In-Person Support Groups

[KristenJH]

Hey everyone, I'm working on creating a map for in-person Bariatric Support Groups. For this map to start filling out we need to get a few locations to start with. Does anyone know of any in-person groups that we could add to this list? The info we would need is Location and Dates. Other useful info would be either a website, social media, phone number, or any other kind of contact info. For now, you can post the info in this thread and then I'll add it to the new map, and then each support group will have it's own Thread connected to the location. So any support Groups want to be added to this database?

 

[dianeseattle]

Thanks, Kristen. Although I don't attend in-person groups, I did right after surgery, at the University of Washington Medical Center here in Seattle. I am agoraphobic and felt like I was in a fishbowl, and the fact that the group was open to family members and friends of surgical patients and candidates made it impossible for me to benefit from.

You could contact them directly, however. I know they are considered to be among the best in the world for this branch of medicine. Also, they have a website within the University's website.

It's so kind of you to offer your help in connecting people. I hope our members will speak up.

 

[JustMe]

I have social anxiety and most likely would not participate in in-person meetings, but I bet many people would appreciate this information, Kristen! Thank you for all you do to help people in our support group.

Because almost all of my medical team members are MultiCare doctors, nurses, dieticians, etc ..I looked for any support groups through MultiCare first. Then, because my primary doctor is a Providence doctor, I looked there. It seems like there may be some in-person, hybrid, an online support groups for bariatric patients, obesity, weight loss, but people might need to be patients of those systems (Providence, Kaiser, etc ..) The few I found were during work hours, so I ended up finding only a few online ones out here in the Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia area that work for me.

MultiCare offers several online ones.Everyone is welcome at these no matter where they live. You don't have to be a MultiCare patient either . They're free.

For Kaiser, you have to be part of Kaiser, but they do have support groups.

THIS online support group is just right for me. Thank goodness for you all!

I bet other big health systems offer classes, as well. I'm only familiar with the three I mentioned above.

 

[JustMe]

Kristen,

Are you able to add some different emojis for us to use in here? I'd love more variety. Thank you!

 

[JustMe]

There's a free online weight loss class coming up on May 20th. Anyone can register and join the class. There is one each month. I signed up all the way through December 2026. My first class will be the May 20th one. Use the MultiCare link above to register.

 

[KristenJH]

Kristen,

Are you able to add some different emojis for us to use in here? I'd love more variety. Thank you!

Are you talking about different emoji options for the Like button? I'll look into it