I wish I could "like" this post a hundred times!
I really think some people are only looking for the answers that validates their destructive behavior or attitude. If they wanted "real" answers they could search the forum. It's frustrating for me to see so many people sabotaging their efforts or making themselves miserable with self-induced stress. It's like they don't recognize the incredible gift that this surgery gives them. I know I come across as harsh in a lot of my posts, (and I've got the whiny PM's to prove it) but my replies are no different than what I would tell a close friend if they were asking the same thing.
...don't come down on folks when they offer it.
Especially if you are new to the WLS experience and the vets respond to you. We see the same questions over and over and over again and we still take the time to answer you because we know that for you, it's the first time you are going through this.
It would be so easy for us vets to leave the forum and live our lives successfully but we stay here because we remember how it was at the beginning or if we see that you are struggling during the WLS journey....so we stay here and try to help. Please think about that if you don't like how we've responded. It's not because we know better....it's because we simply know more than you do right now. Respect that please.
We try so hard to be sympathetic when you screw up or ask questions that you already know the answers to...like I didn't lose 5 lbs. in one week, is this a stall? Or, I ate a bag of chips...did I do bad?
I've been on this forum for a year and a half and in that time, I've seen too many vets take a hike and it's often because they are rebuffed when they offer insights or even just their own personal experiences. If you want this forum to succeed, and if you personally want to succeed...be aware of what you say either on the forum or when you PM. Especially when you PM.
And one more thing. I didn't post this on Rants and Raves because it's not a rant. It's a request.
