albany lap band meeting and other

just wondering if there is a lap band meeting this monday in albany and if so what time.    i want to get my 2 support session done this month.   I had my psych eval done last week.  that was hard due to my extensive history of sexual abuse.  She asked  me if i ever confronted my mother and i said no.  she was suprised.  but i told her i would never confront her about it.  i never had counseling for it but my turning point was his funeral and i forgave him.  that was my release which the therapist seem to accept.  my philosphy (which took many years to accept) is what is done is done and i cant change it.  i can dwell but that wont change it.  so i will accept and move forward.  worked for me. i had my sleep study.  i do have an rare anxiety attack which i did.  i thought i would never fall asleep - i would get close and then i would start thinking am i breathing right.  the tech told me in the morning - i thought you would never fall asleep.  i said i was beginning to think that myself.  so that is done. all i need now is my information session (6/26), 2 information sessions and finally the 10%.  down 10lbs from south beach. thanks for reading my long message.

Lap Band Support Groups at AMC are the second Monday of the month from 5-6:30pm. The number to call to find out about cancellations or changes is 262-2195, there's an automated message that will advise of all info.

I'm glad to hear you made peace with your history. We all have some stories that haunt us, and the fact is, that even though we find ways of coping, those ways may need to change over time. This will become apparent to you as the weight starts to come off or as the maintenance phase begins. We are all in the same boat, and you may find that over the course of time there are more issues to work out. Keep open to the need for further therapy. Life is challenging!!

Good luck with everything and keep us posted on your progress!

Amy

I believe there is actually a special Lapband (+ everyone else RNY's etc.  are invited) support group meeting this Monday June 9th.  Jamie has made arrangements for a guest speaker.  Hopefully she'll be able to post more information on this.  The meeting will be at AMC but not in the usual location.  Thursday evening is the general support group meeting at AMC.  We have banders and RNY's there.  You could get both required support group meetings in this week.  I would suggest going to as many as you can both before and after surgery.  I look forward to going to the meetings. I always learn something. Good luck. Dominique

hermance67:
Hello! Welcome. Sounds as if you are working on all of the preop requirements! So by the sound of the post you are going to have a Lap band? I recommend not stopping at 2 support groups but going as much as possible early on and for as long as you can! They have proven to be beneficial and those who attend keep more wt off long term and ose more as well! It is all about changing your life and learning to take care of ourselves! I will send seperate post on my thoughts about WLS, therapy and those with personal history of trauma.....


First here is the info on this Monday's support group:
(Dominique is correct it is a special group NOT TO MISS especially for those who may have trauma in their pasts and who may be more challenged by addictions transfer; and typically we meet though 2nd Monday of the month 5-630pm)..

MONDAY JUNE 9th in Albany MED (5-8pm special event!)
Albany Med Hospital Room J 305 Dr. Julie Dostal (PhD/Addiction therapist and 4+ yr postop Lap-Bander) will be speaking about WLS and addictions transfer.....I advise you not to miss this! Free and open to all pre and postop pts regardless of surgeon or surgery!

Here is info on local support groups I have to date!
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These are the online/in-person groups I know of...updated 6/8/08
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/index.cfm?contentID=25&facilityID=3&itemType=3
this is Saratoga's website the board room is downstairs floor, if you are in front of hospital look to right of main entrance, says same day surgery go in first door on left!
My contact info [email protected] or (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 2/13/08, 4/9/08, 6/11/08,10/8/08, 12/10/08 I am guessing NO AUGUST 2008 group not on flyer!), on the second WEDNESDAY of EVEN NUMBERED months, at 6:00-7:30 p.m. GF Hospital Learning Center side B- 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/
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In Albany Med has 3 support groups all meeting in same room:
1) A general preop/postop support groups EVERY OTHER Thursday 5:30-7:30pm(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. I am currently facilitating these groups. I am a psych NP and 5+ yeasr post RNY patient. [email protected]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/upstatenywlssupport/ next group 5/29/08

2) Lap Band Support group at Albany Med SECOND Monday of the Month 5pm-6:30pm same waiting area as above. I facilitate

3) LONGTERM WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY SUPPORT (those over 1 year out) SECOND MONDAY AT AMC 6:30pm-8pm same waiting area as above
I runs Lap Band & 1 yr out groups. [email protected]
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)
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***NOTE AS OF MAY 2008 ACN's are on HOLD!!!!!******call for more info
Albany Clinical Nutrition 1240 New Scotland Road Slingerlands, NY 12159
(518) 475-7000 X4 WAS Run by:
Kathleen Callahan RD [email protected] (she has recently taken position at AMC )EVERY TUESDAY 5-7pm in their waiting room. She usually does a topic w/ handouts. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACN_Bariatric_Surgery_EducationGroup/
THIRD Tuesday of the month is dedicated to 1 year plus issues!
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A newer 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.
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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]