Did you tell your co-workers and friends you had surgery?

Personally, I told everyone.  I didnt want it to be awkward so I figured I'd get in front of it.  And I really believe that anything I interpretted as "judgemental" was more likely my insecurity.  People were really good.....always well-intentioned.  Even now, when tangent people ask about my weight loss, I tell them.  Id rather just get it out and let it be over.

i went back to work 6 days ( office job....no physical aspect at all) after RNY.  I had an unusually positive cir****tance with my surgery..... Felt almost no pain or discomfort from the moment I got to  my recovery room.  I know thats not everyone's experience, but it does happen. 

i only told my boss that i was having surgery; i did not offer details and she, although concerned for me, respected my privacy and didn't ask what kind of surgery i was going to have. after a fairly negative reaction from a friend when i told her i was planning to have the surgery, i decided to mostly keep the information to myself. we are all entitled to our privacy, after all. that said, i'm sure that my coworkers will figure it out when i come back to work after three weeks off and my body starts changing. i am comfortable with that; they can think what they want about what i may or may not have done. for me this is a personal decision that i have chosen to share with only those closest to me. anyone else's opinions or thoughts simply don't make a difference to me. and i say that in the most positive way, i truly did this for myself and myself only.  

Thank you all for taking the time to reply and share your opinions. I see both sides of it and I really appreciate your help and advice. I am hoping I can go without talking about much until after surgery is complete. I will be honest with everybody, which is important to me and important to my line of work even though this is personal information. I would rather not lie. I appreciate everybody helping me decide what to do.

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Nate,

  I told my mother, one sister of my four sisters and my boss I was considering the surgery.  I told my mother, boss and all of my sisters when I had a surgery date planned and then told a couple of close co-workers.  I had been losing weight for a couple of months prior to that and did it rather quickly.  The employees under me I told the day before surgery that I was having it the next day.  They needed to know why I was going to be out so long.  There will be naysayers and some that think just losing it on your own is the best way.  Obesity is a disease and unless people struggle with it they just don't understand it.

 As for how long I was out of work; I was out 6 weeks.  That was because I was not allowed back on light duty.  

 You ultimately have to do what you are most comfortable with.  I personally don't care what others think, so I am straight forward about having the surgery.  I know this was the best choice for me and I do not regret it. 

Best of luck with you and your surgery   

Mine is a bit of a complex story.

So I was working one job when I actually had surgery. I'd worked there forever and two days and, yes, I told everyone. And everyone was SUPER encouraging.

Then, when I was three months post-op I got another job, my DREAM job (I'm a professional writer) and I did things a bit differently. I had no intentions of keeping it a secret BUT I didn't want that to be the very first thing I said about myself.

But life had other plans.

My very first day on the job my entire team took me out for a welcome lunch at a local restaurant known for it's huge portions. There was no faking my way through that meal! I'd be full in two bites and if I didn't say anything I'd either have to fake being sick or seem ungrateful for the meal. So I pulled my supervisor aside and told her. Then at lunch I told my other close co-workers. They all appreciated the knowledge but then went on about their business. Nobody's ever made a big deal of it. 

Now I'm nearly 8 years post-op and I sort of "pass for normal." The amount I can eat doesn't raise eyebrows (partly because I can eat more, partly because I know how to order food in portions I can manage) and my weight has been stable for years. So new folks coming in I don't HAVE to tell them because it's just not that relevant anymore.

All my friends and family knew. They've given me nothing but love and support.