I haven't been in either group; I did attend several live groups consisting of all RNYers.....none of them were wildly enthusiastic about the Band or learning about it.
Outside of support groups, there's several groups of folks I've encountered:
1) those I don't want to know;
2) those whom I tell but who don't quite get the idea;
3) those who are strictly against whatever it is they don't know about;
4) those who are supporters;
5) those who have opinions not based on relevant facts ;
I was told early in my own research, that the issues faced by Bandsters and RNYers/others were quite different. One Bandster buddy said his initial group found there was little point in continuing as a group due to those differences and issues. Some factors of "the Morbidly Obese" are of a common nature, but postOp factors are quite different.
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"Carpe maņana"
*Oldtimers posse: surgery 12/21/04*
My Quest is Victory over the Dragons of Habit, Gluttony, Sloth, Desperation...
I have been pondering the same question. I'm scheduled for surgery next month, and I haven't decided if I will talk about it at a meeting or individually with OA friends. I'm inclined not to.
The subject has come up before, and my opinion in the past (before I was considering it for myself) was that it was an outside issue, as you mentioned. I agree that it seems similar to discussing Weight Watchers or other specific diet plans.
Other people in my fellowship have come in and shared that they were going to have the surgery, and while i appreciated their honesty, i didn't feel that it had a place in the meeting.
i really don't know what i'm going to do, so i, too, appreciate any experience strength and hope anyone could provide.
i also have not been in either group. but i have told anyone and everyone who will listen to me that i got banded. why? because i am so proud of myself for being able to admit that i can not lose weight and keep it off on my own. i have accepted that fact and done something about it by seeking surgery. its not for everyone but it sure is for me. and i wouldn't criticize anyone for not choosing surgery but if they want to criticize me who cares. i know i did what was beneficial to my health and i'm exctatic about it.
About 5 or 6 years ago I tried several OA groups and some of those people can be downright vicious! They were the most vocal I've ever heard from anybody. They said bandsters and bypassers were weak, that they were unwilling to face their addictions, and on and on. I dropped them after a time.
My mom will have her 25th AA anniversary in May and she said that the 12 steps can be worked regardless of having wls or not - as long as the person is serious about working the steps.
It's very hard to find a group that will accept wls people though - I'm looking for one now - Clearwater, FL. Anybody know of one, let me know please.
Congrats on your weight loss and for regaining your health!
Barbara
My close OA friends have known for a long time that I was working toward getting the band. I announced it at the meeting a couple of weeks ago (my surgery is 5/5). The topic of the meeting was "asking for the help you need" so I thought it was a perfect time to bring it up. All the comments I got were very supportive. I made it clear that I would still need OA as much as ever to deal with my food issues--as they say, the band is around my stomach, not my head! If anyone was thinking bad thoughts about the surgery, they didn't say it to me.
If you can't tell the truth about your journey at a 12 Step group, where can you?
Hi
I havnt been banded yet and I am thinking exactly the same thing. I really dont know if the band is contrary to OA or not. I have many unresolved questions around this subject. Good luck while you work out wots right for you!
www.therecoverygroup.org is an online support for compulsive overeaters and is approved by OA. They feature an online support group for OA specific to those who had weight loss surgery. I have found this OA community very band friendly.
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