6 months post surgery and at least 100 posts ...

Are these settings enforced? I know this will probably make me sound elitest ... whatever ...

I have seen a few folks who have surgery AND join dates < 6 months posting in here. Also, do you think 100 posts constitutes a veteran? I see A LOT of folks several months pre-sleeve who have hundreds of posts.

Sooo ... I guess my question is, what do you feel constitutes a veteran?

Does a veteran always have to be sunshine, lollypops and rainbows?

Does being rigorously honest mean we aren't supportive? Even if that means calling you on your ****?

I'll be 6 months in a week or so I have over 500 post mind you they are all typed badly " I'm always on my cell" should I sit for a week or so?

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I'm not sure how you thought I took it off topic..

The vets were talking about over indulging AND throwing up I actually brought it back to that..

I get it puja you don't want me here, its been noted before. out of all the "newbies" that have come on this thread it always seems to be me that is used as an example.. Not a big deal to me anymore... I enjoy a good conversation about things and sharing different perspectives and knowledge. But I will do that elsewhere.

Laura

I know what your saying Puja, but I don't think it has to be set in stone. I'll be able to officially participate here in 6 weeks or so. It seems silly to not be able to make a comment one day, but then you can the next. Particularly if your comment is on point.

I regularly stop by the lesbian, gay and transgender room for a chat as well. I'm not thinking of turning (but no ones bought me a drink yet either!)

Deano

I'm not sure how you thought I took it off topic..

The vets were talking about over indulging AND throwing up I actually brought it back to that..

I get it puja you don't want me here' date=' its been noted before. out of all the "newbies" that have come on this thread it always seems to be me that is used as an example.. Not a big deal to me anymore... I enjoy a good conversation about things and sharing different perspectives and knowledge. But I will do that elsewhere.

Laura[/quote']

I'm sorry but you shouldn't have to apologize. What constitutes as a vet any way? I'm 5 months out and have mastered my sleeve. I've lost 100 lbs that doesn't make me a vet oh well. That was rude and uncalled for as if there's some sort of superiority nonsense. Lol there's ppl a year out who gained weight are they vets cause they had the sleeve? My god.

I'm sorry but you shouldn't have to apologize. What constitutes as a vet any way? I'm 5 months out and have mastered my sleeve. I've lost 100 lbs that doesn't make me a vet oh well. That was rude and uncalled for as if there's some sort of superiority nonsense. Lol there's ppl a year out who gained weight are they vets cause they had the sleeve? My god.

Dude good point and well said I'm almost 6 months and not even lost 40lbs. Unfortunately I have to get some test done to figure out why ;p. So what makes a vet? Isn't that someone who paid for it out-of-pocket in the US has a nutritionist surgeon and exercise pathologist if so I'm a vet. Is it someone who has seen there doctor Often has had every test done the exercises daily hours on in? Again if so I'm a vet. Is a vet only a vet if they are down 100lbs some drop it much faster then others. At that speed I'm going I won't be a vet for over a year still. Is a vet only a vet at one year out some till cant figure out how or work out or eat right even at a year out.So kind hard to say who is a vet.

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Wow, I can see I hurt some feelings. Really, that's not my intention. You guys are correct in saying that it's hard to define who is or isn't a vet.

Laura, the original topic was about the regulations within the vet forum, not about throwing up after overeating. And when have I implied before that I don't want you here?

I'm not trying to be confrontational, just pointing out that even in a vet forum, there will be crossover that eventually takes the topics and points back to something concerning new sleevers (not necessarily people who are almost at 6 months, or whatever the forum views as a vet).

Anyways, I am far less active than most of you, and only recently starting posting more when I started reading topics in the vet's forum. It's not such a big deal to me who does and does not post, but I'd rather not come here to read a thread about the consequences of eating while drinking. I don't think that's what Oregondaisy was posting about. I hope that makes sense.

I'm four years out, and still have issues at times with eating and drinking, which leads to vomiting. Just because I am a vet, that doesn't mean I still don't have issues with my sleeve. Are you going to tell me I'm not allowed to post about that issue in this forum?

Now, seeing as I am the one who created this forum, I will define what the plan was. The plan was to moderate it by requiring people to have a certain amount of posts before being able to post here. By doing so, we hoped that by this point they will have learned all the answers that the newly sleeved have, thus leaving this forum for topics to those who are not newly sleeved, but still have issues whether they are four months, one year or four years out. From what I have seen, the newly sleeved have respected this forum and the need for those a little further out to have a place to go.

I would hope and expect that everyone can see the name of the forum and respect why we have it, without our having to further police it by making it a restricted by password/invite forum only. Newer sleeved members are able to read this forum, and thus learn and be informed about issues they may encounter as time goes on.

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Just received a PM from someone who joined 3 years ago' date=' surgery date 2 and a half years ago. Doesn't have > 100 posts, though. Should this person be considered a veteran?

I am offering no opinions on this topic ... just putting it out there for discussion.

[/quote']

If this person would like to be included in the group, then they should contact myself or a member of the staff who might have the ability to override the requirements so they can take part in it.

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Susan, that's not what I was trying to say. I can see I was not clear in my explanation, but anyways that's beside the point.

You are an admin, and you started this forum, so I respect however you decide to moderate it. Thank you for responding and explaining.

Good to hear someone that's gone from a 46 to a 24 BMI put their hand up to making the occasional mistake. You've done an amazing job.

Thank you Dean! And I will be the first to admit that I make mistakes, and will likely continue to make them. Honestly, I think it is human nature to want to indulge. There are days that I either miss eating certain foods, or wish I could take one more bite. Sometimes I do take that extra bite or 2 and then I run into trouble. I know I should know better, but I do it anyways. But that being said, it is something that I am working on all the time. And thanks to my sleeve, a slip-up is not the end, and does not mean I start gaining all the weight back.

As for this being a Vet Forum, so far, people have been very respectful. Sometimes people have questions about what the future might hold, so joining a conversation is not the end of the world. Now, I will be truthful and I think there is a lot of wisdom 1 year, 2 years, 3 years+ post op that someone 6 months out might not have, but that also doesn't mean I can't learn something from someone 6 months post op. Everything is evolving, including the surgery, and many new insights might come from everyone sharing.

Yes, I threw up right after surgery too.

So would you say the its a restriction being different AND just mentally being at a more "normal" place?

My restriction is still great and I pretty much know at this point how much I can eat just by looking at it (almost 2.5 years). I would say a big part of it is being in a normal place. Sometimes you almost forget that you were sleeved until you eat just a little too much, and then you are quickly reminded. Sometimes I am honestly just enjoying what I am eating and think, awe, I won't get sick. Ha, wrong! It still is a mental battle for me too, head hunger, stress eating and hormonal cravings wreak havoc with me.

Oh, and this forum did start as a forum about "What is a Vet", but sometimes, discussions turn because of something someone is feeling at that time. The whole subject of throwing up and over-eating when you are a vet is a great subject and could even start its own thread.

And I agree, it should remain open for everyone to read. How else are new people suppose to learn if vet's aren't there to help them.

My restriction is still great and I pretty much know at this point how much I can eat just by looking at it (almost 2.5 years). I would say a big part of it is being in a normal place. Sometimes you almost forget that you were sleeved until you eat just a little too much, and then you are quickly reminded. Sometimes I am honestly just enjoying what I am eating and think, awe, I won't get sick. Ha, wrong! It still is a mental battle for me too, head hunger, stress eating and hormonal cravings wreak havoc with me.

I hear you! I got down to a healthy weight 10 years ago through diet and exercise. I'd lost about 150 pounds. I felt like I was 'cured'.

Now I know that 'goal' and 'cured' are two different things. To be honest I don't expect to get cured when I'm at goal and I'll have to keep putting work in then. And I'm ok with that!

Thanks for your insight. I love it.

I will start a new thread about over eating and the sleeve. I agree I went off topic rather than start a new thread.

What makes a vet is a very good question. I have a friend who was sleeved a week after me, eats candy and junk all the time, has no clue about restriction ( because all she eats are chips and sliders) and has never posted. She has been sleeved over 4 years, and I would not like her posting in here. ( this is just an example) She has plenty of time, and could have actually been posting all over the board (Recipes, the powder room, my story, etc) and could have enough posts, so she would be considered a vet.

Maybe it would be better to say what topics we don't want discussed here. Like is it normal to stall? What is a soft food? Is constipation normal?

Wow ... and ... Hmmm ...

So, I'm just going to come out and be blunt, please don't throw too many stones my way. I usually don't name "names", but I am going to break my rule here and be direct.

First off, Puja was absolutely spot on with her assessment of the thread being hijacked, but I do believe referrencing Laura was uncalled for. She did not redirect the thread, but that was done by OregonDaisy HERE. I do wish a new thread was started instead of posing a new question inside another thread and she acknowledges that in the post before this one here.

OregonDaisy, I hope you know I love and respect you terribly. I mean it. I absolutely love every single post of yours. You are one of the wisest vets here ... but that was a move I usually see from newbies. And I think you recognise that in your previous post. Thank you.

Susan, I don't think Puja was saying you shouldn't be allowed to post in the forum, but rather to not perpetuate a hijacked thread. Start another thread related to the topic you wish to discuss to have better responses.

But what I have seen are posts from newbies and pre-sleevers jumping in on threads and making posts which are outlandish and sometimes downright irresponsible. They will ask questions not related to the original thread instead of creating a new thread.

Sorry, I know this probably sounds elitist, but it makes me crazy over in the Near or At Goal forum when a pre-sleeve jumps in and posts advice or the occassional, "OMG! I can't wait until I'm skinny! How long until I get there?" response to a question.

So, what is a veteran in the context of VST ...

As I mentioned, I think everyone should be able to read the vets forum. No doubt about it. But I think a veteran is someone who has been sleeved for no less than 9 months and has at least 500 posts.

Why so long and so many posts?

From my reading and experience, 6 months is basically the point where most people are able to eat any and all foods. Drink alchohol and exercise. They have worked through all of their surgery complications and are beginning to live the "sleeve" life. So, lets have 3 months of experience doing this so when they are posting a response, they have lengthy experience.

After 500 posts, the individual should have an understanding of forum ettiquette. They most likely have the ability to not create drama and their skin is a bit thicker. They re-read a post they may misunderstand trying to see the other side of it and will not reply to posts inciting a flame war. I have seen many pre-sleevers with well over 300 posts.

As far as people recognizing posts from this forum and respecting that, the problem with that is these threads show up on the side panel, get clicked on and responded to. I have to admit I have posted several times in the band to sleeve revision forum even though I am not a revision ... I don't read the forum for which I am posting to ... suppose I should, but ...

I do believe forums like the Powder Room and The Man's Room are titled with gender, they are by no means closed to that gender, nor should they be. I believe everyone polices themselves very well there. I'm not going to respond to a menstration question, but I will respond to a relationship question giving a male perspective which, I hope, is a desired thing. Vice verse for the Man's Room ... I appreciate the female perspective on some things.

It just drives me crazy when someone with 3 weeks jumps in making suggestions on a topic such as was posted here.

I know ... elitist ... if I have offended you, try re-reading the post. If you still have a resentment against me, that is your problem ... not mine. Think about it.