Local Upstate NY Support group info!!!

These are the online/in-person groups I know of...updated 11/2007 I have facilitated a Bariatric Support Group in Saratoga Springs since mid-2003 (at the time Dr.'s Yeaton/Anderson were performing RNY at that hospital). 1st Monday of the Month at Saratoga Hospital in the Board Room 211 Church Street Saratoga Springs NY 12866 http://www.saratogacare.org/

 My contact info (office) 518 583-3035 x 212 *can call and by 3pm if I cancel due to weather it will reflect that on my VM message, or hospital operator 587-3222 would know or on our website: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SaratogaSprings-NY-WLS- support/ I usually present a topic (realistic expectations, WLS lifestyle, protein sampling, trimming the psychological fat, regain issues, body image/self esteem...are some) and from time to time we also have some guest speakers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Glens Falls (please call to confirm as it has tendency to change w/o my awareness/dates time place etc.!) Karen Hogan @ (518) 926-2615 or email her @ [email protected] Meets every other month (EVEN NUMBERED MONTHS), on the second WEDNESDAY of EVEN NUMBERED months, at 6:00 p.m., in Cafeteria B at Glens Falls Hospital., in Glens Falls, NY. It doesn't matter which hospital, surgeon, type of surgery, or nutritionist you are using. It is open to anyone who would like more information. http://www.glensfallshospital.org/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Albany Med has 3 support groups all meeting in same room: 1) A general preop/postop support groups EVERY OTHER Thursday 6-8pm (open to anyone) but mainly Dr. Singh/Dr. Rosati patients attend. New Scotland ave. entrance (white pillars) go in first LEFT (before the info desk) down the hall, in the waiting area it meets. Robyn Posson Licensed Mental Health Counselor and RNY post-op [email protected] runs these groups http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/upstatenywlssupport/ 2) Lap Band Support group at Albany Med SECOND Monday of the Month 5pm-6:30pm same waiting area as above. 3) LONGTERM WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY SUPPORT (those over 1 year out) SECOND MONDAY AT AMC 6:30pm-8pm same waiting area as above Amy Cassota [email protected] RN & postop RNY runs Lap Band & 1 yr out groups. I believe they have an answering machine system to call in case of cancellations/inclimate weather (518) 262-2195 or it may be on the site (although not too active lately) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Albany Clinical Nutrition 1240 New Scotland Road Slingerlands, NY 12159 (518) 475-7000 X4 Run by: Kathleen Callahan RD [email protected] EVERY TUESDAY 5-7pm in their waiting room. She usually does a topic w/ handouts. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACN_Bariatric_Surgery_E ducationGroup/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A new group, I have little info on and have never attended is in Gloversville NY (run by a patient OH chapter leader trained) http://upstatenybariatricsupportlbravehost.com/ Meeting every Second and Forth Sunday of the Month Place: Nathan Littauer Hospital 99 E. State St Gloversville, NY in the Auditorium Time: 6pm to 8pm Please Email Staci White with any Questions at: [email protected] http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php ?N=W1144872146 is her OH profile ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here is all the info on Ellis I have http://www.ellishospital.org/bariatrics.cfm http://www.ellishospital.org/bariatricsseminars.cfm Bariatric Support Groups give weight loss patients and potential patients an intimate forum to discuss personal and medical issues. The group meets the first Monday and the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Ellis Hospital's George Wm. Graham Auditorium. Support groups are supervised by a medical professional and feature a guest speaker such as a nutritionist, a psychologist, an endocrinologist, or a surgeon. Parking for both the seminar and support group is available, free of charge, in the Ellis Hospital parking garage, which is accessible from Nott Street. Please note that attendees may be dropped off directly outside the auditorium door, which is accessible from Parking Lot # 1 off of Rosa Road. Ellis Hospital Bariatric Care Center 1405 Fulton Avenue Schenectady, NY 12308 Phone: 518.243.1313 Fax: 518.831.7007 Email: [email protected]

The group meets the first Monday and the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Ellis Hospital's George Wm. Graham Auditorium. Support groups are supervised by a medical professional and feature a guest speaker such as a nutritionist, a psychologist, an endocrinologist, or a surgeon.

Posted by: [email protected] Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:10 am (PST)

Please do not forget that all bariatric patients - regardless of surgeon chosen, are welcome to attend the Ellis Bariatric Support Group meetings. We have always been an open meeting and do provide documentation of attendance for compliance with different surgical program pre-requisites.  The meetings are run by Pamela Spicer and topics vary (based on the "Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients" and certified by Bariatric Support Centers, International ) and time is provided for small group discussion or networking time at the end of each meeting. The group often has speakers (Colleen Cooke - author, Dr Nydegger ) or special events (September's Walk From Obesity) and members are encouraged to sign up for the weekly email "Fit For Life" from the bariatric coordinator, Anne Jones RN.We have a wonderful network of professionals in the Capital Region who are dedicated to a good quality of life for post operative bariatric and lap band patients! It has been my pleasure to be associated with all of you and lend my continued support. - Pamela

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LiriosLiteBrigade/ may have been taken over by spammers, not sure if active!? http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Capital_Region_Bariatri c_Support_Group/ This is an INDEPENDANT group that is for ALL people interested in or that have had Gastric Bypass Surgery in the Upstate NY, Capital Region. We are not affiliated with any other group or Hospital in the area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr Braverman-Panza's PATIENTS ONLY meet the first Monday of the month at 1375 Washington Ave Ext Suite 202 Albany, NY in Dr Braverman-Panza's reception room. Office# (518) 482-0007 Facilitated by Janet Folkman Social Worker and seasoned Veteran RNY postop [email protected]