Hi all,

Fist of all congrats to all post ops and best of luck to all pre ops waiting for their opp dates. I'm new to this and i'm due to have my sleeve next week. I'm both nervous and excited about the whole thing but one thing that's really taking over my mind at the moment is what to tell people. I've told the people close to me that i'm having this opperation but i dont want to tell certain family members and friends that i'm having a VS op. Can anyone tell me what they told friends/family/co workers what op they've had?

Thanks so much and good health to you all..

Jemma :thumbup:

I totally accept and respect that everyone does what is right for them, this is a personal journey that is for sure. That being said I tell/told everyone, I even tell the restaurant staff when I am ordering, I usually get an appetizer and they always say "Is that all for you?" and I say "Yes, I recently had weight loss surgery". I was talking yesterday with the only other person in our school district that has had WLS (duodenal switch) and she brought up a good point, she shares her story to help others and educate (I pretty much tell everyone because I can't seem to keep my mouth shut!) but she has had her weight off for 3 years so maybe that helps her to feel secure about telling people.

i finally told my best, closest friends including the Vet. They were all very supportive, and a little hurt. I explained that it was a decision between me, hubby & primary care doctor and I didnt want to hear negative remarks, not that I thought any of them would be negative.

The most positive was the Vet as we have been friends for 30 years and she knows all my weight ups and downs. After review on website, she endorsed the sleeve over the, seemingly, 'less radical' lap band as she has done many surgeries on animal stomachs (practices as an emergency room Vet) and has seen how well the animals have done with limited stomachs.

Of course, your own response to surgery questions is your own business.

This is my final post on the subject,

Terrie

I'm telling everyone the truth. People (even some of my collegues in the medical profession) are clueless, and sometimes insensitive. Their questions are sometimes probing and inappropriate. Sometimes their (unsolicited) advice is maddening. But sad fact is, a lot of the general public still think that fat people are stupid and lazy and lacking in self-control. Oh well. It's the last bastion of sanctioned prejudice. Can't change it overnight. But, I'm still opening myself up to the comments of these often-annoying people because I'm determined not to lie as if I'm ashamed of myself. If people respond inappropriately, usually a cocked eyebrow (if held long enough) eventually shuts them up. Sigh. C'?st la vie. This is my truth, and I don't give a sh*t what any one else thinks of it. On the flip side, with some people in my life, I reserve the right to simply not tell them anything either way. If they ask, I can just smile, shrug, and tell them to have a nice day.

A little P.S.

The really bottom line (in my opinion), is that your VSG is no one's business but your own, and you don't have to tell anyone anything (including a lie) if you don't want to. Your employer is legally prohibited from asking you about your health (you only need to tell them when asking for time off that it is for medical reasons). If you chose to keep mum and only tell the circle of people in your life in whom you trust, that is your perogative. Keep your head held high either way, and good luck!

Hey I told people I had to have a hyatal hernia repaired. It's a hernia in your aesophagus that causes GERD. Acid reflux.. Then I told them that I had to be on liquids until my stitches healed..my aesophagus stitches...and then I told them that my doctor was concerned about my weight and put me on an all liquid protein diet.It seems to have convinced people. My family and close friends know. Hyatal hernias are fixed in the same way...arthroscopically. So it made sense to tell them that. And I did have that procedure done with my VSG. I think it's best to lie to the majority of the world and make it a good one. That way those people won't always be watching you. It's too freaky for me to feel like others are watching my progress from afar. Especially people I am not close to. That's my two cents. Seaview

While I know that there are many brave souls who are comfortable telling the whole truth - and I admire you fully - I think it totally sucks that we have to even think about it. I talked with my sister about it - a doctor btw - and she agrees that people just don't get it. She seconded my decision to not tell people about "taking the easy way out" and getting surgery. (No need to tell everyone here it's not the easy way out!)

Although, one thing I realized, I do have a few blunt friends who would probably ask if I had surgery for weight loss, but they would probably say "Did you have bypass or the lap band?" Well, I wouldn't be lying if I said no, so there! And fortunately, I don't see them as often, so they wouldn't necessarily see the faster weight loss that is likely to come.

I'm not really going to tell friends/family about having surgery at all, I'm more concerned about work and when I submit my medical leave paperwork. Fortunately, I have a few months to come up with something!

Hernia repair works well too. When I've said stomach surgery not a single person has asked me what or why. Go figure. I don't think you'll have too much trouble keeping it simple. And then change the topic :-).

As for why you're losing weight the honest reason is because you'll be dieting (or cutting portion size) and exercising. The sleeve is just your helper, not actually what makes you lose weight.

My husband is pretty private and didn't want me to tell anyone (which annoyed me because it's my choice, not his). But it's been pretty easy to not disclose in a way that keeps me honest.

I have explained in greater detail if I thought a "teaching opportunity" was necessary - like the person was biased or I could tell they were considering WLS.

Britt

Honesty is the best policy...but if that doesn't work for you...when asked what the surgery is for, a woman can say "female problems"... typically people (especially men)won't ask more questions.

I've just spent the evening with a group of friends... not close friends, but close enough to know I have already lost weight.... and I didn't tell them. I don't want them to think I 'took the easy route', nor get into the 'you don't need to do that' debate.... no one knows about my battles with my weight except me.... and a couple of select people....

I positioned my past weight loss, and also positioned my future weight loss.... bit of a total detox style diet at the moment, hence no drinking, and then in about 2 weeks I'll be back on 'normal' food but smaller portions as my stomach will be smaller then.

So I've not really lied, just been economical with the truth.

Add into that the fact my hubby said he'll give up smoking when I hit 147lbs and thats the winning deal for me.

So they know to expect me to lose a lot of weight this summer.....Bring it on!!

Kathy

Hi all,

Fist of all congrats to all post ops and best of luck to all pre ops waiting for their opp dates. I'm new to this and i'm due to have my sleeve next week. I'm both nervous and excited about the whole thing but one thing that's really taking over my mind at the moment is what to tell people. I've told the people close to me that i'm having this opperation but i dont want to tell certain family members and friends that i'm having a VS op. Can anyone tell me what they told friends/family/co workers what op they've had?

Thanks so much and good health to you all..

Jemma

Good for you!! Keep it to yourself and only with the ones that will support you and not judge you. I was feeling soooo guilty keeping from so many people. I am glad to hear that you did the same. I ended up having a hernia when they went in there so I stuck with that. I said that I had a huge hernia to my inlaws because they wanted to come over. But I heard that hernia don't need robotic surgery. You could also say you had acouple of fibroid tumers in your uterus because they are common and require a long recovery but I don't know about the robotic part. Try not to tell anoyone anything if you don't even see them. You can say you did the south beach diet and excercised. I once lost 40 ilbs on that in 3 months. Anyway good luck and keep it to yourself.

I tell everybody and anybody that I am having weight loss surgery. I've had all sorts of comments and some almost insulting but I really don't much care. If people have a problem with it .. that is their problem, not mine. When they start trying to give advice, I politely ask them if they are a doctor or a nurse and when they say no .. I usually just say, well lets leave it to the medical people .. they know what their talking about. Just another polite way of saying, get out of my face ... LOL

Best of Luck ... do what you have to do.

John

I'm not worried about the surgery part, but I am wondering how I'm going to explain my miniscule eating habits to all the guys I work with! No more ordering lunch every day. Luckily I did tell them a while ago it was too expensive and I needed to bring my lunch in.

The truth is always the best option. It is good for you personally, and could also be helpful in educating others. It always bothered me when Starr Jones didn't tell and acted like she just cut back on her eating. baloney.

who says you have to tell them anything? i only told 3 people i was having surgery and what kind. as for everyone else - i didnt even mention it. if you're worried about eating in front of them afterwards, you could just use the excuse that you're not that hungry (which will be the TRUTH!)

Stomach surgery is a good answer. I am with Grateful Heart, Ialways tell the truth. This is nothing to be ashamed of. If anything, the exact opposite. I am proud I did this to regain my life back. Best of luck