Advice

 As one mom to another - can I suggest that you tell your younger 2 kids something? Not necessarily what kind of surgery that you are having exactly - but something to explain the changes that you will go through. This is not going to be easy on you when you come out of surgery. Your whole way of eating is going to be off kilter for awhile. You may (or may not :)  have vomitting issues etc. Your younger kids will realize that something is not right with mom. Kids are amazing - they know when things are "off". However, if they are told nothing they also tend to think of the worst senarios. They're old enough to know about cancer etc.
So, even if you tell them something - "mom is having surgery for a minor problem with the tummy". Mom is going to be okay but will be eating differently and have to take it easy for awhile". This will calm their fears and likely they will think no more of it. If you don't say anything, they may be consumed with "what is wrong with mom". 

My kids are older - just out of high school and in university. I didn't tell them what my surgery was for - just to help deal with my digestion issues (they've watched me for years vomitting due to gerd). Only may dad and hubby and sister know exactly what I did. Nobody else's business.

Good luck with the surgery!

The only people that know I want to have WLS are my hubby and my best friend. When the time comes we will have to explain to our son why I am in the hospital as he is autistic and blind and relies on Mom alot, and we don't want him to worry. Of course I will tell our daughter(she's 22) but as for the rest of my family, they don't need to know. My Mom has made it pretty clear that she doesn't want to know about my life/troubles, the only one she cares about is her other grandson.
I just decided that I didn't want people at work to know until it was a done deal. I work with a couple of ladies who are also obese and very opinionated about things dealing with weight loss. I don't want to deal with their negativityand their views and believe me they will give me their opinions.

I told my husband that he will be going with me when I get rereferred as he has some concerns and I want him to be able to ask them himself.

Good luck with whatever decisions you make!

Karen

I am not telling only people that need to know ie. husband and kids. I have told a couple of close friends that is all. I don't know how i will feel at the time when i actually get to have the surgery, but i too am a private person and think i don't want everyone to know.
You need to do what is best for you and what you are comfortable with.

I told my partner, my sister, and my best friend immediately. I told my boss that I was going to have surgery, so I could book the time off. Other than that, I mostly waited until afterwards. I didn't want anybody judging me. Now it is after the fact, and I am surprised by how few inquiries I get. Now that it is a done deal, it is easier to talk about it. I had my own insecurities beforehand and didn't need anyone else adding to my stress.

Let your heart guide you. You will know what is right for you.

Tanya
 

Thanks again everyone. Nice to know your thoughts are not all alone.

Sue