Support Groups

These are the Yahoo support groups that I know of in Arizona. A couple of them have meetings specifically on the West side. Why don't we keep adding to this thread and get together a comprehensive list of online and in person support groups all over Arizona? I know that surgeons have groups and there are a bunch of groups in the East valley and elsewhere in Arizona that I know nothing about. BTW, I shamelessly plagiarized most of this list from the Far West Side group. Thanks, April. Connie These are the groups with regular meetings http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZWLS All around great group, almost 900 members for all different surgeons in the state. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZWLS-FarWest For those in the Far, far west reaches of the valley. Meetings are in Litchfield Park off I-10 and Jack Rabbit Rd. The 1st Friday of the month. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WestSide_AZWLS/ Great group for those on the Westside Meetings are near Glendale Community College. Second and fourth Mondays. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ArizonaDS Very small, (30 or so) not many postings, but lets us compare notes as several members have traveled for thier DS and some get it and do not have alot of local support. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ-OSSG Here at AZ-OSSG, our goal is to give support and encouragement to those who are researching all forms of Gastric Bypass surgery or to those of you who have already had Gastric Bypass Surgery (WLS). We would like to provide information to those of you who are researching Weight Loss Surgery so that you can make an educated decision. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WLSST/ Weight Loss Surgery Straight Talk. Spin off of AZWLS http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZWLS-plasticsurgery Spin off of the national plastic surgery group. To help us here in Az talk more in depth about the surgeons and procedures available here.

Thanks so much!!! Jeannie

There is a support group for WLS patients in Sierra Vista. The group meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month in the Banquet Room at La Casita Restaurant at 6:00pm. The message board is located at http://groups.msn.com/WLSFriendsofSierraVistaAZ CJ

There is an east valley support group for all WLS people that meets at Banner Baywood Medical Center (Power Road and Baywood) in either the Superstition Room or the Kokopelli Room on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month. Next meeting is next Wednesday, May 26 at 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Search the groups.yahoo site for eastside_azwls. I would put the url here, but I think it is against obesityhelp rules and am not sure why. Barix Centers has a meeting on the third Tuesday of each month at their center in north Scottsdale and the time for that is 6 p.m. Address is 17500 N. Perimeter Drive in Scottsdale. Phone 480-538-2900. I believe that there is also a central valley group for all WLS people that meets at Banner Mesa (Country Club/Brown Road) off the cafeteria on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday or Thursday of the month. I have not attended so am not positive about which day, but I believe Wednesday and I believe the time is 6 p.m., but you would need to call the hospital to make sure. Also a new group ~ WLS Health & Fitness Support Group Meeting : "We meet on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Mesa Family YMCA in the Conference room. This is located at 207 North Mesa Drive in Mesa. It's just south of University on Mesa Drive. Our Membership is open to all WLS patients who would like help with their weight loss through a vigorous and well rounded exercise program. The first part of our meetings will be an open discussion group where we can discuss all topics related to Exercise and WLS. The second part of our meetings we will move over to the Fitness Center and help you setup an exercise program that you will be able to follow."

I just realized that I probably should not have put the Barix phone number and address up here, but they are sponsors of the site so I doubt that it should make a difference. I "think" that rule is for personal protection. I hope so. Sandra

Guess I am having DOH!! moments today. The Barix Centers support group is just for their patients. Sandra

Oh, Good Stuff! Let me add what I've got so far and gleen what you've got. I'll try to add more later.... City:    Phoenix Contact: Kristi Chavez Phone:   6029438475 Surgeon: Dr. Zahn City: Phoenix Contact: Carolyn Williams, RN Phone: 480-515-6296 San Pedro Valley WLS Support Group meets 2nd Tuesday of Month at Peace in the Lutheran Church 551 S. J-Six Rd Benson, AZ. Contact people Clara Jo Wogstad 586-3130 (grammie131948@y...) Mary Fournie 586-7321 (fourniefarm@m...) Sierra Vista WLS Support Group meets 4th Tuesday of Month at La Casita Restaurant in the meeting room Contact people KC Liebsch 620-0273 (kcliebsch@y...) Tucson Support Group Eastside Meets at El Dorado Hospital first Tuesday of month - 6:30 for new members, 7:00 for regular support group. Northside Meets at Northwest Hospital third Monday of each month at the same hours. They also have a website: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TUSWLS/?yguid=146002632