Question:
I have been invited to attend a support goup meeting 10 days pre-op

do you think this will be beneficial or would it only confuse me? I won't have any personal questions, since I won't have had the surgery yet. I have read many of the questions on this site and feel I have done a lot of research here and elsewhere. Is this enough or will the group help since it is sponsored by my surgeon and will have his patients only...who follow his post-op routine. Help it is a 3 hour trip there and back and I must call to reserve space soon.    — Judith D. (posted on November 16, 1999)

November 16, 1999
In my opinion any support you can get pre and post op thru your surgeon and other patients and probably the physchologists your doc works with is very beneficial. I always highly recommend going to group if your surgeon has one. With it being a 3 hour trip, that makes it difficult, but not impossible to attend as frequently as you can manage. Best wishes.
   — Sherrie G.

November 16, 1999
I too attended a support group prior to having surgery and found it to be an enormous help. All of my questions were answered and it allowed me to talk personally with others who have gone before me. It also allows you to build up a support system to use after you have surgery. I would go for it!!
   — Dr. Sally M.

November 16, 1999
Hi. I think the support group meetings are very beneficial because you can talk face to face to people who have already been through it. You can talk to people at just about every stage of post op. There will be people there who are 2 months out, 6 months, a year, and possibly even longer if your surgeon has been doing this type of surgery for very long. I know it is a long way for you to have to drive, but I think it can only be beneficial instead of confusing. Good luck.
   — Kathy K.

November 16, 1999
Judith, I think it would be a good idea to attend. I run a Bypass Support Group for Dr. Lirio in Schenectady, NY. I find that when pre-op surgery patients come to the meetings, they get a boost of encouragement by seeing all those results in one room. They also can ask questions or someone may give them some advice that was in regard to something they had not thought of before. I wish I had a group to go to pre-op, I think it would have been a good thing. Good Luck! Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much Mary Anne
   — Mary Anne M.

November 16, 1999
Hi Judith, I'm pre-op, was just approved for December 1st. I've been attending a support group meeting every Monday night since June. I'm so glad I was invited to go because I have learned so much from "personal experiences". I know it's a long drive; however, it may be worth it. I've met so many nice people through my group - who else could understand my "fat problem".
   — Peri B.

November 17, 1999
Hi Judith, I've just read the answers to your question and I have to agree whole heartedly with each of them. I wouldn't want to try this recovery from obesity without my support group anymore than I would want to have done the surgery without my wonderful surgeon. That's how important the group is to me. My group was started and is run by my surgeon, who attends the meetings, so no one can rule the direction the meetings take and what is said. Pre-surgery, my husband was really against me doing this. Fear of the repercutions and "cure" being worse than the "problem" was. After our first meeting he changed his mind completely. I have about an hours drive to my meeting and on the way back home he told me that he thought that this was what I needed to do. That's what talking and listening to those who have been there and done that does. The support of these people is vital. Attend as many meetings as you can possibly attend. Good luck in you surgery and hope you have a wonderful obesity recovery journey!! Thinking of you, Linda
   — Linda P.

November 17, 1999
Judith, I attend a support group here in Upstate NY , and I have never seen someone decide to not have the operation because of things that were said there. We offer encouragement and support to anyone who is interested in having WLS. If anything it will give you a chance to see the results of the surgery and how happy( and thin ) we all are. Even our surgeon and his staff attend the meetings. I look forward to the meetings each month.I only have an hours drive but it is well worth it.
   — Ellen M.

November 18, 1999
Linda, I definitely think it would be helpful for you to attend the support group at least once--you could make contacts with people who even if you choose not to make the 3 hour drive frequently after surgery may be good support for you down the road. You could keep in touch with them by phone or email and you might find it a big help post-op. Good luck!
   — Cheryl W.