What do folks 2+ years post-op want for support?
(This post was originally posted in the Post-op forum. Looking for other opinions in this forum.)
Here’s a question for the 2+ years post-op folks out there. Several long-term bariatric patients in my local support group are considering organizing some sort of monthly support group meeting for patients who are farther along on their weight loss journey. There is no doubt that the issues and discussions for folks this far out of surgery differs from those preparing for surgery or in the early stages of post-op. We’ve toyed with a few ideas and are wondering if your local support group has some sort of meeting for patients farther out from surgery?
Our idea is not to replace our normal monthly support group meeting with the larger group of patients. We think there is a lot of value in helping those following in our footsteps. A diverse group of people in a support group makes it much more interesting and successful.
We have toyed with the idea of meeting once a month at a Panera or Applebees for an informal lunch where there is no agenda or rules. It’s just an open discussion time to share joys, concerns, lessons learned and seek opinions of others. For many it would just be a time to socialize with WLS people. Our thought is that people 2+ years out need to hear more from fellow patients about how they deal with problems and cope with weight related issues at this time in their life.
We’ve floated this idea in our group. One person believes that the meetings should steer away from restaurants. The belief of the core group considering organizing these outings is that after 2 years there should be no fear of eating out. It’s just a fact of life at this stage in our new lives. To meet in a setting like a library or rec center conference room is pretty sterile. We question whether people would want to come to this type of meeting. The casualness and informality of a lunch seems to be more welcoming. We also believe some people have left our local group because they don’t want an organized lecture type meeting.
So, what are your thoughts on meetings and gatherings for people 2+ years out of surgery? It’s cool if you can share how you local group handles this. We also want to hear what you would consider an optimal meeting location and structure for you.
Thanks,
Tom
Here’s a question for the 2+ years post-op folks out there. Several long-term bariatric patients in my local support group are considering organizing some sort of monthly support group meeting for patients who are farther along on their weight loss journey. There is no doubt that the issues and discussions for folks this far out of surgery differs from those preparing for surgery or in the early stages of post-op. We’ve toyed with a few ideas and are wondering if your local support group has some sort of meeting for patients farther out from surgery?
Our idea is not to replace our normal monthly support group meeting with the larger group of patients. We think there is a lot of value in helping those following in our footsteps. A diverse group of people in a support group makes it much more interesting and successful.
We have toyed with the idea of meeting once a month at a Panera or Applebees for an informal lunch where there is no agenda or rules. It’s just an open discussion time to share joys, concerns, lessons learned and seek opinions of others. For many it would just be a time to socialize with WLS people. Our thought is that people 2+ years out need to hear more from fellow patients about how they deal with problems and cope with weight related issues at this time in their life.
We’ve floated this idea in our group. One person believes that the meetings should steer away from restaurants. The belief of the core group considering organizing these outings is that after 2 years there should be no fear of eating out. It’s just a fact of life at this stage in our new lives. To meet in a setting like a library or rec center conference room is pretty sterile. We question whether people would want to come to this type of meeting. The casualness and informality of a lunch seems to be more welcoming. We also believe some people have left our local group because they don’t want an organized lecture type meeting.
So, what are your thoughts on meetings and gatherings for people 2+ years out of surgery? It’s cool if you can share how you local group handles this. We also want to hear what you would consider an optimal meeting location and structure for you.
Thanks,
Tom
Follow my journey to a happy, healthy, active life at TomBilcze.com
I think a restaurant meeting is appropriate because it will likely stir up conversations pertinent to this stage. Restaurants add flexibility - meaning if you draw from a wide area - location can be varied. As a two-year post-op person, I would love to talk about increasing portion sizes, coping with "normal" eating, restaurant skills and tribulations, alcohol, staying motivated to exercise, grazing, vacation skills, coping with weight gains, plastic surgery etc.
Yeah, I just think that at 2 years you need to move out of a clinical setting, like a hospital meeting space or library. They are also pretty sterile and just are not inviting. Looking on here and other chat boards (as well as my support group), 2 year plus people drop off the radar. A casual inviting atmosphere is what is needed to bring folks back. -- Tom
Follow my journey to a happy, healthy, active life at TomBilcze.com
To each their own, really, but to tell you the truth, I've never been one for support groups. I went to one (required) meeting before surgery and found it more depressing than anything. Besides, I was lucky enough to know several people in my personal life who had or were going to have the surgery.
I never went to any kind of support group after the surgery. Once again, I was lucky enough to have completely supportive family, friends and coworkers.
I know that not everyone has the support that I had. And I do know that support groups help a great many. Just not me. That's why I say to each their own.
Nowadays, I don't think about it much. I have a few friends on facebook that I met through this board and we sometimes joke about it. I even dated a couple of guys who were post-ops . But most of the time we just go on about our (non-wls related) lives. It's just a subject that has been integrated into our everyday lives, like the color of our hair or our new boyfriends. It's just another thing about us.
That being said, nothing wrong with the meeting at a restaurant or even at Popeyes on buffet night. If you can't control yourself in front of a WLS support group, what hope do you have?
Cheers,
Chris
I never went to any kind of support group after the surgery. Once again, I was lucky enough to have completely supportive family, friends and coworkers.
I know that not everyone has the support that I had. And I do know that support groups help a great many. Just not me. That's why I say to each their own.
Nowadays, I don't think about it much. I have a few friends on facebook that I met through this board and we sometimes joke about it. I even dated a couple of guys who were post-ops . But most of the time we just go on about our (non-wls related) lives. It's just a subject that has been integrated into our everyday lives, like the color of our hair or our new boyfriends. It's just another thing about us.
That being said, nothing wrong with the meeting at a restaurant or even at Popeyes on buffet night. If you can't control yourself in front of a WLS support group, what hope do you have?
Cheers,
Chris
Most Active
Recent Topics
