I have been seeing many threads on here about people keeping their surgery a secret and it really puzzles me. I understand its a personal choice but whenever someone makes a post about it they never really give the reasoning behind it.

I personally do not hide it. If anyone is curious I gladly tell them and when the questions pop up I am pretty well versed as to the facts behind the surgery so I educate them. The way I look at it is if it wasnt for people being open about it I would have never looked into making one of the best decision I have ever made. To me, it seems that keeping that secret would be more harmful mentally than whatever benefit keeping it a secret would do.

So what are the reasons? Is it being embarrassed that you had to have the surgery to lose weight? Do you want people to think you did it on your own? Is it being afraid of "What if it doesnt work"? Or is it "I just like keeping secrets"

I am not judging anyone, I am just curious.

I had a band in 2004, I didn't keep it secret and I soon got totally over everybody have an opinion on what I should or shouldn't eat. I'd have a cup of tea at work and hear 'I hope you haven't put sugar in that' I'd be out for dinner and friends would be horrified if I'd order anything that wasn't fat free after 'what I'd put my body through!!' Rack off and mind your own business was my reply ! Anyway since the band I left the UK and moved overseas, my new friends know nothing about it and they don't know about my band to sleeve revision in 9 days and I ain't ever going to tell them either !!!

I had a band in 2004, I didn't keep it secret and I soon got totally over everybody have an opinion on what I should or shouldn't eat. I'd have a cup of tea at work and hear 'I hope you haven't put sugar in that' I'd be out for dinner and friends would be horrified if I'd order anything that wasn't fat free after 'what I'd put my body through!!' Rack off and mind your own business was my reply ! Anyway since the band I left the UK and moved overseas, my new friends know nothing about it and they don't know about my band to sleeve revision in 9 days and I ain't ever going to tell them either !!!

Good for you. My neighbor drives me nuts. She knows we dieted but not about the surgery and is still trying to tell us what to eat. I would like to stuff a rag in her mouth. Her favorite topic is me and my husband. If I had told her about the surgery even the mailman would know.

I did share with friends, family, and co-workers. I received overwhelmingly positive response. What was interesting is that I lost quite a bit of weight before the surgery and several people did ask if I felt I still needed the surgery, including my primary care physician.

I explained to them that I have a pattern back to childhood of yo-yo-ing and I felt the surgery would help lessen or eliminate the yo-yo-ing. I also said that I wanted to jumpstart the weight loss and eating changes by changing my nutrition exercise months before surgery (even before the required nutrition program). I also explain that the sleeve is just a tool (I prefer the term 'guardrail') but the weight loss is ultimately on me. Everyone seemed to get that, including my PCP.

If anyone thought anything negative, they didn't say it to my face. However, a few people did talk about the "friends or family with complications or who gained it back," and I'm totally okay with that. I did ALOT of research and focused alot on the negative aspects of the surgery. I know what can go wrong, but it was certainly a chance I was willing to take.

Edited August 3, 201411 yr by AlwaysVegas

I told the people closest to me because I'm a horrible liar but I do not want to make it public for the simple fact that I feel a bit ashamed that I can't do it on my own and need the surgery at all! I also don't need any negativity attached to this experience with people's opinions!! Although I will say everyone that I have told have been very supportive and super happy for me! In the future I may tell more but for now it's between me and my closest friends and family!

I told the people closest to me because I'm a horrible liar but I do not want to make it public for the simple fact that I feel a bit ashamed that I can't do it on my own and need the surgery at all! I also don't need any negativity attached to this experience with people's opinions!! Although I will say everyone that I have told have been very supportive and super happy for me! In the future I may tell more but for now it's between me and my closest friends and family!

Do not feel ashame for making a choice to inprove your quality of life. There are a lot of things you can't do on your own, lossing weight just so happens to be one of them.

Although I understand why some people keep their surgery a secret, I tell anyone who asks how I loss the weight that I had weight loss surgery. Everyone on my job and family members know I had the surgery. I don't care if people react negatively. It has been the best choice for me and I don't live my life for others. A couple of people I know are now looking into WLS since seeing my weight loss at only four months post op. It is my hope that more people will open up about their surgery but if they don't it's their choice.

<p>The hog.<br><br> <br><br><br> The package.<br><br> </p>

I am dying laughing ????????????????

I was amazed at the amount of support I receive from everyone I tell. I am an Open book with my friends and family and I wanted everyone to know what was going on with me. if it makes them stop to think before offering me some candy it was worth it! Everyone has their own way of dealing with things.