Just shoot him an email and say "Hey, just wanted to thank you for everything you did regarding my doctor's appointments and stuff and I just wanted to let you know I'm having major intenstinal surgery on [insert date here]. My mom (or whoever) will be driving me there and picking me up but I just wanted to thank you properly for all of your help. Have a great life!"

Then thats it. If he responds then just be totally polite. No big deal, I'm sure he'll appreciate you telling him and if you do it through email then he wont feel pressured to show sympathy or offer his help or do anything else he may not want to actually do.

Good luck!

"Don't fall for someone who's not willing to catch you"

If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't.

No. Do not contact him. If he cares about you and is concerned about your health, he'll call you and ask you how things are going.

i just wonder if you are using the surgery as like an excuse to call him to see if things will rekindle? i mean yeah if you guys were casual friends then sure but if you really haven't talked to him in five months it mite seem kinda shady. good luck w/ surgery though

if deep down you aren't really hoping this would be a chance to rekindle your relatioship, then i recommend following fallen's advice. a short simple email with the information and a thanks is suffice. if, however, deep down you are hoping this will set up a reconciliation, then i recommend not contacting him. it might not turn out like you want it to and you have enough on your plate then to deal with that.

If the reasons mentioned above are why you would like to let him know, then no. Don't contact him.

post it on facebook, and call it a day

just joking. as long as you feel like he'd respond favorably to a simple email, do so. if not, just let him hear it through the grapevine.

I probably wouldn't tell him. The only way I'd tell him is if you remained good friends after the break up. That doesn't seem to be your case. If he contacts you before your surgery, I'd tell him. I wouldn't make a special call just to tell him, especially since you're not close anymore.

I don't really see why he would need to know. IF things are done between you two, then they are done. Yes, he was once your support system, but he isn't any longer. Reach out to other people for support like friends and family. I see no reason why you would need to call him.

Honestly, I wouldn't say anything until after the surgery. Email him and say, "I just wanted to let you know that I finally went through with the surgery and everything worked out. I really did appreciate all your support and help with doctors appointments and such. Hopefully I won't need to do that all again for a while. Hope things are going well for you."

I probably wouldn't. Like Luisa said, if he cared about your health then he'd keep in touch, especially given how involved he was with your condition before. I think putting on Facebook or Myspace, if that's a way he might get the news, is a good idea. If he finds out and wants to see how you're doing, he'll get in touch. But otherwise I say to just move on.

It depends on how you left the breakup really...you didn't put in much detail about how it went down and why you actually haven't really spoken to each other. If the breakup went poorly then no, I wouldn't worry about it.

But 5 Years? That's a really long time to be with someone and if (like others said, you are not trying to rekindle) then I would certainly let him know that you really appreciated his help and that you are going to have it 'at this date') Not to meniton he could be hurt if you don't tell him and he finds out later...i know I would!

OH, and good luck with your surgery dear!

I agree that you are using this as a reason to get back into contact with him. You have not had any contact since the break-up and if he truly cared he would call or e-mail you to find out how you are doing. Yes, he was a support system in the past now it is time to lean on friends and family that are with you through thick and thin not someone that is just going to be around every once in a while.

since you haven't been communicating with him, then the answer is no. i'm not sure why you would want ot tell him. if he was concerned about your condition he would be asking you. you're broken up, unless you agreed to be friends (although it sounds like you didn't) you shouldn't be contacting him.

get the support of your friends and family. if he contacts you on his own to catch up, by all means tell him---just don't expect him to be your biggest supporter.

good luck with the surgery.

I wouldn't contact him. Sounds like you guys have not maintained any type of relationship after the break-up and I totally understand how difficult it is to not inform him because he was such a big part of your life for 5 years ! But if he truly was concerned about your condition, he would have already contacted you to see how you were doing. I'm sure he still does care about you (how can he not ??) but he's not tried to ask to see how you were doing for the past few months and I think that says a lot too. Maybe you're using the surgery as an excuse to try and contact him ? Whatever you decide to do, I hope everything turns out well for you and I hope your surgery goes well ! Good luck

I don't think you should. You're not together anymore. Unless the breakup was amicable and you are close friends now, save yourself the added stress.

if he was really concerned he'd probably call u for a follow up. theres absolutely no need for u to call him. no matter what he'll see it as u wanting pity and comfort from him.

I wouldn't say anything. If you're not together and don't want to be there is no need for him to know and worry about you. It might bring up old feelings and confuse both of you.

I would say no. I don't understand why you would...but I did like TidalWave's suggestion of telling him AFTER the surgery. Then you are clearly not asking for anything, just thanking him and moving on.

I'm with the first post. Let him know in an email. I definately understand that you want him to know. Sugery is a big and scarry thing, and if it would make you more comfortable for him to know, then tell him! And good luck with the sugery.

I would have given the exact same advice as TidalWave:
'Honestly, I wouldn't say anything until after the surgery. Email him and say, "I just wanted to let you know that I finally went through with the surgery and everything worked out. I really did appreciate all your support and help with doctors appointments and such. Hopefully I won't need to do that all again for a while. Hope things are going well for you."'
That way, it's not an open invitation to reply, just an update.

Don't do it!!! My experience: I told my ex I had melanoma (after the surgery, when he contacted me to "catch up" after what sounds exactly like your situation, no talking after exchanging stuff) and he was concerned for all of 2 seconds and then turned the attention back to how awesome his life was now that I am out of it. *headdesk* I decided then never to bother talking to him or humoring him with small-talk again. He's an ex for a reason, honey, you don't need the crap of emotions while you're trying to have surgery and heal your body. You need GOOD energy and POSITIVE people in your life.

*hugs* Good luck!!!

I don't know what you should do, but I just want to say good luck with the surgery. I hope you have a speedy recovery!!

Nah, don't bother. You guys have moved on with your lives, so if you ever see him again and he asks what's new, you might tell him then. Other than that, it seems rather futile to tell him about the surgery unless there's an ulterior motive like you want to see him again or want to get in contact with him, again.

don't do it, if you've broken up and have moved on, it will just seem like you want to see if there is any hope of getting back together. when you've split with someone and you think you'll want to call them (for a subconscious 'what if' dream) then delete their details from your phone, once it's over, it's over. tell those who are still in your life, not someone who's not a part of it. he knows you were ill so if he wants to find out how you are, he'll get in touch with you.
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Find something good in every day.
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Actually, it does look like you're trying to use this to get back with him. Let it go and focus on your health.

I wouldn't tell him...because it does seem like you're using as a ploy to talk to him again. If strangers can see that, then I'm sure he will.

No don't contact him. You might not like what he will say to you & the relationship is over. 5 years is a long time & I am sure you still think of him & miss him being around. This goes with a break up. Good luck with your surgery. Your friends & family will be your support systems.