I've got to have a rant- sorry guys but there you have it.

I have noticed that there are so many people starting threads/posting on this site recently with questions for other members. However, they are normally questions that they should be asking their surgical team as they are the people who are qualified to answer. They will be in charge of care so ultimately it's their necks on the line if anything goes tits-up. It's them who will have to deal with any lawsuit that ensues due to anything that might go wrong.

For every bit of surgery I've had (and believe me as an old hoofer there have been plenty of orthopaedic bits of mending and replacing on my knackered carcass) I did as I was told by my surgical team.

If they had asked me to whistle Dixie whilst standing on my head farting the National Anthem and air dancing the Marseillaise I would have done it. Apart from my VSG all my surgeries were paid for by the National Health Service (NHS) and that included my hip replacement. I did as I was told pre-surgery and then post surgery. I read all the info and watched the DVDs that I was given. I had to give myself the anti-blood clotting jabs every morning and wear those REVOLTING AND UNCOMFORTABLE anti-thrombosis socks for WEEKS after my hip replacement but I'd been told to do it so I did it!!!!!

After my VSG (which was self pay as our NHS here in the UK do very few) I stuck like glue to all the info that I was given. Any questions I had I knew that I could call or email my team for their help and advice.

It appears that there are a lots of newbies (and sometimes more experienced WLS patients) who really don't want to adhere to instructions that they have been given. They post on this site in the hope that they can find someone who will give them the answer that they WANT. Not the answer that they NEED! My answer to those people - JFDI. Just as you're told by the professionals who are in charge of your care.

Maybe Alex you should start a forum with the title 'Half-arsed Questions from Those Too Lazy and Arrogant to Listen to Their Surgical Team'.

Rant over. Happy Monday. It's pissing with rain in the UK so could start a rant about British summertime but.........................!

I know I've asked a few questions that you'd probably prefer I'd have asked my surgeon. Problem is, I don't have one yet. I get what you're saying, I really do, but if the only proper way for anyone to get answers is to ask their surgeon then what's the point in having this forum?

I came here to get answers to questions I have while waiting for my first appointment with the surgeon. I'm here to research, but I can't do that without asking questions. Will I also ask the surgeon when I have my appointment? Of course, but there's nothing wrong with asking here for advice and opinions from others who are going through/have already gone through WLS.

Seriously, this is one of the most UNfriendly forums I've ever frequented, and I used to be a member of a crunchy mothering board!

Take what works, leave the rest.

That's my best advice.

@ witchySar...I agree. Lots of bullying here. I just move along when I read a post that makes me roll my eyes. Luckily, there are far more friendly people here than rude and I've learned so much from BP members so I just ignore the crabby posters. I just assume they're hungry or in pain and keep it moving. [emoji4]

Edited June 21, 201610 yr by taracutch

Seriously, this is one of the most UNfriendly forums I've ever frequented, and I used to be a member of a crunchy mothering board!

It wasn't like this a year or 2 ago. I think the app makes the forum too accessible to trolls and now surgery is affordable and available to a lot of people that shouldn't have it. People are getting burn out. I think a lot of people, including myself just need to take a break from forums. The recent influx of people has been too much.

Has it just been intimated that I'm a troll and that as my surgery was too cheap (although no-one knows what I DID pay for it) I shouldn't have had it?

@@jintycb

Good grief, I am not even talking about you. I am talking about the 200 questions a week about Alcohol, drug use, pizza, ice cream, crackers, not losing 10 pounds a week, stretched my pouch/sleeve at 6 weeks and all the other assorted stupid questions that people ask every week. You know, the ones you made this rant to complain about.

Anyone that has been around here for over a year can definitely notice a huge influx and change in the types of questions asked.

Thank you OutsideMatchInside xxxxxxxx

So in response to the original post (I skipped over the 10 in the middle where someone was mean or got their feelings hurt or whatever we're fighting about today), I would have to minimally disagree. Yes, listen to your surgeons, however if it's something I've noticed, everywhere has different directions which means that what one person told may not be the same degree of correct as another and it is instead a surgeon preference.

For example, straws. Some surgeons, generally old school ones, tell you not to use them. More recently educated surgeons understand that for some people straws are the only way they can get all of their fluids in and using straws doesn't actually hurt you. Sometimes people get a bit of a stomach ache, but mostly, you're fine. So...if your surgeon says don't use straws, sometimes it's ok to ignore them.

Next, soda and other bubbly non-alcoholic beverages. Once your stomach is healed this is not going to hurt you. Your stomach is not a closed system, so if you get a little bit of gas, you burp, problem solved. It isn't going to blow up your stomach! They tell you to not drink soda because it's easier to say that so people don't drink regular soda and drink all their calories. Physically diet soda is not going to kill you for any reasons that it won't kill you if you never had the surgery.

Next, doing stuff that makes you feel like crap...if your Vitamins make you barf, after you have healed, you don't need to take the expensive bariatric kind and in fact, if you play around with your supplements until you find something that works for you, this is fine.

Next...protein. If you do not get your bajillion grams in a day, you are really going to be fine. Some people are obsessive about protein- I never was. I am almost 3 years post-op, I had full labs done two weeks ago, and my numbers are all perfect. I eat like a normal person, not a Protein junky who has to hit a certain number everyday.

So, while I would agree that you should follow the rules, not everyone has the same rules, which creates questions. Also, not all surgeons are always right with everything. These are just people like us and if you are educated, you do your research, and you think you might not agree with your surgeon...guess what, it is totally cool to not follow some of their directions on something that has been validated with evidence based practice as being an acceptable deviation from their rules. Don't be an idiot, but don't be a sheep either. Surgeons are not God, despite the fact that some of them think they are, and you are not a child, and as such, if you don't happen to agree with or do everything exactly as you are told and you can support that decision with research and efficacy of practice, then good for you.

@@jintycb, don't be silly. Partner dropped you on your head a few too many times? Beside, everyone knows that dancers don't fart. Ever.

Well to the OP I agree on some level. Everyone is a case by case basis. Perhaps take a forum break? Come back with fresh perspective and new eyes if that makes sense? I've been hazed big time on the web and it can get ugly, so for what it is worth I hear you and wish I could reach through the screen and hug the crap out of every poster.

And opinions for the most part I liken to a butt hole, everybody has one. Take care and lighten up.

So in response to the original post (I skipped over the 10 in the middle where someone was mean or got their feelings hurt or whatever we're fighting about today), I would have to minimally disagree. Yes, listen to your surgeons, however if it's something I've noticed, everywhere has different directions which means that what one person told may not be the same degree of correct as another and it is instead a surgeon preference.

For example, straws. Some surgeons, generally old school ones, tell you not to use them. More recently educated surgeons understand that for some people straws are the only way they can get all of their fluids in and using straws doesn't actually hurt you. Sometimes people get a bit of a stomach ache, but mostly, you're fine. So...if your surgeon says don't use straws, sometimes it's ok to ignore them.

Next, soda and other bubbly non-alcoholic beverages. Once your stomach is healed this is not going to hurt you. Your stomach is not a closed system, so if you get a little bit of gas, you burp, problem solved. It isn't going to blow up your stomach! They tell you to not drink soda because it's easier to say that so people don't drink regular soda and drink all their calories. Physically diet soda is not going to kill you for any reasons that it won't kill you if you never had the surgery.

Next, doing stuff that makes you feel like crap...if your Vitamins make you barf, after you have healed, you don't need to take the expensive bariatric kind and in fact, if you play around with your supplements until you find something that works for you, this is fine.

Next...protein. If you do not get your bajillion grams in a day, you are really going to be fine. Some people are obsessive about protein- I never was. I am almost 3 years post-op, I had full labs done two weeks ago, and my numbers are all perfect. I eat like a normal person, not a Protein junky who has to hit a certain number everyday.

So, while I would agree that you should follow the rules, not everyone has the same rules, which creates questions. Also, not all surgeons are always right with everything. These are just people like us and if you are educated, you do your research, and you think you might not agree with your surgeon...guess what, it is totally cool to not follow some of their directions on something that has been validated with evidence based practice as being an acceptable deviation from their rules. Don't be an idiot, but don't be a sheep either. Surgeons are not God, despite the fact that some of them think they are, and you are not a child, and as such, if you don't happen to agree with or do everything exactly as you are told and you can support that decision with research and efficacy of practice, then good for you.

To add to a great post ... while doing your research...

Just because you read it on the internet doesn't mean it's true. And just because someone on a public forum disagrees with you, doesn't mean they are "bullying" or "shaming" you.

Take responsibility for your own research. Take responsibility for your actions. Take responsibility for your feelings. Ultimately, YOU are the most important part of your process.

(above post)

"And just because someone on a public forum disagrees with you, doesn't mean they are "bullying" or "shaming" you"

YES!!!!!!!

Funny, because my rant would be almost the opposite- I don’t see how anyone can look at the huge variation in pre-op and post-op guidelines among bariatric surgeons and yet somehow come to the conclusion that in order to succeed, I must follow my own surgeon’s rules and you must follow your own surgeon’s rules, even if those rules are diametrically opposed.

This.

Seems to me that there is not that much evidence based stuff out there.

I agree with a lot of what's been said on this topic but this is a WLS support forum and everyone is entitled to rant and/or ask questions. A lot of the more recent surgery patients just want to make comparisons I think so that may be the reason for some of the questions that we may find silly or uninformed. Either way, we're here to support one another so I try to stay on a positive note because in the real world people are not so supportive. They dog you for your weight gain and then find WLS repulsive. You can't make some people happy so folks come here in hopes of finding understanding "friends and supporters" that will help them along this path of uncertainty. Weight loss is not easy, even with the surgery , and the diet gets old so I can understand the rants and questions about eating and drinking things they shouldn't. Just remember....... Just because we can doesn't mean we should. Follow the doctor's orders.