Support Group Meeting #1

ok thats a crude rendering of what it looked like. There were people sitting against both walls. Unbeknownst to me the theme of the meeting was fitness. People were encouraged to wear gym clothes. Well I'm not in the loop so I didn't even know they had themes. I just thought people sat around in circles like at AA meetings on tv and talked about their experiences. I didn't know it was like walking into a special club uninvited. Boy were these people clique-y. Also, most of them were RNY patients who, if you don't already know, think they're better than everyone else. The whole meeting revolved around gastric bypass. There were only 3 other ppl in there that had the sleeve and only 1 girl who had the lap band. So they made us work out, which i REALLY didn't want to do because i had no idea. I was not dressed for it nor was I in the mood. But I did it anyway. Most of it. Then they FINALLY got to the question and answer portion. So much about dumping. I'm like ok but not all of us are gastric bypass patients.

I'm going to preface this next portion of the story by saying that my Dr. is associated with 3 hospitals. One of them being South Miami Hospital (where the meeting was being held). I'm having it at another hospital (Hialeah Hospital) because its $5,000 cheaper and I am self pay. Now, I will admit South Miami has a wonderful program with care both pre and post op. I'm sure why they're so expensive. However Hialeah Hospital has won awards for their bariatric dept, its just a smaller hospital. So its not like I'm going to some slum hospital to save a few bucks.

That said, my doctor is still associated with SM hospital and they're the ones who told me to go to this meeting. Also most of the people at the meeting had surgery with the doctor I originally attended the info seminar for. I didn't go with him because he was too expensive (because he only worked out of 2 expensive hospitals).

So when I asked the dietitian a question, she said "don't worry i'll tell you more about it when i have you in my class. You're taking my class right?" to which I responded "oh i'm not having surgery at SM hospital". It was like one of those movies when someone walks into a biker bar and the record scratches. My friend Jenny who went with me said she heard actual groans. I was like pariah. I noticed one of the ladies across from me has my same doctor (I never said his name throughout the meeting though I wish I would have). So after the meeting I went up to her and said "are you the one who said you had Dr. Whittwell?" and she looked at me and with no expression she said "yes". But it was as if she wanted nothing to do with me. I said "cool, did you like him?" Yes he's a nice man. "what surgery did you get?" and she said she got the sleeve. so i'm thinking oh cool she's just like me! I asked her how it went and she said she was 3 wks out and had lost 22lbs. I was like cool but how was the surgery? Any complications? And she said no. It was like pulling teeth with her. Normally people are more than happy to share their experiences. I asked her if she had a drain, she said no. I was like oh thats good to hear. and she said "of course I had my surgery here at SM." I was like...oh well, its $10,000 if I go to HH and i'm self pay. And she says "yeah, i was too". Wow. Like are you really judging me for not having my surgery here? WHAT A SNOB! geez! fuck you then!

That wasn't the worst thing! As I was talking to the very nice Nurse Manager this RNY guy (of course) comes up to me and gets in this confrontational stance with his legs spread out and his arms crossed and says to me "let me ask you something, why aren't you having your surgery here?" It didn't sound like a question, it sounded like a demand for an explanation. I explained my point to yet another person. He says "you should go someplace that has programs like this in place to help you after surgery" and I get where he's coming from. But I told him my doctor does a year of follow up and I wanted to continue coming to these support groups IF I'M WELCOME HERE. Because honestly you guys, it was like he was telling me to get out of his domain or something. So then he goes "well...i'm sure you're welcome here". He didn't say, of course you're welcome here. I mean WTF??? Why should i have to explain myself?? The other lady who had my doctor was welcome but I'm not? Give me a fucking break.

Ughh.....man these people are so cliquey! I'm gonna have a talk with my surgeon's office about this. But I do wanna go back because next month the theme is eating after surgery so I def wanna go. Do you guys have any support group horror stories? I remember reading some of them a couple of months ago. Man those RNYers are stuck up.