It has been a really long day, followed by a dinner out with multiple margaritas, so I am ready post my first LBT Rants and Raves post.

I won't follow the herd anymore. Ever. I stopped doing that years ago when I realized that I made every decision based upon how I could make the most people happy (or prevent conflict). That's simply not healthy. And it takes all the fun out of life.

I hate absolutes. Absolutely hate them. I can't stand to lump a group of people together for any reason. All people at LBT are not sweet and perfect. All people at OH are not cheerleaders and ***** supporters. All Muslims are not extreme radicals. Not all of us Texas women are Southern Belles (ok so that one is debatable). All women are not subservient (ok I know you ladies agree with that one). We are all, quite simply, just people.

I don't want to be told I have to do something because it is the Christian thing to do. Are you my priest? My rabbi? My high priestess? Where do people get off on judging other people????? I don't freakin' get it. Each of us have own spirituality or lack of it. Each of us have our own moral core - although some are harder to identify than others. Don't attack me because I don't agree with you - hire a yes-man for that job - it doesn't pay enough for me to take it. And don't push your personal belief system off on me.

I like most people. Really I do. And I get along with most people. Some people just get to me, and I don't have to like them. There is no rule about that. There is only one person on my bad list at the moment, and if I ever get a personal apology that person will come off the list. You and I don't have to like the same people or have the same ideas to be friends. I prefer friends who are different from me. If I wanted everyone to be like me - well then I would become a hermit(ess) and just have ME for companionship.

I love our differences. I love the passion in which so many of us debate what we believe in. I just hate the herd mentality that says we all have to believe the same thing, or like the same people, or hate the same people....because ya know what? We don't. We are different. Our differences make us unique and teach us more about life than any book will.

And one more thing. I rarely drink and I really love Margaritas! :whoo:

I don't care if she responds, I just was trying to put my post in the right spot.

Awe come on, I know you really care....

Awe come on, I know you really care....

That didn't come out like I intended!

Originally Posted by Chelle B

Not sure what your point is.

I accept all friends requests and have 366 on my list.

Work-n-prgrss has 234.

Nancy B has 43.

DANG! I need to get some more friends!

Its not in the number its in the quality....

I would hope so too but you know there does seem to be a common problem with most surgeons. Look at the newbies on any banding forum. They don't know anything! By the time I had my own surgery I read until my head hurt, I researched, I asked questions, I did my work. I had a pretty good idea of what I needed to know in order to make the decision and I had some idea of what to expect after surgery.

The questions from the newbies still amaze me sometimes. They don't know if they have a post op diet, they don't know the difference between clears and fulls, they don't know the absolute basics. How many are shocked that they have no restriction before a fill?

I think it is a combination of information overload to patients and doctors not explaining anything. How many docs explain WHY the post op diet is so critical? People think it is a matter of swelling and as soon as they can eat food, they do. If swelling has gone down enough that solids go down, they believe they are good to go. They have no idea what it is that is healing.

If docs would take some time and explain about the reasons for the post op diet the chances are more folks would stick to it.

I spend a lot of time explaining the "whys" of things. Why is the post op diet critical, why is a fill that is too tight dangerous, etc. Why aren't the doctors explaining this? I've read too many people comment that they learned more about how the band works and why we do the things we do on the boards than they ever learned from their docs.

While I completely and totally agree with you about following your own surgeon's advice, I'm not really sure they are giving out the information that people need. People will spend months researching a car they are considering - but surgery... they leave it up to their doc to make the decisions.

I don't get it.

Just because someone asks about something on a forum does not mean that their doc didn't provide that info to them. I would bet alot of them were even provided with it in writing. If those people asked their docs the same questions a few times their docs would see what points need to be hammered home a little harder, and that would improve care for everybody. I also think there are a lot of people who know full well what they should and should not be doing/eating but want to find out what's the worst that can happen if they do those things anyway. Those people probaby should have gone to Jenny Craig. It would have been a lot safer for them.

Just because someone asks about something on a forum does not mean that their doc didn't provide that info to them. I would bet alot of them were even provided with it in writing. If those people asked their docs the same questions a few times their docs would see what points need to be hammered home a little harder, and that would improve care for everybody. I also think there are a lot of people who know full well what they should and should not be doing/eating but want to find out what's the worst that can happen if they do those things anyway. Those people probaby should have gone to Jenny Craig. It would have been a lot safer for them.

I personally know what our patients get for the post-op period, but sometimes they get amnesia, or just need reassurance.

Just because someone asks about something on a forum does not mean that their doc didn't provide that info to them. I would bet alot of them were even provided with it in writing. If those people asked their docs the same questions a few times their docs would see what points need to be hammered home a little harder, and that would improve care for everybody. I also think there are a lot of people who know full well what they should and should not be doing/eating but want to find out what's the worst that can happen if they do those things anyway. Those people probaby should have gone to Jenny Craig. It would have been a lot safer for them.

That is very true. I sit in the waiting room at my docs office and am shocked but what other band patients dont know and dont care to know. But my experience with my surgeon is that he is very informative and caring even when busy he takes the time to answer all questions and give out information as to where I am at in my band journey. So I believe he is that way with them....but they are not tuned in..

That is very true. I sit in the waiting room at my docs office and am shocked but what other band patients dont know and dont care to know. But my experience with my surgeon is that he is very informative and caring even when busy he takes the time to answer all questions and give out information as to where I am at in my band journey. So I believe he is that way with them....but they are not tuned in..

Work,

I don't know if you saw the post a while back by a newbie, claiming she was eating everything, including chicken, because she thought she was healed at 6 days post-op. Her basis for this was because she was a "fast healer". She knew exactly what she SHOULD be doing, but chose not too. We'll see how that turns out.

That is very true. I sit in the waiting room at my docs office and am shocked but what other band patients dont know and dont care to know. But my experience with my surgeon is that he is very informative and caring even when busy he takes the time to answer all questions and give out information as to where I am at in my band journey. So I believe he is that way with them....but they are not tuned in..

OHHHH!!! Which reminds me!!! Did you get your fill yesterday?

Just because someone asks about something on a forum does not mean that their doc didn't provide that info to them. I would bet alot of them were even provided with it in writing. If those people asked their docs the same questions a few times their docs would see what points need to be hammered home a little harder, and that would improve care for everybody. I also think there are a lot of people who know full well what they should and should not be doing/eating but want to find out what's the worst that can happen if they do those things anyway. Those people probaby should have gone to Jenny Craig. It would have been a lot safer for them.

I think sometimes that is true but when you explain the reason for the post op diet sooooo many times they are floored, they had no idea. They just know it is for healing, they never heard the concept of scarring or other issues.

We had a thread a long time ago where this issue was discussed. We had it set up so that the newbies would wait and see if their doc explained it to them as they knew the info ahead of time from reading the boards.

Not a single doc explained the details. Just that the post op diet was important for healing. Then we asked the newbies to start asking their docs why they didn't explain well and the thread died off about that point so nobody really explained what their docs had to say.

And I think it is information overload sometimes. There is a LOT to know about banding. There is a ton of information out there and I think people get a little overwhelmed with all the info so they don't retain it well.

But the post op diet is my own personal pet peeve. Docs need to do a better job explaining why the patient needs to do things, not just that they need to do it. When people understand why they are more likely to remember and follow the instructions. When they don't understand why they don't do nearly as well at following instructions.

Work,

I don't know if you saw the post a while back by a newbie, claiming she was eating everything, including chicken, because she thought she was healed at 6 days post-op. Her basis for this was because she was a "fast healer". She knew exactly what she SHOULD be doing, but chose not too. We'll see how that turns out.

Yes I saw that thread. I made sure and stayed far away from it. She was actually advocating breaking your doctors rules and saying how wonderful it was going for her. What do you say to someone like that? (except wonder if they are for real)

Work,

I don't know if you saw the post a while back by a newbie, claiming she was eating everything, including chicken, because she thought she was healed at 6 days post-op. Her basis for this was because she was a "fast healer". She knew exactly what she SHOULD be doing, but chose not too. We'll see how that turns out.

I read that thread, I couldn't believe what she was saying. I think she just plain couldn't stick to the post op diet and justified it by saying she was a fast healer.

Isn't she the one that also said she didn't care if something happened because she wasn't following the instructions?

I read that thread, I couldn't believe what she was saying. I think she just plain couldn't stick to the post op diet and justified it by saying she was a fast healer.

Isn't she the one that also said she didn't care if something happened because she wasn't following the instructions?

Even better...she didn't care if something happened to her band, because SHE HAD LEARNED TO EAT SLOWLY AND CHEW HER FOOD, which she felt she could now do without a band.

OHHHH!!! Which reminds me!!! Did you get your fill yesterday?

Nope...he said that I should get to goal on what I got..lol. For 4 weeks I have felt restriction, but not what I had before. Then this last week I pb'd once and felt like it tightened up. He said it probably did tighten up. So I tried to be as honest as possible and thus no fill. (which is fine...I dont want an unfill or problems later) I think I will follow my very wise friends advice (my quality friend..lol.)that told me I couldnt just run down to see our doc McDreamy and to seriously analyze where I am at.

Even better...she didn't care if something happened to her band, because SHE HAD LEARNED TO EAT SLOWLY AND CHEW HER FOOD, which she felt she could now do without a band.

Oh yeah! I remember now. How could I forget such brilliance?

Hopefully she was a troll instead of really being that stupid.

I read that thread, I couldn't believe what she was saying. I think she just plain couldn't stick to the post op diet and justified it by saying she was a fast healer.

Isn't she the one that also said she didn't care if something happened because she wasn't following the instructions?

Yep..she said in her six days post op with the band she was cured of obesity and it didnt matter if she followed the instructions or if her band came out because she had a handle on it now. Weirdness. I am a self pay and my husband would divorce me if I had that attitude.