Time off work and telling co-workers?

[Livetothrive 24]

Hello all!

I’m at the very beginning of my path for WLS. I’m leaning toward gastric bypass but am not 100% decided.

I have a few questions:

1. How long should I expect to be off work? How long were you off?

2. What did you tell your boss when asking for time off?

3. What did you tell your co-workers?

Thank you!

[heatherjudson 62]

I took two weeks off and the third week I worked 7 hours instead of 8. The third week I was tired. I told my coworkers and boss I was having a gastric bypass. Everyone was very supportive.

[ButterfliesandBeaches 5]

I only planned to take 1 week and that's what I requested. But I was still having so much pain, my surgeon wrote a note excusing me for a second week. The third week I changed my schedule to get off work at 3:00 pm instead of 5:00 pm. By week 4, I was back to full days. My boss and close co-workers know the procedure. Others in the office just know I had "abdominal surgery." Everyone has been great.

[Her Royal Nonsense 5]

I took about 3 and a half weeks off, although my boss told me not to rush back if I needed more time. It was right in the middle of Christmas holidays - he gave everyone some time off so I really only needed to use about 10 sick days. I had just told him I was having surgery, although my coworkers knew it was a gastric bypass. I did struggle a bit with my energy levels the first few weeks back so I've had some short days, but apart from that everything has been fine.

[Livetothrive 24]

Thank you all for the feedback. It is so helpful!
I’m not sure I will tell my co-corkers. I’m a pretty private person so I’ll work that out.

[shelly420 59]

I 100% regret telling my coworkers. I feel like I'm being judged if I eat anything, or if I lose or don't lose weight. I want them out of my personal business. I told a few people in a moment of weakness,and of course they blabbed to everyone else. I am currently looking for a new job to get away from the judgements. Maybe it's all in my head, who knows, but I regret opening my mouth about it.

I planned on 4 weeks off, but I ended up taking 6. The surgery was way more difficult than I had anticipated.

Edited February 11, 2018 by shelly420

[sleeveedTee 15]

I took 2 weeks off and only told my boss. I didn’t feel it was my co workers business

[colt45 8]

I took one week off and went back. I work in a small office so I had no problem telling my co workers and my boss all of whom have been very supportive.

[Melly75 4]

1. I took one week off. I have a desk job so it wasn't that hard to go back to work.

2. My company doesn't require a reason to request time off because we are provided with a certain amount of paid time off. I did mention to my boss that I was having surgery, but that was as far as I went with it. It is not their right or business to know the specifics.

3. I didn't tell my coworkers anything because again, it's not anyone's business. If you feel the need to tell them something because you know they will question your whereabouts, I would simply say you are having surgery. If they ask why, just let them know it is a private matter.

[Diana_in_Philly 1,426]

I was off for less than a week. Had surgery Tuesday, was back to work on Monday - worked from home on Friday. Told my boss I was having surgery. Period. Told my co-workers nothing. I didn't tell my mother or my sister either - and I'm fine with that. My health is my health. When people asked about my diet, I said I was on a physician supervised weight loss plan. Absolutely everything I said was true. My experience has been that people are too judgmental.

[Livetothrive 24]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! I am likely to not explain what the surgery is - I don't like sharing too much about my personal life at work anyway.

Thank you all!

[Apple203 1,314]

I simply signed out for 2.5 weeks. When someone asked, I simply said I have minor surgery scheduled. He was too polite to ask what (which is what I can expect from the rest).

[BlueGirl1920 94]

My husband is the only one that knows. My friend had the surgery and told everyone. Now everyone is a critic and the things they say have had a negative impact on her journey. She is constantly defending her choice. I am telling no one and I will lie because it is none of their business how I lost the weight.

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