Repost of previous post. WLS forums, FB "support" groups, blogs...how do...

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a repost of my reply: 

sometimes i have the patience to read and respond to the types of posts you mentioned, but most times i skip them. i respond when i can relate to the excitement and energy and desperate hope to lose weight that the newly post-op feel. four years later, things are so different. alot of the time i hardly connect with those post-op feelings. and some days i forget i ever even had surgery. 

i'm not sure that patients aren't being educated. my surgeon had a good education program. but i was so desperate to lose weight that i don't know that i paid much attention. i fully understood the surgery and the immediate post-op period, but not the part about maintenance.

i had my eye on the prize and just wanted to have surgery as soon as possible once i had made the decision to do so. my insurance required a 6 month diet beforehand, so that forced me to wait and during that time i educated myself about the surgery. like so many things in life though, one can never be prepared for such a huge life change. 

for sure though, there are alot of dummies out there. and some of them post here. 

Chris,
I, too, had to do the 6 month preop period.  I went through nearly 7 months with my PCP, who decided that he didn't feel comfortable with the process.  He wrote an actual prescription for me to go to the Weight Management Center to be medically supervised for an additional 6 months.  I was livid.  I had years of research and preparation for this, I was ready...or so I thought. 
It was the best thing for me!  I learned some additional information about the surgery.  I learned MUCH about myself!  The additional time spent with the staff at the center really prepared me for potential emotional issues and my relationship with food and numbers. 
The scale and counting calories are my enemies.  The numbers, for me, make me crazy...I become obsessed with them.  So, for now they aren't a part of my life.  I catch myself weighing when I go to the gym, but I tell myself each time that this scale isn't accurate....I only use the one at the center to get my actual weight.  I measure my food, as opposed to counting calories and try to make healthy choices. 
It's just a shame to hear that some surgeons don't require pre or post education. 

My surgeon requires a little education, but I don't think it is enough. However, like you, I have been looking at this surgery for 10+ years now. For those 10 years I was trying it "on my own" while I looked at the successes and failures of surgery. The last 2 years I have opened my eyes wider to investigate the various types of surgeries. I went to a seminar and scheduled my consult and chickened out twice! I finally made it to the consult and that's history now. The "education" required by my surgeon is a seminar and two visits with the office's nutritionist and two visits with the nurse. The hospital where he practices required a 6 hour class. All of this was informative, but mostly because I knew what I was getting myself into. A girl that sat next to me in that class had a different surgeon and she had heard about WLS a couple weeks before the class and was having surgery in 2 weeks. I pleaded with her to not do it that quickly and just sit back and try to get more educated. She knew absolutely nothing. She was having RNY and thought that was the only surgery for weight loss. When I asked her what other types she had considered she had this blank stare and I could tell she had no idea. I emailed her the next day and pleaded again with her. She emailed back and told me good luck with mine and she was excited about hers and no mention of what I had asked her at all. I have not heard back from her since. I have no idea how it went for her or how it's going now. I even told her to come to OH or ThinnerTimes to get some education.

I believe my surgeon is very good and very interested in your well being, but I don't think he is overly concerned with whether you are making a hasty decision or not. I think that they may all be like that unfortunately. Mine did give me plenty of things to read about nutrition and how I should follow up with them, but I would bet if I never scheduled another appointment with them they probably wouldn't call. I could be wrong. I know my friend at work went to her surgeon one time after surgery and never went back and never heard from them. In fact, she never saw her surgeon after her surgery. She saw him about 5 minutes before and then never again even with her 1 follow up visit. She's doing very well because she did a lot of research on her own as well. I just wish everyone would or that insurance would start requiring more of it. I know it's a pain in the butt and everyone wants it to go by quickly, but you really ought to know what you're doing to your body.

That was a great post by the way!

Thank you!  
It is such a shame that people have so little information and/or education about WLS that they are having, but could tell you all about a particular brand of make up, food containers or cellphones. 
The girl that sat next to you could probably tell you all the wonderful features of her phone, after having researched to find THE one, but couldn't tell you another type of surgery for weight loss. 
It was a pain in the butt to go for 6 months, but I learned so much.  It offered an opportunity to ask questions, also.  Insurance companies should all require at least 6 months. 

My reply on the original post:

You have explained, in a nutshell, the reason why most vets do not answer posts from early out'ers.   For my mental health I have to skip over A LOT of posts! 

Whenever I see a 3 week stall post, I KNOW that person hasn't read jack on here - because if they were interested in all aspects of this journey (and not just the here and now), they wouldn't have to ask.

This morning's Phentermine post is a classic for the annals of the RNY board - absolutely shocking!!!!!!

There is nothing wrong with getting (lifestyle) advice here from people who have lived it, but posters really should look at a repliers' history to determine - particularly if there is a conflict of advice - and then make their decision as to how to act on it.    Surgeons, NUTs etc are NOT always right and we see time and time again, outright LIES given by doctors and their staff.   Again, we must question them if something they say seems a bit iffy - they are not Gods and they don't live with this, so be judicious (and intelligent) - call your surgeon - is NOT always the best advice (unless of course its a medical question)!

And SinKim....yes, the NUTs and surgeons are not always the way to go.  When I was writing about taking advice from people that you don't know...I should have clarified.  I was referring to people, who themselves, are very early in the weight loss process and giving erroneous advice. 
I would take advice, and have done so, from successful long term WLS post ops, such as you. 
But, I'd rather someone roll the dice and take a chance with their NUT or surgeon than some unknown, early out post op.  

(R) amen, Jan ...   I think your original post was VERY WELL thought out - when I see pre-opers and honeymooners advising regainers to try going back to protein shakes, I just want to .  

Now, we ALL have a point at which we can give advice (I am so not a "what protein shake tastes best" girl), but I really wish people wouldn't give advice when they really can't possibly KNOW that what they are saying is correct.   Stick to what you KNOW to be the truth - because you have BTDT!   That way, even pre-oper's can offer advice (how to survive those interminable liquid diets) etc

Thanks for this post - it gives all of us a place to give our (I'm sure) varied opinions

Okay here's my reply from your other post regarding not being able to find this post.

HI Janet,

I still get the 404 error on your original post so I can't reply there but I just read the reposting and I want to reply here.  If some of these people were standing in front of me saying what they do I would probably take a swing, or scream or shout or do something not-so-nice.  But I have the luxury of the delete button on my computer so you better believe I type many replies and never actually send them because they start off with hey ******g idiot, you are gonna fail this and be back crying in 2 years wondering why you weigh more then you did before surgery.  But that isn't nice, and I was once an idiot for 20 years of MO not listening my mom beg me to lose weight so I wouldn't turn into the diabetic she was.  We were all idiots in one way or another so I step back and either don't reply or try to be positive.  I won't tell you what to eat or what vitamins to take or if you should or shouldn't exercise.  If someone wants to know I tell them what I do, I also say it might not work for you and that what you should find is what does work for you that you can stick with FOR******GEVER and do that.  This isn't a miracle cure, it is forever, so what you do now you have to be doing in 10 years if you want to keep a positive outcome.  I always say when I stop caring I will probably get fat again but until then I will keep plugging along doing my best to keep my size 6 from exploding.  lol

Have a nice day, although it's nearly impossible given the tragedy in Boston.

Hmmm....this is messing up today.  I responded to this, but I have no idea where it went?  Maybe it was on the original from recent posts?  I don't know.
Anyway, the computer does allow to be a bit more polite than face to face.  I had to show self control just this morning, as I wanted to respond to something in not such a nice way.  All I could say, out loud, was "WTF???"  So, it was best that I not respond at all. 
I've been an idiot, still am in many areas of life, but I do hope that I can succeed with the help of the RNY to be healthy and live longer than my mother did.  I want my daughter to suffer....I mean ENJOY... my being around for a long time! 
Maybe the Boston tragedy adds to my frustration...