AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

[shelleyrox 1]

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! So I finally get a Pre_Op appt and a surgery date within 30 days after that....I have been working through this process for 8 months now, and my Supervisor says " I am not sure I can give you 4 weeks off for an elective surgery!" Never mind that my last extended time off for surgery was 5 days for a knee scope in 2001! UNBELIEVABLE!!

[Wheetsin 714]

Tell us a little about where you work. You don't need to give any identifying information, but how many employees are there? Are you offered, or have you elected, STD coverage? WHy does your supervisor consider your procedure an "elective" surgery? Has he or she been told what the procedure is? Is your workplace large enough that you have an HR department?

Is 4 weeks the average time off? That seems like a lot, but you do need to work within your own comfort levels, and I dont' know -- I haven't had it yet.

[amybaby33 5]

I was going to ask the same questions as Wheetsin. I took 9 days off work and could have easily returned after 5. However, I have a low key desk job and I know everyone is different. Sorry for your frustration.

[kellyw74 258]

I had my surgery on a Monday and went back the following Monday. I also have a desk job. I was tired, but was fine.

I think 4 weeks is really extreme unless you have complications and need to be off for that long.

Good luck!

Kelly

[Heather~ Sweetdreams 10]

I just had my surgery a week ago Thursday, and am going back to work this week. I hadn't planned on taking any time off at all, but my boss insisted that I rest for a full week before coming back. 4 weeks is a lot. Maybe if you ask for 2 they will be a little more understanding.

[GreenEyedMamma 5]

I easily could have gone back to work after a week but I had an allergic reaction to the scrub soap and was off an additional week. I was bored out of my mind. I think four weeks is too long too. Do what sweetdreams suggested and ask for two weeks and see what they say.

[myrori 55]

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! So I finally get a Pre_Op appt and a surgery date within 30 days after that....I have been working through this process for 8 months now, and my Supervisor says " I am not sure I can give you 4 weeks off for an elective surgery!" Never mind that my last extended time off for surgery was 5 days for a knee scope in 2001! UNBELIEVABLE!!

Fmla, Family Medical leave Act! My surgeon was more than willing to state this was a "necessary" surgery!

[myrori 55]

I just had my surgery a week ago Thursday, and am going back to work this week. I hadn't planned on taking any time off at all, but my boss insisted that I rest for a full week before coming back. 4 weeks is a lot. Maybe if you ask for 2 they will be a little more understanding.

You are much braver than I! I took a full month off!

[ILKrista 36]

ELECTIVE! I would strongly disagree. If you told him you had a slight heart murmur that would kill you sometime in the next 15 years, would that be considered elective? Let's face it... the word MORBID in morbidly obese refers to the fact that being that heavy is slowly killing you. You don't see many morbidly obese people in their 60s & 70s because they are DEAD. I think you have a strong case for arguing that this is NOT elective! This is something that can potentially save your life. Just because it isn't emergency surgery doesn't mean that it is elective.

Not to get too heated, but it really ticks me off when people try to imply that it is any less valid of a surgery that it would be to have an ulcer or tumor removed. Just my 2 cents.

[Texasmom65 23]

I had my surgery on a Monday. Went back to work full time the next Monday, (This past week) and I was fine. I would think one week is good, 2 at the max, unless you have problems. But everyone is different.

[mp8btpc 33]

Even elective cosmetic procedures are eligible to receive state disability payments, at least in california therefore I believe it would fall under FMLA itself. Your insurance would not be covering this procedure unless it was MEDICALLY NECESSARY. They are treading on thin Water by even questioning what type of surgery you are requesting time off for. HIPAA!!!!

[shelleyrox 1]

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!! So I finally get a Pre_Op appt and a surgery date within 30 days after that....I have been working through this process for 8 months now, and my Supervisor says " I am not sure I can give you 4 weeks off for an elective surgery!" Never mind that my last extended time off for surgery was 5 days for a knee scope in 2001! UNBELIEVABLE!!

Thanks for all of your input! It is nice to know that I may not need 4 weeks....wasnt sure, but I do help lift patients off of the scan table ( I work in a fixed base MRI scanner at a small hospital). I have applied for

STD and FMLA for my WLS as well as for my Fibromyalgia. I was also planning more time possibly due to

being dependant on a pump for my insulin therapy. Thanks for all of the great info, and for listening to my

frustrations!

[Disney 20]

Thanks for all of your input! It is nice to know that I may not need 4 weeks....wasnt sure, but I do help lift patients off of the scan table ( I work in a fixed base MRI scanner at a small hospital). I have applied for

STD and FMLA for my WLS as well as for my Fibromyalgia. I was also planning more time possibly due to

being dependant on a pump for my insulin therapy. Thanks for all of the great info, and for listening to my

frustrations!

Make sure you have lots of help because I was told no lifting over 10 pounds for six weeks. I made sure to follow that rule expressly even though I have a 3 year old who desperately wanted to be held!! because I wasn't about to risk a hernia or any trauma to my new tummy.

Good luck

[kellyw74 258]

If you have to lift stuff. Have your dr. write a lifting restriction for you when you return to work and therefore you will not be able to lift for the required healing time, but will be able to be at work.

That way, if they make you lift and you hurt yourself, then they are liable.

Kelly

Thanks for all of your input! It is nice to know that I may not need 4 weeks....wasnt sure, but I do help lift patients off of the scan table ( I work in a fixed base MRI scanner at a small hospital). I have applied for

STD and FMLA for my WLS as well as for my Fibromyalgia. I was also planning more time possibly due to

being dependant on a pump for my insulin therapy. Thanks for all of the great info, and for listening to my

frustrations!

[elracimo3 1]

Even elective cosmetic procedures are eligible to receive state disability payments, at least in california therefore I believe it would fall under FMLA itself. Your insurance would not be covering this procedure unless it was MEDICALLY NECESSARY. They are treading on thin Water by even questioning what type of surgery you are requesting time off for. HIPAA!!!!

I completely agree!!!!!!! they do not have the right to ask the type of surgery she is having. FMLA protects her job for 12 weeks. It is her right and if she's having a procedure done and she need the time off, as long as the MD signs off she needs to be off duty (I'm a nurse, so I cant go back to work right away, I wouldn't be able to meet the demands of my job for a min. of 6 weeks) they have to grant her FMLA. I, personally plan to go on 'light duty' after 2 weeks. Meaning a desk job until I'm able to lift patients. But whatever time anyone decides to take off is their personal prorrogative!

Thanks!