Hey there!
I had my surgery on Dec 8th, 2014. I am sorry to hear you are surrounded by people you may feel are judgemental about such a thing. I was worried before my surgery about this but thankfully I had a friend that had it a year ago (part of reason I finally decided to do it) and I have picked her ear to death about everything! I have had good luck with letting others know about my surgery. Certainly I don't start conversations with it, but when people found out I had surgery I didn't hid what I did, and others who have asked how I have started loosing I have also not hid it. At first I felt like I had to give a 30 minute speech about having tried every kind of diet and excercise and why I finally decided on this surgery, but found it wasn't always necessary. I also found that almost everyone has a relative or close friend who has had the sleeve or another surgery done for weight loss. It is becoming more known and accepted. I was worried I would be judged by people who may think all I ate was butter and bon bons all day (not my diet at all but thought people would think that was how I ate) and had no willpower so I had to have surgery as a cop out instead of doing actual diet and exercise. Thankfully that is not the response I was getting from others and they have understood there is a real struggle for many, possibly a hereditary condition, and that this often is our only option for getting truly healthy. I am not looking to be a super model nor do I have a set weight that I have to be. I justwant to be healthy and happy. I hope you can find some great friends and support on here but also hope that you can find someone in your inner circle of friends who can support and be with you too, because it is rewarding! Good luck, you have made a good decision and we can all be there to help eachother through this time!