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[sewjazzy]

I told only my husband and one girlfriend. Not even my kids, my parents, or my co-workers. I knew in my mind that I had reseached this throughly and "they" would only be responding emotionally. I told work that I had to have surgery on some polyps in my tummy, which would account for the weight loss too.

By the way, my girl friend couldn't handle the fact that I was finally loosing weight and quit associating with me. We have talked about it in length. I lost her as well as 150 pounds.

~SewJazzy
I had the surgery 12 years ago and I would do it again.

[rokjen]

I've told my mom, who surprised (shocked) me by being VERY supportive. She weighed 103 pounds until she had two 10+lb babies around 40, and has struggled with her weight since, by which I mean she's had 30-40 pounds she'd like to get rid of. I have a twin who is size 2, but is chock full of surgical upgrades, so maybe she's paved the way...

No one in my family has ever had a real weight problem, except me, so I haven't decided if I will tell them. In fact, all three of my sisters have been professional dancers at one time, and all of my brothers are athletic. I don't need surgery to be a freak in my family!

As for friends and coworkers, I haven't told them, either. I had finally decided to tell my boyfriend one night and he started the conversation by breaking up with me out of the blue.  My coworkers are all considerably younger than me (20s); even the director is a few years younger than me. Not to mention, I'm definitely the Fat Girl at work. I can always tell when a first or second grader has never seen me before (4th grade is two floors above them), because they gasp or start laughing.  Nice.

There is a girl here who has the VSG with my surgeon and we've talked a few times. I know there are a few other foreigners who have had this surgeon-- options are limited for WLS here. As far as I can tell, it's him for VSG or band, or a WLS clinic that specializes in Japanese medical tourists. Hopefully, I can hook up with some of them for a local support group.

So, I guess that's my answer in 500 or words or less... 

[Regina]

I told my parents since I am living with them and it is hard to keep surgery a secret from people you live with.  That was as far as I was going to go at first.  Dad, on the other hand, is so excited I finally had the surgery he is telling every family member he can get to listen to him.   He may be telling others too but I do not know them if he is so who cares.

This bothered me a bit at first.  Having gone through so many diets and weight loss programs and failing, it is hard to  believe you are not going to fail yet again.  You do not want people to know you even had surgery and then failed     I am convincing myself I am not going to fail and all of you are helping with that.  Reading your posts are very reassuring that this time I've made the choice that I can succeed at.  So he can tell the world and I'm fine with it  

I have no close friends at this time to worry about.  Sad to hear some of you lost friends with the lost weight   My mother did that to her friend too.   She had surgery and lost weight and Mom turned against her.  I do not understand how people can behave like that.  It is just so wrong to not want the best for the people you love.  

[Maddie]

I told everyone. I need all the support I can get. As far as those who may judge me for it, oh well. This wasn't an easy choice for me, but now that I have done it, I am proud.

[monte75]

I m telling everybody for support!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Burnett]

I told most of my co-workers, thinking they would tell all the others...they didn't. I was running a public housing high-rise building for elderly and disabled. There were maybe two or three tenants (close friends) that knew. But all the busybodies in the building kept driving me crazy asking why I was having surgery. I tried to tell them as politely as I could that it was none of their business. They persisted. I finally decided to tell them that my doctor said that I couldn't lift anything heavy so he odered me to go in for penis reduction surgery.  That got them off my back. I thought everybody would figure it out after I lost 100 lbs...some did , some didn't. Now, I tell everybody. As others have said, I could use the support and feel the need to be held accountable. If they disagree with my decision or want to talk about me behind my back, so what. As long as they're talking about me, they're leaving somebody else alone. If they want to talk about it, I am more than happy to share my experiences.   

[Maddie]

Burnett, that's hilarious. 

[sfmini]

I tell people, I have nothing to hide. I just feel that people need to know folks who have had successful surgeries, and maybe there are those who will opt to have the surgery after talking to me.
I told someone this past weekend and she said her doctor had been trying to talk her into the sleeve. I told her my story and encouraged her to ask any questions any time.
Who knows, maybe I made a difference to someone.

[LowCHO]

I've been telling everyone, even those at work. I work in healthcare management so I had to give proper notice to my boss and my department that I would be out. Granted, I didn't have to tell them why but I'm having surgery in the same building that I work so they'll know soon enough :-)

[CurlyQT]

I'm actually having an issue with this topic. I am almost 2 months pre-op and haven't told any friends or family. But! I work in a hospital and am going through the process with a surgeon at my work. You know how gossipy hospitals can be. My name started showing up on surgeons schedules and since my doctor is a bariatric surgeon every seems to know. Way to break HIPPA rules. So, I really had no choice in telling people at work. Don't get me wrong, everyone is very supportive and if they are talking behind my back I haven't heard a thing so they are really good about it. I don't care if the know but I would've like to have had the chance to tell them. Kinda blows. Oh well. They'll all be there after surgery and there is a small group of us having the survey a few days apart so it isn't all ball. I think i'll wait till post-op to tell friends and family.

[ketzela]

Hi--new to this group and was reading this thread--my journey stared nearly two years ago and at that time only told one person as I need to stay at their home for the night before my information session--then moved to my family doctor for him to sign off on the paperwork --took me nearly a year to tell hubby what I was planning and then only after I was approved and had a date did I let the kidlets--my office only know that I need surgery-but not reason for it--if anyone asked I informed them I had issues with my small intestines and was having surgery for it--and the weight loss that is following this surgery is due to restricted eating--I had joined a gym before hand and they knew I was moving more that I was before--I understand many of you are open about WLS but I work with individuals that are busybodies and this is a personal health matter that I feel was most important to me and me alone--I have since mentioned this to a few people who have commented to me how wonderful and younger I look and I am proud to tell them about my WLS but most of the people I work with do not need to know at it is not work related and I don't need them to watch each piece of food I put in to my mouth.--Maybe as time passes I will be a bit more open but for know I am very happy keeping my business just that --my business

[JoanG]

I not only told everyone who asked, I blogged about it! I am educating friends about what this all means. I have been super blessed in that my family and so far my friends have been extremely supportive. As time goes on, things may change. But for today it's good.

[Dr_Adventure]

I told only my mother and some close friends before - now I tell everyone - I think I did not tell anyone incase I chicked out or incase something got in the way of surgery (insurance, doctor, etc.)