Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Hi, I am so excited!! My surgery is on WED. My kids are away at camp and will be home 4 days after surgery ( I tried to get an earlier surgery date but they had none) I have not told them yet , they are 11 yr old girls. What and how did you tell your kids? I do not want them to think it is ok to get fat and eat and eat (not that they would be just like me!!) but I want to be as honest with them as possible any suggestions welcome.

Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't have children, so maybe I am not the best to weigh in on this, but my nephews (7 and 9) overheard my sister saying something to me about the surgery (about a week before). The 9 year old was very concerned and wanted to know why I was having surgery. She told him it was so I could get healthier. At the time, I had my foot in a boot for a fracture in my heel, so he promptly said "Oh good. So she won't have to wear her boot anymore". :D Yep!

He did ask again another time, and I just told him that the drs were going to help me get healthier so I could do more stuff with him. I know your girls are older and they will see your change in eating, so it will be different than my situation, but I would think just stressing you goal for health and how it will increase your time and activity with them. Good luck! I am sure they will be supportive!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I didn't tell my son I was having surgery until it was over and then I didn't really say what it was for. He has anxiety and I knew he would worry excessively about me if he knew. He was really upset just seeing me in the hospital. He was 8 at the time, I just told him I had surgery on my stomach to make me feel better. That was enough to satisfy him.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My son was 12 when I had my surgery and I was upfront and honest with him about what I was doing and why. He said he was so happy that I wanted to get healthy and would support me no matter what. He asked about what they soukld actually do in the surgery and we googled the procedure and watched a 20 min video on the surgery on YouTube. This was actually great for us both because I got to see how it was done and it answered all his questions. I think the biggest impact for him was afterwards as I was great up to about day 5 and then I was hit with dizzy spells and lack of energy and needed help getting stuff done around the house. By day 15 when I started on food I started getting better with energy and feeing back to normal.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My husband and I are very open with our children. They knew that daddy was having surgery, and what it was for. This meant that when he came home from the hospital that they needed to be careful with his belly, Whether touching it or accidentally bumping it. They have even seen his incision sites. They also know that mommy will be having the surgery. The no touching mommy's tummy part will be hard as kids like to sit on me, and our youngest is a big cuddler. For reference, our children are 10, 8, 5, and 4. They have handled it well, and have asked good questions.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×