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

Telling people (or not) about having WLS



Recommended Posts

On 2/17/2017 at 4:41 PM, 1poundatatime said:

When did tell people? As soon as you got a date, right before, after?

And what sort of reception have you gotten?

I didn't actually tell many people until after I had my surgery -- but that's because I had a HUGE run-around with my insurance, and I was feeling EXTREMELY superstitious that it would end up not happening. T___T

But as soon as it was done, I told my mom she could tell some of the more gossip-y family members and it got around to everyone. And the first day of purees I actually went out to dinner with a big ole group of my friends and they were like uhhh why can't you eat? so that came out. Generally, they've all been really awesome! There are a few who seemed a bit confused by it, but as of now I've lost almost 70 pounds [25 pre-op] and so it's really hard for them to be anything BUT excited for me, I think!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm not ashamed but I also don't think every single person in my life has to know all my business. pre-op it was more superstitious I didn't want people's bad vibes & now post op I just don't see the benefit in it. I just don't see how telling every single coworker makes a difference my very close friends know, my cousin who's an RN & my husband & a close neighbor but I'm like this in general pretty private if there was someone I know that can benefit from it I'll tell but my 120 pound coworker who doesn't even know my dogs name I don't see why she should know such private info.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Sugarnspice said:

I'm not ashamed but I also don't think every single person in my life has to know all my business. pre-op it was more superstitious I didn't want people's bad vibes & now post op I just don't see the benefit in it. I just don't see how telling every single coworker makes a difference my very close friends know, my cousin who's an RN & my husband & a close neighbor but I'm like this in general pretty private if there was someone I know that can benefit from it I'll tell but my 120 pound coworker who doesn't even know my dogs name I don't see why she should know such private info.

I agree that no person has or needs to tell everyone or anyone anything particular thing about his/her personal life. But over the past many months, I have read countless posts about people concocting elaborate stories to conceal the fact that they had WLS. My question was born out of wondering if this kind of behavior supports an uninformed and incorrect belief of some that the surgery is something to be ashamed of.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yea I don't think I'll go to extreme measures to conceal it either. It's not a secret really just a personal part of my life I wouldn't openly discuss my hysterectomy or my IUD either so I guess it's the same thing

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

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 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

    ×