Looking to start a SJ support group

Hello all! I've been thinking about starting a SJ support group for the past year. I'm a patient of Barix in PA, and although I love their support group, I'm finding it hard to make the hour drive to and from the meeting each month. I finally finished my masters in school counseling and so I have a little free time on my hands, especially with summer around the corner, and I'd like to work on starting a support group around here. I would be willing to volunteer my home (Sicklerville, NJ) for the first couple of meetings and I have some ideas on how  to make the meetings fun and informative for a small group. I also work at a middle school in Marlton, and I could check with my principal to see how much they charge for room rental if it got to be a group over 15 or so.  Let me know if there is some interest and I'll put together a meeting for June.  Some ideas... 1. No more then an hour meeting once a month (Any more then an hour and I know I lose my attention) 2. Each month 3 - 5 people can bring healthy snacks. I would ask that people email me the recipes the day before the meeting and I will print/copy them at school so everyone could have a copy. 3. Regular clothing exchanges 4. Monthly meeting topics/themes to discuss. Barix has a great email that they provide for support group leaders and patients each month and I can use that as our "jumping off" point for discussion. 5. No fee. Everyone should be able to attend. The only way I could ever see of a fee is if we had to rent a place to hold meetings, but I think that would be a while.  I'm only 10 months out, so I'd love for people both "older" and "younger" in surgery join us. Everything I hear from people 5+ years out is that by going to meetings they keep themselves in line. I had this surgery for the long haul and I want to make sure I live up to my end of the bargain.  So what do you think?? Anyone interested??? Take care, Beth  [email protected]

how far away is Sicklerville from the Freehold area?  I ma new and NEED this desperatly.  It's only been 3 weeks for me and I am dying to meet more people going through the same stuff.....Karen

Karen: I just used MapQuest and it said Freehold is 1 hour and 17 minutes away. You would be more then welcome, but it may be a long drive for you. My husband just had the surgery April 24 and he's almost 3 weeks out. The liquid diet is making him loopy! I keep tell him to eat SF popsicles for the "crunch" factor. I just made the best dessert for him this weekend (his 30th birthday) and that went over well. I made SF chocolate Jello pudding. Then I took a tablespoon of low sugar/low fat peanut butter and melted it in the microwave for 30 seconds and drizzled it over the pudding. He loved it!! Good luck with your journey!!! Beth

Hi Karen -- you are actually closer to either the Monmouth Medical Support Group run by Dr Borao -- or the OCWLS Group, facilitated by me -- we meet in both Lakewood and Toms River -- twice per month.  Let me know if you need any more info on either. Hugs, Nannette

Hi Beth... I might be interested...I think you're about 1/2 an hour away from me and that's what I'm going to right now (New Beginnings in Voorhees).  I'm located in Tabernacle. Keep me posted if you get something started.  I love your ideas so far!  I'd probably be willing to offer up my home for meetings too... Heather

Hi there! I may be interested too! I live in Cherry Hill, so not that far. The only thing is, I wor****il 8PM each night during the week so I might not always be able to make it (may not always be able to get off from work). Please keep me posted!! Thank you for this though, cause I can really use it!

Hello:

Kennedy Health Systems in Stratford, NJ has a Bariatric Support Group. Our next meeting is Monday May 19, 2008 @7:00 P.M. The meeting is held at the stratford hospital on the 3rd floor. Kenndy's Bariatric meetings are usually every 4th Monday from 7-8.

There's a GREAT meeting in Gloucester County - at the Gloucester County Board of Ed offices.  We've been having a little trouble with membership numbers lately, so if anyone would be interested in attending a meeting there, that would be great.  Beth, I know we are seriously looking for new ideas and fresh faces, if you'd like to participate. We meet every other Wednesday - we have a meeting this week on June 4th.  It starts at 7 PM, and it's just a couple of minutes off of the highway. I'd be interested in a second group, but I leave for the summer in 2 weeks :-)  

I AM HAVING SURGERY ON 6/16/08 AND NEED A SUPPORT GROUP IN MONMOUTH COUNTY OR NEAR.  i NEED YOU TO HELP ME THROUGH THIS TOO PLEASE. IM EXCITED BUT I NEED SOMEONE WHO WILL UNDERSTAND.  MY EMAIL IS [email protected].  THANK YOU NANCY

 Hi Nancy, I'm copying and pasting Nannette's response to Karen for you. I'm not sure if she'll see your post, as she's going away for a couple of days.  Hi Karen -- you are actually closer to either the Monmouth Medical Support Group run by Dr Borao -- or the OCWLS Group, facilitated by me -- we meet in both Lakewood and Toms River -- twice per month.  Let me know if you need any more info on either. You can PM Nannette , her post is in the beginning of this post. Best of luck