ISO Hampton/NptNews Support Group with LapBand people

I am looking for a support group in my area with LapBand members. The surgeries are so different that I feel like the groups are not usually geared toward what I'm needing. I'm really wanting to find some people to meet with who have been banded for a while. I would probably go as far as Williamsburg, VA Beach, Norfolk, Suffolk... etc. Thanks!

Hello Stacie - I don't know if ANY of the information I'm about to post below, will help you - but thought Id' toss it out there in case. I don't attend support groups and never have, so I have NO first hand information about any of these, BUT, Ive heard several of the local members talk about them and it's typically very positive. Did you have your surgery here? Does your doctor or his staff have any specific recommendations for LAP BANDERS?? That might be another option. Good luck to you - oh, one more thing, did you know that there is a LAP BAND FORUM on this site? IF not, here is the link for that. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/a,messageboard/board_id,5359/ - Lei ::::::::::::::: CUT AND PASTE from JUDY's post ::::::::::::::::::: Support Meetings in Hampton Roads!!!!! Original Post by ** Judy ** at 10:47 PM EST on 04/02/2006 Virginia Beach, VA - RNY (11/24/2004) I responded with this info to an older post. Thinking it might be over looked, I decided to give it it's "own" post. Hope it is useful to someone!! I usually attend 2-3 support groups per month. There is one held the first Tuesday of each month in the Virginia Beach General area -- across from the Emergency Room -- in the Health Education Center. It is a "sand" colored building diagonally across from the ER and parking is behind or across from it. It begins at 7 p.m. Norfolk Surgical Group has two per month. I had my surgery with Dr. Wohlgemuth of Norfolk Surgical -- he is the best!!!! The first is held the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Lifestyle Building beside Chesapeake General Hospital on Battlefield Blvd. It begins at 7 p.m. The second support meeting with Norfolk Surgical is held the 4th Thursday of each month at Sentara Leigh Hospital on Kempsville Road in Norfolk. Drive down the right hand side of the hospital. When it becomes a one story building, park your car. Walk down the sidewalk -- you will see the cafeteria to your right as you walk down the sidewalk. The meeting is in a room at the back of the cafeteria. It starts at 7 p.m. All three are open to the public. The meeting at Leigh (4th Thursday of the months) usually has one of the surgeons present for question and answer. The Va Beach General and the Leigh meeting have a Registered Dietician present for question and answer. The Chesapeake General and the Leigh have Bariatric Program Coordinator available for question and answer. Come join us -- they are all great!!!!!!!!!!!! ::::::::::::::::::::::::: END OF JUDY's POST :::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Thank you Leilani. I had my surgery done at Walter Reed up in DC. They do have a support group but I have yet to coordinate one of my appointments with one of their meetings. I do frequent the LapBand forum, and have used it in place of a 'live' local group. I did make it to the Sentara Leigh group before my surgery. I liked that there were so many support people there, but it was mosly an RNY group so I kept having to pipe up and say, "but that's different for a band, right?" I didn't know about the others, so I may give them a try. Even though the Sentara Leigh one wasn't geared toward my surgery, it was really nice to be in a room full of people I could relate with. I enjoyed seeing people there who had reached goal and been there for a long time. I think it's wonderful that they still come to the support meetings. I also liked that there were so many people, we were over flowing the room. I'm seeing a therapist, but those appointments are few and far between. I also think there's a lot to be said for a group of peers getting together to discuss a common topic. Thank you again Leilani for all your information!

Stacie, I know it is farther away and I do not know if you want to make the trip so far away but we have a group that meets on Monday evenings specifically for Lap Band Patients at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond. I do not know the specific times but if you are interested I will be happy to find out for you. Good luck! Tammy

Thanks Tammy. I do think I would try and make it to some of the LapBand meetings. Richmond isn't really much more than a trip to VA Beach with all the tunnel mumbo jumbo going on. It's more than what I'd want to do every Monday, but I would like to give it a try if you have the info... thanks!

Dr.Clark & Dr. Terracina hoave a LapBand Support Group Meeting at Sentara Hospital in Hampton. It is open to anyone. Their phone number is (757) 591-9572. You could give them a call and find out the schedule or they have a web site and it lists the dates and times. Weight Loss Surgery Center of Hampton Roads.You will be more than welcome to attend them.

Thank you so very much! I will give them a call.

Hey Stacie. i would also like to find a lap band group to go to. I live out on the Northern Neck so anywhere is going to be far from me. Please let me know what you find out. Thanks Leigh