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

Question About Co-Workers



Recommended Posts

I am scheduled to have my surgery June 4th. My boss of course knows I'm having the surgery and one other co worker. My question for everyone is when did you start telling co workers? I work in the same hospital I'm having surgery in. I work will ALL women. I haven't said anything to anyone but it's going to be obvious when I come back to work when I am on a liquid diet, then puréed. Guess I'm just wondering how everyone else handle it. Thanks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told everyone I could, even before the surgery. It is a personal decision who you want to tell but the way I look at it, why not tell people, you are doing this to improve your health and maybe your telling someone can actually help someone else make the decision to do it too!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

when or if did you start telling co workers?

Crazyscrublady

there are probably as many different answers to this question as there are people.

I told my immediate family. before WLS, DH, daughter, sisters.

I chose not to tell others, shout it from the rooftops, didn't know what reactions would be - maybe later at some time, i might tell a few people, but thats for another day in my future.

best

kathy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I tell everyone! The people that give me flack are people that are insecure about themselves and are very judgemental people. They can have it, but at least I have planted a seed to help them think outside the box. Especially when they see my bod now. This is a great transformation. My best friend told me she couldn't handle my "skinniness." So now I've adopted the word "skinniness." I love my skinniness! LOL ;)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told just about everyone and have not heard one, single, negative comment. In fact, my coworkers, family, and friends have been incredibly supportive and encouraging. I'm sure someone has said something ugly, but no one to my face. The only questions I've had about my decision to have WLS were inquiring if I really felt it was worth the risk and about loose skin from losing weight. I feel the people with the WLS horror stories were expressing their concern in the only way they knew how and to those who inquired about loose skin, I simply replied "I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it".

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I didn't tell anyone at first, I just told work I had to "have a procedure" and requested time off. The day before surgery I told my in laws (my parents have passed already). Now I'm more open about it as I just don't care who thinks what. I did this for me and I'm finally comfortable just telling anyone and everyone as I don't really care anymore what they think. But at least they'll know if they decide to ask quesitons for themselves and they won't wonder whenever I eat such small portions. But it's all what YOU are comfy with hon. Negative Nellies will always exist and it is easier to deal with any of that AFTER surgery IMO (in my opinion). Best of luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

hi all

i posted above (#3) that except my immediate family, i told no one. the truth is i don't really have any friends to talk to except all you guys.

Yesterday i went to PT. One of the PT assistants i've known over the years, all of a sudden asked me if i had lost weigt, she said i looked great.

I said yes with a secret smile on me. she said how did i do it (she is a very good average weight.) she asked me if was eating better food, quantities etc. i said yes thats true. but than i took a big sign and told her i had surgery.

she said wow. and from there on she asked alot of nice questions and it was great, especially about the part that 85% of my stomach was gone. I am so glad i told her, and it felt great.

Funny how things change

kathy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told my 2 close friends at work what I was having done and my HR department knows, but other than that no one else knows what I had especially my direct supervisor because she does not know the meaning of the word confidential and I just don't feel that she needed to know. I know that my friend told a few people about the hernia part of the surgery to get them to leave her alone. But since I have been out this week the rumors started flying and my poor friend has been hearing them all because everyone is coming to her asking her. Apparently I had surgery to get pregnant with twins...lol. My friend sent out an email telling everyone off yesterday then called to tell me she did it and asked if I was mad. Please, I have more to worry about right now than you putting people in their place on my behalf :)

In retaliation for me not telling my boss what I was having done she went to the two bosses over her and instead of telling them that I was having to leave and make up time due to doctor's appointments and a few procedures I had to have done prior to the surgery, she told them that I have attendance issues. The had no clue that I was even having surgery until another supervisor was trying to get me moved into her department and the refused, because of my "attendance issues" and she told them what was going on.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am scheduled to have my surgery June 4th. My boss of course knows I'm having the surgery and one other co worker. My question for everyone is when did you start telling co workers? I work in the same hospital I'm having surgery in. I work will ALL women. I haven't said anything to anyone but it's going to be obvious when I come back to work when I am on a liquid diet' date=' then puréed. Guess I'm just wondering how everyone else handle it. Thanks[/quote']

I am not telling them I told a few ladies that I am having an exploratory surgery for some gallstones at in all truth have given me trouble in the past I only have told my 2 sister's and my hubby of course and one daughter my son knows I am having surgery but he thinks it is stones he is 13 and immature and one day called me a PIG when he got pissed off so I will not tell him he later apologized but hat coming from my son hurt me badly

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am scheduled to have my surgery June 4th. My boss of course knows I'm having the surgery and one other co worker. My question for everyone is when did you start telling co workers? I work in the same hospital I'm having surgery in. I work will ALL women. I haven't said anything to anyone but it's going to be obvious when I come back to work when I am on a liquid diet' date=' then puréed. Guess I'm just wondering how everyone else handle it. Thanks[/quote']

I am June 4 the too :-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I didn't tell a whole lot of coworkers before the surgery because I just didn't want to talk about it every single day. But now that it's over I don't care who knows. Firstly, I couldn't live with myself trying to be dishonest or hiding something. But the big reason is, it was one of my coworkers who inspired me to have the surgery indirectly. We were talking one day and out of the blue he told me he had a bypass. He was very up front and honest about the whole ordeal. It really helped remove the stigma of the whole thing from my mind. After that I started doing all my research and had my first doctor visit a month later. So I hope by being honest and open about my surgery, I may one day inspire someone else to improve their life.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told the one person in my dept that can't hold Water. She told any and everybody she could, and I just shrugged every time I was asked. Because we're OR nurses, everybody chimed in with their concerns about leaks, malnutrition, dehydration, and all of the above. I told them if I didn't do it, I'd be dead in a few years anyway. No one had a comeback for that one. The funny thing is that two other nurses came out the closet about their plans to have WLS too, so then it was the big girls against the skinnies.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told them if I didn't do it' date=' I'd be dead in a few years anyway. No one had a comeback for that one. [/quote']

Right on!!!

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

    • 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.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 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

    ×