People who haven't had WLS

Thanks for the info!

I find this inflammatory thread very disturbing on a public board.

People who haven't had WLS ... Yet post as if they're experts.  Live with it, then give advice.  My 2 cents. 

I am a person who has not had WLS. Is this post directed at me??  I am now second guessing every post I ever made here and it definitely makes me second guess everything I will be posting in the future!  I have started threads by offering some informative websites that I thought folks here would find interesting ... and I have commented on how the information could affect both non-WLS and post-WLS readers.

Are the post-WLS folks saying there is an unwritten rule here that I should refrain from doing this?

This shotgun approach takes out people who may not have been the intended victims. Can you be more specific on who is breaking some unwritten rules? Or provide everyone with the rules of this public board? Are we all supposed to "read between the lines" and left to make our own interpretations?

I have, until now, found this public board to be a welcome place. I can see that there are definitely  pre and post WLS camps here. That is unfortunate.  People are now specifically directing their questions to post-WLS folks.

I apologize to this Board if, as a pre-WLS poster, I have offended anyone with my offerings.

Of course not.  Unless you are giving people MEDICAL ADVICE and stating your perception of scientific studies as fact.  Don't take it personally Uschi, please.  If you have been following along the past couple of days there has been a great deal of what I mentioned happening and I think that, unless we are medical professionals and more specifically surgeons, it is not up to us to provide anything but our own experiences, support, and encouragement to seek medical attention.

I apologize if you took offence - that wasn't my intention. And no, there are NOT pre and post WLS camps here.  We are all here to help each other.  But why wouldn't or shouldn't someone direct a question specifically to a post-op who may have experienced what that person is going through?  Makes sense to me.

You specifically labelled me when you said "people who have not had WLS".  You have effectively labelled everyone on this board as either pre WLS and post WLS.

I can interpret MEDICAL ADVICE to be many things, including the Dr. Sharma website I posted about here.

I am certain that I am not the only pre WLS person on this board who took offence to your post and then read post after post from post WLS people who agreed with your post - several of which were rather sarcastic comments. On a public board, they are more than welcome to post whatever they wish and we are left to interpret their motivation in doing so.

Everyone *****ads posts on a public board, especially when it pertains to their health, should take ANY Advice with a huge grain of salt - whether it is posted by a pre WLS or a post WLS member.

Some people have continuously posted that medical questions should be properly directed to their health care professionals.

Thank you for your response and apology. I hope you accept my apology as well.

I am certain that you are correct in assuming that others may have taken offence.  However, as you stated, this is a public board and people are free to post as they see fit.  Again, it wasn't intended to offend.  It was intended to open some dialogue, which is has.

Again, I do apologize - not for my post, but for your hurt feelings, which I would not like to be the cause of in anyone.

Thank you for that apology Karen.

Hi Uschi.

I don't think the topic was meant to offend, and I highly doubt it was directed at anyone in particular. 

I have no problem with people posting websites or links to research in order to provide information, nor do I have a problem with pre-ops asking for support or encouragement or giving feedback on things that aren't specific to having personal post-op experience.  My only objection is to people *****spond to a request for info from a post-op saying something like "I haven't had surgery yet, but I think....."), then going on to give advice about something with which they have no experience.

Please don't disappear from the board.  Everyone is valued here.  And from time to time you will find something to be "inflammatory".  This is a public board, and people will say what's on their mind.  I'm sure that you will find the site more helpful than harmful in the long run.

I for one, would take advantage of some of the newbies, with good research and vast knowledge over some "vets" (I really don't like that name), who talk as though they know everything, just because they are vets.  I am certainly not referring to you, Karen, but there are some on here that seem to feel that way and I find that equally disturbing.

As always with this board take what you need, get your expert advice from the medical experts, leave the rest and block those that you don't care to listen to.

I agree with you, Sandy, and stated that I learn something new each day here, whether it be from an old timer or someone newer.  We ALL have something to offer.  I am glad you're not referring to me.  I have certainly never professed to be an expert in all things WLS.  My point, and I actually did have one, was that medical advice should be given by those qualified to do so, that studies are subjective due to the perception and interpretation of the person reading them, and (finally) that people who have lived with the surgery DO have a different perspective and experience base to draw upon and share.

K.

Dirty Harry:  "Opinions are like ******** - Everyone's got one".   :)