What is your support group like?
I was just wondering what you all do at your support groups? We have tables arranged in a big open square and all the post ops and the nutritionist who facilitates the group sit at the table. Those attending their first orientation earlier in the day are required to come to at least one support group meeting before surgery so they all sit in chairs on the outside of the square and listen (along with any pre ops that decide to come to more than one). The support group lasts for two hours and we start off by going one at a time and tell our "story" or any issues we are having. After everyone is done the pre ops have an opportunity to ask any questions that they have. The group is held twice a month. Twice a year they have a clothing swap after the support group meeting and it is open to any pre op or post op patients. I was curious what other support groups offer?
We also have a group once a month that is for Post op only and is a much smaller group and facilitated by a clinical psychologist. I have not been to it yet, but am going to check it out next week.
Kristie
Sarah
There is a local group that is combined pre and post op and it is open to anyone so I do get to that every so often.
66 yrs young, 4'11" hw 220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance
Between 35-40 BMI? join us on the Lightweight board. the Lightweight Board
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
I find the support group very helpful. My husband was very scared about me going through the surgery. But felt much better when we attended the support group. Plus he met one of his cousins there *****cently had surgery. So it was nice to talk with some one he knew who had been throught it. She was only 2 weeks out. I am still a pre-op
I find them to be a waste of time right now. Maybe it will be different afterwards but as of right now i've read better info here in this forum and on the web then I have got from the so called support group.
The 2nd group is facilitated by a psychiatrist. We create our own agenda. The psych has us to go around the circle and share first name, pre/post opt, date of surgery, and amount of weight lost. We also tell her what topics/issues/concerns we want to discuss. I really like this group and we always have relevant discussion up to the end time.
There is a 3rd group that meets once a month for people that are trying to get back on track, but I've never attended.
Its always good to make contact with someone from your weight loss program. The support groups are really good. A number of the members have been attending for some time and are a wealth of real life experience. I do hope that you get the opportunity to attend a few in the future. Are you hooked up to the HFH Yahoo Group?