So on Monday I had my psychiatric evaluation that I believe I passed with flying colors. However, afterwards I was extremely drained. I came home that night in panic about having this surgery. I told myself that I can't do this. I can never NOT have pizza again EVER! And what about my coffee? I love coffee! And then she mentioned my hair may fall out in Patches and be quite noticeable. She scared me. And it worked. I then googled every complication I could possibly have (and I do not recommend doing that).

Then there is Friday... And I feel better about it. I had an upper GI because the surgeon wants to make sure my reflux is under control since there is a chance it may get worse after the surgery. And today I read many success stories about people who thought it was the best decision ever made. Why am I so wishy washy? Does everyone get like this? The constant going back and forth. And in the meantime I am miserable in my own skin.

Next week on Tuesday is my first nutrition class. I hope to meet others who are going through the same emotions as I am. I'm also having dinner on Tuesday evening with an acquaintance who has had the sleeve in the past year.

My plan is to take 6 weeks of work to concentrate on me and my health. I have a pretty stressful job. Only a few family members and one close friend will know the actual surgery I had. And I worry about whether I can keep up the lie at work. Some are quite nosey. Did anyone else lie to those at work? What did you say when they asked what kind of surgery you had?

Thank you for reading. Feedback on any of these issues is greatly appreciated.

Jen

I am so wishy wasn't even being 9 days away I still go back and forth! I don't have a limit of who I tell only because it's been a long time coming for me and you either on board or not. And if not I really don't care just because I'm bettering me and opinions will always be out there

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If people ask you what kind of surgery you are having, just say it's personal, it's none of their business, or bugger off! Lol

I just told my boss I'm having surgery and no questions were asked. It's personal. If I wanted to tell him what kind of surgery it was,

I would have said it with the word "I am having _____ surgery", but I just simply said "surgery" and that was the end of it.

Hope your workplace won't pry!

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You could say you are having hernia surgery. That is pretty basic, lots of people have hernias. Then you could just say you aren't able to eat as much since you have had surgery and you aren't feeling very well if people continue to question you.

I don't work so I don't need to worry too much about daily questions. I haven't decided fully if I will be telling people I had surgery (it will be the end of this month). I think most people will assume that I did because I have been very overweight for so many years. I think I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Once I made my decision, I was ready, so I can't help you with the wishy-washy stuff.

No one at work knows why I was out of work other than HR. Before I left on FMLA, my boss made the comment that he hopes I'm okay but doesn't want to be nosey. He was hinting around to try and find out why I was out, but I was vague and just said I was fine and everything would be okay. I only see him once a month, so when I see him next, I'll probably be down about 45lbs. I don't *think* he'll comment on my weightloss, but if he does, I'll say "thank you" and move the conversation in a different direction.

If my employees ask why I was out, I'll say hiatal hernia repair. If they comment about my weightloss, I'll tell them the partial truth: exercise and a proper diet.

@@CLN.BK Thank you. So how do you feel now? When did you have surgery and when do you go back to work?

@@jenrae1

I had the surgery on August 5. My 1st day back at work was Friday (2 days ago). I feel great! I've struggled to meet my Water requirements the past two days at work. I was surprised, because I had no trouble getting in enough water while at home. I will have to be more diligent. Surprisingly, none of my employees commented on my weightloss (I've lost 24lbs since I last saw them). Granted, I'm their new-ish boss, so I don't think they'd be comfortable commenting on it yet anyway. As they get to know me and I lose more, I'm sure they'll start asking.

Edited September 4, 20169 yr by CLN.BK

@@CLN.BK Do you feel that 4 weeks was enough time off work?

@@CLN.BK

I just noticed our stats are very similar.

I was wishy washy too, and all about food! How crazy huh? I mean food got me here and I want to change!

I talked to my surgeon about it and he made me feel better. He told me this surgery isn't about never having pizza again, or sushi, it was about helping to change habits and my health. He explained that I can have pizza, but 1 slice instead of a whole large. ... it clicked! I realized that healthy was better than overeating.

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Everyone has to choose their own path. I took a picture showing the number of medications I take each day. It was awful, thinking about what those medicines are doing to keep me alive was very scary. I told my surgeon, I don't plan on being skinny, I plan on being healthy. I'm coming up on 7 days post op and I have cut the number of pills down by 4.

pizza was my food, it was the most difficult to give up. But I did a lot of research, I can still have pizza once I'm healed, I just have to modify it for my sleeve. I've found there are a ton of recipes out there that are directly for bariatric patients. We have this new tool, now we just have to master using it!

As for telling people at work, I am a supervisor and have a lot of people that look to me for direction, so I feel I need to be totally honest with them at all times. It's no secret that I am obese? Anyone could see that. I was totally honest and open about my surgery and the journey I'm on. Surprisingly I have found that all of them are extremely supportive. They appreciate the honesty just as I appreciate it when they are honest with me. I think they respect me more for it. But not everyone's situation is mine and not everyone is okay with being that open. I will say that once they all knew, potlucks were adjusted, instead of doing big group lunches they would wait until i was out of the office or at a meeting. They were very respectful of the challenges I was having. Now that I'm post op they are all checking in on me and wanting to know I'm alright. It's a good feeling to have people that care around you.

I am telling people I am having a quality of life surgery to help better control my diabetes and the effects it has on me. I'll tell my work girlfriends after when I am ready. This is very private and personal to me and I have to stay focused or I may chicken out.

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