Trying to connect

I'm in the process of jumping through all the hoops before my surgeon visit on April 2nd and I would love to find a support group in my area. I sure could use someone to talk to who has gone through or is going through the procedures. I'm in Kernersville but Winston-Salem or Greensboro would be okay too. This message board helps alot too. But, I still have many many questions especially about post-op. Thanks.

Hey Ethel. I am using Dr. Adolfo Fernandez (or Fuzz as he affectionately likes to be called) as my surgeon. He is in Winston-Salem and his team has a support group meeting on the last Thursday of every month. The next one is this week on Thursday (Feb. 22). It is open to anyone who is interested in having WLS and there are post-ops there too so you get lots of good info from his team and from his patients. The meetings are held in the Kitty Hawk room on the first floor of the Piedmont Plaza One Building at 1920 West First Street in Winston-Salem. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and usually lasts until 7 p.m. Here is his nurse's phone number if you would like to call them to get more information - 336-716-6902. Who is your surgeon? Donna

Dr. Fernandez was the first surgeon that my primary doctor recommended but I wa told that he no longer does the surgery in Forsyth Hospital so my insurance wouldn't cover him. I am going through the process and hopefully the surgery with Dr. Tim Farrell at UNC Chapel Hill. It's quite a drive but I've had surgery there before and the staff and hospital is fantastic. I suppose your support group is for Dr. Fuzz's patients only. I'll give the nurse a call anyway. Have you gone through the surgery yet? I'm all excited and scared at the same time. Thanks for the information. E

Dr. Fuzz does the surgery at Baptist. Is that hospital not covered by your insurance? I haven't had my surgery yet. I was hoping for late April or early May but when I talked to my boss about it at work today she said I would need to wait until mid May at the earliest because of vacations that are already scheduled in our department. I was not too happy about that. But I will do whatever I have to do. Good luck to you in your journey. Hugs, Donna

Baptist is not one of the hospitals that are on my insurance list. Sad isn't it that our lives revolve around what our insurance will let us do and with whom? Anyway, that is why I have to go to Chapel Hill. On the bright side I have had surgery there before and the whole experience was great. I think that because they are a teaching hospital that you get more attention. Does it seem that the support groups are by which surgeon you go to? As long as I have the sick/vacation time I can't see my work giving me a hard time...mostly because I won't give them the chance to. I'm hoping that they will let me work from home during recovery. I sit at a computer all day long and I'm sure I can connect from home and keep on truckin. Anyway, that is what I'll offer but if they don't want me to do that then I'll just sit home and relax for as long as it takes. Are you all approved and good to go with Dr. Fuzz? Isn't this all a very true test of your patience and dedication to the ultimate goal? Ah, the journey continues...E