Those nay-saying idiots really get my Irish up. This is YOUR journey and no one has any right to say anything destructive. It's tough enough to make the decision to change your life in such a positive way. First, you don't owe anyone at work an explanation. I told everyone because I was happy about getting the chance to do it (and I'm an open book most of the time anyway). So much of life is about personal boundaries. When someone starts giving their negative opinion about the choices YOU are making about YOUR life, just politely but firmly tell them you are looking forward to the surgery and change the subject. Even idiots get the point.