OH DEAR LORD!! That apostrophe in the title is HORRIBLE!!! FIX THAT:


Veterans ONLY please. One year + post op.

Please respond to this thread ONLY if you are a year or more post op. Thank you for your consideration.

Many of us have expressed a desire to have a "safe place" for vets to discuss our progress, our maintenance plans, or just grumble in general. This forum is supposed to be that place, but it's quite often used as an "Ask A Vet" opportunity which is awesome, but sort of defeats the purpose.

@@Alex Brecher and I have been tossing around ideas on how to better suit the needs of us oldies but goodies.

We can restrict the forum by post number.

We can restrict it by time registered on this site.

We can restrict it by time post op.

It's MY opinion that post number isn't working. Time post op makes most sense, but people can easily lie. I truly think we can sniff those people out, so this is MY first choice. The third option also makes sense if we say they have to be here 18 months of so. That would give them 6 months of pre-op diet time and then a year post op. Of course, Alex can make exceptions on a case by case basis.

Please chime in with your opinions!!

If you don't like the idea of a Vet's Only Forum, that's OK, too. You don't have to utilize it, but you are more than welcome to.

Oi! Who awoke the beast?!

I'm hiding, because I'm 22lbs heavier

Pfft...

I am SO glad to see you!!!!

Me too!!!!

Oi! Who awoke the beast?!

I'm hiding, because I'm 22lbs heavier

Pfft...

So glad to see you! Come out and play.....I've missed you.

I know that I am only half way through my probationary period to being able to post on a proper vets forum but I just wanted to add my two pennyworth to this thread.

I think the whole idea is FANTASTIC!! More power to all you qualified vets. You have helped me so much on my journey, sometimes by your replies to my often inane posts, and sometimes by my just reading what you have to say. You have welcomed me in and been my touchstone. I will stick to just reading posts on the site until my 18 months internship is over.

Although I am still a newby, I get really cranked off with the same old, same old questions being asked time and time again. Yes, it's OK to just skip through things but sometimes it's like rowing through a sea of treacle just to get to the info you need.

I also love be the humour that flies around between you vets. I need my fix of that on practically a daily basis. You rarely disappoint. To be honest, there ain't a lot of that (understandably) on threads from pre-op peeps. I also get riled when I read posts from pre-oppers advising on things that they have yet to experience.

Go for it guys and more power to your elbows.

@@Madam Reverie. Don't hide- we have all missed you. 22 lbs is nothing to be ashamed of- you can get it off again!!!

I have missed your comments here. I remember when I was new here I always looked forward to reading your responses.

Oi! Who awoke the beast?!

I'm hiding, because I'm 22lbs heavier

Pfft...

Yay! Loved reading your posts when I was a newbie! So glad to see you come out of hiding!

@@OutsideMatchInside

@@sharonintx

@@dubs

@@Kindle

Sounds good to me. Only 8 months post-op now, but look forward to reaching that one year mark.

Yes, yes, yes... the beast is here! <stretches, scratches her fur, sniffs her bottom and armpits>

You lovely lot. I have missed you too.

And thank you for the very kind words of those who have taken inspiration/umbrage at my vomitorium of inane witterings.

So, whats been happening in the world (of bariatric stuff - I'd be here all year discussing international politics...)

Although in saying that, if we talked about American politics, I might vomit my way to losing those 22lbs, thinking of the bad-haired idiot currently running for the big seat...

(Yes, the vomit joke was in poor taste, before anyone jumps on me saying 'beat the insensitive clod! She's evil!)

Ooh, this seat is familiar and comfortable. I might sit in it for a while.

Right, whose round is it?

Yes, yes, yes... the beast is here! <stretches, scratches her fur, sniffs her bottom and armpits>

You lovely lot. I have missed you too.

And thank you for the very kind words of those who have taken inspiration/umbrage at my vomitorium of inane witterings.

So, whats been happening in the world (of bariatric stuff - I'd be here all year discussing international politics...)

Although in saying that, if we talked about American politics, I might vomit my way to losing those 22lbs, thinking of the bad-haired idiot currently running for the big seat...

(Yes, the vomit joke was in poor taste, before anyone jumps on me saying 'beat the insensitive clod! She's evil!)

Ooh, this seat is familiar and comfortable. I might sit in it for a while.

Right, whose round is it?

Welcome back! Missed your posts as well and would love to discuss politics..or anything else for that matter.

I'm in! I am only at 13 months (post-op and since joining) but I think there needs to be somewhere for when the journey changes into something completely different. I have hit that point now, and I'm feeling like all of what I've been through over the past year is like a past life or something. Not at all sure how I'm going to move forward, and having some of you out there ahead of me would be really helpful.

Also, I think part of the reason that people stop visiting the site is what you've been saying- the threads are mostly people who are getting ready to become or are still newly sleeved. It gets old seeing the same questions about what to eat in the soft food stages now that I'm not going through that anymore. I know that sounds egocentric... Ha! Sometimes I surprise myself!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I know I don't comment much, but I sure do a lot of reading and listening. This lady helped me quite a bit in the beginning, thought I'd mention her @@BLERDgirl here.

I'm 3 years post op but I don't post much. I need the veteran's forum. It's the only support I have. When I read that others are having similar issues I don't feel so alone and defeated.

I am sorry, and you can dislike my post if you like, but I think you are having the attitude of an elitist jerk. People come here for help not to be talked down too. To get your little pedestal and proclaim you need to be treated special because you have been here longer is nothing more than a school yard mentality. I have been here longest....SO WHAT! that does not entitle you to anything. We are suppose to be here to help and support one another, not segregate people because they are new. If you take the time to actually look and listen you can sometimes find little kernels of information from even ....dare I say it newbies. I work in the medical field and new information comes in everyday, and maybe...just maybe you come off your high horse long enough some of it might actually filter threw to you. Everyone who is here has something to contribute and it is totally selfish for you to push people aside and make them feel less important because they are "NEWBIES"

That's my two cents, I`m off my soap box now.

I am sorry, and you can dislike my post if you like, but I think you are having the attitude of an elitist jerk. People come here for help not to be talked down too. To get your little pedestal and proclaim you need to be treated special because you have been here longer is nothing more than a school yard mentality. I have been here longest....SO WHAT! that does not entitle you to anything. We are suppose to be here to help and support one another, not segregate people because they are new. If you take the time to actually look and listen you can sometimes find little kernels of information from even ....dare I say it newbies. I work in the medical field and new information comes in everyday, and maybe...just maybe you come off your high horse long enough some of it might actually filter threw to you. Everyone who is here has something to contribute and it is totally selfish for you to push people aside and make them feel less important because they are "NEWBIES"

That's my two cents, I`m off my soap box now.

Speaking only for myself -- my desire for a veterans forum doesn't come from an "elitist" position. My needs are literally different than they were over 2 years ago when I was still pre-op or 6 months later when I was still in the "honeymoon" period of losing weight. They're even different than when I first hit my weight goal of 150 pounds.

I certainly don't think that I cannot learn things from those who are younger-tenured re WLS than I am.

Nor do I imagine I'll muzzle myself and never post on a thread about alcohol or Protein levels or the honeymoon period or sip-sip-sipping or vitamins/minerals or slider foods or the need to move into exercise carefully or the hundreds of other topics that newbies need and want advice about.

What I'm hoping to gain from the veterans forum is a more vibrant veteran community and participation and advice from veterans who (if you read this whole thread, you've already learned) are indicating they would spend more time at BP if there were a place where more WLS veterans were hanging out.

Surely everyone of any WLS tenure will benefit more from a message board where more veterans stick around, right?

For the record, "newbie" isn't a slur -- it's a description of someone who's new to a particular activity. Someone who hasn't had WLS yet (but is planning to have WLS) is clearly a WLS newbie. People who are new to maintenance are maintenance newbies. And people who are newly "veterans" are, I suppose, veteran newbies.

@@Waler

You had surgery almost a year ago. Would you agree your needs and experiences have changes since you were newly sleeved? It's NOT about how long people have been on the boards, it's about how far post op someone is. That's what we are talking about here.