Some of you newbies and DS wannabes **** me off. LONG rant about life and death here.

Nicolle,

I am so sorry for the lost of your friend. I will pray for you and his family.

I want to thank you for this post, I like so many have felt this, I even posted a topic on this and I was blocked by some. I have in the past tried to help and was blocked for telling the hard truth. It is so sad that a good man had to lose this fight and that others who in my mind don't deserve the DS are walking about crying I ate a pizza at 2 weeks out!!! WTF!!!! I am almost 8 months out and don't eat pizza, bread, rice, potatoes, or pasta unless its Dreamfields.

I am afraid for the new bunch of DS hopefuls, this is serious people, your life depends on it.

OMG!  Thank you for posting this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is the main reason why I haven't been posting, and why I am pretty much done with OH (See my Blog)  I literally cannot take this crap, over and over again. 

  SIGNED!!  Thank you Nicolle, this needed to be said.

Nicolle,

Kudos to this post...!

I remember Norm for the few weeks he posted while just after surgery, and I remember hearing about his death and sitting at my computer and crying.  I was working nights and couldnt sleep on my day off... I cannot believe its really been one year already.  I remember the gentlemen who talked to Norm in SF and spoke of how humble he was, and I remember when you posted that photo of Norm you mentioned he usually didn't like taking pictures.   I felt very sad when Norm passed away especially for someone I had never met, or even spoke to.  His presence somehow seemed with me, somewhere.

I just want to say thanks for this post... =)

This is one of the best if not the best post I've read. I think it should be required reading for ALL newbies. Once a newbie shows up we should warmly welcome them here, tell them to buckle up for one hell-uv-a ride and then link them to this post (bookmarking now).

I'm pre-op, and I think I "get it". But I'm also smart enough to recheck myself from time to time. The responsibility I will assume with the DS gives me butterflies like I'm about to go on stage. I know I connot screw this up. I must be a good student for me, my family and believe it or not....... out of respect for all those that have gone before me AND all those that will follow. I owe it to them for their sacrafice, dedication and courage to respect this most amazing tool.

I my DS family!

William

(((((((((((Nicolle))))))))))))

Beautiful thread, Nicolle!

I had the pleasure of PMing with Norm a few times because I, too, had traveled alone for my surgery and he sought to allay some of his fears in that regard. He was a sweet and charming man.

My heart breaks for Norm and for all the other responsible, diligent people who are killed by obesity before they have had a chance with the DS. And it does anger me when others, not quite so deserving, spit on the chance they've been given by willfully ignoring the DS rules and advice given here by vets.

Norm was lucky to have you and I have no doubt that he knew that.

Norm was a very sweet man. I am sad that I didn't get the opportunity to know him better!

Thanks for this post Nicolle, it's important and needed to be said!

Jillian

THANK YOU Nicolle for posting this!  You truly brought tears to my eyes with your tribute to Norm..  What an amazing person he sounded to be...  I agree 100% with everything you have stated- I myself have gone from post 1,000 and have worked my way forward & as you said, you can find just about every "?" you have answered before you even would need to post..  I agree with the need to have a functioning support system in place before surgery, that way you have the greatest amount of success after. I truly truly feel that is VITALLY important to my success. Also,  that's part of why it's taken me almost 3 years to get to where I am now- going through the process initially & the psych testing revealing what it did, I chose to take that time and work on myself- the surgery wouldn't have cured my mental health, in fact in most people with underlying issues it exacerbates it..  I want my post DS life to be as successful as possible, and I for one am forever grateful for all of the wisdom & knowledge out there on OH & medical studies, EASILY ACCESSABLE just through the click of a button & a scroll down. 

Hopefully other preops can take this to heart, and rather than seeing this post as being ugly, be grateful that there are those out there who care enough for our success that they are willing to say it like it is- if only to protect one from themselves...
Thank you again!

Nicolle, you summed out (so eloquently) what a lot of us are thinking. Thanks for taking the time to do it. The newbies that post stupid **** have chased a lot of good people away, who I miss and were an asset to the board.  There  is nothing wrong with asking questions, but asking stupid ass **** info that your surgeon already told you.....well it's annoying. Maybe the DS should come with a warning...."Not for assclowns"
I miss Norm. I pmed him a few times and he was such a lovely man.  RIP Norm.