 28 -7 p.m. Dec. 3 -11 a.m. Dec. 19 -7 p.m. Dr. George Woodman, of Midsouth Bariatrics will be there At all of these answering questions and explaining The benefits and risks. These meetings are more seminar than support But are very valuable for those "Learning about Surgery" Both of these Groups are sponsored by Baptist Weight Loss Center They have info on their website- http://www.baptistonline.org/services/medical/weight_loss/index.asp South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center In Ocean Springs, also hosts meetings. From their web page, at- http://www.smsurgicalweightloss.com/ Support Groups "We have an established support group that meets The second Thursday of every month At Ocean Springs Hospital in the library at 6 pm And every 3rd Wednesday of every month In Pascagoula at JF Turner-Heart Advantage Building." They also sponsor Seminars- October 11, 6 pm SM Surgical Weight Loss Center 1124 Oakleigh Street Ocean Springs, MS October 26, 6pm Jackson, MS Location TBA November 10, 6 pm SM Surgical Weight Loss Center 1124 Oakleigh Street Ocean Springs, MS November 15 Saads Healthcare Center 1515 University Blvd, Mobile. AL Concerning these Seminars, From their website- "Call 800-537-8809 for seat reservations, no charge for attendance. Our Free seminars provide an opportunity To meet and talk with our surgeon, Dr. Avara. Topics covered will include an overview of the disease of obesity, Current surgical treatments, as well as the potential risks and benefits of each. Insurance issues will also be discussed." So Folks? More info and schedules from your area? Mississippi has been named 5 years in a row by The Center for Disease Control, As the most Obese (per Capita) State in the Nation, And with the U.S. being the most Obese Nation, Mississippi is the Heart of the Obesity Problem on Earth. Let's see if we can't all pull together And "nudge" those statistics just a little Further down the Scales? Best Wishes- Dx

Dx, Thanks for the info. Where did you get the info on the Oxford group? Deborah

Deborah, I got it mailed to me from Becky Wilson of Liv-Lite. Liv-Lite used to coordinate most of the bariatric surgeries Done out of Oxford, But The Folks at Baptist Memorial were doing All of the actual work so they broke off independent From the Liv-Lite corporation. I'll see if I can get an e-mail address for the local Oxford Baptist Weight Loss Center Folks. I was at the support group meeting this last Tuesday And their were very few of us this time. Usually a fair turnout. Best Wishes- Dx

MERIDIAN: 2nd Monday of the month, I think, at 5:30 PM. Somebody correct me if I am wrong! It meets at EMEPA. Contact Judi Nutt for specifics and directions. Judi can be reach by calling EMEPA in Meridian or emailed at [email protected] . That's East Mississippi Electrical Power Association. OPEN TO ALL. POST AND PRE-OP OR JUST CONSIDERING. MEMBERS HAD SURGERY AT VARIOUS HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE AND ALABAMA. The Queen will try real hard to be at this one every once in a while. Since she moved to Brandon, it has made attending very hard. JACKSON: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM. Meetings are held at the Norman C. Nelson Student Union at the University of MIssissippi Medical Center. To get on the email list or mailing list call 601-815-1294. Next meeting is Tuesday October 11, 2005 and the topic is "Sweet Dreams! (A guide to Healthy Sleep)". YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE HAD SURGERY AT UMC TO ATTEND. Look for your Queen at this one. JACKSON AREA: Also there is a Yahoo Group that meets at various times and locations. For more info go to: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mississippiWLSsupport/ BROOKHAVEN: Coming soon. Will post date, meeting place and details as soon as they are set in concrete!!!! THIS GROUP WILL BE OPEN TO ALL ALSO. Look for your Queen at this one. HATTIESBURG: Poke Christine or Missy Lissy for details on this one. The Queen has been known to "turnip" at this on rare occasion!

Please include our group! Winning At Losing, we meet the second Tuesday of each month at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Columbus, MS. We meet in the Willowbrook Bldg., third floor Solarium at 6:30 PM. Thanks.

Hattiesburg meets 3rd Monday of every month at 6:30 at Pine Grove.