Is there any WLS support groups close to Albany???

Hi. I need to know if there are any WLS support groups close to ALbany? The one that is at the hospital where I will be having surgery only meets 1x a month and it was last Saturday. I just found out today that I must have 2-3 support group meetings done before my insurance will cover my RNY. With me being a student I planned on taking Winter term off so I can have surgery in December or January and be healed and feeling up to returning to classes for Spring Term, which is in March. If I can find more support groups and I prove I attended that might put me back on with my goal. This is so important to me, please if you know of any let me know ASAP. Thank you Michelle

Michelle-
is there any chance they will have support group more than once a month? I went to one and they told me not to go again until I paid- even though I have an appt set to meet with them and pay. So I missed last month and in December I am booked so can't go. I wonder if one of the other folks would lead a support group? Let me know if you get them to add some because I might be willing to go and I have 2 friends (patients of Dr. Read) who might go too...

deb366

Hi. I talked to Denise, the secretary for Dr. Reads office, she said they ONLY have one once a month. I think it really stinks they only have one, thats why I am trying to find other places. It seems to me that support groups should be free. Did they tell you that you have to pay to go to them or did they mean start paying towards the $750 program fee that insurance won't cover no matter what? Ugg this really stinks. I will call tomorrow and see if we can do one on our own. Maybe some room at the hospital or something or does it have to be with some of his staff. Please let me know if you find anything out as well.

Well I didn't know how many you needed before surgery but one of my friends who did said she went for a long time without paying and other folks have their kids and support people there. That doesn't make sense to me. I have my appt next week with Susan and the nutritionist and I have all my paperwork in and my medical records and my psych eval. So I will pay my $250 (first payment) next week but I can't make that group on 12/8. Maybe a good successful post op- could lead? You know the holidays are stressful and maybe their patients need more support during that time?

I don't know yet how many I need to attend prior. I am hoping for surgery in March. Do you have an idea when you will have surgery?

deb366

I will get a date on Monday if I have lost the 5% by then. I am trying really hard to meet that goal. I really wanted surgery in December or the very latest January. I will take Winter term off from school and hopefully be back up and feeling good to go back to classes for Spring term. But now with my insurance wanting me to attend 2-3 support groups I won't know if that will happen. Thats why I am so desperate to find another support group I can go to and hopefully that will count. Also my blood work came back for the vitamins and my vitamin D is to low so they called in a prescription for that and I have to start taking vitamin b-complex starting tomorrow because those were to low to. I have to retest in 1 month to see if levels are back up where they want them.

There is usually one in Eugene on a tuesday every month, Linda usually reminds us..... Linda????

Depending on the insurance, even though they SAY you have to go to 2 or 3 they might let that slide in favor of the more important things going on. I was a slacker and only went to 1 support group meeting before my surgery last Friday. My insurance also wanted me to attend at least two, but I got approved and nothing was ever said about how many I had gone to. I would say, keep working on getting that weight down the 5% and go from there. If your vitamin levels are off and won't be checked for another month anyway, you should be able to make the December meeting. If you make all the other requirements, they can still get you a date pending that meeting. I had a tentative date scheduled and got papers turned in to my insurance company, and I still needed to get a good lab back for blood test, AND they then wanted me to see a cardiologist before they would approve. I was able to get these things done, and kept my date with no problem. I guess I am saying, don't panic at this point. Just keep working at the things you need to do. It will all come around quickly towards the end. It did for me.

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Even the toughest criminals become remarkably docile 
 once separated from society by six feet of soil. 

Hi,

Bay Bariatrics has several support groups across the state.  We do not charge for support groups and they are open to all.  The closes group to you would be in McMinnville at the Senior Center on Saturday mornings.  The meeting in Coos Bay is on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm. I had bypass surgery almost 9 years ago and I can tell you that support group attendance is extreamly important for ong term success.  I have worked in the bariatric filed fo 7 years and I strongly believe that support groups should be open to all and should not involve a fee.  Best of luck to you. Robin Stephenson RN