This place has gone down the tubes......

I'm sure I'll get pulled for this but this place has steadly gone down hill. Hardly anyone post here anymore and I've noticed the VERY FEW TIMES that I have visited the "new main message board" and did some reading, everyone is scared to death to give any advice. All anyone saids is " oh ...contact your doctor right away". GOOD LORD PEOPLE.......what ever happened to sharing experiences and problems that you had along the way? Of course we are not doctors and never claimed to be but all anyone is asking if anyone else had experience the same thing......thats all. I am truely dissappointed in this place and feel I couldn't even recomend it to anyone anymore. Sorry if I hurt anyones feelings but I'm simply expressing how I feel.

Well, my humble suggestion is simply this: Be a part of the SOLUTION and not a part of the problem. I think right now all of the boards are burping with the end of winter time.....and I always give advice when it is in the realm of my own personal experience, but the fact is, there are many times that they really do need to call their doctors. I can't imagine anyone's feelings being hurt by your post, but if they are, well, that's a bit thin skinned in my view.

Dear Kim, I am not a "grad" yet--only six months out--but I lurk on this site because I find less fluff here than on the main board. When I have sought advice, I was serious about it and didn't want just a "tsk tsk, poor thing" which so many seem to. I also gave the information necessary to provide a reasonable answer--something I see few people do. So I have to say while it may be frustrating for someone like you, so far, I've had good experiences with the boards. I am selective in what I bother with, and when I respond with contact your doctor it is because that is what I believe people need to do not because I'm afraid to give advice. I have had a great experience with my WLS and will tell anyone my experiences, but if someone is hurting or has pink stool, they need to call their doctor. But I guess it all comes down to what you expect and want from the board. I like reading about other people's experiences even as a way to identify red flags later on. Sally

Kim: I have to agree with you to a degree - moreso with the main messageboard. I really don't like the new design and find it hard to read posts to begin with. I do scan through sometimes to see if there's something that I might actually want to respond to. I think there's a lot of junk posts that I can't be bothered with. I do like the grads board, and I do post my opinions and experiences when I feel it's pertinent to the question. Overall, though I have to agree that the site isn't as good as it once was. I'm all for trying to keep this board going though! Thanks for posting. Carlita

You didn't offend me Kim and i hope this answer doesn't offend you but in fact, the only advice we SHOULD give is for people to contact their own doctor. Sure you can tell your own experiences but you had a different doctor and your experience is just that. Yours. If someone comes on and says, I have a pain in my left side what is it? and I say, "it is your old tummy', then I am giving medical advice and could cost someone their life. On the other hand, if I say, " I had the same pain and mine was my old tummy, call your doctor" then I am sharing my experience. I am a registered nburse and several times a day I have seen people giving medical advice. There is a very fine line.

Delores, I didn't recognize you with your Christmas Card pic! There is a fine line between Med advice. But I think what Kim is reacting to is the % of actual useable info Versus all the "Fluff" that fills the Board now-a-days. I also think it "used to be" more topic oriented and now It's more- "...my sister-in-law, The one I've been posting about for the last month? Now she says she wants to...." An other difference I notice is the large number of answers per thread Coming from some folks who are still Pre-Op But because they are in "focus on surgery" mode They supply answers for everything from "How do you keep from dumping?" To- "What does dehydration Feel Like?" Some "awfully wise" and "experienced" Pre-Ops out there. I'm glad they are excited about their upcoming surgeries But wish sometimes they'd withhold some of their "sage advice." Particularly when it is wrong. And supply the support they are Really very good at giving. Some of my favorite quotes of the last few weeks have been- "Doctors Know NOTHING About Nutrition!" (glad I don't have their doc.) "You can't live on less than 30gms of Carbs a Day, For Any time at all! That's just Crazy!" (somehow I'm still kickin', I must be the Miracle Man) "No One actually gets to a Normal BMI, that's just a myth!" (once again, a lot of miracles walking around out here) "RNY'ers are never able to eat bread!" (ha! Yeah, right...) ---and they just keep coming. I think it is hard to step in and "beg to differ" And so I'll just pass on by most times. I get tired of being snapped at By folks who aren't open to possible exceptions to their rules... If I had a nickel for everytime I've typed- "What does Your Doctor recommend?" I'd be sittin' pretty! Glad to see you! Didn't recognize you at first. Best Wishes- Dx

just curious, why "No Email"?

Kim, I sort of responded to your thread in a reply to Delores. Saw her new Photo and couldn't resist the "Hey Gal" I also think a big part of it is the adapting to the "New Board." Half the posts are focused on getting signatures right, Changing Avatar photos, etc... That, and the blocks of replies are so big now that there is a lot Less "info per inch" going on. And with that being the case, When half of the stuff is in fact "Fluff" about- "...My mom's new boyfriend is controlling, because he...." It's possible to read several pages of typing Without coming across any helpful info related to WLS or Obesity at all. How many Grads does it take to change the lightbulb? 2, 1 to change it, and one to comment about how good the old bulb was. I do think a part of it is our perspective. Some of the stuff we were terribly interested in 4 years ago, is totally passe to us now. I've been "snapped at" enough by pre-ops and newbies Who want the "old-azzes" to but out, and let them find their own way, That I limit my "experience swapping" to smaller niche forums Were people are specifically asking questions they want answered. I do think once everyone shakes down into just communicating And put less focus on the newness of the medium of communication, The same old AMOS, (wait, excuse me, OH) will be back to usual. In the meantime, if you've got the energy, jump out there And drop some info on folks. I find that to be more difficult at present. Best Wishes- Dx

I agree DX. The fluff should go on the Totally Off Topic board. Is it not what it is there for? Does it not say that the main board is for WLS questions and discussions? i was sort of chastised the other day for suggesting that someone post their off topic question in the correct place about finding out her husbands marriage record or something. I know there are those post ops that can't read. Those are the same nes that cry 'wolf' because they didn't realize what they were getting into with this surgery. I know we will always have people that post 'fluff" on hte main board. such is life. I have almost totally lost interest because as you say, things that interested me four years ago no longer interest me. i guess it is time to move on and let the 'fluffs" have it.

Delores, I do like the new pix. My new pix is a little nutty but heck why not? I am happy and having fun these days. I spend more and more time on the forums. I still go to the mainboard but yes, I do get tired and sometimes frustrated. I agree it is a combo of reasons. I respond if I feel I have something to say. Just this am a gal was complaining about not getting any responses. I found I was explaining to her that titles are important, it is a moving board and she may need to repost. I do not read OT posts 95% of the time. I guess in all honesty even as a pre op I could not handle the posts about weight comparing and how 50 # in 3 months is a slow loser or OMG my hair is thinning! I vowed to not do that to myself and did not. So at 2+ yr post op I do not want to respond to those questions. A post that says "pain" could mean anything. Now if I see PLZ help worried about pain- I will read and respond if I can add anything of value. I am a nurse I know the dangers of" diagnosing" someone. I can share a similar experience and suggest someone decide for themselves if only for peace of mind to call the Dr. Laurie