MY vents. And yes, I do have them.

Hi Karen,

You've already received tons of responses to your post, but I just had to put my two cents in.  I'm a newbie that truly appreciates your support and the support of other vets.  I started my WLS journey well over a year ago and attended various clinic support groups along the way but never came close to learning as much as I have on this OH site.  I'm grateful that someone told me about OH and once I checked out the site it wasn't long before I signed in.   This forum is awesome and that's because you are such a vital part of the daily interactions.  Please, please, please don't give up on us  .... you are needed.

Suzanne

Karen and all those fabulous other vets out there, please keep on doing what you have all been doing and that is giving us newbies advice, role models, compassion, honesty, humour and then some.  without your expertise and your thoughtfulness many of us would be lost.  it is so nice to see and read the advice from the vets because you were the front runners.  not sure if you had the privledge of others to give you advice etc however it sure means a lot to myself and i am certain many others.

i know that i have greatly benefited from your advice and hope to continue to garner that insight and then i will pay it forward for sure,  so thanks, thank you, merci, meegwitch, danke, gracias!!

Karen you have every right to vent. I think you have said what lot of us feel. I get so tired of people asking the same questions over and over again but by different people. example the taste of optifast.  If people would only look and read other posts they would find there answers. I feel sometimes people are just to lazy to look for there answers. some days it feels like everyone is asking the same questions over and over again. Those are the days I walk away from it. I know I have had many talks with a certain person on the postings on this site and how some people just don't get it. You know I have taken all your advice and I do thank you for them. Even when you have said go to hospital and I went and 5 hours  later come up with some good   pain meds in me.  For that I am grateful. I am grateful to have someone who is so far out to follow and learn from. Sometimes answers is not what we always want to hear but as they say the truth can hurt and with each on of us we sometimes need the truth so we stay on the right path. If people can not handle hearing the truth than maybe they should not post.
Want you to know I have the pictures developed from the luncheon. I made you a copy of the two of us. It turned out great. Now I just need to get it to you and post the pictures. I will soon. If you want me to mail you picture let me know.

 What??  Only 70 responses so far?  Seriously, Karen, I do think that you go above and beyond and I am, was, grateful for that...I don't blame you for being tired...I am as well, and so I don't post as often as I maybe should....but, hey, I have learned to take care of myself...
Thanks for all of your help and inspiration and take a break if you need to...you've certainly earned it.  Oh, and if you do, please let Joyce know so she doesn't worry!    m  xo

hey karen!!!!  first of all big hugs to you and good for you for venting i feel you have every rite to vent about all the stuff u mentioned and so very true that the repeat posters shouldnt be doing so.  i just wanted to say that i think u are the best and that i read all ur posts when i can except when i am away for a few days as i was at my trailer this weekend and its often hard to catch up on that two days that i have missed.  i truly do not know where i would be if it wasnt for ur wonderful posts.  you are always so welcoming to everyone and i really have enjoyed reading your posts since i have been on this site which i started coming on here around christmas,  you have always made me feel welcome even tho we havent really chatted.  i look forward to always and i really mean absolutly always hearing what you have to say about every single subject and i have to admit when i am reading the post u even make me laugh and smile because have such a great personality and sense of humor.  i also hope i have never made you mad!! i truly appreciate you and all the other vets big hugs to u all too ur are all very helpful.  thank you karen for always being there for me and everyone else so glad to have you as a friend and one day would love to even meet you in person or even come to these great events you plan. also if someone called you a troll on here they need to be tared and feathered because you are no such thing at all you are a wise and very respectfull woman who i have come to admire and respect. always remember that!!!   big hugs to you karen!!xxoo!!!

So I've been reading daily for a few months now and occasionally I post.  My question is -  where do the 750 readers of this thread come from?  And how does a "troll" know there is something "post-worthy" going on?   Now it's time for me to join the love-fest for Karen and the vets.... please don't block me 'cause I need the smile on your Avatar and your wit/widsom - they make me happy! and for the recipe queen from bumfuknowhere and Erica etc, etc, I love you all too!  Tell it like it is girls!  Thanks!  Sandy P

Hi karen
just came online and for the first time since i join OH i never seen you upset, but this is for good reason i must say if something bothers you by all means say how you feel..since i joined here you have been nothing but supportive of me i felt intimidated coming here but because of you i know i met a lot of great people..when i view post in A.M you and monica and few others are always here  keeping here alive am happy when i get on to see you. i LOVE you girl dont worry about a thing i am here for you as you been for me.. :)

Karen
(please don't read anger or attitude in this response)  But I do blame you for creating a new addiction for me.  I have become so hooked on this website that I check it out at least 3 times a day.  If I see a post by you or monica, bogie, etc, etc I read them first.  I'm pre op, 61 years of age and really nervous about this surgery.  Your advice, support and caring attitude is unbelieveable.  You should be working for this organization!  I hope you don't think I have given advice.....i've only responded to questions about the process at twh as I'm just gone through the orientation and have my next two appts scheduled  - I wouldn't try to response to questions about optifast, surgery, recovery etc. 

I've never seen so much flurry on any website...you should be pleased.  We don't want you to go away or be upset with us.  You know, in every profession, in general life, etc they are always jerks, trolls or know it alls....(I hope I'm not oneof them) most of us ignore their advice and/or questions....they put me in mind of people who talk to listen to the sound of their own voice.  If you can handle ignoring them, we would love to have you continue with your amazing advice and support. 

What else can I say....us newbies need you!
Linda G
Toronto

 

 Let me jump in on the love that has been posted above.    I truly appreciate the vets' advice and time.  I also appreciate the candor of your post today.

I'm still a relative newbie (8weeks post-op), but if you can hold off strangling someone long enough 
(lol), I will join the rank of the vets in due time to help shoulder the load.  In the meantime, I am already practising some self-restraint to assist me in becoming as even-keeled a vet as you are 
(I often respond to posts but don't hit "submit" because the *****o-meter I had to have installed in my head tends to get into the red zone).

Keep posting.  You are not shouting into the wilderness.  You are appreciated.  I'm also glad that you apparently still see this forum as a place that you can RECEIVE support, not just offer it.

Hang in there...  

Well F me!  I go to Toronto for a day, and look at what I missed!

Seriously Karen, I think of you as one of my WLS tools... oh **** that doesn't sound right does it... but you know what I mean...a valuable resource!  yeah that's it!  I enjoy every one of your posts, and appreciate the wealth of wisdom of all the vets on here.

I plan to be around for a long time... I still have a lot to learn.  So keep posting.... so I can keep reading!

Linda C.