My surgery is tomorrow morning 9/11 @ 8AM. My family members are calling and emailing me to cancel the surgery. They say I look fine. I had my son take a before picture this morning and I look anything but fine! Ha ha. I only told one family member about the surgery because I have teenagers that needed to be checked on while I am in the hospital. I am already scared enough without my family putting the pressure on to bail telling me all the bad things that could go wrong! I replied saying in my current condition...I don't want to drop dead and be buried in a piano box!

I'm sorry family and friends are being less than supportive! It's hard when they try to talk you out of a decision that has not come lightly! Hold strong! You will do great and show them what this is all about! Becoming a healthier person! Good luck tomorrow!

Thank you so much for your support. I really needed it!

I am sorry that your family and friends are not being supportive. I hope they are able to realize you are doing this so you are around for a long time and come to support you in your new eating habits and healthy life.

Hopefully, I will adapt to the new life style and have some good results by the holidays. Maybe then they will see that it was all worth it ! Thanks for your support!

The only family member that knew in advance other than my spouse was my Sister, and as soon as I told her (from 1500 miles away) said "when do I need to be there?".

I did not tell anyone else cause I did not want my Mom to know, I did not want her to worry, she was not feeling well. Whether or when I would have told her is moot now, she passed away very unexpectedly a week to the day after my surgery.

They are simply scared for you. That is understandable. Have comfort in the fact that - just like you - they simply do not want anything to go wrong. They want you around for a long time to come. Which this surgery will definitely help with.

Makes it tough. You are doing this to live better and longer. Sorry that they don't see this yet.

If you need reassurance or a change of scene, walk around the hotel looking for others who have had the surgery so they can talk to and give you the one on one support you need right now. If you meet someone who is bringing you down, move on to the next person. This surgery has helped far too many people for you to stay focussed on someone who will not be supportive for you in your time of need.

I have been very open and told everyone about my surgery. Except my grandmother. I have a VERY small family so not much worry about pressure from anyone. But my grandma is 93yrs old and has dementia. She could never begin to understand what I am doing, and I just don't want to worry her. I just wish my mother had been able to have the surgery herself. She died in 2003 of liver cancer. The surgery probably would not have saved her life, ( unless they had caught the cancer early because of and treated her) but she could have had a much more enjoyable life while she was here. Instead she suffered a great deal of pain from osteoarthritis and other weight related issues. She could barely walk with support of two canes at the end. Her knees were shot and her lower back hurt her all of the time. ( she had needed surgery on her lower back, but was told due to her weight it would be useless) I just think of all the things she could have done, how different her life could have been had she not had all the weight on her she did. I think that also helps others in my family understand and accept why I have chosen this. Because I choose to follow a different path. I want to live without constant pain and weight related issues. I can understand and empathize with folks who worry for us and having major surgery. I just don't think they can understand where we come from because they haven't walked in our shoes....

I did not tell anyone else cause I did not want my Mom to know, I did not want her to worry, she was not feeling well. Whether or when I would have told her is moot now, she passed away very unexpectedly a week to the day after my surgery.

I feel for you. My mother died suddenly in January of last year. She wasn't well as she had rapidly progressing COPD but, still, the suddenness was unexpected. I keep thinking that she would have supported me in this journey & I think that her illness & passing helped push me to research & move toward surgery.