beanie80

I am an LPN in a step down/ rehab unit. My procedure is scheduled July 1. I have only told a few close Co workers. I am having a hernia repair also, so that is my excuse. I do very little lifting at work but have planned about 3 1/2 weeks off to be on the safe side and it is summer vacation for my kids so I am happy to spend a little xtra time with them while I recover.

Hello I am An RN and I work in peri operative services, specifically same day surgery. I had my lapband where I work so was actually a patient in my own dept so there was no hiding it! I had my surgery on a Wednesday and went back a week and a half later per my MD instructions. I didn't have any problems and the soreness was gone by then. Most of the advice I see in here is good such as "you need to call your surgeon or speak to the bariatric nurse". I don't really see anyone giving out inappropriate advice, which is good . Good luck and let us know how your doing! As far as telling everyone, you could actually be an inspiration for others as a fellow nurse in my dept was for me. :0)

I am an OT and I was back at work doing transfers without restrictions after 2 weeks post op. I did not have any problems following the diet post op and while at work. I had my surgery Jan 25, 2013. Good luck on your journey.

Hello! I'm Erica! A ICU & Dialysis RN. Everyone knows I'm having the surgery but I am very nervous about being cath'd at the hospital I work at. SMH. What if they think the pubs aren't trimmed the way they should be and tell everyone. LOL. But seriously, you know how gossipy some people can be! As long as the versed comes before lithotomy and the catheter I'll be ok LOL. Surgery is Wednesday.

I'm a PICU nurse. I took 10 days off work, thinking that working in pediatrics I'd be okay. Unfortunately, my first day back I admitted a 180lb 8 year old on an oscillator. I would take as much time as you can. As far as telling coworkers, I told everyone. They're pretty observant, and not stupid. Everyone was pretty supportive except for a couple of people. And what do I care what they think? I've lost almost 90lbs and I'm happy. One person said before surgery, "aren't you worried about going under anesthesia just for a cosmetic surgery?" I told her that #1, yes I am, but I don't consider it cosmetic. #2...didn't you have a boob job a few years ago!

Hello, Nice to meet a fellow RN. You'll see there's quite a few of us on LBT so hopefully this generate a good conversation. I took a full 2 weeks off before going back to work. I probably could have gone back earlier, however, I did not want to risk that crazy night where you are given one too many patients, or the high acuity patient that will be 12 hrs of nonstop orders etc. I am a NICU nurse so I lucky that I do not have to physically assist an adult patient, but the higher acuity can lead to some relentless running around and continuous cares/changing fluids-meds-vent settings/drawing labs etcetc. I never told anyone at work I got the band but I got a good laugh out of your "hey Im working the OR that day"... I got that when I was having my baby RC/S. LOL This is definitely worth to add to the "You know you are a nurse when.." lists haha.

Typically, I weigh myself once a week. I can't deal with daily fluctuations; day to night, night to day.....DAY to day. Once a week keeps me sane.
Years back I was a complete and total scale addict. I was on the thing several times a day. In later years I mellowed a bit. Then, as I started gaining weight (again), I didn't even want to know what the number was. I could tell in my clothes, but I avoided the scale like the plague. Now, my goal is to keep moving forward in my post-op life, without making myself obsessed and crazed with the scale. If I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, the weight is going in the right direction.

http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2013/06/21/eight_toxic_foods_a_little_chemical_education.php

Didn't get any biking in yesterday, I took my girls to the amusement part and walked for two solid hours. Not biking to work today, there is a cold front moving in and I don't think 25 Mph winds will be pleasant. FRIED OREO???

Does spin count?
wendy

I just got back off of vacation and on to my bike for the first time in a week. Felt soooo good!
I would invite you to log your miles for the month of June on this thread. This is not competition, but my personal goal is to do 10 more miles than what ever Catfish does which is going to be hard since he is a skinny little guy and doesn't have as much fat to lug around.
Starting it off with today's ride 20.09 Miles, 1:15 minutes, 953 Calories.
Ok, Who is next?

You know what's funny? My first year of junior high, the gym teacher started doing exactly that. I flat out REFUSED to get on the scale. She tried to demand on get on- I told her that she wasn't my doctor or my parent so it wasn't her business what I weighed.
Of course, she called my parents to complain. Thankfully, my dad totally stuck up for me. He told her it wasn't any of her or the school's business what I weighed and that she needed to back off me.
I never did get on the scale year at school- or any other year.
My dad was (and still is!) so awesome

This is so true!
I see supposed adults on here that I swear have the maturity and common sense of a 13 year old. Likewise, I've seen a teen or two on here that were very mature and level headed about their decision to have WLS.
I think it needs to be a case by case basis, dependent on their level of maturity, support at home, and how obese they are.

I might majorly regret this, but this is what I posted on her fb page:
"I agree about not giving people a free ride, but according to my BMI I am obese. I work two jobs, go to grad school full time and I contribute a lot to society by taking care of sick people every day. I also work out at least 3+ days a week. I can't even tell you how many diets I have been on and how hard I have worked to lose weight. Obesity is generally a result of food addiction, lack of access to quality food due to poverty or just lack of knowledge. I have several patients who struggle with their weight, have tried to diet and can't afford going to a nutritionist, go to therapy, join weight watchers or are working 3 jobs to keep a roof over their heads. If obesity was categorized as a disease these people might get help, lose weight, decrease their chances of getting type II diabetes, CHF, depression, and multiple other obesity related co-morbid diseases. Decreasing their chances of all of the above reduces future medical bills, reduces unemployment, and reduces their burden on society. It's about the big picture, not the short term costs."

Debbie, no need to shout. Not everyone on this site thinks obesity is a disease. As Quahog stated above, she believes, for her, obesity is a disorder. In my situation, for me personally, part of my disease is mental health related (i.e. addiction). Not everyone has the same opinions and just because we are on this site doesn't mean we all think the same way. When I asked the question 'What do you think about obesity being a disease' it was out of curiosity what other bandsters thought, to spark dialogue, and to discuss/help me understand the mean spirited Facebook post.

I might majorly regret this, but this is what I posted on her fb page:
"I agree about not giving people a free ride, but according to my BMI I am obese. I work two jobs, go to grad school full time and I contribute a lot to society by taking care of sick people every day. I also work out at least 3+ days a week. I can't even tell you how many diets I have been on and how hard I have worked to lose weight. Obesity is generally a result of food addiction, lack of access to quality food due to poverty or just lack of knowledge. I have several patients who struggle with their weight, have tried to diet and can't afford going to a nutritionist, go to therapy, join weight watchers or are working 3 jobs to keep a roof over their heads. If obesity was categorized as a disease these people might get help, lose weight, decrease their chances of getting type II diabetes, CHF, depression, and multiple other obesity related co-morbid diseases. Decreasing their chances of all of the above reduces future medical bills, reduces unemployment, and reduces their burden on society. It's about the big picture, not the short term costs."

Your response to your FB 'friend' was great! And far nicer than I would have been. Disease, disorder, whatever it may be, there are interesting physiological studies that are starting to show how people who are overweight react differently to 'fullness' than thin people, and one documentary on it is the BBC produced "The Truth about Fat". Watching it helped my boyfriend understand why, when my band wasn't working, I constantly felt hungry. Yes, I could control what I put in my mouth, yes I could exercise to keep my weight down, but hunger was almost a demon for me to fight whereas for him it was just a function of making sure he ate to live. And suddenly it all made sense to him.
If you can get to watch it, I think it'll suddenly make a lot of sense why we struggle with food like we do.

Debbie, no need to shout. Not everyone on this site thinks obesity is a disease. As Quahog stated above, she believes, for her, obesity is a disorder. In my situation, for me personally, part of my disease is mental health related (i.e. addiction). Not everyone has the same opinions and just because we are on this site doesn't mean we all think the same way. When I asked the question 'What do you think about obesity being a disease' it was out of curiosity what other bandsters thought, to spark dialogue, and to discuss/help me understand the mean spirited Facebook post.

weird. Do your surgical sites look ok? keep an eye on your temp and if it gets up to 102 I'd head to the ED just to be safe. You just had major surgery, no point in taking any chances.

It took a lot of restraint for me to not say something like "You better pray that I'm not doing your pap smear next year. This fat girl won't be so nice with that speculum and you better believe you are going to get a rectal" (Just a joke, I would never do anything mean like that! even on the really rude/mean patients)

Everyone on FB knows that if you say something stupid like that in my newsfeed, you're going to get my opinion on the matter, and you may not like it anymore than I liked yours. But if that's not you, I agree you should unfriend at the very least.
I am not shy about telling people that I relate to being an addict. food was my addiction. Except where heroin addicts get treatment and abstain to remain clean, I had to seek out my drug of choice 3 times a day, and I was supposed to be strong enough to stop at just 3 bites (like I do with the lapband?). How about 'get bent'?
Having the willpower to stop at 3 bites when hungry 3 times a day for the rest of your life is something I sure as hell didn't have. Let's see a show of hands as to who actually has that sort of willpower, coz bully for you, you're a better person than me!
I just needed that help to curb the hunger, and I lost weight. I'm proof that if you control hunger, you can control the addiction. How more logical and easy to understand could it be yet for some it seems so hard to figure out.

AWESOME response!!! I can't wait to see her reaction!!!

Beanie-
Don't know you, but definitely respect you.Feel it, say it!!!
Good for you and others that talk honestly. Hopefully, the fb person will open their mind, but even if you get backlash, for what it's worth, I think you did the right thing

Beanie - can't WAIT to hear what comes back

Don't forget one big statistic, what percentage of the population suffer from obesity? Fat people are voters too.
Beanie, that fb responce was awesome and passionate, I doubt I could have been as diplomatic.