I am not telling some people that I am being sleeved and I have been trying to figure out what to tell people. I wanted to tell them I am having some kind of surgery to explain the incision holes, time off work needed, and the inability to push/pull and lift things for a while. I also don't want them to thing I have cancer. Is there any surgery where they would have to cut part of your stomach? I have heard many gastric bypass patients say their intestines were dead as an excuse. Any help would be great! Thanks!

Gall bladder surgery ?

Do they cut part of your stomach for that?

Bleeding ulcers can require surgery to the stomach.

allons-y

I too wasn't ready to tell people at work. I'm also having a hiatal hernia repaired, so I went with that. However I did tell a close friend I work about the sleeve and hernia. I still have brothers to tell....

Edited October 15, 201312 yr by HardWork13

Be honest. People will assume and talk as you lose weight. Best to have a support group around you that understands what you are going through.

I said hernia repair and gallbladder removal. I also said I was on a strict diet due to gallbladder removal and just decided to sick with it.

I know it is best to tell people but my family lives far away and are health nuts. They think it's the easy way out and I really don't think I need to tell them!

There is no need to tell them ahead of time what kind of surgery you are having. After you are back is just fine. There are a lot of nay-sayers about wls out there. If you tell them when you get back you won't have to listen to the negative talk and hopefully they will praise you for your courage and tell you how great you look! Good luck!! Keep us posted!

I have tried to casually talk to people about wls and all they know is the gastric bypass and lapband. No one knows what the sleeve is!

I plan on telling close family and two friends. Everyone else is being told I needed surgery because I was having problems with ulcers and had to go on a strict diet as a result. Weight loss after what would be a normal healing time will be explained with a simple, "It was a wake up call to lose weight. The surgery got me started but it gave me enough momentum to keep me going." The only lie is the ulcer story (to be honest, I haven't had an endoscopy yet and I'm not 100% sure I don't have ulcers...so it may not be a lie). I feel like it's my business, and only those I love need to know. Honesty is terrific, and I try to honest all the time, but this is so personal. If it weren't so visible as well, I wouldn't have to say anything at all. But people will ask, and I am prepared with a story. If they are rude enough to ask, then that's what they get. I would tell people who ask "Diet and exercise" if it weren't for the incisions and the weird liquid diet.

Some people think it's our duty to educate people on WLS. I do enough educating with a special needs child that I don't need to take on that crusade on top of everything else going on in my life. I am just not up for it.

You should say a hernia. I've read that sometimes you do have to get your gallbladder removed, hopefully not but what if you need to later what will you say then.

We had a great and lengthy thread on this a few weeks ago.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/96167-wls-cover-up-story

Edited October 15, 201312 yr by ItsMe2033

Do not say gall bladder unless it is being removed at the same time. Most sleevers end up having theirs removed later. Then how would you explain having your gall bladder removed when you already told them you had it removed six months ago? Most people go with hernia repair.

True about the gallbladder. I did have mine removed at the same time.

Why lie? Truth is, it's none of their business and you should say no offense but rather not talk about it. I could careless who knows personally... Lol if they have a problem with it, it just that...their problem.