Lame support group

[Catie]

So I was sleeved by Dr. Curry in Cincinnati on 12/27 and it's been a great ride thus far. However. I know myself and I NEED a good support group, ideally weekly, for weigh ins and accountability. And I'd rather not pay an arm and a leg to join WW when I don't really need WW. I'm not sure how well being a WLS person will go over in a room full of non-WLS people.

Dr. Curry's practice has a once per month support group and I went today for the first time, rally looking forward to it. One other person showed up. There were 2 of us. And while she was lovely, it wasn't what I was expecting. The staff member running the meeting said attendance had been really low lately.

I was really disappointed and not thinking that this is going to be the vibrant group I was hoping for. Anyone else run into this and short of trying to organize something myself, anyone have any suggestions?

Sort of bummed about this aspect of the journey.

Thanks in advance for comments.

[califsleevin]

You can try looking for support groups from other surgeons or at a local hospital that has a bariatrics practice; most welcome patients from other docs. The group that I go to is on the smallish side, being a local group for my out of town surgeon, but we often have people there from other surgeons who find it more convenient from a time or distance perspective, or who feel that they need support more than once a month.

Good luck,

[Deleted]

I never found any groups in 3D that were helpful - had to do it online. so that CAN be done.

I wish you good luck.

[grdngrl]

The other thing I discovered is that "Meetup.com" has a WLS group about 45 minutes from where I live in CA - my surgeons group is 2 hours away.

Meet Up is an online site where there are all kinds of groups that anyone can start that meet for all kinds of reasons - check it out, there may be a WLS group near you.

OR if you think there might be other WLS people in your area, you could start a Meet Up group and see what kind of response you get. Just an idea, since I saw one on there so close to me. Just go to the site and click on "Find a Meetup Group" and put in your zip code and maybe a key word but you can search with that blank for all meetup groups near you.

I post and get great responses here as well - good Luck!!!

[Catie]

Thanks all...I totally had forgotten about Meet Up and will check it out. Great suggestion to try other hospitals support groups as well. Thanks!

[formerlyfluffy]

Just wondering, does Dr. Curry still have his Lap-Band? Does he still push Lap-Band in his practice, or does he avoid the issue entirely now???

[redbabe08]

Jan 8, 2012 15:18:08 GMT -5 formerlyfluffy said:

Just wondering, does Dr. Curry still have his Lap-Band? Does he still push Lap-Band in his practice, or does he avoid the issue entirely now???

good question, since he's stopped posting.

[Catie]

I think he still does have his lap band as do members of his staff that I have met. He still advertises it in his office and it's certainly one of the 4 procedures he talks about in his informational sessions. I asked one of his nurse practitioners about it and she said that VSG went from being about 20% of their practice 2 years ago to about 60% now. And when I was in the office the other day, they had a huge poster in the room illustrating the various Lap Band complications. In my pre-op class there were 8 people and only 2 of them were Band. I definitely think he still does them, but it's not the main part of his practice anymore.

[kellic]

I have never been to an "in person" support group but have found the online support to be very helpful.

[nextchapter]

Have you thought about starting one in your city?

[Happy966]

My group is nice enough, with more than 2 people thank goodness, but still... More of a tips and tricks and cooking class. I have been thinking about starting an OA meeting with a WLS focus, but haven't had the time. I think that's what I'm missing.

[Catie]

You know people who say yes to everything and end up over-volunteering? That's been me, over and over again in different circumstances. I'm trying really hard to stay under-committed so my stress level stays down, but maybe starting a support group is what I need to do.

[pattipop]

Being sleeved in Mexico, I've tried to start a support group but to no avail. This group is very supportive!