Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Did you tell your job about WLS ???? HELP



Recommended Posts

I just started a new job 7 weeks ago and after being unemployed for almost 6 months I am so fearful of losing the job if I tell them the truth about the surgery.

I got denied for the surgery by insurance last week but they are now going to approve it. Surgery is set for June 1st! Already had my pre-admission testing!

I don't want to tell them the truth because it is elective and I know they would question why I would choose this knowing I just started...

QUESTION: What can I tell them? Anyone have this issue ? I was thinking of just telling them I need surgery and my boss is male and maybe he won't ask assuming it is a female issue. I am paid per diem with no benefits and my position was done by my boss by himself for the past 2 years until I took over so I am not concerned he will be stuck with a heavy workload but don't want to make a bad impression.

Any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!!! :)

:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You don't have to tell them anything. Just that you have to have a procedure and that is it!

I didn't tell them I was having WLS, just that I was having hernia repair. I had that too! LOL

It is nobody's business and with all of the HIPPA laws now a days, you don't have to say a word! That is so nice!!

Best of luck to you! I will save a spot for you on the loser's bench!

Kelly :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just started a new job 7 weeks ago and after being unemployed for almost 6 months I am so fearful of losing the job if I tell them the truth about the surgery.

I got denied for the surgery by insurance last week but they are now going to approve it. Surgery is set for June 1st! Already had my pre-admission testing!

I don't want to tell them the truth because it is elective and I know they would question why I would choose this knowing I just started...

QUESTION: What can I tell them? Anyone have this issue ? I was thinking of just telling them I need surgery and my boss is male and maybe he won't ask assuming it is a female issue. I am paid per diem with no benefits and my position was done by my boss by himself for the past 2 years until I took over so I am not concerned he will be stuck with a heavy workload but don't want to make a bad impression.

Any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!!! :)

:)

I didn't tell my company what I was having surgery for, I just let them know that I needed surgery and none of the FMLA forms that I filled out required that I tell them. My surgeons office just signed them. I did not sign the form that gave them permission to contact the Dr office I felt it was none of their business since their insurance company was not paying for it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree. You don't have to say anything!

I told my work last month about having my band removed. But I am not telling them about my sleeve on June 8th. I told them that I am having repair work done from the band's damage.

Good Luck!

Nichole

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told my boss that I was having surgery. She asked if it was necessary and that was it. It's none of their business

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No way. Not a word.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks guys!!

I feel much better about my decision not to tell but I still can't help feeling like a liar and I am so ashamed but I know it is for the best. I can not afford to get let go.

Can't wait to be on the LOSER bench!! YIP YIP !!

:)

PD

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You could just say you have girlie issues and leave it at that. blink.gif

I am not telling my work either. No one there needs to know my business. I just said I have family visiting and needed some time off. I have been telling my coworkers for awhile that I started a new diet. I keep raving about how these Protein Shakes fill me up and I don't get hungry. I also joined a new gym that just opened up down the street from my office. So when I start my pre op diet then get surgery in June, no one will really notice that I am not "eating food". I hopefully will not have much pain once I return to work and can just pass off the Protein shakes as my new diet. As I lose weight, no one will be suspect surgery.

It is quite hard when you work in a small office and are so close to so many people. Since I don't take my employers health insurance, they do not need to know and hopefully will not find out. I am not ashamed of the surgery, just don't need to be judged or asked a lot of questions. I am a supervisor and and don't want my staff to see this as a sign of weakness that I chose surgery to aid me lose weight. I have tried many times, lost, regained. Want to keep it off for good and get healthy!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

As everyone else has told you you do not have to say a word. You only have to tell them that you are having a minor procedure which will require you to stay over night in the hospital. You will have to get short term disability if your company offers it. Your short term disability provider will not tell your employer what procedure you are having. Check your company's human resources policies I'm sure there is something there. You don't even have to tell your human resources representative what procedure you are having. Hope this helps!! Please keep us posted. Take really good care of yourself!:)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just started a new job 7 weeks ago and after being unemployed for almost 6 months I am so fearful of losing the job if I tell them the truth about the surgery.

I got denied for the surgery by insurance last week but they are now going to approve it. Surgery is set for June 1st! Already had my pre-admission testing!

I don't want to tell them the truth because it is elective and I know they would question why I would choose this knowing I just started...

QUESTION: What can I tell them? Anyone have this issue ? I was thinking of just telling them I need surgery and my boss is male and maybe he won't ask assuming it is a female issue. I am paid per diem with no benefits and my position was done by my boss by himself for the past 2 years until I took over so I am not concerned he will be stuck with a heavy workload but don't want to make a bad impression.

Any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!!! :)

:)

I told my direct manager .. only because I knew that I would be needing off for appts and such leading up to my surgery. We have a good relationship so I just went ahead and told her. It did help a lot when I needed off, or when i was a little bummed out.. or running late from an appt. She understood why and had no issues with it. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×