thewellkeptwoman

I don't think I'll have to worry about not having enough. I'll accrue 8 more hours between now and my surgery, and possibly 8 more during my leave. Ok, I'm good now.

Unpaid?!? Screw that. I'll use my sick leave.

I’ve done all of my pre-op stuff (I’ll be starting the diet on October 31), and my surgery date is scheduled for November 14. I’ve been keeping my boss up-to-date on my appointments, and I’ve been saving all of my sick leave (currently up to 157.75 hours, with 0.25 hours of comp time, and 58 hours of annual leave). I only expected at least two weeks off, and some change. When I call the hospital to make sure before I put the leave in the system, the nurse said that she would like me to take 4 weeks off! Whoa! Not that I mind having 4 weeks away from some of the idiots that I encounter on a daily basis, but has anyone else been told that they need this much time off. I know I don’t HAVE to take the whole 4 weeks off, but I’m so tempted. The boss said that it would be totally ok, I just need to invoke the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) so I can use my annual leave and comp time with my sick leave. Has anyone else had to use their FMLA as well? Or does anyone else have an experience like mine?

I have mine on November 18. What got me qualified was the sleep apnea. I get the “you’re not fat” comments too. "Um, I’m shopping in the Women’s department and I had to get my wedding dress from the onestopplus website, HEEEELLLLOOOOO?!?" I tried to keep it a secret at work, except for telling one person who has already had the sleeve surgery done. But I forgot what a big mouth she had, and all the naysayers came out of the woodwork. Well, only a couple, maybe. All the rest were really supportive and I found that quite a few people at work have had bariatric surgery (but they told the boss they were taking leave due to “abdominal issues”.)

I've been going to places like Sprouts (formerly Sun Harvest) and Whole Foods Market to get the single-serving packs of various shakes, so I won't have to waste money and commit to a whole container. My most favorite one was Garden of Life Raw Protein - Real Raw vanilla. I had it with SO Delicious Coconut Milk (Original) (one of the employees suggested that the taste would be better). I also put a little packet of Starbucks instant decaf coffee...and WOW! It was sooooo goooooood! NO aftertaste at all. It was like having a Frapuccino! The only issue I have is that the coconut milk and the single serving of the mix altogether had a total protein of 18 grams, and a total of 11 of carbs. Carbs should be under 30 grams (I think?). 3 shakes a day will put me 3 grams over, but it has 3 grams of fiber...so will that make a difference? But the mix does have a lot of other good stuff, like Vitamins A, D, E, and K, and Probiotics and enzymes. And NO JUNK! I'm probably going to have to get different flavors of the same product and test them out too. I'm not too keen on chocolate and strawberry flavored Protein Shakes, but I have a feeling that if I stick to the same brand, I'll like them just as much as the Vanilla. I'll have to e-mail the nutritionist. It's just that I finally found a protein shake mix that agrees with me...

Do what is right for you. I just found that half of my co-workers have had some sort of bariatric procedure done. The one closest to me told me that I should go ahead and get a RNY becuase everyone else tried the VSG and Lap-Band and ended up having to get a revision. That is probably why his wife got one right off the bat (although I think she would have done just fine with a VSG because her BMI was a couple of points higher than mine). I just don't want any of the issues that come with RNY such as the very rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. I see VSG as more of a tool and not a cure-all. My main problem is not being satsified when I have a meal; after researching which surgery was right for me, I decided that VSG, as opposed to Lap-Band was the way to go. I'm pretty sure that I could have gotten a Lap-Band, but I don't like having any kind of devices in my body.

I was looking at cosmetic surgery websites for before/after pics of others who have loose skin issues after weight loss surgery. In SOME, I saw a FUPA...Fat Upper Pelvic Area...and was afraid that is what I'm going to be left with after all is said and done! I'm sorry, but that s**t is scary. I can handle the saggy boobs, but not that! I think I'll be setting some money aside in case I need some FUPA removal.

I estimate that I'll have the surgery sometime in Nov-Dec 2012. I just started my 3-month supervised weight loss, and my last appointment for that is in October. Ideally, I want the surgery in December, so I won't have to miss any classes.

I’m in San Antonio! Doing my pre-op process. Insurance approved, did sleep study (which was what qualified me), had the psych appointment. Have to see the nutritionist tomorrow, then start the 3-month supervised weight loss.