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Uh-Oh, I Said Too Much

During which week of the post-op diet is foot on the menu?

 

I'm teaching a summer chemistry class to adorable little teenagers. My post-op week we were using small, round candies (not using names - don't want to trigger anyone) to represent atomic particles during radioactive decay. Of course, they could eat whatever they weren't using. At the beginning of class, seeing the HUGE and numerous bags of candy on my demo table, they asked if we were going to be doing something with them for that day's class (they are masters of deduction - watch out, Dr. House!) and I joked that it was all for me.

 

Fast forward to the end of class, as they're cleaning up/inhaling their candy like Dysons. One of them asks if I'm going to have any and I reply, "Nah, I have surgery next week and I'm on a liquid diet." WAY TO GO, BIG MOUTH. Of course, they wanted to know more. I joked that I would tell them about it afterwards. That way If I died on the table they could make up whatever story they wanted ("Did you hear Ms. Diamond had a brain aneurysm and farted out her spleen???").

 

Well, I didn't die (thanks a lot, Dr. Illan), so now I'm in a pickle. I have no idea what to say if they ask me about it in class today. Do I lie and say I was just trying to crash diet before my beach/wedding/girls' weekend vacation? Or do I go the evasive route and imply it's gross and personal and they wouldn't want to know? I know some of you are wondering why I don't just tell them the truth. I'm sure when I'm 50+ pounds down and everybody's asking, my attitude may be different, but as of now the only people I've told are my immediate family and therapist. Something tells me that revealing my very personal secret to a room full of Tweeting teenagers may not be the best way to maintain an ounce of decorum in this very small town. Any fellow foot-eaters who can offer follow-up advice?

11 Comments

Recommended Comments

AmericanWoman

Gastric Sleeve Patients

You could always say that your digestive tract needed a tweak.

I have asked myself the same question. I do not want to lie, but I also don't want to tell all my business.

joatsaint

Gastric Sleeve Patients

Just tell them you've been in the wrong body all this time and you're going in for sex reassignment surgery. That way, no matter what people hear about you, they'll assume it's a lie - after all you came back to work looking the same as you left! :-P

JoiaRox

Pre Op

I told my students that I had brain surgery initially - they bought it, but I eventually talked more openly about my surgery (LapBand back then). In the end, it didn't matter to me what my high school students thought or tweeted about me - goodness knows they had enough "ammo" pre-op! :)

Gojogo

Gastric Sleeve Patients

I sooo don't envy you! Such a difficult one!

I have a teen who can detect a lie from the blink of an eye, though is a master of telling them lol.

Don't get me wrong I love teens, though they get stuck in my teeth ha ha.

Joking apart, I'm sure that they, will be glad to see that, you are ok after your op.

I would say, it was for something that at the moment, I don't want to talk about and then leave it at that. They will properly be concerned, so just reassure them your fine.

That way, if later on when the weight is vanishing and you decided you want to tell them, no lies need to be untold.

I have found with teens trust is incredibly important.

Good luck :-)

Canary Diamond

Gastric Sleeve Patients

Thank you everyone for your helpful advice. Except you, Arts137. Smartass. I'm only with these kiddos for another week (I don't teach with the regular school district anymore), so chances are they won't see any big changes. Also, it's entirely possible they're too wrapped in their ultra-meaningful little lives to even remember to ask me about it.

Canary Diamond

Gastric Sleeve Patients

OK so here's what I went with (FA = Future of America, M = Me):

FA: Ms. Diamond, how was your surgery?

M: I'm feeling fine, thank you!

FA: What did you have surgery on?

M: Oh, I had some things removed. It's kinda gross and you don't want to know about it.

FA: OK. (pause) What did you have removed? Your eyeballs? Can you see us? Are those fake eyeballs? Yeah, I think one's falling out!

M: No.

FA: But really, what did you have removed?

M: My testicles

That shut 'em up.

melissa130

Gastric Sleeve Patients

Tell them you had a hernia repair or your gallbladder out. Or whatever you are comfy with..

Bluto

Gastric Sleeve Patients

This would have worked as well considering the typical teenager. Actually it works on most adults too.

(FA = Future of America, M = Ms Diamond):

FA: Ms. Diamond, How was your surgery?

M: (pointing randomly) Look something shiny!

FA: Huh? Where?

2Big2Skate

Gastric Sleeve Patients

"guts" is a good generic term. What you had done to your guts is up to you.

I like "rearranged"

Canary Diamond

Gastric Sleeve Patients

This would have worked as well considering the typical teenager. Actually it works on most adults too.

(FA = Future of America, M = Ms Diamond):

FA: Ms. Diamond, How was your surgery?

M: (pointing randomly) Look something shiny!

FA: Huh? Where?

True dat!

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