my disclaimer

Someone seemed to take offense yesterday that some people ask me for advice about vitamins and that they don't just take their doctors' advice about vitamins instead.  I'm not sure why this person cared so much what other people do, but then I get all worked up when people tell me they take vitamins I think are inadequate and I don't know why I care so much about that, either.

So just in case anyone here didn't know this already - I am NOT a doctor.  I did not attend medical school.  I am not a registered dietician.  I could call myself a nutritionist if I wanted to, if that makes anyone feel better, since you don't have to have any special education or be licensed or anything to use that title.  But I am not a medical professional of any kind.  I am college educated, took a college course in anatomy and physiology, know some medical terminology, and am able to read and understand articles about nutrition and other health-related topics.

My advice is not meant to be a substitute for medical care.  Please discuss any issues with your health care professionals, since that is what you pay them for.  Please do not take my word for something just because I say so.  Please do you own research.  I am always happy to tell you where I get my information and then you can read it for yourself.  By the way, most of the time my "advice" is not really my own personal opinion, it's me telling you what the Americian Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Linus Pauling Institute, the Vitamin D Council, the Mayo Clinic or some other reputable organization says about something.  When it is just my own personal opinion, though, I am happy to explain why I believe that.

Then please make your own decisions.  I don't want to make decisions for anyone else.

And no one needs to post in response to this telling me that you trust my advice.  I know many people do and that's very nice, but it's also OK if some people don't.  If you don't want my advice, then don't ask for it.  That's just fine with me.  Doesn't hurt my feelings a bit.

I suspect that you care so much when you read about people taking the wrong (or inadequate) vitamins for the same reason that I get so distressed when I read about people going back to an all-liquid diet to try to force the scale to move or to "feel their restriction" again... because you know enough to know what the significant potential physical ramifications are of importper supplementation (just as I know what the signficant potential psychological ramifications are of people turning back to fad diets)... and neither one of us wants people to suffer any negative consequences from simply not having knowledge about what they may be walking into.

I will never apologize for caring about people's psychological health, and -- like you -- I always encouarge people to seek professional mental health care.  Even though I am a mental health professional, I am not here in a professional capacity.  If people don't like what I have to say based on my own education, training, and personal and professional experience, they are free to discard it and my feelings are not hurt a bit.

We try to do what we can...

Lora

Honestly, I think it is like watching someone about to step into traffic with their eyes closed.  I want them to open their eyes.  Then, if they really want to step into the traffic, that's their right to do so and I support our rights to make our own decisions, even if I think they are bad ones.  But I want them to be informed decisions.

Kelly,

I missed the offense and really won't bother to seek it out.  Sigh.

May I add a thought?  *IF* the entire planet had a medical team of consummate bariatric professionals who trained their staff members to teach, train and follow every patient in their UNIQUE journey of this maze of WLS, then support forums such as this one would be unnecessary and people sharing knowledge learned (sometimes the very hardest way of learning) would be redundant.  We don't have that perfect world.  So we exist on forums like this one.  THANK GOODNESS!

I would be consider a post op success in anyone's book.  But it isn't because my surgeon knew everything about my medical needs.  He performed the surgery, gave me a few guidelines and off I went.  He is still a brilliant surgeon.  I am grateful for his role in my success.  But if I had stopped there, I would be in serious trouble.

Some of the advice I read here is for me.  Some of it is not for me.  I am smart enough to make those choices.  The next person is smart enough, too.

Thanks to everyone who shares their journey and answers questions.  We all learn by those efforts.  I beg all of you........don't hesitate to share.  The life you save could be mine.


Vicky
Six years post-op
up three pounds from my bottom weight
GREAT labs and sound health

(And I didn't stay on Pepcid, Flinstones and Iron only)

See, I think all of us here are smart enough to make our own decisions.  But we have to have the information so we can decide.  You can't make an informed decision without the information.

EXACTLY!!!!

I learned there were things I didn't even know I didn't know!!!!!

I am not the poster child for compliance so I leave that advice sharing to those of you who have more facts.  I just choose to follow the wisdom.

I am not always "compliant" either.  But I want the information so I know what I am risking when I choose not to comply.  If I want to risk it, that's my right.  Just like it's my right to decide whether or not to wear my seatbelt in the car.  But I have the information so I know what I'm risking if I decide not to wear the seatbelt.

it's not like you are making up your own information, you are spitting back out the stuff that is out there for anyone to read. 


Sarah

I know.  But perhaps someone felt it would be better if people sought information only from their physicians.  And I think that is OK if that is what someone feels most comfortable with.  I know some people, including myself, feel more comfortable getting information from a variety of sources and considering it all before deciding things.

This is just my own two cents--I'm on this forum because I admit I don't know a dam* thing about eating right or what's good for my body--if I did I wouldn't have to use this forum. I'm seeking information from those who have gone before me and have some idea of what they are talking about. You give the source of your information--which leaves me free to also look up that source. I'm  storing all these bits of information so I can ask the doctor, the "nut" (cracks me up when I see that written in a post BTW), or any other health professional when I come across them.  This forum is also an excellent place to find things it never even crossed my mind to ask. I so appreciate everyone I've come in connect with here so far . So I'll just say thank you for your information and your concern.