Tomorrow I start my process. I am afraid to let my coworkers know about my plans due to lack of support. I have a coworker and friend who weighs more than I do and does not agree with weight loss surgery. I have great support at home and from long term friends. Should I share my journey with my peers at work and deal with the comments behind my back or keep my journey to myself?

I told my immediate family and a few close friends but chose not to tell my coworkers. I didn't feel it was any of their business. I did tell my supervisor I was having surgery to correct a hiatal hernia (which is true). It is done laparascopically so the recovery time is similar to the lap band surgery. You can look up hiatal hernia repair to learn what the symptoms are to formulate your story.

I work on a large-scale technical project where the people are very gossipy. I know my supervisor told a few of the high-level managers on the project, and some of the lower-level staff who handle timesheets and doctor's notes spilled the Beans too. It was good that I had a cover story, and now I can use my sick time for my fill and follow-up appointments.

As for co-workers noticing the liquid diet- I told them I was trying to lose weight. I ate Soup for lunch almost every day on the mushy phase, and no one batted an eye.

Good Luck!

Maria

I am not telling anyone, not even family. My mom, who is extremly over-weight has been trying to get gastric bypass surgery for over a year, but because of a change in her insurance, she has to start the process all-over again. Since it appears I will have surgery in November, I don't want her to feel bad. I am being sensitive to her feelings, since it appears I will have the lap band surgery soon.

As far as friends and co-workers, I do not discuss any of my health matters with either group. I am taking two-three weeks off vacation and no one will no other wise... They all think I am going on holiday for a couple of weeks. :thumbup:

this has been a touchy subject for some. My personal opinion is it is up to the individual.

There is a law, called HIPPA, it gives each and every patient the right for their own medical privacy. So if you choose not to tell, doesn't mean you are ashamed or anything, just means you choose to keep your medical history private - thats your right.

If you choose to tell, again, that is your right too.

I personally decided not to tell, I figure I can always go back and tell, however, I could never untell.

Well - there is a coworker I work with who has suspected it and she freaken googled something I typed on here (it was a thread I started regarding a type of plastic surgery), and she found out. She called me over to her desk and asked if that was me because it was so similar - my name was at the bottom of my signature, my age was over to the left, it said I was from Oklahoma - and I talked about the type of PS on this forum and I've mentioned it to her. Geeze, there are some nosey people. I begged her to keep it a secret, but I know she has already blabbed.

The one thing I was not expecting was for people to come out and ask me directly "Did you have the lapband". I was prepared to answer questions on how I was losing weight, but I never dreamed people would come out and ask if I had the lap band. I would never come out and ask someone that. But some people are just plain rude!

So if you do decide to keep it a secret, be prepared to answer questions.

I still have not "come out of the closet", and not sure if I ever will. I might when I get to goal if someone I know is looking into it. I might share my experience. Still undecided on that.

My doctor asked me to be in a calendar he produces, but I declined because I know someone that I know will see it.

Edited September 22, 200817 yr by Sunshine2

I picked a handful of people to tell, but thinking back I wish I had told less people. Those that know are always asking how much have you lost? Have you worked out today? Are you sure you should be eating that? But at the same time my weight loss is now becoming more noticable and people are beginning to ask me how I have lost weight. I just keep thinking back to all those times I did weight watchers and lost 20-40 pounds only for it to come right back. I would get cocky, tell people how I was going to lose all the weight by Christmas or my birthday or whatever the new said date would be, only to fail each and every time. I hit a bit of a plateau recently and I don't need a bunch of people giving me a hard time.

As someone else said before, you can't untell people. Really, it's nobody's business and I don't need anyone making me feel bad during this journey.

I chose not to tell because not only is it not anyone's business, but about a year before I was banded a co-worker was banded. There was a lot of negativity that I heard about it then, I don't beleive any of it was mentioned to her, but behind her back, it was awful. It was all due to lack of education regarding the band, but I don't need any added stress like that. I don't need anyone judging me based on my health choices, I have some co-workers that already dislike me because I outwork them (7 jobs)

I don't believe it's lying by not telling anyone I'm banded. One co-worker who is trying to fund it herself asked me if I was, after noticing my eating habits and the weight loss. I was honest with her, and she swore not to tell anyone.

Our business is very seasonal with business just beginning to pick back up, so people are really starting to notice, since they havent seen me all summer. But I'm honest with them as well, it was hard work, healthier eating habits and getting up off my butt!

I have people ask if my husband is overseas again (military) because I always lose weight when he's gone, but I gain it right back. I can't wait to see it stay off!