Guidelines for Newbies
Darlene 
Jan, I am pre-op hoping for an early spring RNY. I lurk at the grads board frequently and usually post or lurk at the main board. I'm trying to develop a 'grads mentality' so that I dont get caught up in the ridiculous posting rituals that we find so many newbies practicing. I'm doing everything possible to keep on researching my decision and know of my surgeons holistic plan for me.
What I think would be helpful is this....and I don't suggest it lightly because it would take a great deal of coordination on Someone's part, but sooo helpful in the long run. What One or Two secrets, disciplines, attributes, learning experiences have you long termers had that you deem to be the Most Successful factors in your long term success???
If a lot of the grads were willing to email a point person and one thread could be compiled, it would no doubt contain scores of helpful information for the newbies to consider. If it were "advertised" as opinion or personal experience, then no need for everyone to bicker or debate about what points were "right or wrong" it would be a "relative" thing based on that grads very personal experience and successful outcome. Short of flat out telling someone to ignore their doctors orders, I do know of any "liability" or risk that would be taken in sharing this information.
In other words, have everyone take one or two highlights from their profiles here and condense them into one thread to read. In my mind, every time I run into a grad, the first question in my mind is "what has contributed the most to your success?? (because we all know that the surgery alone isn't what's keeping your weight off!)"
I think you have a very good idea. I do see the point however that "some don't want to hear it" but in the long run you would definitely be serving the majority not the minority. Just an idea........
Best wishes,
Jen
PS. I realize that I cannot offer this suggestion without offering my help as well. I will be willing to work with you, as a newbie, to develop some sort of collective piece authored by the Grads. you can email me any time thru my profile.
Jen, while I appreciate your post, I had this very idea a week ago. Here is the link to that thread.
http://obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_grads/postdetail/11206.html?vc=0
It was pointed out that there are so many opinions among Grads and their surgeons that such a thread wouldn't work. This is why I thought perhaps a sort of "book review" of these 6 Success Habits might be the ticket to helping some of these newbies that seem so lost and confused. Even though I find these Success Habits to be very basic (as is the book), we still find fault with it on the Grad Board. Because this book was recommended by my surgeon, I have no problems with it, but all surgeons are not alike and are as diverse as WLS patients!
Maybe if we did a collective thread of our own and put a LARGE disclaimer at the top to say that we ourselves don't all necessarily agree with the entire thread that follows and this thread is simply a compilation of what we individually found worked for US and may not be YOUR choice.... just thinking outloud with my fingers here... that basically each suggestion by each Grad is the opinion of the author alone.
I bet there would still be fights and arguments and name calling though!!
Anyway, you're on the right track in MY opinion, Jen!!! Keep doing that research, become WELL voiced on this life changing surgery before you have it and know what to expect (in your head, at least) and you will do well. After surgery, nothing came as a surprise to me as I had no complications and had read up on all KINDS of things beforehand!!
Thanks so much for your support, Jen!!!
Jan
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