I am having surgery on July 31 with Dr. Alvarez in Piedras Negras. I haven't told my boss anything about it. I'm struggling with 2 options-not telling him anything or telling him the whole story. He is a general surgeon and I'm sure he will have a problem with me going to Mexico for surgery. I've also thought about just telling him I was flying to Texas for it....not a lie. My only problem with not telling him anything is that I would need more time off when I get home. How many days did everyone need off from work postop? Any advice is appreciated.

Hi congrads on your decision to have the VSG. I did not tell my boss what I was doing. I felt that the less that knew the better for me. I probably could of went back to work after a couple weeks but I chose to take three months off. I do know that you should not be lifting anything heavy for at least a few weeks. Hopefully that helped.

I had surgery on Tuesday and returned to work the following Thursday, I could have gone back earlier as I don't have a strenuos job, but I felt I need the time and it helped as I would tire easily during the day and the naps helped.

Brenda

I am a nurse in an outpatient oncology clinic. There are only two people in my office who know about my upcoming surgery. Pretty much the whole office knows about my daughter (nurse_ally), but these two are sworn to secrecy and I am sure I can trust them. I just don't want to have to explain or discuss any of this before the event. I am not ashamed or anything like that, I just don't want to discuss it. Afterwards, when (not if) it becomes noticable that I am losing weight, I may tell them. The way I look at it, it really is my personal business and I am not required to tell all to everyone.

Allison was sleeved on 7-1-10 by Dr. Aceves, and she is scheduled to go back to work Sat night 7-10. I think she feels good enough although she is just a little tender. I am taking off just two days more than she did. I think that should be plenty unless you have a really physical job. Good luck!!

Only 2 people know about my surgery-my mom and my best girlfriend. Everybody else is getting told I had a hiatial hernia repair, if they figure out that I've had a surgery at all, that is. To everyone else, I'm just on a diet. I'll be traveling for work at 4 weeks out--but I've seen people post and say they went back to work in a week or less. I feel like I could go back to work today (2nd day out) but since I'm a teacher and it's summer, there's no one there to teach lol, so I get a few weeks whether I want them or not. I am definitely not telling my boss or any co-workers. It's just none of their business--I don't want to be local sideshow attraction!

I've told my boss and been very open about it with my co-workers (most of which are super mega "omg eat a damn cookie" skinny Taiwanese folks) b/c I'm not good at coming up with a cover story. Haha. And I don't want to feel ashamed anymore or at all. They can't relate to me at all but it's ok.

But on the time off issue my surgeon told me one week would be plenty of time (this made me happy...I don't want to use up all my vacation time sitting at home/the hospital haha). I'm a teacher and am on my feet most of the day but I just told my boss she may see me sitting down more in the classroom a little bit more when I come back post op. But in the end you gotta take off what you feel is best for you and your body. If your a slow healer or have a strenuous job go ahead and take the extra time:thumbup1:

I just told them I had stomach problems and I had to have surgery. It wasn't a lie, but I didn't have to go over the whole surgery and reasons behind it.

I am having surgery on July 31 with Dr. Alvarez in Piedras Negras. He is a general surgeon and I'm sure he will have a problem with me going to Mexico for surgery.

I found this site today! What a great site!! By the way, the only people know that I am getting operated on are my doctor and my wife. I weigh 253 lbs , height 5'9 with a BMI of 37 (Male) so I am going to tell them that I decided to eat less and drop the weight.

I am going to do the sleeve in mid September. I am very excited about it. I live in South America and unfortunately my insurance here does not cover it as it does in the US. It will cost $5,000. The doctor that is operating on me is well known in the area and has performed and taught courses on sleeve operations so I feel good about the situation.

Speaking of costs, how much does the sleeve cost in Mexico?

Really excited to be thin and buy normal clothes!

I didn't tell anybody at work except my immediate staff (2 people). I took vacation time instead of sick leave from work (1-1/2 weeks). And because I'm a lightweight I've lost the weight slowly enough that nobody has really noticed. A couple of people have noticed me eating less and I just said I was dieting and that was the end of it.

I am glad the people I work with are very supportive. I am a brutally honest person and so it didnt even occur to me to not tell people. I am getting sleeved on the 30th. I can say that people have been curious but the only person who had to tell me about someone they new who had WLS and had terrible problems was someone who's opinion I dont take seriously anyway. Everyone else has asked questions but been really supportive. I was most scared to tell my boss. Finally blurted it out the other day and of coarse got 20 questions but was overall supportive and glad that I would be back before xmas product starts piling too high( I work in retail) I has short term disability so I will be taking off the 4 to 6 weeks my surgeon recomends. hopefully the six because I may be having my little sis' wedding reception at my house and hopefully once I start feeling better I can work on getting ready for that!

Hello has any one heard of FMLA or STD? FMLA is the Family Medical Leave Act, look it up it is a federal law. As for STD it pays up to 60% of your salary if you choose to enroll in the benefit at work. Your boss does not need to know why, just that you are going to be out on medical leave. If they push or demand to know why, see a lawyer as that is a violation of your rights! Hope that helps.

It will depend how long your stay in the hospital is and how you are generally feeling. I stayed three nights in hospital as I had bout with nausea on the second day. I took two weeks vacation time off work. I am a secondary school administrator. Three weeks would have been nice but two weeks was fine. My dr. indicated that I needed to be sure and walk, walk, walk. I am now six weeks out and feeling great with no complications. I have not told my boss but my secretary knows, family and a few other folks. It will get around.

If they are really interested I will give them the 411, it was a long and personal journey. A decision that took me ten years to make.