Questions from friends after surgery?

Hi all. I am very new to the site and I am 12 days into recovery after a hyst. My question is, I don't really want everyone and their brother to know about this surgery. How do I say politely when asked what kind of surgery I had, "it's not really your business"? I am really not a rude person, but I feel so sad and emotional. This is really difficult, more difficult than I ever thought. Is there a polite way to avoid all the questions? Sorry I seem so short, but I feel like no one that I have talked to in the past 14 days has a clue about what I am going through- except for you all. T

Hi Tinco and

As time goes on, you will have to field fewer answers about "your surgery" because people won't even be aware that you had it since you will no longer be recovering and instead will be back to "life as usual."

In the meantime, you may want to answer, "What surgery did you have?" in a vague manner such as, "It was exploratory and everything turned out to be benign" or some such thing. For most people, that type of answer will "shut the door" particularly if you change the subject immediately afterwards.

Best wishes for a continued good recovery!

s,

Excellent answer, Carmen. I'll be going back to work in a few weeks, and I'm sure I'll get lots of questions from folks I don't know all that well. Your response is exactly right.

Hi Tinco

Another good answer, especially for men, is that it was girlie stuff. It usually makes them change the subject quicker than you can say hysterectomy!

Katy

Depends who is asking doesn't it? Say a stomach problem, female problem, or just plain out.....hysterectomy.

I had surgery same day as you. At first I was really mad when a distant family memebers asked me about surgery. I felt like my family should have not told anyone. It was very personal to me. Now I am getting a little more comfortable saying I had a hysterectomy but still it is not somehting I want to say. I say time people will forget and I won't have to explain like now.

i have also said exploratory surgery, but everything is fine, or I've just said for fibroids w/out giving details or just 'female stuff'. people seem to have accepted all those answers and not pressed it.

I have to agree that "female stuff" usually stops the conversation!