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Any suggestions on what type of surgery I can say I am having at work?



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I work in an office full of women and I am very torn as to whether I want to tell anyone about my revision. No one knows I have the band to begin with, so I would have to go through that whole story too. I am going to Mexico for my surgery and just don't want to hear it from everyone. My boss will know, but I don't know what to do about everyone else. I don't want people to find out later and then feel like the big liar of the office.

What did everyone say at work? How did you explain your weight loss? Please help!

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This topic comes up at least once a month like clockwork. Here's my opinion. You can for a search to see others:

  • A. There is nothing to be ashamed of regarding WLS.
  • B. You are not obligated to tell anyone anything.
  • C. There is no need to lie. If someone asks about your weight loss, say "Thank you" and keep it moving. Unless you want to discuss it and are prepared to deal with the nay sayers, don't put yourself in a position to look like a liar or a weak person. I pick and choose who I share info with, but I am a private person by nature. I am picky about what aspects of my personal life I share in general.

Edited by BLERDgirl

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If you don want to tell them say your taking personal time. That's not a lie. Usually when you say "personal" people will drop it...except for a nosey few. If you happen to have a nosey few saying "it's none of your damn business" can also shut the questions up in a hurry. Then they will have a reason to talk about you, or perhaps they will encourage your leave of absence :)-

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I suggest a large hiatus hernia. After that surgery it is normal not to each large amounts of food for fear of vomiting or hiccups.

Good luck

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@@Janex43 I'm going with hiatal hernia repair. That way I'm not lying. My doctor plays to repair a hiatal hernia if he finds one as I have severe GERD. he may also take out my gallbladder so ifthat occurs I will also say I had that done too

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hI...

I, too, work in an office of women. I was over 300 pounds, and I didn't care who knew because this is MY decision. I am very proud that I chose the Sleeve. I wanted to make myself healthier and had tried many different ways to loose weight.

I did not have any problems, even when returing to work. They were very proud of me for my decision and I was actually an inspriation, because they all started eating healthier.

If you are worried about what others will say and think....just remember, it is YOUR body, not theirs. There will be some who say "easy way out", when it really is not. Just let them know it is a TOOL and it is YOUR responsiblity to get yourself healthier.

Enjoy this new journey.

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Thank you all for your input. Part of me wants to say something because I hate having to always cover a lie, I just don't want to hear comments when people are uninformed. I am leaning towards not lying because I think it will help me be accountable too.

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When I had lapband I didn't tell anyone at work, and almost no family or friends. I said I had "routine female stuff, nothing life threatening" and left it at that. It does create a snowball of lies.

I said that the gas and anesthesia left some lingering nausea and that I had dropped 10 lbs recovering. After dropping 20-30 lbs I said that losing that 10 spurred me to try to drop some more. Tangled web stuff... Shortly after I just fessed up and told everyone that I had LabBand surgery. I told my closer friends and co-workers that I it was such a personal difficult decision, that I was afraid of failure, of being under a microscope, of being judged.... Everyone seemed to understand. Of course, by 30-40 lbs down all those initial fears were a thing of the past!

I totally understand if you want to keep this a personal decision and journey.... for a while or for always. If you do, I would go with the hiatal hernia surgery.

P.S. For my revision I told EVERYONE. I was put on a prayer list at work for my surgery day, and got many supporting texts while I was recovering. The encouragement has been very uplifting.

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I told people too. I wasn't going to at first but then I decided why not. I'm not ashamed and I really don't care what they think. The reality is they are very supportive and happy for me

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I think the main reason I am hesitating is because I am going to Mexico for surgery and I know I will hear A LOT about that because I am a nurse and work at a doctors office! I am sure I will hear ALL sorts of reasons that I am crazy!! LoL

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I think the main reason I am hesitating is because I am going to Mexico for surgery and I know I will hear A LOT about that because I am a nurse and work at a doctors office! I am sure I will hear ALL sorts of reasons that I am crazy!! LoL

It's still NONE of anyone's business. You are taking a few days off. Period.

You are under NO obligation to say anything further. If they want to speculate, oh well.....

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My circumstances are a bit different. My husband's office is filled with catty women. He's the only man and the owner. I told very few people at the office about my surgery, after the fact. I'm sure everyone knows by now but I could care less. I did it for ME!!!! I know this doesn't help much if you don't want people to know!

My son's boss/best friend had something done, but has never said anything to anyone, even though several in the office, including my son, have had the sleeve. Know that people are going to speculate even if you don't tell them!!!

Hiatal hernia can only take you so far!!! Good luck, whatever you decide!

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Nunyabizectomy. :P

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I said i made a drastic lifestyle change to regain control an i do a strict Portion Control an watch what i eat now. After 4 months i would just smile at ppl and say lets not talk about me talk about something else! Now after 8 months and 100 down i just smile and still say my weight is not up for conversation. Haha..its still not public knowledge nor dies my family no..????

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Personal (true) female (true) surgery. If they persist, tell 'em you're getting a labia lift and vaginal tightening. ;) Or a penile implant. Or your hemorrhoids removed. Embarrass them into asking you nothing else.

Or you can go my route and simply say, "I'm fine, but it's personal. Thank you in advance for respecting my privacy." That leaves no room for further inquiry.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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