Lets talk about how some feel embarrassment, shame, and keep surgery a...

I haven't told anyone in my family specifically about my RNY because I just don't talk to people about medical stuff. Most wouldn't understand or would only want to have a gossip topic. I don't like people worrying about me anyway. My Dad & Paw were told about me coming out of surgery but I don't think they understood anything the doc said so it's not discussed. I've been dieting on & off since I was young so weight loss isn't new. I have outright told 1 person though.... a neighbor. She became a friend when I moved here (from another state) before surgery. She's also had RNY surgery which we often talked about anyway since I had started my 6 month classes that insurance required so we connected on that level. My sole reason for not telling family or old friends from back home is because I will not tolerate any negativity from anyone. I feel liberated since finally doing something to better my health.... helping myself.

I felt like explaining WLS to every person who kept asking me how I lost weight would be a mind numbingly boring use of my time, and I really did not want to do it. If someone who could benefit from surgery asked, I answered any question, but otherwise, I would just say I was working with a medical team to lose weight, and let them draw whatever conclusion they wanted. When asked how much weight I had lost, I would say, a lot. If pressed, I would say, I'm not comfortable saying. I was happy when the intense attention over my weight loss died down. Shame or embarrassment were not factors. In fact, I was pretty pleased with myself for being brave enough to have surgery. :)

I agree with a lot of others. My surgery was 11 years ago, most people don't even remember me fat. I would never go up to someone and say "Hey let me tell you about this way to lose weight...I had it."

Two main reasons.

1) TV is NOTHING but ugly and horrid reality shows like 600 lb life family by the tons, etc. People love to post pictures of fat people on at Walmart on You Tube or what not. What I was like 10 years ago and WHY I was overweight is my personal business.

2) Now if I was in my bariatric surgeons office or talking with an intelligent educated person who had question about WLS, then yes, I have occasionally told them my story. When I was in the Hospital and they ask you all the surgeries you have I've mentioned I had the RNY and they would go "Why? You're not fat"...Well no, I'm not now dumb ass. Also even Doctors/Nurses etc can be biased. "Oh you just suddenly got adult onset seizures because you had WLS 9 years ago" or..."Oh, we can't figure you why you have dementia and reactive hypoglycemia and other health problems...It's probably because you had WLS 11 years ago." Yes, they really say that ****

And that is why I think a lot of people keep stuff to themselves or very carefully choose whom to tell.

Warmly,

Jackie