March 9, 2017: Group Support Session

Another item on my list to attend was a group support session at Johns Hopkins. They are offered twice monthly, and I'll admit I put it off. I didn't know what I would learn from a room full of people when I have doctors and the internet to look to. I didn't need another "Weight Watchers" type meeting.

I walked in expecting to just check my box, but what I found was so much more.

I came to find out that each session (held twice monthly) has a theme, such as surgical, nutritional, and behavioral. Each are led by a representative from that department.

At first I was hesitant to go (although I knew I had to), because I've been to enough meetings about losing weight or trying to lose weight. This was a different approach, a surgical approach, and I didn't see how a meeting would help.

I was so wrong.

In this usually full room, it is full of people that share a journey with me. There isn't anything said perceived as too weird ("Does anyone else have really smelly gas all the sudden?"). Everyone in the room can either guide you down the road, or you will become a role model for someone else in the room. I have several friends that went through the surgery, and this room has become a room full of friends no matter how many times they have walked through the door.

I can always tell the first timers, feeling the room out seeing if the size of the attendees matches their expectations of the meeting. As the meeting starts, we all introduce ourselves and say if we're pre or post op, what type of surgery, and how much we have lost (if applicable). The first time I went I took tons of notes, but now I listen. And that has been so much help.

Don't get me wrong, I have an amazing support system. My husband, parents, and in-laws are all local and unbelievably supportive and have made sacrifices through this journey. I also have friends an coworkers who are supportive and hear about what I'm going through.

It's not the most convenient place for me, its about a 40 minute drive from my house twice a month after a day of work. But I make the time to go to these meetings because they are so supportive.

Next appointment: Nutrition.