To Make An Announcement ----- Or Not???

Hi everybody. I am scheduled for surgery on October 17th. I've known people before who had weight loss surgery but only decided to tell a few people close to them (not me). And it always leaves everybody wondering whether the person had surgery... or what they did to lose the weight. I decided a while ago that I wasn't going to hide my surgery. I am not ashamed to be taking this very brave step towards being a healthy person, a better mom, a better wife. I have nothing to hide. So this left me wondering if I should go ahead and make a public announcement about it on facebook.... or if that's still not a good move? I have a lot of family on there so in that sense it would be perfect for telling everybody all at once. But I also have friends... old ones that I'm not particularly close to, as well as the ones who already know about my decision anyway.

I'm looking to talk to anyone who has made such an announcement on social media... how'd it go for you?

Anyone who thinks this is a good idea, and why? Or a bad idea, and why not?

Thank you all for your continued support on this journey!!!

I'm not a 'public announcement' kind of person but when I said something in a FB post about not being able to eat solid food someone asked why and I answered honestly.  It was after the surgery was done, I chose to tell very few people prior to the surgery because I didn't want to deal with drama queens telling me their friend of a friend of a friend horror stories.

This is YOUR journey so YOU have to decided how to do it!!! In MY journey I waited till now 5 months out to tell people unless asked ... In no way shape or form am  I ashamed at all!!! It's  tough road to  go down making the decision to better my life. i had a rough time in the beginnings and didn't feel like dealing with ignorance ..a few people ask me why I was taking the easy way out... but NEVER was I ashamed....

Kelly

I did not share my surgery prior to surgery with anyone that didn't need to know in case I died on the operating table.  So I told my partners, my parents, my three best friends, and my brother.  (I also told my voice teacher, since my surgery was going to impact my work with her.)  I didn't need ANY negativity pre-op.

Post-op was a different story.  If it has come up in conversation, I'll share that I've had WLS.  But, for a while, I was really struggling with sharing it on Facebook.  I didn't want to be seen as bragging or anything.  Know what I mean?  

I finally did post on Facebook.  Here's the post I made -- http://myvsg.livejournal.com/68064.html

Here are the replies I got -- http://myvsg.livejournal.com/68354.html

Everyone was SUPER awesome.  :D  But, yeah, I'm glad I didn't share it pre-op.  I didn't need anyone concern trolling me and trying to talk me out of it with their horror stories about "someone DIED!!!"  Etc.  Or anyone saying, "well have you tried diet and exercise?"  Since I probably would have unfriended anyone who did that!   

Thankyou so much for sharing those with me!!!! That's some amazing positive feedback you got there!!!

I see what you are saying about waiting until surgery is DONE to tell people.... I'm going to consider that.

You're welcome!  I'm a sharer, so I was seriously driving myself crazy having this awesome exciting news that I wanted to share with my friends and feeling like I couldn't.  It was maddening!  I'm so glad I finally "came clean."  It was such a relief and my friends have been super awesome.  

I blasted my decision out there. I would say my experience has been totally positive. Yes, I have had 1 or 2 people with the friend of a friend, or "Can't you do this on your own?" type of deal, but I must say for me at least it was very minimal. Most folks know this has been a life long struggle for me and that I have lost family members to obesity. Many are happy as all get out for me, like most some are concerned with the procedure itself but that's to be expected. I know it isn't like this for everyone, but for me it was a positive experience with no regrets.

I never made an official announcement on social media. But everyone who was part of my daily life knew - I never withheld that info and even proactively told people. 

Facebook - there's too many variables at play. But I posted a lot of progress/after pics so it wasn't a secret. 

I probably won't announce it, but if people ask me how I'm losing weight I will definitely be honest with them. I work with 25 physicist's and I'm sure they will notice something, but you know men they won't ask. Do what you feel is right for you.

IMHO I didn't  put it on Facebook but if someone who was wondering how did I lose the weight and they was obese I have no problem sharing the surgery that saved my life....its a personal choice its all up to you.