Support Groups and Further Out Post Ops

I went to a support meeting the other night and started thinking about how the support group there was helping me. The group is run to support pre ops and some post op issues. I went because there were several pre ops I have helped via email with their questions and wanted to meet them. Its nice to see people face to face. I know they are trying to get the grads to come to these meetings to assist with questions. I complied but did not feel I got anything to take away with me....Funny many of the pre ops that come to this massive meeting do not ask questions. I don't know if they are intimidated by the size of the grou*****t sure how to form the question....Most of the questions that were asked dealt with the skin and food issues. (Been there and done that and have the shirt to prove it) No one seemed interested in asking about the pyschological changes we have as well. Which is the area that I feel probably needs more attention on it...I wish at pre op I understood our changes a little better. I know experience is the best teacher but sometimes a heads up does not hurt. I was wondering how many old azzes still attend support group meetings and do you feel you get something out of the meetings for you? I did like the Q&A dialog I just felt that the dialog was very one sided to pre ops....How about your experiences? Debbie

many preops have no idea where to even start or understand the pshych issues with the post op life. I know I had NO idea, and I did a LOT of esearch. How coul sloing al that weight be stressfull or anything but feeling wonderful???? I am 4 years out and Yes I attend on a regular basis. I probably don't often take home much NEW info, altho at Barix they do have info given out every meeting and some thing should apply to about everbody. the biggest thing I get is an infusion of enthusiasm and more reason to stick to my plan. And I share psych stuff even if they are not ready to hear ot, because some one at that gruop might need it and not know how to ask. Our groups tend to be fairly small, maybe that makes it easier. we have a mix of oldies and newbies.

Small groups do work better...I have two other support groups that I go to that are small and I like them alot. We do discuss issues that surround post and pre ops...its very well rounded. The larger one needs help. I agree with you about the infusion of enthusiam.....it helps me to comply with keeping the weight off too! PS. How is the Personal Training Course going? Debbie

the personal training calss is awesome. I am working on a presentation on obesity sensitivy, I am going to present in 2 weeks . was going to do it yesterday but after I posted on here about it I got about 80+ emails and decided i needed to process thru them, and incorporate more into the presentation than I originlly intended and rework it a little to really reflect what we need and want as well as the basic issues of discrimination . it is coming along, I am taking a communication class as well, and so now have a presentation, 2 tests to study for and 2 papers to write over the next 10 -12 days, along with about 200 pages of reading. so really I should not be messing around on the internet but getting to work... I worked a 12 hour shift today and I am beat tho. So tommorow after the walk from Obesity I will be doing homework and more home work. I really do love it tho!!!!! I am definately NOT bored at all.

I go to 3 a month. One is a casual more social group on a Saturday at a coffee house. Many folks longer post-op then I so it is not a "formal discussion". The other two are through the hospital. The one is run by one of the doctor's nutritionists and has pre-ops through long term post-ops and at 7:30 the longer term (more than a year) post-ops break off into a separate room to talk about other issues or they can stay with the main group. This is always a good thing. We have a fair amount of longer term post-ops that still attend. I think we feel like we need to go - it helps with accountability and allows us to help others too. Statistic say that those that continue with support groups do better. Anyway, the group usually has a topic and sometimes guest speakers - recently a plastic surgeon. Another session was on exercise. The other group is run by the hospital nutritionists and coordinators. There is usually a topic and it is more of a discussion then lecture. We've had psychologists come in. We had the one surgeon come in and answer questions (like a panel discussion). So, my experiences are good. We have a good core of long term post-ops that show up at the meetings so the Q&A sessions get a fair share of questions from all stages. Kathy

We have a 6+ month post-op group that meets every month. Do I get anything from it??? Not really. Honestly. I know everything by this point. I know what I gotta do to lose more weight. I know what to eat - I know what not to eat. Honestly - what more could the group do for me besides regurgitate what I tell them with thier own stories about the same things I am going through. I still try to make it every couple of months.

Hi Debbie! It's been awhile since I've posted anything. I've been lurking around again for the past two weeks. I also went back to a support meeting, for the first time in a lonnnnnggg time. I need all of these things! I've recently gained about 15 lbs. Yikes!!!! So I'm back!! And it feels good. I've dropped 5 of the 15 lbs. 10 more to go! There is NO WAY I'm going back to what I was, 245 lbs. I'm not going to go thru all of this, just to gain it back! NO WAY!!!! It took me about 8 months, but my weight slowly started creeping up again. Ok, thats enough of this!!! Back to the basics for this girl!! The good news is.....yes, our tool still works! All you have to do is work it! I don't really take away anything new from the meetings, but just being there and listening to all of the pre-ops, or the brand new post-ops, inspires me to keep going. It refreshes my mind. Reminding me of how far I have come, how far I have to go yet and what I need to do to maintain. It's all good! I plan on attending a lot more. Lyn

HI Debbie. I feel very much the same way as you. That's why I kinda quit going over the summer, but I did got to the September meeting. I know they are trying to make it more "post op friendly", but ALOT of pre ops come to the meeting and sometimes they can tend to take over the discussion. I know its important for them to go to meetings, but that's why they have their own night to attend. I think for the October meeting I'm goint to go in prepared with a written list of what I'd like to discuss so hopefully I can guide the conversation in the right direction without taking over in any way b/c I think support group is SO important for those of us getting farther and farther out! Tracy B

I go to 2 meetings each month. One is my surgeon's group. The program is new, so the oldest post-ops are approaching 3 years post-op. Many of the "old-timers" don't attend the meetings, but there is a core group that do. I spend most of my time answering questions for the curious, the pre-ops, the newly post-op. There were others at the meetings when I was new that helped me, so I feel an obligation to do some payback each month, like mentoring those who are coming along. The other group I attend is a regional group. The leaders of this group are long-term post op folks who felt the need for more assistance down the road. Most of the people in the group are long term post op people, but there are also pre-ops and newly post-op. The issues we cover range widely. There is a topic each month and then open discussion for whatever issues anybody wants. Sue O.

At 32 months out I still attend my surgeons support group monthly. It has been a long time since I felt I was getting anything out of the meetings but I see this as a chance to help other people who are going through the process. I think it's important for people to see the success stories. I make a point to bring up topics that I think will be helpful like the psychological adjustments, return of hunger, regain, etc. which opens up the discussion. People need to know these things going in rather than be shocked when it happens. I read endlessly before surgery so I was well prepared but most people don't make the effort. So many think you have surgery which ends your weight struggle. I only wish that were true.