Hi Is this support group open to anyone or just Dr. Bour's patients?

I checked into him doing my surgery but his fees were a little steep for me since I am self-pay. I am going to Columbia for surgery but having a support group closer to home would be a big help. Thanks

Well yesterday was 3 weeks post op.  I am feeling so much better.  My scares are healing good.  I am able to move so much better.  I have been sleeping in the bed for the past 3 nights.  Although it makes my hips hurt, I am getting more sleep.  To my scale I have at home I have lost 33lbs.  I go back on 5/29 for my 1 mth follow up.  I will find out the true loss.  I can kinda see it.  I am able to wear all of my wedding rings now.  One I haven't been able to wear in a while.  It really feels good.  I put on a pair of jeans yesterday that used to be too tight.  They fit with some looseness WOOHOO!!!  I just hope I am doing everything right.  Sometimes I feel I don't eat enough.  I do miss the chewing part of it.  My puree trial is almost up.  I can't wait!!  I hope I do well.  I will be returning to work on 6/2/08.  That is if Dr. Byrne releases me.  I want to thank all who have responded to my concerns.  This is a wonderful site which has some fantastic people!!  I am glad to be a part of it

I understand exactly what you're going through.  As I was "jumping through the hoops" before surgery, I didn't think about it much.  Both me and my wife have had WLS.  Origionally, my wife was to have her surgery 2 weeks before me, but she had some GI issues and they had to change her surgery to a Lap-Band (which caused her surgery to be bumped back).  When this happened, the surgeon asked me if I wanted her date.  I took it, so now it was 2 weeks closer than I was planning on.  It's one thing to plan for it, but it's another ballgame when it comes down to D-day.  I started getting anxious.  But throughout the process, I felt that the good Lord had wanted me to go through with this (things were just lining up just the right way, and I was getting confirmations from a lot of different sources).  What I'm trying to say is, although I got anxious before surgery, I put my faith in the "Man Upstairs" to look after me.  I came through surgery with flying colors, never needed pain meds after the hospital stay and only stayed in the hospital for 2 days.  I also saw my surgeon for my 1 month post-op and I have already lost 32 lbs since surgery.  I'm sure you'll do fine.

Dr. Bour's office will be starting a new Post Op Support Group.  Starting July 1st there will be a 1:00 support group as well as the original 6:30 group on Tuesday's.  I also mentioned that getting in to see the psychologist is a NIGHTMARE, she, (Dr. Calhoun) said that backlog of patients she "inherited" as been cleared and it shouldn't be so long to get an appointment with her. Told her I haven't seen a psych dr. since before surgery, over approx. 15 months ago.   Gonna try to set up an appointment, and see what happens.  Will let you'll know how long it takes to get in to see her.

Yup - totally been there, done that.  It goes away with time.  Warm drinks helped me a LOT.  Teas, coffees, SF cocoa, anything I could get my hands on & down my throat.  Hang in there, hon - it will get a WHOLE lot easier!  And the results will outweigh the challenges!