suggestions

I'm not sure how to handle my work situation. Everyone at work knows that I have had a lot of doctor appts recently. But they don't know why. Any suggestions/experiences with dealing with your coworkers? By the way, my group has an unofficial motto of: "It's all about the food". Ironically, I'm the only one who is not slim and healthy.

i have really strong feelings about weather to tell people about my RNY or not. first we have to remember that it is our personal medical information. it is only up to you weather you want to share this and with who. alot of people say that they aren't ashamed about wls, but it's not about that at all. i am very proud of myself to having wls, but that doesn't mean i need to tell everyone my personal medical info if i don't want to. some people think they are being dishonest by not telling ....i feel if you want it to be private there is nothing dishonest about it at all. with that being said, if you want to tell them that is great. just remember not everyone will react the way you hope they will. eventhou it is your personal choice, because it has to do with weightloss you will hear alot of unasked for comments or advice and alot of horror stories about a friend-of-a-friends-sisters-cousin hahahhahaha there are alot of rumors about wls that aren't true, that is why you must really study about this surgery before you have it so you can tell the difference between real fact or fiction. if you don't want to tell them or you just don't want to tell them yet, you could tell them it's private and that you are ok. we become friends with alot of people we work with and they become concerned about us. most times just telling them that it is private works...if you are nice about it. as for the food at work thingie! you can take food yourself to work that is ok for you to eat and tastes good for them to eat! coming up with healthy food choices will be fun. soups are really good for the early stage. so are cheese and yougurts(when your doctor allows). one of my favorite high protien products is smuckers natural sugar free peanut butter. it tastes soooooooooooo much better than regular peanut butter!!

Ken, Before surgery. I didn't share anything with most of my co-workers prior to surgery. I was lucky to have several very supportive friends that I could bounce feelings off. I really didn't want to deal with what other people thought about the surgery, positive or negative. I didn't even share my surgery with my extended family until a week prior to the surgery. After the surgery. You will have to make your own mind up with what you want to tell people. Every day I get stopped by someone who either didn't recognize me, or they worried that I was melting away. I let people know about my surgery and my new life. Rob

Ken, I grappled with this as well. Part of me was very private, not wanting everyone to know my business. The other part of me was, like, how am I gonna hide this after? Am I going to continuously lie my whole post-op life about what I did and how I lost it all? Nope, couldn't do that... But that was just my own personal decision. So, about one week before, I slowly started telling people. And you know what? I received nothing but overwhelming support! I was so pleasantly surprised. Now, after the surgery... I'm telling anybody that asks!! And you'd be surprised at how many "I looked into that myself!" or "Can I have your doctor's number?" I get! (((hugs))) -Karen

Ken I work in a hospital so I asked a few people for their advice while I was researching WLS and of course told them it was confidential. Then after having my appts with all the docs and after being on this website I realized that I had told almost everyone and told them each individually it was private! So I started talking about it openly and you know the nurses and staff must be very professional because it's all I talk about these days and some of them come up and whisper to me if I'd made a decision yet. LOL I answer, "Oh yes, I am scheduled 3/22 and it's not a secret anymore". I have to say they all kept my confidences as far as I know. But if not, I really don't care what they could have said behind my back. If I had been a part of this website in the beginning of my journey, I'd probably have been more open about it (not afraid). But if you don't want to tell them that is YOUR decision and even if they figure it out, you need not justify their suspicions unless YOU WANT to. It is your journey, do as you feel is right for you. Good luck with that.

First off Welcome Ken! Second off a lot of people struggle with being open about getting this surgery. There is a huge backlash right now. People see it as an easy way out. Let me tell you there is nothing easy about getting this surgery and becoming healthy. It takes work. But for myself. When I got my surgery done there were not a lot of men getting it done or have had it done. So I decided to be very open about it. If I could help other people and show other people what its about then it would cut down on the backlash..And I was actually able to help other people in regards to getting the surgery and the other issues that come along with it. So honestly it comed down to you..Because you will alway have people the dont support you and think its a drastic move..But when I was 380lbs i needed something drastic to help me..So now im down to 204...so it was totally worth it for me. So good luck with deciding with what you are going to do. Clint

Thanks, Clint. Congratulations on your success!