Not sure what is going on!!! My opinion

I am here to put my 2 cents in....if I offend anyone ...I am sorry... I have been lurking on the board off and on and being a post - op person; felt it was time to put my two cents in. First: and most importantly...I believe that this message board has a lot of people that don't take other people's struggles into consideration when they respond. I have noticed lately, that if you (whoever you might be) disagree with someone; you make it sound like all of disagree with that person. I believe if you have a point to make you should respond by saying this is my opinion. Don't lump me into your response to someone by saying "We all have gone through this or that" or "anyone who has this surgery should know". We are all in different stages and phases of this struggle and it is very important to remember we all need support in some way, shape or form. Second: Don't assume that you are an expert at weight loss, obesity surgery, or the lifestyles of the obese. I have struggled with obesity my whole life and in no way do I know everything there is to know about the subject. I can share with others my struggles, my joys, and what I have learned and how it affects me; and hopefully it will help someone else ...but it is only a suggestion. Third: One of my favorite sayings is, "REMEMBER, the Titanic was built by professionals and NOAH'S ARK was built by volunteers, remember which one sunk....perhaps we should have more of a volunteer's attitude and help others instead of being the ultimate professionals. Fourth: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE BE SUPPORTIVE OF ONE ANOTHER...yes, we all realize our surgeries are a tool, that has been given to us, but we all slip, fall down and even fail....since I have been on this site, there have been numerous people who in my opinion have not made the best choices in life, but I really believe that is what this support board is for, first to be able to admit we have done it, and to get support from those who have succeeded; the last thing any of us need is to be chastised, ridiculed or even ignored because we say or do something that doesn't sound or feel right. FINALLY, LET'S HELP ONE ANOTHER BE SUCCESSFUL.... I will now get off my soapbox. Betty Myers St. Louis, MO

Well I'll chime in (but then again you KNEW this was a given).... I don't post as often either... for several reasons. I know that some folks don't care for my outlook, approach or whateveryoucallit. I'm pretty tough and hardlined. I don't believe in straying off the straight and narrow and if it is done I don't believe in the warm fuzzy approach of it will be much better tomorrow. How can something be alright and tomorrow will be a better day IF you don't deal with what caused the issue in the first place? If you don't hit the problem square on the head then the whole week the whole month just turns in to a series of "tomorrow will be a better day".. where does THAT get you?..... That is the reason the I am such a hard A#$ when it comes to doing things right. I'm not going to stand here and tell you that I am perfect (boy am I NOT!) but I sure as heck don't want someone mollycoddling me either. Also if someone says something that hits "too close to home for me" I would prefer to USE that incident to further myself along in the my WLS walk instead of getting all huffy and lashing out or doing something else that is not constructive. I also don't like cliques. I never have and never will. I'm an equal opportunity person who tries to be there for EVERYONE... even if they don't share my mindset.... heck it takes all kinds to make the world. I'm sure that alot of folks sit back and get quite disgruntled with me with my exercise posts ...my hardline posts...etc. In fact I KNOW that they do as I have been the recipient of some rather nasty emails *privately* and NO I WILL NOT SHARE WHO SENT THEM. You know who you are. Again I'm not perfect and I'm not trying to be. I'm also not trying to be Ms. Goody Two Shoes either... I'm me. I fought like hell to have this surgery and by the graces of God I am not going to go through life blowing this opportunity. If others want to do this then by all means... more power to em. Just don't expect me to agree with you. Don't email me and ask me what you can do (fill in the blank) when you KNOW what you NEED to do. Stop making bad food choices and START EXERCISING. We are all educated adults... now lets act like it! Everyone have a grand day!.. Elizabeth~

I think some people are a little too sensitive. I am two and a half years out and you are correct in that we all are very different. My challenges are very different form someone else. When I put me two cents in that is what it is worth. It is just my opinion and my past experiences which may or may not be helpful to others, that is for them to deciede. I feel bad that a certain person decieded he had to leave the board and I really dont understand why. I apologize if I offened him because I dont mean to offend anyone, but sometimes we need to be a little on the blunt side, in a helpful way. I posted a while back about Doctor Hornbostel and Bothwell Hospital. Doc Hornbostels office and Bothwell Hospital treated me badly and I did not have surgery there and I advised people that Doc Hornbostel was a good doctor but that Bothwell hospital is not a very good hospital in my opinion and I personally would not take a dead dog to Bothwell hospital for a diagnosis. That is because they treated me badly and I will never go there for anything. I think Doc Hornbostel is a fine surgeon I just think he should use a better hospital. Many people have had successful surgeries at Bothwell and that is great I am happy for them. I was just warning people that if you have complications and things dont go great you want the best care available. I was reminding people this is a lifetime relationship with the Doc and the hospital so you want to make a wise choice. I want people to do their homework and research their choices, sometimes I think people go to the first doc they find and that is not always a good choice. But again that is my opinion only . Other people have used Bothwell Hospital and been very happy and that is great. My experience with that hospital and Doc Hornbostels office was very bad. Maybe that was very unusual I dont know, but I am glad I was forced to choose another hospital and Doc. I had a very good experience and would willingly go to the hospital and doc I chose for any other surgery I ever have although it is not close or handy to where I live now. I think some people complain and ask for help but then dont like the practical answers they are given. If you dont really want an honest answer dont ask the question. Sometimes people think this surgery is just like taking a magic pill. It is not . We have to work hard , eat sensibly and exercise to be successful. If you dont do one of these three thing you will have problems. The first year you can get by and lose a without much exercise, but after that if you want to keep the weight off, lose any more weight , and not regain exercise is very important. This post is worth about 2 cents this is just my opinion and I am not a head shrink, doc or anything just a surviving wls patient who is very happy he had surgery.