People who haven't had WLS

Smoke blowing out of the ass is of concern when pre-op...if post-op, it is an emergency and should be treated by calling the fire department and a good medical malpractice lawyer.

LOL!  Very funny, Sherlock!

Personally, I lurked for well over a year and didn't post until post-WLS. I felt that the point of this forum was to share our personal experience, to give and receive support and encouragement.  Although I had researched it to death, I don't ask for or take medical advice on the forum.  For that, I have medical experts. 

Now that was a good one, Sher1ock!

LMAO!!!!

I think both pre- and post ops have valuable info and opinions to share and I can see as I get farther out, I will appreciate the fruits of the postings from people who are getting more recently updated information than I had during my pre-op period.

I think the danger (and I use that word specifically) arises when information, and more specifically, opinions, are presented as FACTS. I am careful to make sure that anything I post that goes beyond my own personal experience is clear that it is only my point of view or that the sources of my info are clear.

I appreciate the information that people have gathered after extensive research and then present to the Board for our consideration as one of several possible points of view. A good example (and excuse me for being specific here) is Diminshing Dawn who often postsgreat information, with links to her sources, and I can then go and check it out myself to evaluate whether or not the research, stats etc., are relevant, credible, extreme or otherwise. Considering these types of posts, together with the personal experience of those in whose footsteps I am treading, is part of my process of gathering info that I can then analyze for myself.

This is completely different than someone who gathers info and upon doing their own analysis, presents it as fact and even more dangerously, offers what is for all intents and purposes, medical advice. It isn't. It is that person's opinion. Just as someone mentioned above that anecdotes are not data, the conclusions that one person draws after gathering research is not fact - it is opinion. It might be a completely reasonable opinion, but I cannot tell what they chose to keep or discard from the pile of info they amassed. An easy way to think about it is the example of a court case...both sides have done research, both are working from same basic set of cir****tances and operating under the same rules and yet there is more than one way to approach it. If it was otherwise, you would only need one lawyer for both sides who could also be the judge. (please refrain from jumping up and down in glee at the thought of less lawyers in the world...lol)

I think the comment about taking advice from people you know is relevant, but knowing someone personally isn't necessary for me as long as I have some way gauge credibility, skill, bias, etc. It is at this point, for example, that things like whether or not someone has personal experience is important, or whether or not the info is presented with sources, or whether or not it is clearly within the area of expertise of the person offering it.

It reminds me of the people selectively pick a biblical verse and wave it around like a flag to support their assertion that "this" right and "that" is wrong. They left out the whole preamble that says "I am of faith X, which informs my interpretation of what I read. I have looked at these several passages and it is my opinion and belief, based on what I have read and lived that....(fill in your favourite bone of contention here), although I recognize that it is only one of several different interpretations or opinions on the same issue and others may be valid as well. I offer it for your consideration and discussion".

I must say as well, that the type of comment such as not hesitating to have surgery performed by a surgeon who has not had surgery says a lot, although probably not what was intended.

Let me be clear: Did my surgeon have WLS? I don't know. I do know that he is qualified through his education and credentials to do the job I entrusted to him. Would I let someone perform surgery on me who simply posted on the board the latest way to do the surgical procedure? I don't think so. That type of red herring comment has no place in intelligent discourse, but may be useful to inform an evaluation of bias or credibility.

Thanks for the post Karen - as always, your contributions to our community are invaluable. I hope everyone recognizes that, if I am interpreting things correctly, the message is not that pre-ops shouldn't post or that post-ops are necessarily authoritative. Each has value - which we can all judge for ourselves given sufficient info to do so.

Sher1ock

Yes, that was exactly my point.  I feel everyone has something to offer. Heck, I learn something new everyday here from vets and newbies alike.   My issue is in presenting medical information/advice on this forum without a medical degree. I also agree that research and studies, while scientific, are still open to the perception of the person reading and interpreting them.

Brilliantly, eloquently and intelligently stated!  Hats off to you Sher1ock!  I couldn't agree more and I look forward to attending the next Ottawa support group meeting.  (I had dental surgery Tuesday so I couldn't make it, although in hindsight I probably should have gone because I was still pretty frozen... haha)

Cheers,

Sue

I wish I'd written this....and exactly what I think......

Its the presentation as FACT that does a disservice to all of us....

thanks Sherlock

Barb

As a competitive varsity debater for several years I can assure you that my comment was in no way a red herring, it was actually an application of deductive reasoning.

For your information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy