Rant from a vet

Lately there have been a lot of “Help, I've gained all my weight back”, or “Help, I can't stop eating sweets” or “Help, I'm a week out of surgery and I'm eating junk food”. I know this because I have written almost identical responses, within two days, to several posters, on how to get back on track.

I had my first WLS in 1986 and this site taught me so much when I was going through my revision in 2010.  I have a lot of experience and I want to be here to pay it forward. I try to be supportive and give as much information as I can, but I do wish that people would spend time reading through the posts (on several forums) to see if anyone else is going through the same thing and then apply that advice given in another post to themselves. It can get pretty time-consuming to answer the same question three times in one day. I've literally seen the same exact question being asked three posts down.

I understand that we live in an “instant gratification” society and people want the answers to fall in their laps, but it really is up to you to spend the time searching for answers. When I see the same question posted within a few hours, on the same board, I get a little dismissive and don't bother to even open the post. I know a lot of vets that will by-pass posts for this very reason. The “three-week stall” is the perfect example.

Please take the time to educate yourselves. Use the search function ( the little magnifying glass in the blue bar at the top of the page) and search your issue. Read, read, and then read some more. If there are specifics that you don't understand after you have researched, by all means, post that question. We will do our best to answer but, remember, our time is just as valuable as yours.

Please be specific in your title. If the title simply reads “HELP”, I don't bother with it. I don't have the time to open it up only to discover that I can't “help” because I haven't had that experience. If the title said “Help me with my lab interpretations” then you will get folks that know about that subject responding. You might be missing out on someone that can actually help you by being so vague in your title.

*steps off soap box*

I'm definitely not a vet, but I appreciate the rant.....the same questions on these boards time after time get pretty annoying

There are questions about stalls, hair loss, and loose skin EVERY DAY!  

If people would just take the time to read before they post it would help.

I understand how you feel, but you continue to ignore MY question. What's the best protein drink?

What ever the f**k tastes good to you today, my dear! 

Hey Grim!

I adjusted my WLS goal after reading your post...thanks!

I use Cellucor for a meal substitute every once in a while. Think it has over 25 grams protein, about 190 calories with almond milk, and the chocolate tastes just like a milkshake. In fact, I had to hide it from our 13 yo granddaughter, and if my husband keeps at it he is going to be playing hide & seek, too...lol..

Great post! I've noticed an uptick in those sorts of posts as well. Also, I am really curious as to what kind of procedure you had done in1986. Do you mind sharing?

Jen

I had a Verticle Banded Gastroplasty.  It was pure torture for twenty five years. The band had embedded itself onto my liver, adhering my stomach to the liver.  I had such severe GERD from that surgery that the stomach acid eroded the tissue between the stomach and esophagus and I had acid in my mouth all the time.  They removed 6 tumors from my esophagus ( pre cancerous) and I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus.  While I did regain about 1/2 my original loss from the VBG, I was revised to RNY to cure my GERD.  I'm happy to say that it WORKED!  I truly believe that RNY saved my life.  Without it I believe I was destined to have cancer of the esophagus.  

I had so much scar tissue from the VBG that they were unsure how to proceed.  It was a dangerous surgery and I was referred to the top surgeon at Mayo clinic because no other surgeon would touch me ( I had been to see 6 surgeon's).  Before the revision at Mayo, I was told to get my affairs in order because I had a one in four chance of not making it through the surgery.  I was really a sick girl. 

I've had quite a few complications after my RNY, but I feel SO much better than I did before I had it done.  The biggest perk is that I have been below my goal weight for 4 years.  I never reached my goal with the VBG.

Wow, thanks so much for sharing that. I guess the VBG was the best option at the time, but I'm sorry you had to suffer with the side effects for so long. I'm glad that you are doing well with your RNY!

Jen