Support Group - what the world?!?

 This was my first time attending the support group , and the moderator worked with a particular doctor and hospital.  Everyone was RnY or (1) Lap Band. I hadn't really spoken up until one of the group asked about the sleeve.  She seemed to really try to downplay it and made a few comments saying 'its very similar to RnY', 'most insurance wont pay for it',  and I forgot about the clencher - 'they remove a sliver of your stomach...' uuuuhhh.......no? She couldn't even explain to the attendees what the sleeve really was!  I was upset because I would rather her have said I don't know than to spout something to make her seem knowledgeable.  At that point I had to speak up and talked about my surgeons explanations on the sleeve and weight loss.  She asked if my insurance covered it and I said no but WLS is an exclusion on my insurance anyhow.  People were asking different questions about eating and about price and I said it depends on the doctor and the hospital that they use, and I had to self pay, and she closed that portion of the conversation with ' well most patients cant afford to pay out of pocket, but keep coming back so we can see your progress.'    I then tried to say that there are people who go to Birmingham to have the surgery with insurance covering it - but could only get out the Birmingham part before she started talking over me!  I was dumbfounded - was this a wls support group or "support only RnY and LapBand (which our doc performs)" group?!? 

Now because she works for a particular doctor and hospital she might have been there partly to encourage either the band  or RnY - but the shutdown methods were annoying as hell.  It made me feel awkward, but I will be going back next month and with more info for the people because it IS covered.  I am gonna at least go back and tell them about this website, cuz that was a hot mess. My expectations may have been high...

I can't believe that happened! I live in Iowa, and my doc performs all surgeries, and the support group is GREAT! The doctors and everyone are extremely knowledgable, and have shown me they really care. Not only are those that have had or are planning to have WLS encouraged to attend, but also friends and family of those individuals are also welcome. This is a true support group in every sense of the word. Don't get discouraged by that one individual. Let it strengthen your resolve to support those that need it. You may be their light at the end of the tunnel.

Sigh!   I really have to let it go, but for my first time attending it made me a leeeetle upset! 

That was frustrating I bet! Glad you are going back armed with info for the others. Sounds like the place she is representating prefer to only do RNY and LB. When I was first looking into WLS I went to a Lapband only place. Although the briefly went over the sleeve they said I probably would not be a good candidate for the procedure. Well of course that threw a red flag and so when I went to a bari surgeron and asked him he said I was a good candidate for either one. So VSG it is for me!

It was! And I'm not trying to sway people, just give the right info.  As a health care professional, don't lie about it or exaggerate, just say I don't know! (referring to her of course)

Many of the support groups, and most that are sponsored by a specific doctor or practice, are as much marketing tools for that practice as they are support groups for their patients. My doc's group welcomes all even though he primarily does DS and VSG - he no longer does RNY (and has no problem explaining why.) The local group of his that we attend mostl often has some frequent participants who are RNY patients from other doctors in the area, but they understand that they are in that minority group that had "that other" WLS. On the postop side, most of the issues are the same so it doesn't really matter what procedure was done for whom.

Thanks! I figured that was the deal.

Ever since I found OH, and especially after surgery, I've seriously considered printing up business cards with the OH website and VSG forum URL's listed.  I always want to hand it out to anyone I think could benefit from the great info here and significant weight loss.  (Although I don't think I could actually do it!)

Me thinks that would be a great solution for your next support group visit!  You could just stand up and tell everyone that they can find out for themselves and hand out the card!!!

I was actually thinking about that this morning! I was wondering if cards and such were out there already...but Ive got time to prepare. Thanks for that idea...maybe I'll list the different types on the back...

trying to design a card...suggestions?


done with vistaprint