Do you tell the truth about WLS???

A friend of mine had WLS last July. She was visiting a couple weeks ago(she lives in another state now) and we were at Walmart(where we both used to work) and people that work there still didnt recognize her. I said, "Do you remember (her name)??" and they were shocked to say the least. She has lost over 100 lbs. They asked her what she did to lose so much weight. We just looked at each other, smiled and said she watched what she ate and excercised. She doesnt want everyone to know that she had surgery to lose all the weight. I think when/IF I get approved, I wouldnt want to tell everyone I had WLS either??? Do you tell the truth or tell little white lies about your weight loss? If I am approved, my surgery will be in/around December so I can kind of "hide out" at home most of the winter and then emerge in the spring LOL What are your experiences? Tara

I've told most people already but I'm sure there will be people that I haven't seen for awhile that will ask.  I think I'll tell them the truth, but I have a friend that if she really didn't know the person very well, she just said she worked very closely with a doctor.  (not a lie, she really did)  

Hey Pam,
Best wishes on your upcoming surgery! Hope to join the Wisconsin's looser bench with you very soon.
Hugs,
Jeanne N.

I am having surgery on 7/3. I have told all my family and many of my co-workers that I will be having surgery. They have all been very supportive. If other people ask along the way, I will be honest with them too. For me, I am proud of what I am doing to finally get in control of my health. I'm not ashamed to tell people. Besides, if it provides encouragement to someone else along the way to look into the surgery, then it will be all the more worth it. I have a friend who also had WLS and she told most people the truth as well. But to some that she may not have know as well, she would tell them, "I had a little help." They understood and that was good enough.

I've been pretty open with everyone I know about having surgery, and I'm lucky that all but one person has been incredibly supportive. There may come a time when I don't feel the need to share the details of my weightloss, and I'll probably use the "hard work" explanation - which will also be quite true!

Hey everyone...new today to this site...

I'm on the fence as to whether I want this surgery...went to an information seminar, heard the risks involved and now unsure. The clinic here only does RNY. The 20% complication rate scares me. I'm a nurse and know alot behind the scenes of most situations but not this. I cancelled the appt with the surgeon so I could check out Mayo. I found that it takes 6mos to a year before any surgery is done. My insurance changes in Jan of '08, not sure of the coverage then. Please fill me in on everything you all know!!!

I am VERY open about my WLS. I speak publicly for my surgeon, I give my profile address to people, and let anyone know who's interested.  In fact, the local television station has contacted me to do a story recently, and I was just featured in our local paper for the triathlon I completed.  The article even included the 2 sins of women: my age and my weight!   I've had so much support from people who know about my surgery.  My sister-in-law had it done a few years prior to me and didn't want anyone to know.  She lost quite a few friends because they felt that their friendship wasn't worth the honesty she was lacking.  To each their own.  I do have a favorite comback that I've used twice with the spit-brained people who said "You took the easy way out".  I reply, "Yes, it was incredibly easy waking up from anesthesia, change everything I've known and done wrong in the past 38 years of life, and begin to live life in a completely different manner!  Yup!  That easy!"  Good luck with your decisions and hope you become a "loser" like us!  We'd love to have you in the group!

I have only told the people on my doctor's support group, my daughters and my husband.  I haven't even told my son.  I don't think I ever will tell anyone else.  I have only lost 46 lbs (including the 11 lbs. Ilost on the pre op liquid diet) in 8 months so most people haven't even noticed.  I have always gone up and down in weight so they are probably waiting for me to gain weight back.  I have no limits from my surgery so I can just "diet" when I am out.  Occasionally I have a piece of birthday cake or something so no one even suspects I had surgery.  Part of me wants to shout to diabetics to have it done because I watch them suffer and this surgery has cured my diabetes.  My old endocrinologist said I would never be able to get by without insulin.  I would love to go back and tell him how wonderful this is so he can recommend it to his patients.  I really don't want people to know.  take care, Linda

My name is Katy, and even though I live in Iowa, I am contributing to the Wisconsin forum as well as I am having my surgery at Gundersen Lutheran in La Crosse--Laparoscopic RNY. I respect those who have made the decision not to tell anyone, as it is a very personal thing.  The reactions to it are one of two ways that I have experienced.  Those who are extremely against it, and those who support your decision.  I have only had to defend my decision to a few people, and even then, I did not care what they thought.  They do not know what it is like to be me. I think those who are against it for the most part think we're going to die, which we all know is a possibility, but isn't it a possibility going on the way we are now, anyway?  Being born is the easy part.  Trying to stay alive is the hardest.  You never know what card you are going to be dealt at the beginning of everyday, so I say go for whatever you need to do to make YOUR life easier and more fullfilling and if you have to keep it a secret to do that, then do.  I hope no one minds that I am contributing to this forum.  Good Luck to those waiting for surgery and good luck to those who have already had it. ***Tara...How long have you lived in Merrill????  My parents and sister live there as well as all my aunts and uncles***

Thanks for understanding my position.  Maybe someday I will put my name or picture up but right now I feel it is important to keep it to myself.  LInda