What do you say to someone who is misinformed or against surgery?

I have finally decided to have Weight Loss Surgery and improve my quality of life for the better! I am very excited that I have made this decision. I haven't told many people and I know I will come across some negative people and I would like to know what to say and how to really handle them. I mean, I am not going to shout it from the rooftops, but I would like to prepare myself. I know it's no ones business but mine, but I also want to help educate those around me (including myself).

Thank you for your feedback, everyone has been helpful!

I did not tell people until I lost the weight and they asked me how I did it. That way they could not tell me that the surgery was not going to work.

I do not bother correcting ignorant people. If they tell me I took the easy way out, I just agree with them. As far as educating yourself, read the book, Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies.

It will answer all of your questions. If a person sincerely wants more information, I would just direct them to that book.

Never thought of not saying anything entirely, for that reason and I am thinking I may go that route! I guess it runs parallel with "better/easier to ask for forgiveness than permission", even though I don't need anyone's permission.

Thank you for the book recommendation. I will take a look on Amazon so I don't have to go out!

Remember that you are not compelled to tell anyone about... well... anything about your personal life. Medical stuff is about as personal as things get.

If you have not educated yourself on WLS then how can you have made an informed decision to have it?

Before you decide anything you have to understand every aspect of the various surgical options available. You need to know the good and the bad. Especially the bad. You need to know what is expected of you. You need to understand the complications. You need to understand the eating plans, why those are the eating plans, can you eat those plans for the rest of your life. Honestly. You need to read the horror stories and contemplate what you would do in those situations. Then you need to do it again.

Once you've done all this, you are ready to decide IF surgery is for you, and which surgery is for you.

Then educating others that you choose to involve will be a piece of cake. An people will still be opposed to WLS, many of them for very good reasons. Reasons you should have already considered.

It's very tempting to become evangelical about WLS. But, you need to remember that you weren't ready to hear about it until you were ready to hear about it. Wait for people to ask you.

Good luck,

Tek

Thank you, you bring up ALL, very valid points. Yeah, I can agree that I wasn't ready to hear about weight loss options until I was ready and made the steps on my own. Hoping I don't get cold feet. Thanks for your input.

Congratulations on making your decision. If you come across someone who either doesn't "believe" in WLS or doesn't think you need it, or say anything negative, simply thank them and tell that you appreciate their concern. If they ask you questions, answer them truthfully and try to educate them. Some will listen and some simply won't. Then tell them that THEY shouldn't have WLS.

Thank you! I have a feeling I will come a cross a few of those people and it will feel so gratifying to tell them to **** off... haha.

I only told my family and a few close friends when I was pre-surgery and for several months after surgery. I'm more open about it now, but I still don't tell everyone. However, at this point, almost everyone has either already seen me at a normal weight or never knew me when I was obese, so it only comes up a couple of times a year. Whether or not I'm honest about how I did it depends on the person. Like others have said, medical information is personal, so it's your choice whether to tell people or not. They have no more right to know that than they do your colonoscopy results.

I can't wait to be at a time in my life when someone doesn't know me as "fat"

I would tell them it was a medical decision I made together wit my physician.