How many of you told your employer? - Page 4 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

possum · 06-14-2009, 07:53 PM

Hi,

thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated.

I guess I have thought about it - we live in a smallish town and if I tell ONE person, I might as well tell everyone.

I suppose I am a bit embarrassed that I can't control my eating and it needs to be forced onto me - but on the other hand, I need to admit that I can't control it:

how do people cope if their partner is ANTI the idea?

Mine thinks it is a bit extreme!

thoughts?

poet_kelly · 06-15-2009, 10:38 AM

I think you explain to your partner why you need to do it. A lot of people are not educated about WLS. Also, they may be worried about your safety. My partner's brother told him that 3% of people who have gastric bypass die from the surgery. Can you imagine? He was really upset when he heard that. I had to explain that it wasn't true. Taking your partner with you to doctors appointment might help, as well.

Kelly

poet_kelly · 06-15-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DollyGirl

Ok this is probably a silly question but isn't your surgery covered under your state disability insurance? If your doctor requires you to be off for a specific amount of time (mine says 4-6 wks) your disability insurance should cover your being out which would mean you need to have your employer in the loop. I see many people use the word "elective" surgery. Is WSL elective?

Not all states have state disability insurance. Ohio doesn't. And different doctors have different amounts of time they think you should be off work. I know people who have gone back to work in just a week or two.

Kelly

cami'smom · 06-17-2009, 10:54 AM

Tell your partner the mechanics of how it works: such as reducing the size of the stomach, causing malabsorption, and almost entirely getting rid of the hunger hormone ghrelin. Maybe that will help explain why you need it.

Jeweld · 06-17-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possum

Hi,

thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated.

I guess I have thought about it - we live in a smallish town and if I tell ONE person, I might as well tell everyone.

I suppose I am a bit embarrassed that I can't control my eating and it needs to be forced onto me - but on the other hand, I need to admit that I can't control it:

how do people cope if their partner is ANTI the idea?

Mine thinks it is a bit extreme!

thoughts?

I am in the same situation. I haven't even told my hubby yet because I know he is going to be against it. I am just waiting until I can be strong enough to tell him I am doing it for me and there is no stopping me. I hope he loves me enough to support me, but if not sadly it is a risk I am willing to take - it is just that important to me.

possum · 06-18-2009, 03:58 AM

Hey, thanks so much for all your replies - read with THANKS.

I went to the Surgeon today and I asked him his honest opinion - what surgery would HE have if HE had this weight problem. And his answer - the Sleeve Gastric bypass, rather than the lap band. He said because once it is done it is over, you can still eat the food you want to , you don't have to keep on going for the check up 5-10 times a year - and you lose more weight.

When I told my husband (who is a doctor) he said NO WAY, don't even think about it!!

So I have a bit of opposition there.

StarCourtney · 06-20-2009, 01:04 PM

My manager and co worker suggested I look into it. I had been talking about it for a while and they were like just go see it wont hurt to go to a seminar. So I did and loved it and decided it was for me. My office was totally stoked for me..no negative from anyone ( I luckily work with a bunch of ladies that are a little older than me so they are all like my moms and a bunch of girls I grew up with) The owner of my company( a small bussiness) use to be a nurse so understood any and all complications to doing it. They were and are all very supportive of me( which as I'm reading am very lucky)

Beth in Texas · 06-27-2009, 06:35 PM

You know, I met my surgeon for the first visit yesterday and this was one of the questions she asked me. I told her that I had a great support person, and found this great forum but, I have no plans to discuss with anyone else, including my family.

While I may find myself discussing this at some point with others in my life after the surgery, I believe that because I have finally made this decision for myself--this is the way I wish to pursue.

So, I will have my best friend, and all of you here taking the ride with me--as I hope to do with and for you as well!

--Beth

scrappinlaurie · 07-09-2009, 06:23 PM

I too like many of you didn't know if I should tell people or not. I work from home as a remote administrative assistant...for a small company. My boss is in another state so I wasn't sure I needed to tell her. Plus she had cut back my hours to like 1 to 2 hrs. a day. So she called me the other day and said she was having to lay me off and the other girl that was still full time because business was so slow. And she told me I could work through to the end of July. Well that was when I realized I had to tell her since my surgery date is July 21st. She and her sister (who also work for her) didn't really say much. My boss just said ok then why don't you make your last day 7/15. And I said that was fine with me. She would pay me all of my sick time and vacation time.

Now things have totally changed again and she wants me to keep working until the surgery and take what time I need off and then keep working the 1 or 2 hrs. a day when I feel up to it. So I am going to do that....until I recover then I want to go out and work with people. I really thought this working at home thing would be awesome, but it really gets lonely for me. And with two of my three sons going off to college in the fall. i really need to go out and work. I am so happy I will be thinner and able to handle the interviews without being totally embarrassed about my weight.

As far as telling family, I sent everyone an email with all the info. That was a lot easier for me than telling them in person. Some of them sent back emails wishing me luck others didn't reply. It kind of helped me weed out the ones who will be supportive. We are having a family get together the weekend before my surgery so I will have to face them all and see what they really think, but I am going to be fine no matter what they think because I know this is what is right for me!

~MsKee~ · 07-09-2009, 06:55 PM

Luckily I was able to sit down and discuss it with my boss. She is down to earth and the company is family owned. I didnt feel it was necessary to share with alllllllllllllllll my co workers but I did tell my boss. She was very supportive and happy for me. Although she is as thin as they come, she was one of my biggest cheerleaders=)

I believe to each his own. This is normally something that we ( an overweight) person has to battle to achieve because the insurance companies make it so hard to get approved!