? for successful bandsters: Do you attend support groups?

My surgeon asks that his patients attend at least 2 support group meetings a year for 5 years following the surgery. Is this a common practice? If you are one who goes to them do you think they help? What happens at a support group? Thanks in advance!

I don't think they can inforce that and OH is a form of support that should count for your surgeon's requirement.  However, I will say that having a "live" support group has been great for me.  So many bandsters complain that the hospital support groups are mostly RNY patients that I go trained to be a support group leader through the program her on OH and started a "Band Only" support group.  It's been great!  Not only do we support each other on band realated issues, we've become friends too!  I highly recommend at least trying som support groups in your area.

I started mine by simply reaching out to other OH members that live in my state.  We'd meet for coffee just chat.  It has now grown to a consistent group of 10-12 that meet once a month.

Best wishes on your WL journey~
Lisa O.

My doctor's office has one monthly and I go most times. Most times they are very informative and always supportive.

My center wanted us to attend 2 support meetings also.  Now I go to a lapband only group that they now offer.  Much better than all the folks with all different surgeries.   Some RNY folks think they are in a "special" group and kind of poo poo the rest of the folks, esp. bandsters.  So I stick to my own kind!!   I find it helpful.   It's good to see what others are doing and talking over any probs if there is any.  Then the leader usually has a topic or questions to open up the group.  They are only once a monthso I try to get there.

My surgeon's office strongly suggests that you attend support groups at the hospital. When you go in for an appointment they ask when the last time you've attended a support group. Ours are twice a month. How my bariatric center does it is that the first hour of group is an educational session and the second hour is a support group with an eating disorder psycologist. We just had support group last night and our first hour there was a healthy living chef doing a cooking demo. He made an excellant warm quinoa salad that we all got to try. He answered questions about cooking and what not. Then the second session was the support part.

Our group is a mix of Lapband patients with some RNY patients also. I believe that everyone has something to offer and that a mixed group is fine. We don't talk about what we are eating and what works for a Lapbander as opposed to a RNY patient. During support we are ONLY allowed to talk about the emotions that are conjured up in the journey and how we deal wtih them and the life issues that are coming up from them!

That being said, public support groups aren't for everyone. I always said it wasn't for me, but I've found it to be very very helpful in my journey. OH is another great support system in conjunction with support group or in place of.

Whatever you choose, good luck to you in this journey!

I attended monthly in-person support group meetings for the first 15-16 months post-op. The meetings were usually helpful to me, and were a 2-1/2 hour drive round-trip, which was manageable. There was a different topic and often a guest speaker for each meeting, followed by group discussion and Q&A session. The guest speakers were interesting - plastic surgeons, personal trainers, psychologists, etc.

Then my surgeon left the area, I had to find a new surgeon, and since then I've gone to only one support group meeting in my area (plus 2 when I was visiting the NW). It's a 6-hour round trip for me now and since the meetings are 7:30-8:30 pm, that means I get home at 11:30 pm - if I can keep awake enough to avoid crashing the car. Not workable.

I find participating on OH to be like attending a support group meeting every day...and it's all bandsters here (most of the time)...I love that!

Jean

My doctor has 2 support meetings a month and I attend one of them.  I really enjoy them and have found through them a group of girls that go for hula and belly dancing lessons so we have a ball.

The meetings each month focus on something new for us to learn.  Next month we have a doctor coming in to talk about plastic surgery .

 

 I am 1 year  out and i try to go monthly. There s always someone to learn from to share with and to comiserate with.
wendy

It was a requirement pre op to go to a meeting.  My surgeon's group has a support meeting once a month.  They do RNY and Sleeves and the Band, so the first portion is a question and answer session with one of the two surgeons & Nut. The 2nd portion could be small groups per surgery type or it could be a guest speaker.

I actually "met" two ladies from OH online and then got to meet them in real life at the meetings.  It's nice to know "real" live people going through this journey also.  AND OH is a  way of support  for me.  I received so much help from everyone as a newbie and now I try to help others if possible.

Yep --- I am lucky that I have access to 3 different Band Support groups per month -- and 2 general WLS groups locally.

I go to at least 1 Band support group meeting -- sometimes 2 per month.

I started to go before my surgery to get the 'real scoop' about living with a Band  --- met the people and loved the group -- so I keep going!

I get support, I give support ---- it is a good thing.