C_K

I'm only here (pre-op for VSG) because a colleague, who had dropped a bunch of weight, told me she had weight loss surgery after I commented on how great she looked. I wouldn't have considered it otherwise as my doctor had never mentioned it, and in my head it was this crazy dangerous thing where 10% of people died in the first five years (no clue where I got that stat in my head). So I'm grateful she told me. But, I don't feel as brave. I'm embarrassed to be at this point - and worried I'll fail and regain weight and it will be even more awful because people knew I had surgery. But I'm dreading people commenting on my weight loss. I'm still teleworking fulltime due to COVID, and I'm hoping I can drop a bunch of weight before I have to go back to the office so people (who I haven't seen in 18 months at this point) will think it was something that happened over a longer period.

I'm only here (pre-op for VSG) because a colleague, who had dropped a bunch of weight, told me she had weight loss surgery after I commented on how great she looked. I wouldn't have considered it otherwise as my doctor had never mentioned it, and in my head it was this crazy dangerous thing where 10% of people died in the first five years (no clue where I got that stat in my head). So I'm grateful she told me. But, I don't feel as brave. I'm embarrassed to be at this point - and worried I'll fail and regain weight and it will be even more awful because people knew I had surgery. But I'm dreading people commenting on my weight loss. I'm still teleworking fulltime due to COVID, and I'm hoping I can drop a bunch of weight before I have to go back to the office so people (who I haven't seen in 18 months at this point) will think it was something that happened over a longer period.

Well dang I don’t remember signing on to become a lifelong bariatric surgery counselor when I got surgery. I’m a private person and I don’t discuss my medical issues with people I’m not very close with.

There’s a huge difference between me just living my life and not sharing my personal medical information and someone positioning themselves as a weight loss expert/influencer and not disclosing it. I’ve had some comments on how great my skin looks at my age as well, and for some people I offer a thanks, and for others I offer information on my Botox provider. It’s almost like I’m an adult who doesn’t owe every human I meet my life story. Do you think I should put a sign on my door that outlines my various surgeries and medical procedures on the off chance it influences someone? Oh maybe I should also list any marital/child rearing difficulties I’ve ever had and information on my bowel habits too. Or do I maybe have the right to decide who I share what information with?

Let people live their lives and worry about yourself and your own decisions.

I dont understand why anyone would consider not telling people that you had WLS a LIE?? If someone has the nerve to ask me how I lost weight I would just say I decided to get healthy. That isnt a lie. Its keeping my personal business private. If someone asks you how much your mortgage is or how much you paid for your car do you just blurt it out? Personal is personal. Honestly, what I weigh and how I did it or didnt do it isnt anyones business other than those I chose to tell. Unless it puts someone in harms way or hurts someone it isnt anyones business and I personally think its rude for people to ask.

I don't know that many people, but I everyone I do know knows I had the surgery. I've been open about it because I'm an open book and also not a good liar, so if people asked how I lost weight I wouldn't be able to keep it to myself. I am also very outspoken and some (OK, most lol) would say argumentative, so I don't mind setting someone straight if they have something negative to say about me getting surgery. I have been lucky that the people in my life have been very positive and supportive.
All that being said, this is my own personal choice to be open about it. We're all different and some people are way more private than me, and it is their right to keep this information to themselves.
I wish we lived in a society where we could all be open if she chose to and not be judged, but we don't. I do hope that me being open will educate some people, but I also know you can't really change anyone's mind. People are going to think what they want about the surgery. I personally don't care what they think of me, but not everyone wants to deal with people's judgment and I completely understand that. It really is rude to ask people about their body anyway. My husband deals with this all the time because he is 6'10" and just about every time we're out someone asks how tall he is, if he plays basketball, his shoe size, how much he weighs, etc. Everyone can plainly see my husband is very tall, but it's still no one's business to ask him about it. Sometimes he answers them and sometimes he doesn't, but it's his choice to respond.
He is not obligated to tell anyone this information.
Anyway, I'm ranting here, but telling someone or not is everyone's personal choice, and it's is medical information which they absolutely have the right to keep to themselves if they choose to.



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I'm only here (pre-op for VSG) because a colleague, who had dropped a bunch of weight, told me she had weight loss surgery after I commented on how great she looked. I wouldn't have considered it otherwise as my doctor had never mentioned it, and in my head it was this crazy dangerous thing where 10% of people died in the first five years (no clue where I got that stat in my head). So I'm grateful she told me. But, I don't feel as brave. I'm embarrassed to be at this point - and worried I'll fail and regain weight and it will be even more awful because people knew I had surgery. But I'm dreading people commenting on my weight loss. I'm still teleworking fulltime due to COVID, and I'm hoping I can drop a bunch of weight before I have to go back to the office so people (who I haven't seen in 18 months at this point) will think it was something that happened over a longer period.

I can tell firsthand that there is a difference in the way people treat you when they think you lost weight the "natural" way.