I remember once when I had to go in for surgery. I am a very private person and reserved too . I do not tell anyone anything whether it be surgery, health issues, holidays, work problems etc. So did not tell anyone but unfortuantely the cong was having a send-off for someone and we had to let one elder know that we wont be there .He pried and we had to mention my surgery. Immediately he wanted to help with the HLC.We refused coz we would not need it, ad that we had already met with the docs, shared ou rbeliefs plus the surgery would not require anything to do with blood. He was a little suspicious that we were like cutting them off completely and did not like it at all.
We did not lie, blood would not be an issue unless the doctor made a huge mistake,and cut a major artery ! so no point in considering this at all, it was a very minor surgery in the mouth (ha, ha,)
My point being we cut them off. Other times I have had surgery , never told a soul. So no queries , no interference, no visits , no drama;(no blood issue anyway) We did it our way.
Not that I fear them but that I am a private person, so people need to respect boundaries.
Peace