What to tell co-workers

[Michee 2]

I didnt say anything to my work mates or my boss. On the day of the surgery I called in sick. Turns out the doc found a hernia which he fixed. So I called in the next day and said I was in pain went to hospital and had emergency hernia surgery. Worked like a charm.

I would be afraid to use the gall bladder excuse, in case you really do have a gall bladder problem in the future......then what do you say?

[Leta LeBlanc 0]

I was banded Sept24,07. I told some and others not. I have lost pretty slowly so It is easy to be lowkey about it. I did have to have a hernia repaired at the same time so I used that . It worked great. Then people understood why I was on liquids for a while. It is hard not to talk about it though because I was so excited. I do want to share with people that I think would benefit.

[hopeinapril 1]

Greetings!

I think there are many choices here. I am saying that I need laproscopic surgery. I am not getting into details. I did find out that I also have a hernia, so if someone gets nosy enough, I'll tell them I got the hernia repaired.

There is a lot of a good advice on this in here. Pick what works for you. I have only told 2 people and plan to keep it that way. I have several friends who are anit-surgery. They seem to think it either doesn't work or it is the easy way out. Either way, it is aggravation that I am not willing to deal with. Once I have the surgery and am successful, I may tell folks, then again I may not. I don't think telling someone that diet and exercise are how you lost weight is bad. It is the truth.

Well, good luck in your journey!

[CindeeT 0]

Tell them that you are having "female surgery" it's not a lie..you are female...and it usually shuts people right up!

[Maya314 0]

I have the exact same dilema, The hardest thing for me is wondering how I'll react to comments about How well I'm doing and how am I doing it? I'd feel kind of like I'm betraying them.. UGH.. the angel on my shoulder!!

I hadn't thought of what linesj said.. that I might find support where I hadn't thought of before.. that's a good point. I dunno.. I still haven't decided, I'm only taking a few days off of work and have only confided in my immediate supervisor and one of my coworkers who is also considering the same thing.. One thing that I'm afraid of like Rachel is being judged like I can't do it myself and I'm taking the easy way out.. but when I think of that.. my response is.. well if it was easy.. I wouldn't be this way right? Everyone has their vice.. food is mine and I feel that deciding to get the band is me finally admitting that I have a problem and I'm going to deal with my addiction. Instead of being judged I should be commended!! haha..

Good Luck Rachel in whatever you decide, I'll be interested to see what you decide!

*I have my preop appt tomorrow!

[linesj 0]

One reason I've told people I'm "looking into Lapband surgery" is because I have appointments all the time! Do any of you have the problem of taking off work once or twice a week for dietician, psych, surgeon, nurse, etc.? I wouldn't know what to say except for the truth. I'm a terrible liar anyway, and probably would slip and say something. On the other hand, I haven't told my Mother. She has bugged me about my weight my whole life. I probably should listen to myself and say I might find support in her. I can't bring myself to take the chance that she'll "disaprove". I can handle coworkers if they dislike the idea, but not my Mom.

[mrp3333 0]

Before my surgery, I only told a couple of people and asked them not to tell. Eventually everyone found out. I would go with the "female" surgery, it seems to make everyone silent.

I wish I hadn't told anyone not even my mother. In the beginning they kept saying can you eat that? are you supposed to be doing that? I don't understand how you can eat that if you are on a diet. Finally one day, I got angry and told them I could eat whatever I wanted as long as I chewed it up really good and please stop worrying about it. Every week how much have you lost now? Every time I talk to my mother, my sister and my aunt has ask her how much have I lost. I told her I wish I hadn't told anyone.

[Turler 6]

That is so sad. That is exactly why I am struggling with whether to tell or not. It would be nice to have support at work, but I don't want every morsel scrutinized! I don't want to be judged. I have told my family and mom's response was: "Are you aware that you will have horrifying amounts of skin just hanging off your body? Are you prepared for that?"

LOLOLOLOL OMG I couldn't believe it. It's funny to me know, but I really expected something different. I think she will ask me if I'm allowed to eat that!!

:eek:

[ShhhhDontTell 0]

As I said earlier... I said I had my gal bladder out... I told my doc what I did, he said that if I needed my gall bladder out that he could give me many other things that I could say I had done... example, a ulcer that needs repair... He said people actually have this surgery all of the time & some go through it a few times in their life. He said if he had to give some one a tall tale to tell that it would be the gall bladder. A hernia can be done as an out patient & does not take that long to re coop from... and like he said if the gall bladder needs to come out there are other things you can use. my doc is so cool about it all.. he said do not tell a soul if they might bring you down, doubt you... etc... all you want is support... most of the time people do not support it... or they get on you about what you eat.. how you eat & that you should be losing more... I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy I did not tell anyone!!

[taismommy 0]

Ive been reading all these post trying to come up with an excuse of my own. BINGO, Shhhdonttell, the ULCER excuse is perfection!! I have always complained of some kinda digestive prob or another so this works for me. Dont know why i never thought of it myself.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHHH!

[Turler 6]

Funny how these things affect everyone so differently. It's such a sensitive subject for most of us. I can only speak for myself, but it's hard enough to accept that I've gotten to the point of needing THIS kind of help with my weight. I wouldn't normally bring any attention to it anyway, and I think by telling, it's just inviting people into your life to comment on your progress or lack of.

I think for now I'll stick to the 'don't tell' team. I don't want to make up a lie either...can't you just be off for a few days? on vacation or something?:eek:

[babedoe4 5]

Rachel,

Whatever you decide to say to your co-workers will be the right thing when the time comes.Good Luck

[bigunc 0]

I guess I look at this differantly than most people. I have some thick skin and don't really care what people think about me getting the Lap-Band. I am doing this for me and my family. I personally have told everyone I was having the surgery. I have lost alot of time last year due to various reasons. I Have Diabetes, Afibb and Lumbar Stenosis that caused me to be Hospitalized 2 times last year since April. I had a total of 4 1/2 months of lost time due mainly to the Afibb.

My family, friends and Co-workers have been very supportive. They understand I am doing this because a drastic change needs to happen or I will not be around much longer. These are my Cardiologists exact words. I have two co-workers who have had WLS. One Lap-Band and one Gastric by pass. Everyone sees the change in health each of these individuals are experiencing and hope I will have the same success. Everyones comments on me losing weight is motivation for me. Every time some one tells me they can tell I have lost weight makes me work that much harder.

Everyone needs to handle how they procede thru the Lap-Band procedure how ever they feel most comfortable. Do whats best for you on an individual basis. Good luck to all!

[tsunami1967 0]

I think you are right to keep your banding confidential, I wish I had. It seems like people expect you to be instantly thin, and they watch you like a hawk. Some of my coworkers seem more obsessed about my band than I am. It's annoying. I have been banded for about six months but since I had about 130 pounds to lose the first 36 don't show a whole lot, not as much as it would if I only had 60 to lose, so it seems like people sometimes think I'm failing because I don't have immediate results that they can see. I don't let it get to me, I feel like 1-2 pounds a week is amazing and I am so proud of myself, but I do find their behavior rude so I wish I would have kept my mouth shut.

[Jill Talbot 0]

Only my family knows about my band surgery. I told everyone at work that I would be out for a week recovering from surgery on fibroids. Nobody, and I mean nobody wants to "further discuss" female health matters!