To Tell or Not To Tell

So how about it? How forthcoming are you going to be about your surgery with people outside of your immediate family? Any thoughts on this yet? Personally, once the weight starts pouring off and people can really tell I've lost weight (and I've done that a hundred times), people start to ask me, "You look so good! How are you doing it???" I have decided that I am going to say, "Well, I don't know, I just sort of decided to attack the problem from all angles. So I'm doing a lot of different things, but I'm exercising regularly and eating a lot less!" I don't want to lie, and I think this covers me! -Eve One of my surgical staff said early on that generally when people first get this surgery they don't tell anyone, and then once the weight really starts coming off they're lifting up their shirts to show off the scars!

I absolutely will tell everyone! I told my boss to spread the word with the managers while I was gone. All I need is for people to know that I had surgery or some kind of medical leave and now am losing weight...they would all be thinking I am dying of cancer! LOL I am open, above board, honest to a fault sometimes, but could never live with a huge secret like that. Besides I am already trying to recruit a couple people and want them to use me as their guide or guinea pig so to speak. I am saddened by states like Florida who are giving the gastric by-pass the heave ho for insurance....but some states are making it mandatory to cover it, so hopefully one day, Obesity will be under control and other medical costs will decline because of it.

Hi Sally, On the Florida topic, I have a friend there who desperately wants to have this surgery so I've been doing some research for her. What I've found is that it isn't the state, it's just some of the insurers there - specifically Blue Cross/Blue Shield (who I think is notorious for not approving.) I haven't read anything about it being a state-wide decision. I think, like Rob mentioned, that if Virginia can get a mandate in place to forceably approve those who meet the criteria, then other states should be forced to get on board with that! It's only fair! This IS a disease! Grrrr! It just makes me so mad! -Eve

Eve, I've told everyone but in hindsight, I wished I hadn't. Everyone wishes me well of course but very few people, outside of my family and other obese people, can really understand what gets us to this point. Also, it would have been kind of fun to come back to work and let everyone see the weight coming off and speculate. I could of played a little joke on them. Aren't I bad? What you are saying is not a lie. And besides, it really is nobody's business but yours. One thing though, I doubt you have ever lost weight as fast and consistently as you will with this surgery. By the way, when is your surgery and what type are you having? C'mon, you can tell us! Caboose

"By the way, when is your surgery and what type are you having?" Huh? I had my surgery March 2nd! I'm way post-op, baby! I had lap RNY and I'm down 20 pounds in 26 days. I'm feeling really normal now, energetic and positive! -Eve Oh, and actually, in 2002 I went from 250 to 165 in 7 months! So I've definitely taken it off fast before! I was able to maintain it for about a year too. That's the kicker - I KNOW and clearly remember how amazing it feels to be thinner - and really confident - and my current weight ain't it! But I'm on my way.

Well Eve, As I mentioned in an earlier post somewhere this morning, I think I have early onset of Alheimer's!!! This proves it. For the benefit of us memory-less folks, maybe you can update your profile? Then I for one, wouldn't have to depend on my memory. Thanks hon.

Eve, we are all so used to looking at the "date" by everyone's name...and you don't have it...is that on purpose, or do you just not know where to update it? I will help you if you want to do it...just e-mail me. You may want to be a lady of mystery though and that's ok too....LOL

Wow, you know, I never noticed that the date didn't appear by my name! I always thought it did! I wasn't trying to be mysterious! Really! As for the profile, it's laziness on my part, but I'll see what I can do. -Eve

yea! Eve has a date by her name.....so much nicer....thanks...that is the FIRST thing I look at by someone's post, gives me an idea where they are at.

Eve, I have a personal policy about not doing anything that I wouldn't share with the world. It just makes my life so much easier. I never have to remember who I told what to or hope that people don't find out. When I was fighting for insurance approval, I didn't talk about it a lot with friends and co-workers because it was a very negative process. After I was approved and scheduled for surgery I went ahead and announced it to my staff. The biggest reason I did was because I have one guy who is like Chicken Little. If he had seen me losing weight quickly, he would have been all over the place speculating on my imminent demise from cancer or AIDS. I'm not at all ashamed that I had this surgery. I know the reasons for my obesity and they have nothing to do with a character flaw, lack of will power or being a glutton. Probably all of us had a bad roll of the genetic dice, we produce too much of the hormone Gherlin and it sets us up for failure in the weight loss arena. If I'm asked, I'm tellin'. Connie