I went to my local WLS support group tonight...

I sat at a table with 8 women and no men.  It about drove me nuts!!  If there are any women lurking please take no offense.  Men get to the point...Period.  Sure there are times we need to vent and talk things out (we probably don't do enough of that).  It is just I don't seem to get much support at the local meetings anymore.  After a year or so I try to go to be a support to others and to gain new information.  That second part is not happening anymore.  Thank you Men's Forum for being a sane sounding block in a noisy, chattery, long winded world.   Brian

Paul, My doc has about the same opinion on it. Over the years I have seen him faced now and then at support group meetings with the person who is complaining that they aren’t eating what they should, aren’t losing to goal, and are struggling with the same old “Diet Mentality” as before WLS. He has always recommended that they start back at the beginning and go a week on liquids, a week on pureed, a week on mushy foods, and slowly advance their intake by the same “one new ingredient a day” plan that his office has all new post-ops follow. When asked “Why?” Likewise, he says it is a way to “re-learn relationship with food,” and build new habits, rather than having any physiological benefit. But he also stresses that the psyche motivations to eat healthy are an essential part of the process. That whole- “Just a tool” business. Best Wishes- Dx

It seems like 1/3 to 1/2 of the time the support group has a psychologist hawking their wares.  I really enjoy when the local WLS surgeon comes and speaks.  Paul, like your question, I would love to see a local Gastroenterologist speak about absorbtion of the pouch and what is lost in absorbtion by RNY.  Pipe dreams for now...Brian 

Brian, Sorry your group is a bust. I see folks all the time who have a 2 hour drive to a crappy Support group opportunity. I’m Very Lucky. My local folks are pretty great. The numbers attending can drop fairly low at busy times of the year But for the most part a very positive bunch. The focus tends to be on swapping- “I found this great stuff…” Or “where do you buy?....” Sorts of questions between the members. Our surgeons are often there just sitting in or They stop by during the meeting. It’s a great place for Q&A outside the office setting. Our group has several nurses in the bunch So a lot of available info. There are newbies and a few pre-ops each time But also a good mix of 4 to 6 years Post-ops (both RNY & Lap-Banders) in the group. And it’s about a 5 minute drive from my house. I’m Very Lucky. Best Wishes- Dx

I have been going to a support group since three days before my surgery. I've noticed here lately that the ladies at the meeting are becoming increasingly "catty". They want to ***** about everything from slow weight loss to how much protein your body can absorb in a given time frame. I believe that if I even thought this surgery would of made me that uptight I would of opted for something else. I can' t relate to some of the thought processes going on there.  I have actually been looking into trying an overeaters annonymous because I still feel the compulsions to eat large.... just don't have the "stomach" for it anymore.

Brother Brian.... I feel you pain....I'm coming up on 3 years....and how many times do I get to hear the gag by gag retelling of the first time some one gets the foamies.... the old timers seem to get together on line to talk about issues...but the face to face...congratulations and wow moments...and yes you did the right thing, and no you did not break you pouch the first week... and "I'm not losing, but I won;t give up my Dr pepper" The people that come, are not far enough along to discuss addiction, and transfer of addictions, and the nitty gritty of nutrition... the group leader is just as frustrated as me...she is 4 years out, and needs support too..but .... when I do attend, it's under the knowing, that what I teach a newbie, I'm reinforcing to myself... Now to be honest...Sean..,,has started a mens group hee in houston,...and it seems to be the real deal...but it's 37 miles away, at 7p on thursday in traffic....**** russ

right on russ,

by this time, it's all about where to go from here. i'll recount stuff for the newbies here now and then but mostly i want to hear from guys like me or more so from guys like Dx who are further out. so what do you do when the surgery seems like a distant memory? how do we still lose weight? what about head hunger this late in the game etc.

point is, i still hurl at least once a week. i still have issues so it's never far from me in that sense. the surgery is though. i have a whole different persepective with different issues and need another set of coping skills over two years out. that's what interests me now. i've settled into a routine, eat the same stuff and know i can keep the weight off. so how do i keep it from creaping back up? you know, that kind of stuff. anyway, that's why i come here. i don't think i would get that at our meetings. just newbies. they want me to talk about the journey so it doesn't help me. that's ok but i need help too now and then. that's why i'm here though. i still learn stuff everyday. i just have to dig a little now. so guys, things are way different after a couple years!

That's why I'm excited about my surgeons office starting a mens only support group!!!!!  I didn't make it to the first one but the report back from the people that went was they loved it.