MY vents. And yes, I do have them.

Hi Karen.

I'm so glad to hear that you have vents!  At times, you have seemed almost too patient to me (as I am not the most patient person around!).

Your post reminds me of how I have felt as a person who has been in recovery for a long time.  I sometimes get resentful of all of those who no longer share their experience, strength and hope with the new folks, who take the wonderful new life they have gained through recovery and walk away from those who need their support, although they received support in the beginning of their process.  It seems that this phenomena extends to WLS just as much as it does to any life-changing process where people need support from one another.

I want you to know that I really enjoy your posts and your (apparently crappy, according to someone) attitude.  You bring a lot of knowledge, experience and humour to the forum.  I personally find all of the vets very inspirational and hope to follow your example in contributing to the forum as I get further out from surgery.

As far as newbies posting, feel free to put me in my place if I'm spouting off about something I know nothing about.  I try to keep my responses to my own experience which, as far as WLS goes, only covers since April '11.  I also reply to posts about depression and transfer addictions because I have spent many years as a counsellor in addictions and mental health. 

Sorry about the long post, I think I got carried away!  And please stay.

Karen W

As a fellow mental heath professional - I do have vents. And I feel badly when I am upset or feel oppsite to someone's posts. Karen, I want so much to help people, just as I was here. 

I like reading your posts and through your answers to others (and sometimes myself) i find that i am becoming more knowledgable and prepared for whats to come..
so i thank you..

i do find some of your posts have a *****y undertone to them, but thats problaby what draws me to yours.. lol.. from one '*****' to another

Well yes, I am a ***** Or honest and been there.  Your choice. Uincorns up our ass or the truth of what it's really like. 

Herein lies the problem with non-verbal communication.  When we read a response, we do not know the tone with which it was "spoken", so we decide for ourselves the tone - and often are very, very wrong).  A post could be interpreted as  *****y, when in fact it was posted with heartfelt tenderness, or it was meant to be comical but that emotion never came through in the msg.

 
Karen are you having another meeting soon ? 

Yep, see if you can get a ride.  Wednesday Sept 14 at Tim's. 

 i have my own car so i just need the addy so i can get the directions i know its on lakeshore, and i should be there.

Thanks,
Joy

Vent away girl, you have let me and probably many many others vent and offer support and advice.  As you know I truly appreciate your experience.  What would this site be without your and other vets experiences?  I shudder to think about it, it would be pretty pointless.  There are many people here in difference phases and I appreciate their answers to my questions about going through the process, and many of them thankfully share their story. I love that they do.  With that being said I am a newbie so at this point almost anyone can give me advice. lol  I truly will be lost post op without the experienced ones here, I would be lost without their and YOUR help.

It is a great quality to give to others of your time, effort and knowledge.  Please know that the majority here appreciate you!! Including me of coarse.  Keep your chin up and please accept my apologies if I in any way stress you out.

I am going to pay it forward.

Karen, as you know, I recently put quite a few people on block as they truly annoyed me for a lot of what you mentioned.  I think if you want to keep your own sanity, you may just have to start doing to the same.  They may not stay on block forever but for right now I had to quit seeing their posts for my own sake.

And to the troll that joined today.  GO **** YOURSELF!!