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To tell or not to tell? WLS

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So far only my husband and 18year old daughter know about my surgery. My 2 little boys are too young to tell. Not telling anyone else. I feel that I don't want to explain myself 100 plus times to anyone as to why I'm losing weight and why my drastic decision of wls. Plus I have very judgemental coworkers. Still undecided? Has anyone told close friends and family to only regret doing it!!?

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Another angle, I have thought that my testimony could help someone else in the same boat. Show others that there is a way out of the quagmire of obesity. I have meet to lovely ladies (friends of a friend) who have been open and honest with their journey and they have helped me with my decision to take this step. Seeing success and knowing I could do it too is awesome. Be someone else's hero!

Finally have it all out in the open to family and it now feels like a huge weight has been lifted! I finally just bit the bullet and told and I feel much better!

Considering in weight a LOT, in sure people will figure it out when the weight starts dropping quite fast.

However, I have told no one except my husband and don't plan to tell anyone else either.

If it comes up, I'll assess who it is and how I feel on that moment. It won't stay a secret forever, but right now this is my journey and I don't want it in the open.

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well, finally broke down and told my grandmother today. so far only my hubby, kids and mom know. it actually went surprisingly well! she even offered to loan me the money so i won't have to pay interest back on a loan, just pay her some monthly!!! thats the only people that will know about the surgery beforehand. i don't mind telling anyone else after it is over with but i don't need anyone else's opinion about my choice!

Wow ! That worked out perfect for you! Very nice grandma! ????????????????

I am struggling with this, too. It is going to be very obvious that I am losing weight, but I don't want to deal with any judgy comments, not that anyone has been that way with me in the past. I am kind of torn. The hernia story is a good one, maybe I will go with that one. Scheduled for 2-17.

I am struggling with this, too. It is going to be very obvious that I am losing weight, but I don't want to deal with any judgy comments, not that anyone has been that way with me in the past. I am kind of torn. The hernia story is a good one, maybe I will go with that one. Scheduled for 2-17.

I'm the day after you!

The hardest person to discuss this with was my husband. He is naturally thin and doesn't understand my struggle. But he was wonderfully supportive. I have involved him in helping me decide which type of surgery I want. Now he is all on board because he sees how excited I am about this. I told my youngest son (age 12) and he just took it in stride. I won't be telling him the process of the surgery because he will just worry. I will tell my oldest (age 23) when I see him next, and he might be concerned, but I'm sure he'll end up supportive.

I will also tell my boss and coworkers when I'm ready to request time off for the surgery or pre appointments. Since I work in the health care industry, I won't get any grief. We all see how damaging obesity is on your health.

Anyone else, I won't be telling. I don't much care if random people approve or not. I am doing this for my betterment, not theirs.

  • Author

I am struggling with this, too. It is going to be very obvious that I am losing weight, but I don't want to deal with any judgy comments, not that anyone has been that way with me in the past. I am kind of torn. The hernia story is a good one, maybe I will go with that one. Scheduled for 2-17.

Hernia is what I told all and I'm sticking with it. And after doing research , the hernia repair (upper GI) its the same post of diet as VSG. Go figure!?

So glad...the more people you tell the more problems and comments and just to much drama....

Sooooooo nobody is asking lol. 45 pounds down nothing. Small town, I'm telling ya. The only people I did not want to share or have know about my surgery until it got around was my ex and his family. Just non of his or their business, they live out of town so no big deal. I ask my 17 year old son just to keep my medical stuff private. Then I started to feel guilty, I didn't want him to have to lie so I set him down and told him if he was asked he could be truthful. He said ohhh dad already ask why you were having surgery, I told him you wouldn't want him to know. lol Well the truth is the truth.

I also told the hernia story . I had my sleeve done 11/31 , about a month before that I started telling coworkers I need to be on a high protein low carb diet cuz of blood pressure etc.. Since I've been on diets before along with all the other women that work here, I was able to pull it off, especially after the new year everybody is always on a diet so I just blended in. I had lost 72 pounds on WW a few years back so losing this weight again they won't think nothing of it ... Only this time it will be permanently off !! I'm not sure of the reactions or comments I would've received if I told about the WLS but I personally just feel it's less stressful and drama free ????

I'm not telling anyone, except my husband. My previous weight loss experience taught me a lot about busybodies, gossip and drama associated with someone's major appearance change / improvement.

Plus, I am at somewhat lower BMI range (which is still severe obesity BTW!) and I don't want to hear everyone's "expert" opinion on what I need and don't need to do - it annoys the daylight out of me. Where all of those "experts" and "concerned friends" have been when I was sinking deep into depression and gaining pounds just before their eyes???

Reading this post makes me sad. I agree that there are judgmental people in this world, especially when it comes to weight and health. I was very worried about this as I started my journey. However, I am happy to share, humanity has greatly impressed me. I have not told everyone, but my family, close friends, and close coworkers all know. And much to my surprise, not one negative comment. Every single person I have talked to about this has been incredibly supportive and overjoyed for me. I am so excited, it's hard to keep it to myself, and I don't want to live under a veil of secrecy. I don't believe it's everyone's business, and I won't be broadcasting it, or sharing Facebook updates regarding my surgery. But it was important to me to have autonomy and honesty with those closest to me. I need the support, and I need the positive reinforcement, which is all I have received.

Moral of my story, give people a chance, they might surprise you!

I'm telling people, when I received insurance approval I even posted on Facebook "Insurance approval for weight loss surgery has arrived! Yippee! Starting to schedule pre-op testing. Btw: anyone with a snarky comment about surgery being the easy way out will fall victim to my evil death ray..." Mostly possitive responses. I have one cousin who is a nurse and expressed concerns and reminders about the importance of post op care. She was respectful, just worried.

I work at a nursing home so my coworkers have seen what a lifetime of obesity will do to the human body. I'm gay and my coming out experience built up a tough skin. Compared to that, this is a walk in the park!

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