The Light for Life Bariatric Support Group meets on the last Monday of every month at Poudre Valley Hospital in Café F, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. (Café F is located on basement level in back of cafeteria) This group is designed for patients and their families who have either had the surgery or are considering it. Becki Mudgett, RN facilitates the meetings and one of the surgeons is always in attendance to answer medical questions. We often times will have a guest speaker that will address certain topics of interest to the group. The support group is a wonderful resource for you and we hope you will take advantage of it.

2011 Support Group Agenda

Support groups are being formed in other areas as well. Check the Light for Life newsletter to see if there is a support group near you. There may be another Bariatric Center near you that offers a support group. Ask if you are welcome to attend.

It is important for your spouse or significant other or family members to come to the support groups. It is normal for them to be nervous and perhaps not altogether supportive of this surgery. Bring them to the support group so they can hear from other patients and talk with other spouses and support people of other patients. This will make a tremendous difference in the comfort level about you having surgery.

There is a large emotional and psychological impact with bariatric surgery. Living Positively After Bariatric Surgery meets the 2nd Monday of each month in the Indian Paintbrush room at PVH from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Dr. Betty Vanek, a Psychologist, will facilitate this support group. This support group is open to patients of Northern Colorado Surgical Associates who have had Gastric Bypass or Lap Band surgery. There is a $20 fee for patients and $30 for patients and support person. Please contact Dr. Vanek at 970-396-9729 to register for class and for more information.

We feel that support groups are a very important part of our program. Please take advantage of the groups that we have established for you. Data shows people that take advantage of support groups tend to do better after the surgery.
For those of you that live long distances away and are not able to take advantage of support groups, there are websites that have chat rooms. The two that we are aware of are Obesityhelp.com and YahooOSSG.com.

We encourage you to post any comments concerning your hospital stay and experience with your surgeon and our office staff on obesityhelp.com.

2010 Support Group Agenda

Light for Life Support Group
Last Monday of every month
PVH - Cafe F meeting room (basement)
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Facilitator: Becki Mudgett, RN

Living Positively After Bariatric Surgery
2nd Monday of each month
PVH - Indian Paintbrush meeting room (basement)
$20 fee
Must register for class ahead of time
Contact: Betty Vanek, PhD 970-396-9729

Sheridan Support Group
First Monday each month
Sheridan Co. Memorial Hospital
Hospitality Room
Contact: Marie Husman, 307-672-6596

Casper Support Group
Wyo. Medical Center, Room A or B
2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Contact: Joe Butler, 307-265-3518 or
Tom and Ardyth Fritts, 307-234-3858

Laramie Support Group

Ivinson Hostpital - Saratoga Room

2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month

Contact: Melinda Allen, 307-745-8800

astartesolutions@hotmail.com

Denver Support Groups
Contact: Kelly Elliott, 303-770-1222

Cortez Surgical Weight Loss Support Group
3rd Wednesday 6-7:30 pm
Cortez Public Library
Contact: Mary Mallernee, 970-739-1441

BACK TO TOP