My plan was to have the surgery on Friday and be back to work by Tuesday. Plans have changed and I'm thinking I will be out for the rest of the week. The only person that knows the real reason why I was out is my manager. I told her to please do not tell anyone, even her director, which happens to be the HR Director. She told him I was having a procedure done on the off chance something went wrong and needed to go on short term disability. I guess for HR purposes.

Well, since I didn't return Tuesday and think I might be out until next Monday I'm afriad this will may cause a lot of questions. I'm wondering if I should just let people know I have been sick. A real nasty bug that knocked me out for a week. Do you think that will work? I'm just not ready to tell people, besides family and a close knit group of friends.

What has everyone done when it comes to co-workers, especially when the weight starts coming off?

I told my entire office and all of my family and friends. Everyone has been very, very supportive as I knew they would be. When I adopted my daughter from China 3 years ago (by the way - I also told my daughter's daycare teachers, directors and even some of her classmates parents), I talked about it immediately and throughout the process and found it to be a tremendous relief to be upfront and honest with everyone. It has been my experience that when you attempt to play things to close to the vest, people take it upon themselves to speculate and they are often times incorrect in their assumptions. With regards to the lap band, people know I'm overweight - this is no secret to anyone who has ever met me. I also carry a card in my wallet in the event of a medical emergency that states I have a lapband implanted and that special care should be taken before performing any abdominal procedure. Just like I prefer for the people around me to be aware of my penicillin allergy, I want them also to know I have a lap band. I have nothing to be ashamed of for finally taking my health seriously and taking steps to improve it.

These are my reasons and I can tell by the responses thus far that many people feel differently. Ultimately it is a personal choice and you will do what is best for you. Good luck to you.

Michelle in NJ

Thanks for sharing your experience! The team I work with is fairly new and I'm not close enough to share with them yet. I did tell my supervisor, but I've know her for over 5 years now. I plan on not saying anything, but if anyone asks I think I will go the route of I had surgery and I was on the mends and it's personal.

Totally off topic, but I love your aviator!

Good luck! :cursing:

I never told a soul at work. They still don't know and it has been a year and I have lost all of my weight.

I don't like to share to much personal information with people at work, especially in this area. I just didn't want everyone watching what I lost, or what I was eating, or speculating amongst themselves about why it was or was not a good decision. I am happy I did it this way.

I told one of my friends at work. So far, I haven't felt like sharing with any other coworkers. My family members know along with a few other friends. My sister came into town for my surgery. It was easy to say I was taking time off to visit with her. My surgery was on a Thursday so I took off from Thursday to Wednesday. It was great to have a short week after coming back to work.

No one at work has said anything about my eating habits. I honestly don't think people pay that much attention.

Do what feels most comfortable for you. When/if you feel comfortable with telling others, you will.

Best wishes to you

I tell/told everyone and I still do. I'm not comfortable lying (I am a terrible liar!).

To each his/her own.

I told everyone. People started asking why I was going to Dr's appointments all the time, and I figured it was best if I told rather than people talk amongst theirselves. Everyone thought I was preggo!

It has been a good support. I used to tell people when I was dieting, so I think this is similar. And its nice because people comment about the wl and stuff too!

I was banded on a Friday and took off work that day and actually went back to work on Monday after. That was hard to keep a secret but it was mine to keep. I told them I was not feeling weel and as I started losing weight, I told them I was not eating bread nad my hubby was eating half of my food (that was not a lie). When I was ready, I told me and they were fine.

Patty

Hi! What a great topic to bring up! I'm glad to read the different responses. I have not had my procedure yet and am still in the beginning part of the journey working with the doctor and my insurance....

I have talked to my personal friends at work (the handful I go to breaks with.) and have asked them to keep it to themselves. They are very supportive and really want to know all about it. I have a new/temporary boss standing in for my old boss and don't feel comfortable telling him about it... I did tell him I was going to be asking for a weeks vacation in the next month or so... He has no problem with it.

I work for a very large place and don't really need everyone in my business... They can think what they will months from now when I am much lighter... and should they want to approach me about it I'm sure I will be open and honest. I'm not ashamed of this surgery - however, it's also something I don't feel like advertising either!

I've never been really comfortable discussing personal things -- and I don't know how people will feel or react -- I don't need anyone judging me for something personal. I actually started really 'dieting' about 6 weeks before surgery. I had lost about 15 pounds ahead of time so no one really noticed when I continued after surgery that it was in any way related.

I've never actually lied to anyone (I won't). I told management that I was having surgery and it was a personal matter. They assumed it was woman related (I work primarily with men) which was fine.

As for weight loss, I consider the band to be a tool. When people ask me what I've done, I'm honest about things like reducing portion sizes, skipping a lot of the carbs, not snacking, etc. and adding in lots of exercise - all true.

Judy:smile:

I work for a very large company, but the group I am in is a very tight-knit bunch (about 15 of us). I was open about it when I started looking into it last summer and spoke with several coworkers about it. One coworker joined me and she had the surgery a week before I did. We both have a ton of support from our supervisor and coworkers - I'm glad I told them. Each person is in a different environment at work - and I can tell you if I was at some of my past jobs, I wouldve never spoken a word about it! Right now, our supervisor tells us how proud he is of us and our coworkers always have nice things to say.