surgery secret

I didn't reveal my surgery to the people that I work with. It is none of their business. Besides I don't want people watching what I eat all the time. And the weight doesn't just fall off overnight. It takes a while.

I said to my boss that I was having a medically necessary surgery. Turned in my form and returned 3 weeks later. A few people will ask me what I am doing, and I tell them the truth that I am eating less and working out more.

Its your body and your business.

This has been an interesting post to read.  I'm an open book and while I didn't send out a company or department email, I told my boss, co-workers and friends at work. 

Yes, I heard opinions and 'horror stories' too, but I listened and nodded appropriately and said, "Really? That's rare statisically but there's risks with every surgery."

Will it get around? Probably... but to lie about it wasn't an option.  First, I'm not a liar and couldn't live with such a big lie to everyone I work with everyday!  I couldn't decieve everyone, including those that are trying to loose weight 'traditionally'.  You're 'eating less and excercing more?' as your explaination to your rapid weight loss?  That seems so rude and pretentious if you ask me! Because others will be trying the same and won't lose as you do and so you've just set them up for failure.

Yes, it's your business and no one else's... but most will figure it out anyway as the typical WLS is rapid and excessive weight loss for anything other than disease or WLS.

"Will it get around? Probably... but to lie about it wasn't an option.  First, I'm not a liar and couldn't live with such a big lie to everyone I work with everyday!  I couldn't decieve everyone, including those that are trying to loose weight 'traditionally'.  You're 'eating less and excercing more?' as your explaination to your rapid weight loss?  That seems so rude and pretentious if you ask me! Because others will be trying the same and won't lose as you do and so you've just set them up for failure."

The fact that some of us prefer not to discuss our private business  with others does not make us "so rude and pretentious".  You chose to tell everyone, that worked for you, that is fine.  Others prefer to not disclose their medical procedures with others and that is also fine.  Keeping your business to yourself does not make you a liar.  I personally find your holier than thou attitude "rude and pretentious".

Tell them that you are having stomach surgery and you would rather not talk about it. Both are true. If they continue to ask, well then look at them like they are a bug and repeat "I would prefer not to talk about it." At that point they are just being rude.  People are going to talk about you being out and they will speculate about what, exactly, that you are having done. But get used to that. They are going to talk about you when you start loosing weight too. At that point you should decide if you tell them or not because the speculation will most likely turn to talk of cancer and death.

As my surgery approaches, I’ve also been contemplating how to handle this. Good feedback given here.   I think I’ll tell my boss that I’m having surgery to repair my hiatal hernia which is partially true. I had told him before about my chest pains and being diagnosed with GERD - so the stage has been set.   I will not be sharing my WLS with co-workers because I don’t generally share that level of personal information. They will notice, of course, that I’ve lost weight “again" and I’ll say that I’m back to healthy eating, portion control, exercise, and very proudly hiking. They’ll say “atta girl" and some may wonder to themselves if I’ll lose as much as the last time and how long I’ll keep it off. The beauty is that I won’t be secretly wondering the same thing because this time I’ll have the tools to make it work for good and I suspect that this forum could play a big part.

I just had the sleeve surgery 2-2-2010, I told everyone at work that I was going to do ths.  I am still off work at this moment. 

Everyone but two co workers were supportative.  These two were afraid, I would die, to many horror stories going around.

I want and need the support, I don't want co workers bringing in treats and offering them to me.

This decision was hard enough.  I had another co worker who had the sleeve and didn't tell anyone, but with her weight loss you could tell she did something.