Being a DSer and Being able to research
Just a short observation, I've noticed a LOT of newbies coming on the forum (some not so new), who are asking the same questions that have been answered (some in the same day) in other posts.
It is a bit scarey to think that a person cannot or is unwilling to do a bit of research on their own to answer the most basic of questions. Poop questions,gas questions, hunger issues, vit questions, what we eat, etc are answered almost EVERYDAY. So if you go back a few weeks and start reading, you'll know almost everything we know about the DS.
Why is it important to have some basic research skills as a DSer? Well, just like when you were obese,and doctors blamed everything wrong with you on the fact that you were fat; doctors will often blame EVERY problem you have post op on your DS, even if it's not a DS issue. You need to be able to research, advocate for yourself, and learn things for yourself. This isn't just a DS issue, I have a relative that is not a WLS patient, he's unable to advocate for himself and he has had some basic issues that could have been treated if he just knew how to research a bit and speak up for himself.
If you are planning to get the DS/RNY/or hell even the VSG....and you cannot do some basic research either because you don't know how to do it, or are too lazy, or are not intelligent enough to do it, then DON'T get WLS.
This is not a flame on anyone, this is not a commentary on anyone in specific, but this is a real issue, and you need to be aware of it before you have surgery.
I'll go even a step further to give an example from my own personal life:
I was given a basic vit. schedule preop. I followed it faithfully for a year, at the end of the year I was deficient in almost everything. My surgeon's NUT made some recommendations, and I followed them, but another 1/2 year later, I was anemic and had severely low D levels. I did a bit of research on this forum and another forum (basically reading everything vitalady posted), I started to follow the advice I saw here, and my levels improved. If I kept following the advice of my NUT, I would have been dead.
I hope this helps.
Scott
on 2/6/10 9:10 am
Good stuff. I hope this thread doesn't degenerate into a I-have-a-right-to-aske-all-the-questions-I-want-because-this-is-a-support-board-and-if-you-disagree-with-that-you-are-a-meanie/bully discussion.
A lot of us vets continue to hang around to help newbies that come along. It's not hard to see which newbies are reading the messages trying to learn but still end up with questions (YOU are the ones that will make a great DSer) and the ones that pop in here and don't read the messages but instead want the information handed directly to them (YOU, by the way, will face a potentially difficult lifelong struggle with your health).
Newbies, please, please, PLEASE hear the message about reading exhaustively. It's not because nobody wants to help you. Rather it's because people want to help you learn all that you'll need to know to be healthy for the rest of your life.
(Sorry Scottie, I kind pulled up a soapbox on your thread.)
The Google search function works MUCH better for me then the OH search. Sometimes I have to play with more words and less words.. but it does take less time then waiting for people to respond.
I think people should bookmark this again--
By the way, I found this by SEARCHING exactly as I am suggesting.... I put how to search in the phrase
How to Search This Site (Or any site)
1) Go to http://www.google.com and click the "Advanced Search" link
2) Enter the words or phrases for which you are searching, e.g., chewable vitamin
3) Decide which OH forum or forums you want to search. Go to the forum(s) and copy the URLs.
For example:
(Duodenal Switch Forum) http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/
4) Enter the URL(s) in the field labelled, "Search within site or domain". Separate URLs by a comma.
5) Click the "Advanced Search" button. You will only see results from the OH forum(s) you specify.
Tips:
To search the entire OH site (every forum), just enter http://www.obesityhelp.com as the URL
Want to see ALL posts by a person (as opposed to only the Latests posts within the current forum)?
Search for their username and their location (found below their avatar). If you just specify their username, you will get their posts as well as all posts ABOUT them. (Some people are talked about more than they actually post!)
~Brandy~ 
HW- 333 SW-306 CW- 144 GW-150
