To tell or not to tell...

My surgeon's office said it's important to have a support system that is supportive of the surgery. I told the people necessary in my daily life. When we're at work, we take only one break (lunch) and we almost always eat IN the pharmacy. My parents and brothers are a part of my daily life, and I will need their help and support post-op. My son's father will have to keep him the whole weekend (and maybe longer) after my surgery, so he needed to know. My closest friends are a huge part of my life, and their support is really important to my success. Those are all the people I told about the surgery.

Who you tell is definitely up to you. If you're uncomfortable telling someone, then if I were you, I wouldn't tell that person more than you are comfortable with. They say to follow your instincts because they point you the right way.  Initially (before surgery) I only told my mom, my one sister, and a few friends. After surgery, I didn't really care who knew, but those who are still asking me about it, I tell them WHY I did it and what I still have to do with the surgery done and over with to be successful, and not just the fact that I had surgery to have my stomach smaller.  I've been very open and honest about it and have had a lot of support from those surrounding me.

I did make a facebook announcement about it, and had two people message me immediately afterwards. They were looking for support and to know that they were making a good choice, and that everything will turn out fine. I did my best to reassure them, and one of them ended up scheduling her surgery for a month later (she was already looking into it) and is very happy she had it done. Yesterday was her four week anniversary and she said she's so glad she messaged me and ultimately had the surgery. She said otherwise she never would have done it, so sometimes you can do good for someone else even when that's not what you're trying to do.

Sounds to me that quite a lot of people already know so I don't think you have to say anything more to anyone else unless you want to. Other people will ask, then if you feel up to it you can tell them then

I think it's already out there pretty much....for me...at the time of surgery,  my husband and youngest son were the only ones who knew about it.  About a week after,  I told my two other sons, and the reason for the wait was only that they are in the military and were unavailable at the time.  As it stands,  3 years 5 months later, they are still the only ones who know. I had tons of questions about how I was losing weight.....I feel I am just telling the truth.....low fat, low carb, high protein...no sweets, etc..... Sort of hard at times to keep it all together....to stay on track...I think if someone knew it would help challenge me to stay on track more.  I fall of the wagon from time to time.....and have regained a few......don't drink enough water, don't take my vitamins like I should......So I think if I had to do it over again....I'd tell others.  Hopefully they would be supportive and help me keep on track.   Good luck to you.

Thanks! I am definitely glad for the support. Everyone who knows holds me accountable for the decisions I make about food. I am definitely fine with the people I've told. I think I've decided to take it on a person by person basis.

At the end of the day you have to be happy with who you have told, but also be prepared for some negativity if it comes your way. I am the sort of person who doesn't take comments like "You're taking the easy way out" personally. I mean, how's the hard way worked for me so far?!

I can be a bit self absorbed with major decisions. I talk about them with my closest friends and then completely blank on mentioning it to others. I remember being really confused when all my friends at work were stunned when I resigned - I was like "haven't I been talking about moving overseas for MONTHS?!!!" - and I had, just not to them.

I probably wont tell any extra people on top of who already know I'm going to have the surgery. I just can't be bothered having the same conversation over and over. Everyone will ask how the surgery is done, how long I spent in hospital, how I felt, how much weight I have to lose, how much I eat, how quickly I lose weight, whether I feel weak/hungry, how long I think it'll take me to reach goal, how much it cost, how I got my hands on the funds, how long I'd been thinking of it ETC ETC... I really LOATHE having the same conversation even if it is with different people, so that's a reason I'd not mention it.