local support groups

[NotSoFunny]

I am thinking of joining a local support group. Do you attend one? Is it sponsored by your surgeon? Is it all weight loss surgeries combined, or just lapband? What do you think about it? how often do you attend?

[Maryb]

My surgeon is trying to get a lapband only support group started. I am thinking of checking it out when it starts. There is a Bariatric Surgery support group in my area that cost $30 per month, but I heard it was mostly Bypass patients.

[Scrapkarla]

When I lived in Kansas City there was a LapBand Support Group that I attended monthly that I really enjoyed and felt that I got great support and information from.

I now live in Salt Lake City Utah and the LapBand group I've found here goes out for dinner once a month. I have yet to attend as I really don't see how a weight loss support group is going to help you with problems eating, dieting or food problems when you meet at a local resteraunt over dinner...

[Tricia K.]

Amy, my surgeon's office sponsors several monthly support groups around the New Orleans area. I've been to a few and, to be quite honest, I didn't really care for them. They are geared for all WLS pre-op and post-op patients, but I'd much rather arrange a small meet & greet. The guest speakers really didn't provide me with much info either.

Maybe it's different in other areas but I'd much rather meet a few people at Starbucks and just chat.

P.S. My surgeon's support groups are free.

[Kim G]

My surgeon offers a Lap-Band support group. I of course have to be there since I work them. hehe... It's very good we have speakers, protien goodies, handouts, and each month is different.

Also there is a group of us that met on an on-line fourm and we have been getting together for over a year now. We do go out to lunch one Saturday a month and it's great becuase we have a great time of friendship, help and support. Very informal, newbies come and ask great questions and we can see what everyone else eats...how they eat, how it's different from you, etc.

So I love going to them it's great and it makes me feel like I am a new bandster each time I leave pumped and ready to kick butt again.

Good Luck on the support group search...Oh and all of ours are FREE!!!!

[Richard Froshiesar]

Yes we have a support group, it was started by the doctors involved and it meets the second tuesday of each month here in Boise Idaho. It is pretty well attened at times by both lap band and gastric people and some times by those looking at having a surgery done just dont know which one.

We bandsters are starting a group on our own which has the full support of both lap band doctors in my area, and it will be the third thursday of each month from 7-830pm. This thursday will be our first meeting and at it we are going to bring our protein drinks for others to try to see which one they like the best and to give other options to us. Another meeting we will do a clothes swap and also have special guest in from time to time to talk on the issues of the band that we all go through.

We will also have one meeting at some point to allow our spouses and signifigant others talk about how the band is changing their lives for the good or bad and discuss the issues in a relationship where one is banded on one is not. This is a free group and only requires your participation.


I highly encourage you to get into a group or organize with others in your area and start a group of your own. It is well worth it. If you need info you can contact me at boiseman2001@yahoo.com or on the Idaho thread in this forum.

[Morsaille]

I helped to put together a little group of local people that managed to connect in our local Yahoo bandster group. Since we were all in the same county it was easy to find a place and time. You should see if there is one for your area; they could already be meeting a block away.

There are other support groups run by surgeons or for mixed surgeries, but they are over an hour away. Our little group is fine for me. It is like a tiny little B2G.

[Susan]

I belong to two support groups. One is a local support group that just advertised on OH that they were forming a group. It is for bandsters only and meets bi-weekly. They are still fairly new and small, but I enjoy just getting together and talking with other bandsters.

My surgeon's office also recently started a support group. This one meets once a month. I really enjoy it because they provide us with very useful handouts (laminated even :nod: ), samples, etc. They also have a speaker at every meeting. Thus far we have had a nutritionist and a psychiatrist. I look forward to the next meeting.