I so want to help but sometimes it just doesn't pay

Finally Tek, we agree on something. I wa**** with a few complications. i forgot to tell Bruce that. Did I expect them? NO, but I did know I might have complications. The only one I wasn't aware of was the one that required partial removal of my "old tummy" this year. I had NEVER heard of that one and I was the first of that kind for my surgeon but he was right on it once he figured it out.

Don't be silly, we agreed once before. Tek

Must have been a million years or so ago because in my old age, I don't remember ever agreeing with you. OH, I think I do remember now!!!!!!!!

Ahhhh, there we are... back to normal. Tek

Nodding in agreement with you Tek. I spent months and months just reading---not just the message board but the library as well. I don't think I have ever actually posted a new post with a question---all my questions have always been answered by reading all the other messages. Of course, if no one asked questions then this place would get a bit dull, except for us here and the lively discussions.

Me too!! Plus, sometimes when I see a question out there, I'll do a search because I know there was a good answer previously posted, and I'll either make a link or copy that post. Maybe people don't know how to do a search?

Tek, you said in your post what I wanted to say in mine and didn't. Thank you. It took me two years to move from considering this surgery to having it. For the first six months, I read everything and waffled back and forth. Then I decided, spoke to my doctor, got a referral, and read even more. My surgeon's office has been remarkable in terms of requirements and support but the bottom line is that it was up to me to learn. I am so far from perfect but I know what the implications of failure are and I'm not willing to get sloppy if it means "going back." I appreciate your candor and ability to say (write) that which is sometimes difficult but, ultimately, necessary to say (write). Again, thanks for articulating my frustrations and feelings. Judi P.S. At 17 months out, I still think of myself as a "newbie."

bruce, I think you missed the whole point of the post. it is not the fact that they ask the same things, at least for me it isn't. What my problem with them is that they ask questions, we old timers try to help them, but they don't want our advice. They want to be told, "sure honey eat pizza at one week out." Sorry but I am not going to do that. And NO< I was not like them at one time. Am I saying I knew everything that would hit me? No!!!!!! What I am saying is that wayyyyyyy before I had this surgery, I had already researched my brains out. I KNEW that I could not eat candy or pizza. I KNEW that if my doc said clear liquids that no matter how hungry I got, I had to do clear liquids I also KNEW that I probably would not lose twenty pounds a week so why go to the board crying about it. I also KNEW that protein and vitamins are for life. And why go to the board and ask people what they thought about it. Why should I even ask what kind of supplements? My surgeon told me all that and I KNEW to be successful that I HAD to follow his directions regardless of what others say. Does everyone have a caring surgeon that educates his patients? No, but that is their own fault for not researching and picking the best surgeon they could find. Sorry, but your post got me upset and as far as being unfair, I think you were very unfair to us. I will help any post op that is sincerely looking for help but I can only share my own experiences and refer them to their surgeon for answers for their own situation. I will not, ever, say, "yes, honey eat all the chocolate and pizza you can hold. If you throw up, just keep right on eating, you will be okay darling."

Some of what you said is true. I'm sorry if I sounded like i was being unfair or making fun of the pre or newly post ops-I wasn't. I was just frustrated with the amount of care they're given and the amount of research they go into this life altering surgery with. I was a newby at one time myself, but even before I had my surgery I knew I'd have to change my eating and lifestyle after surgery, before anybody told me I would. I knew macaroni and cheese wasn't as good a choice for a meal as lean turkey or beef. I knew chips were carbs and for people watching their weight carbs are usually to be limited or avoided. I don't mind when someone says they're confused about which vitamins to take or what form of a pill they can absorb. Most of us didn't know that before we had years of being post ops under our belts. What bothers me is those that ask if eating a subway sandwich at 5 weeks out will stretch out their pouch. I don't care which surgeon you had - you have to know that's not desirable or acceptable if you want to lose weight. I have been on these boards for over 5 years and will continue to help those that genuinely need it. I'm sorry I came off uncaring to you - it wasn't my intent. Myrtle.

You said,"I don't mind when someone says they're confused about which vitamins to take or what form of a pill they can absorb. Most of us didn't know that before we had years of being post ops under our belts." I respectfully have to disagree with you. If we listened to our surgeons we did know what kind of vitamins to take and what we absorb. Even if we didn't listen, most of them give us a "bible" to read that tells it all. That is, unless the surgeon was one of those slice and dice guys.