Support Group Meetings

I had my surgery in December and attended the January & February support group meetings but if they were any indication of what they're all like I think I'll pass. January's had a guest speaker - a plastic surgeon who discussed options.  Having just had surgery I wasn't ready to hear about more surgery. February's guest was a woman who talked about "thoughtful walking" - good grief! I guess I thought that a support group would talk about the trials & tribulations about the surgery and helping people adjust afterward.  If this is an example - I get more support from this site and all of you. Your thoughts?

I've heard the ones at OHSU are pretty good, but I haven't gone because it's a two hour drive up and a two hour drive back.  I just took the OH training and have started a local group here in Eugene.  Maybe you or someone in the Portland area could do that and start a group of your own?  You can then find out the things your members want to discuss and arrange your meetings around those sorts of things.  We're having our first meeting on the 19th.  I'm anxious to see the direction we take. Linda

Hey, it beats the people spending 15-20 minutes *****ing about the band and why people SHOULDN'T get it -- and we were all already banded.  Go figure!  I'm glad to see that they're trying to take the reigns on this and actually give some structure to the meetings but I just got tired of hearing people complain so much -- especially when not taking personal responsibility. I haven't gone to a formal support group meeting in years and I don't really miss it.  I enjoy the breakfasts when I can make them and meeting up with people post-op and pre-op and just chatting.  Between that and these forums (and others) I've done just fine. Lori