Why Community is Essential for Bariatric Patients

An essential component for you as you pursue or recover from bariatric surgery is a community of like-minded individuals who understand how your life has changed. Many local and online support groups exist to provide patients with reassurance during their surgical process and recovery time. A community, however, can become a long-term group that will aid you from the beginning of your journey and walk with you throughout the rest of your life.

Community for bariatric patients is essential for providing information, encouragement, and support necessary to maintain the lifestyle changes surgery brings.

Information

Before deciding if bariatric surgery is the right choice for you, you are sure to have many questions. A community of patients with firsthand experience can be invaluable for walking you through all the components of the surgical process.

Patients can recommend surgeons and hospitals, share advice for the preparatory period before surgery, and help you understand self-advocacy. Since insurance remains a hurdle for many patients, a community can help you navigate through the paperwork and offer reassurance as you wait for approval.

This is the place where you can ask all the questions you have about surgery and side-effects. Bariatric patients tend to be researchers. A community can give you access to many resources. You will gain confidence in your decision as others share their success stories. This will prepare you for everything from hormonal changes to the possibility of hair loss.

Encouragement

During the surgical and recovery period, a community will be your source of encouragement. They can comfort you when you feel overwhelmed and provide fortitude as you enter into this new lifestyle.

Bariatric patients want to share their amazing results, and being reminded of others’ achievements will help you persevere. The community can offer recipe ideas for liquid and soft diets, as well as meal ideas for after this period. You might find people who are willing to partner with you to develop an exercise regimen, since a workout is always more fun with someone else.

Self-disclosure is key to building community. You should look for a group you can trust and confide in when the days following surgery are difficult. All of you sharing the ups and downs will make your bond as a community stronger.

Support

After recovery, a community group will continue to provide you support. This long-term commitment to helping one another maintain a healthy lifestyle is important. Hearing one another’s continued successes and struggles with weight loss and health will provide incentive to keep making good choices–even on the hard days.

Your family and friends are an important part of your weight-loss journey, but a community group of those who fully understand the effects of bariatric surgery can be invaluable to your success and future.