Monthly Support Group

[Kim G]

Hey ok since this is my home group...meaning I feel at home w/ you all here I have a question for you all that I was asked this week. Would you like for SEB to supply us a room each month to hold our meetings/gatherings? I told them it would have to be on Saturday's and they want to supply the education and materials. I thought it sounded it good and then we could grab a bite to eat after the "meeting". It doesn't have to be structed but we are getting A LOT of band folks and they want to get them involed and Dr V loves that out group is so close and has been going for a long time that he wants all bandster new and old to follow w/ us and so on....

So let me have your feed back...I told them it would have to be ok w/ you before I would agree to anything. It would be nice to have a place to go each month to meet up a room just for us...same place each month. Actual topics to go over and so on....

But again you let me know and I will take it back to them. It would by no means be SEB support group that would be the 2nd monday of the month but they want to offer us help.

Whattca think? PLEASE BE HONEST YOU WILL NOT HURT OUR FEELINGS AT ALL!!!

[Lovemylpband]

I think it is a great idea Kim!

[BondGirl]

Sounds very good to me! I would love to be able to get information and inspiration each month. I would come and be involved! :)

Thank you very much,

Angie

[ginabobina]

I think it is a great idea and I would definitely be interested - I also have a contact of a therapist who does excellent group moderation and cognitive behavioral therapy group sessions for people struggling with food addictions - she is awesome... not to take the place of Jen but an additional expert is never a bad thing!

[stac1982]

That sounds like a great idea to me!

[Kathy]

How does Dr V feel about so many Dr B and Dr P patients coming to SEB support group meetings at his place? I know the meeting room is not a huge expense for SEB, (unless it's at a remote location?) but education and support materials very well could be. All this for patients that "belong" to "the competition" kind of...right? On the other hand, it would give us the opportunity to purchase items from the store...like those AchieveOne coffee drinks I have a hankerin' for? Huh? Just a thought. I have never been to SEB so I don't know what type of room you have in mind...anyhow.

I guess I just don't want to feel bad for being a MX bandster, or a follow along patient of Dr Ps. If that's cool...I would LOVE to have a meeting room. Heck, we could pack lunches and eat there? Subway? Whatever? Sounds like a good plan to me. :)

[Kim G]

Actually they don't care...our monthly support groups are open to anyone who wants to join in. We have what you call "open" support groups. Dr V is the one who mentioned it to me. He didn't want ya'll to think he was trying to take over he just wanted to offer more support to the band community since it's really growing! I hadn't thought of having it here but that could probably happen. We were thinking of having it at a remote location so everyone would feel welcome. SEB is going to foot the bill for that. The only thing is that we would have to have a more set schedule. Like the 2nd or 3rd saturday of each month. Which long term I think would get us more people becuase you always know when it is. If that makes sense. :)

So keep the comments coming....

(Oh and Kathy if you call us....we are starting to take our beloved MX banded patients. At least that is the last I heard. Although I don't think any one is as cute as Dr P even though I haven't seen him, Dr V has a GREAT heart. haha)

[bgrand]

Count me in. Saturday's are better for me than evenings.

[jttaurus]

Kim - this is very kind of dr v to do. I beleive this shows that his interested in everyones sucess and not just billable hours. I would like to try to make it on a saturday. I love just driving with out being rushed on the weekends. I could carpool if someone would like.

Gina - I wouldn't mind the therapist, I realize I have issues and they are dragging me down. However, I talk alot. So, i probably would be intolerable in a group discussion unless i'm really tired.

Band or no band this journey isn't easy. I know a few people from seb that probably could benefit from this support too. AFter all, if there was only 1 band dr then the whole world would be driving kim crazy, just like any other specialities, there are more patients then dr's. Everyone has their own personalities and needs.

I sometimes regret my decision of where i had my surgery. I will overcome this with lotsa therapy.

I love to eat out, so after the session I am game for anything except actually cooking and cleaning up the food myself. Sorry, i'm lazy. Our dishwashe is broke too, off topic and my hands are raw from that stupid palmolive dish soap. So, no clean up for JT.

[Kim G]

Well so far from what I am reading sounds like ya'll might like it. I will sit and really talk to Dr V and Jen and see what we can come up w/. We might start out at the office (well the one next door we got it when other docs moved out.) Jen that is me also having to rush throug the week is just too much. It's bad becuase I agree w/ you and I am just right around the cornor from the support group each month on monday but it's crazy at the questions I get from patients and I can't enjoy the support. So I really look forward to our meeting each month even though there are patients out that meet w/ us they don't drive me crazy asking me all kinds of personal questions I can't answer when I am not at work.

I couldn't agree more w/ the band or no band this journey isn't easy. It is such a big thing for us all!

I know there are a few of you that still have posted and I hope to hear from you because I really want to get everyone thoughts...Good and Bad.

[ginabobina]

Kim you just need to come sit between me and Shelley at the Support group thingy - we'll protect ya! Of course we might also get you in trouble but it'll be fun ;-)

[Mrs Sabre]

I easy ... not cheap mind you, but easy ;) Seriously though, it sounds good to me too!