Sharing the news?

You really hit the nail on the head. The last thing I want is the opinions of a bunch of people who might spout hearsay, especially around the office. I know this is the right decision for me, it's not one that I've taken lightly, and I have the support of the people who I want and need the support of.

I have little interest in hearing what anyone else has to say about it, thus the desire to remain as discreet as possible regarding the reason for my upcoming absence. You're helping me to solidify keeping things as quiet as possible.

Thanks for sharing and for the advice, very helpful!

If you want to say anything about the actual surgery, you could just say you're having your gallbladder removed. When they begin to notice you're losing weight, you can then say you made your significant other a bet about sticking to your New Year's Resolution this year. They'll be so amazed that someone actually made a resolution and actually stuck to it when they see you as a new man in several months. They never need to know that you had weight loss surgery.

Because the truth is, the surgery isn't going to make you lose weight, your good choices will. You're the one who's going to be truly watching what you're eating and drinking and making sure to exercise. So, you're really not lying then, are you?

Good luck with everything. I'm hoping against all hope that I too will have mine done in February as well! I've only told a few people. I'm not putting it on facebook or anything. There's a particular person that I can't WAIT for her to see me, minus 150 pounds. I'm sure there will be five minutes of pure profanity in her house that day. It'll be great ;-)

Well said Anita. Not negative - just truthful.

Pre-op, I only told the people in my life who would care if I died.  I.e., people who shouldn't find out I was having surgery via bad news if something went wrong.  It was a short list.  

Post-op, I told everyone in my life, via Facebook, about 6 months after surgery.  I consider it to be public knowledge, so it's actually weird to me when I encounter someone who doesn't know that I had surgery!  This has worked very well for me.  

That's a really good dividing line RE bad news if something goes wrong. My list would be short too, easier that way. Thanks for the tips!

My list was my parents, my brother (I hadn't planned on telling him but my parents convinced me I should - they were right), my partners (obv), and my three best friends.  I also told my voice teacher and massage therapist, because recovery was going to impact those activities.  :)

Sounds similar to my list - my odd man out is the master where I practice tae kwon do. I'm actually looking forward to giving my knees a break from martial arts for a few weeks (and then longer term, a break with less weight on them!).

Like you, I told only my boss and asked her to respect my privacy and not disclose what I was having done. I told the girls who work under me I was having a procedure done for my severe acid reflux. When I came back and they saw I was eating differently and smaller they assumed it was due to that. I didn't want to hear what anyone had to say about it so I didn't tell the entire office. Eventually I told my close friends at work the truth but only the people who actually came out and asked if I had weight loss surgery. 

Without falsifying any information just simply say that an emergency came up (i.e. Your health) and it had to be taken care of right away.

The END!!!

Either say nothing at all, and make it clear you will not discuss it, at all, or tell everything.

You will lose a lot of weight, quickly. People will make the connection and figure it out, whether you tell them or not. And if you say you are having an abdominal procedure, a hernia fixed, losing weight with just diet and exercise, etc, they'll consider you a liar. Your integrity is worth more.

All or nothing.