Did anyone here divulge at work that they had a lap band?

[mrsto 2,925]

I'm having surgery next month. I have been very open with my co-workers. I work in a small 911 communications center and we are all pretty open with one another. 2 of the other supervisors I work with had the surgery last year and have really inspired me to do it. They have done great with it and has been very open with me about their journey. I guess the only person that suprised me was my mother (we are very close). I even took her to a seminar and she doesn't like the idea of me having it and the band being inside my body for the rest of my life. She keeps telling me how I could do it on my own with diet and excercise. I appreciate her honesty about it, but I'm going ahead with the surgery. I know what's best for me. I think she'll come around when I start losing weight.

Most people who do not have true weight issues, do not understand why we would do something so extreme over "simple" diet and exercise. I'm guessing that your mom is truly concerned for her child; surgery, foreign implanted device, etc. Sometimes it's hard to differentiate concern over judgement. I think you're right.....she will come around when she sees you becoming a much healthier...you

[mrsto 2,925]

I did. I am not ashamed of having this procedure. I work in the hospital emergency room and I know of 3 people that have had lapbands. I found out that my Boss had Gastric Bypass 3 years ago and I never would have guessed, except by her eating habits I kind of suspected.

It's amazing what we learn when we open ourselves up. WLS is a common/popular option in this day & age, and when I mention it to various people, I also hear that they've got friends or family who had it done. As a matter of fact, when I mentioned WLS surgery to one of my old co-workers, she said that her mom had it & lost a lot of weight. That conversation was a turning point in my decision to move forward with the band.

[bamamom911 26]

Most people who do not have true weight issues, do not understand why we would do something so extreme over "simple" diet and exercise. I'm guessing that your mom is truly concerned for her child; surgery, foreign implanted device, etc. Sometimes it's hard to differentiate concern over judgement. I think you're right.....she will come around when she sees you becoming a much healthier...you

Thanks MRSINTO, thing is, she's also struggled with her weight all my life pretty much. That's why I said she suprised me, I thought she would've been more understanding. But I guess being a mom myself I do understand her concern.

[errikadb 16]

I tell anyone who asks. I'm a nursing director and know many people in the hospital. Many people who want to lose weight as well. I figure that lap band is something new to a lot of people and some are afraid of it. I feel if I can be able to give information and be a motivator for weight loss with the lap band or in general it's a good thing. Everyone always has all sorts of questions for me and one of my staff members is having the procedure next week. I'm proud of her and my staff is proud of me. I also use it as a drive not to fail as well.

[teeney66 7]

Thank you everyone. I am 3 days away!! My job involves entertaining clients; I am in hotel sales. Maybe that's why I am as heavy as I am. I guess I'm having water!