How Important is Support?

It's ten years out for me and last week I got together with the three people who knew--I kept my WLS a secret!  Can you imagine?  I did have my reasons- the first time I mentioned it to friends and family I was discouraged.  I took me two more years to get on that surgical table and I'm sure this happens to others. 

One thing that we need to do and this site encourages it - is to friend those in the early stages- in the  decision- making and pre-operative process.  Today I'm going to pass the word to five, and I'm hoping our grads can do the same.  

So very true! I love going to WLS support group meetings. I still learn something new every time. I like encouraging others and they actually help me remember how far I have come and help me get back on track.

I have been an open book, role model, whatever you want to call it for rny for 7plus years, hiding it is deceitful and never an option in my mind.  I still tell people all the time if they appear interested in wls.  I outted myself before I began so I could never fail, embarassment is the worst thing in the world to me, and being a failure is the wost type of embarassment, I would never eat again before I would be fat again.  Guaranteed.

It was people like you who got me through it. I did have WLS support in a group and through my immediate family. My choice was not to deceive but to create personal boundaries. I applaud those role models, now of course my life is an open book- especially for those in the WLS world and anyone who needs information.

 It never even occured to me not to share.

Myself, my spouse, mother in law, and sister in law are all altered.  We can't -- not share.  LOL.

Hi there!  I'm a psychologist and while I shared with very close family and friends I made the choice to not share with associates.  There was a reason- two years earlier I did share.  It was not a positive experience and it discouraged me.  I decided to begin anew and not discuss it- except with close friends and family.  My sisters and I all had WLS.  We went through the journey together.  Of course after I shared with others in the WLS world.  Thanks for your post!  LOL