Weight Loss Surgery: Support Group

This Bariatric Friday, Kemal Erkan, Chairman of American Surgery Center, discusses support groups for patients who are going through the process of bariatric surgery. Typically, Dr. Isaias Irgau sits down with Erkan for these discussions; however, this week Erkan is joined by special guest Dr. Gail Wynn, cofounder of American Surgery Center. 

  Before diving into the discussion of support groups, Erkan asks Dr. Wynn to discuss the various criteria patients must meet to become an eligible candidate for bariatric surgery. Dr. Wynn explains, an individual must have a body mass index (BMI) of forty or greater; this equates to one hundred pounds over the patient’s ideal weight. Also, if the patient has a BMI of thirty-five or more with medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or heart disease, this will make the patient a suitable candidate for bariatric surgery. The patient must be able to withstand an operation under general anesthesia along with no addictions that could interfere with the success of weight loss surgery. The doctor analyzes each patient carefully, and an individual plan is made to ensure a successful outcome. Erkan is hopeful that all individuals who require bariatric surgery should be able to have it provided to them; however, insurance companies still have strict requirements which they must follow. There is a misconception that doctors perform bariatric surgery on healthy weight individuals, which is not accurate. The doctors at American Surgery Center are performing bariatric surgery on patients who have no other option for weight loss. The program has been curated over the last twenty-three years; it provides a personal path for each individual patient and ensures that each is the product of a success story. 

  Erkan initiates the topic of the support group offered to patients and asks Dr. Wynn about her role within it. Dr. Wynn explains, she “runs the monthly support group; it is on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:00 in the evening… the point of the support group is to give patients time to ask questions… currently, it’s virtual, so it makes it easily accessible to all”. The support group is available for patients at any point in the process. She continues, “we are there for each other; there’s people who have never had surgery… there’s people who have had surgery twenty years ago, and there’s people who are struggling with weight gain after surgery”. The variety of patients in the group allows for different perspectives to provide advice and words of experience. The support group allows for an interactive environment for patients to speak freely, as much or as little as they would like. Patients can choose the amount they share, regarding their name, voice, or appearance on screen, based on their comfortability level. The goal of the support group is to support you, to have your questions answered, if you’re struggling, to be there to help you through it,” Dr. Wynn elaborates. 

  There are two layers to the support group, Erkan explains, “one is the virtual meetings, but there is also a support group on Facebook… this is a private group”. The unique feature about the support group American Surgery Center offers is that it is the only physician run support group. Dr. Gail Wynn attends every support group session, and when she is not able another surgeon will substitute for that session. This helps patients because they are getting answers to their questions from an expert as well as feedback and advice from other patients experiencing the same thing as them. Erkan asks Dr. Wynn to elaborate on why this support group is so special and what patients can receive from the monthly sessions. Dr. Wynn says, “it is free advice; people utilize it to their benefit… the difference between this and an office visit… it is great because you can learn from others’ experiences… they can learn from other people’s successes or failures”.  Dr. Wynn explains how she has not personally gone through bariatric surgery, so the aspect of having patients come alongside one another asking for advice is really valuable in comparison to a one-on-one visit with the doctor. “It really is a support group because people are really positive, and they have great ideas as far as how to overcome the tough times,” she states. 

  Erkan reads a recent question from the private Facebook group. A patient is posing concerns about starting the Robard diet, a mainly liquid based diet, and asks for advice from others. He asks Dr. Wynn to elaborate on why someone would have qualms beginning this restrictive diet. Dr. Wynn states how she took on this diet for two weeks, so she could understand the experience of her patients. She states how it is difficult to go from eating solid food to only consuming shakes, soups, or protein puddings. “Those first two, three days are really tough mentally for most people, but after you get through that then it becomes a habit… you know every morning what you are supposed to do, and you get into a groove,” Dr. Wynn says. It is important for peers to share both positive and negative experiences. It is much easier to cope through a tough situation knowing there are others who have walked the same path and have been successful in their journey.

  Erkan covers the rules set in place for their support group. All people are to be kind and courteous. There must be no hate speech or bullying. No promotions or spam. Lastly, everyone must respect everyone’s privacy. Erkan hopes that all patients will take advantage of the support group, whether it be the private Facebook group and/or the monthly sessions. Even if a patient is successful in losing weight after surgery, the patient should still join the group if they are able. About twenty-five percent of individuals gain weight back after weight loss surgery; therefore, a support group for patients makes it possible to reach out for help and not feel ashamed. The doctors want to get the patients on track and have them feel supported through their journey. Catching these old habits as early as possible will have the most benefit to the patient. Everyone is different and everyone is human. The support of peers and experts can be the most pertinent experience to aid in getting a patient back on track. 

  The two end the sessions with these words of advice to patients in the bariatric surgery process, “come to the support groups, number one, if you are not struggling, you could help someone else who is struggling… number two is it really helps you stay on track; the people who struggle with weight regain are those who don’t follow up routinely,” Dr. Wynn explains. By a patient being in the support group, they are not only gaining help for themselves, but they are also aiding others in their journey as well.