Question:
How would I start a support group?

I would like to start a support group in my area since the closest one I know of is 4 hours away. I had the open RNY Jan. 11, 2001 and have lost 80 lbs. Should I have lost all my weight before I should even consider starting a group? I still have over 100 lbs. to lose. Thank God for this site!!! Thanks!    — Deb H. (posted on May 18, 2001)

May 19, 2001
Hello. I am a pre-op and all of the support groups in my area were for patients only. Since I hadn't yet chosen a surgeon I didn't feel comfortable attending. So I decided to start my own support group. My main goal was to have the group open to both pre and post ops and their families and friends and anyone interested in hearing about WLS. First I found a place. I called the local library and got a free room since the group is non-profit. Then I came to this site and sent out a Q&A asking if anyone in Cleveland would be interested in having a support group. I got a few responses. Enough for me! Then I went to the Peers section on this site and made an email list of all people in the Cleveland, Ohio and surrounding areas that were learning about or interested in having the surgery and sent them an email announcing the meeting date and time. Then I sent an email to [email protected] to get them to post the meeting info in the Events section of this site. For our first meeting I asked a local author of a WLS book, along with 2 post-ops to speak on a panel. It was very informal. There were 7 people there (not including family members) and it was more of a conversational type thing. I took everyone's email and phone #'s to make sure we could stay in contact. Our second meeting was last Tuesday. There were about 11 people there. It was a great mix of pre-and post ops that had their surgeries at the different hospitals in the area. Lots of information to share. It was hard to moderate the meeting but we went around the room and introduced ourselves said whether we were pre or post, if post, they said their weight loss. Total weight loss for the posts was 357lbs! Don't worry about whether or not you've lost all of your weight. I've found that everyone, whether pre or post has something valuable to share. As a pre-op who is having surgery at one of the newer locations, a lot were interested in what I've been going through. It is great! Here is your mantra for the next couple weeks -- repeat after me...IF I FORM ONE, THEY WILL COME. lol. Good luck! Sorry this is so long!
   — Kimberly L.