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

Reason for surgery?



Recommended Posts

What reason did you tell your boss and coworkers for having surgery? I want to keep my surgery as private as possible, but I don't want to lie either.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just took a weeks vacation. No explanation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I didn't really try to keep my surgery a secret from family, close friends, my boss or co-workers. I think being male might have made a difference as I really don't have any friends or associates who would act negatively or create uncomfortable situations.

As I progress through my weight loss I am occasionally surprised when I encounter someone I haven't seen for a while or who wasn't aware of my surgery. Their reactions are very interesting and I have to remember that they weren't among the group I told about my surgery so my weight loss is a surprise to them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am a very private person so I have not told anyone (besides my husband and two friends) I will simply be out for a week or week and half.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I said that I was having hernia surgery (which was true). I just left off the part about having 85% of my stomach removed too!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Same as dmmjtj, going on vacation. If I didn't have vacation days and had to use FMLA, I would not have been able to keep it a secret.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told my manager that I wanted to take a week off in March and then I told him I wanted him to know it was for surgery because if there were complications I may need a bit longer. He naturally asked why I was having surgery and I told him it was private and he followed up with asking if everything was okay and I said yes and we moved on. I was comfortable with this because I don't care who knows once the surgery has happened, I don't doubt they won't piece it together once I'm back.

Edited by ohh_that_girl

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Nothing. I just took two weeks off.

It really is that easy. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just told him I was going out for surgery no details worked with HR no details. Worked with my disability management company they needed all the details but that was because I used Short term disability. They got all the details from my doc but do not share it and they don't know me personally. (That happens when you work for a multi billion dollar company) 3 co workers know but that is because one is my best friend one is my inspiration for getting the surgery and the other is on my wellness team and I felt it was ok to share with him.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've told my manager and supervisor about it. I wanted them to know that I would be looking for a short leave of absence. They were both really supportive of me, and on the plus side since my job involves hours of standing and lifting, in the long run it will make me a better employee. It's nice to have their support, and in return I've also been offered a different position when I return that doesn't involve lifting right away.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told my boss and coworkers but that is just cause I'm so excited! I don't care who knows or what they say cause I know I'm doing the right thing for me. That being said, I realize I am probably the minority here so I'd just do what the others suggested and just take a week of vacation. If you don't have vacation, maybe just take sick leave and say it's the flu? Haha. I've been sick for a week before! ????

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told my boss I was going on for more tests. I had a previous health issue so I used vacation time. No one in my life knows but my husband and 1 friend. Everyone around knows I'm back on another diet. That's it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I told my boss and a couple co-workers, one who has had gastric by pass. My boss is amazing and he has been so accommodating with all my Dr. Appts (I had to do the 6 mos diet plan). Even with the time off after, I was asking for one week and he said take two. I don't know how I got so lucky, I have worked for other managers that I wouldn't have told of the specific procedure , because she would have blabbed it all over, so I can understand where some of you are coming from. I feel very blessed to have him as a boss and another gastric person to share with, she has already been very helpful.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My boss is post-op RNY so I didn't feel the need to keep anything from him. As for co-workers, I told a few that are close friends & the rest I simply said I was "having a medical procedure" done. No one questioned it & I didn't feel I was being evasive or untruthful.

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

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        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💪
      · 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

    ×