Today's group session (12/12/12)

HI!  Who was at today's group session?  Was there anything you were surprised at???

 

I was shocked at how much home work is needed before hand.  I mean I wasn't expecting to walk in and get the surgery and voila! I'm thinner.  But I wasn't expecting 7 + appointments before the surgery.  That's a lot of missed work!  Not to mention, I thought you can go to work in about a week (desk job) but turns out it could be up to a month? 

Missing all that work will definitely hurt the pocket book!

Nothing else was much of a shocker....

In case you were there, I sat 2nd from the front, left by the door - long black hair, black jacket.

 

 

 

I wasn't at today's session, I went to mine in November and I actually was very impressed with the amount of work that goes into it before hand.  They are doing this to make sure you are aware of everything, from the changes that will occur in your body, with relationships, etc.  and to teach you better habits with food and to realize and change triggers, all of this is done to help you succeed long term.  It's really a good good thing, at least I think so.

The missing work does suck however the craving change program can be taken in the evening so you don't have to miss work for those 4 appointments so it's really only a few that you would have to miss.  I did ask in one of my individual meetings if I could go back to work in 2 weeks if I felt up to it and they said they really recommend 4-6 weeks to ensure everything is healed properly because some complications can occur without immediate symptoms if you strain too much but you should be able to get EI sick benefits for that time if you don't have coverage at work.

 

Take the time off work. You will be glad you did. I have a desk job and took three weeks off and wish I had taken four. I had a VSG with no issues at all, but your body is stressed from surgery and it sometimes takes a while to get over the effects of anesthesia (tiredness).  I was fortunate to have enough sick time to cover all my time off.  If you  have any paid sick time, as long as you use one sick day prior to starting your EI sick benefits claim, you won't have the two-week waiting period. We found this out the hard way after my husband had been off multiple times for different surgeries. No one at EI told us that until the last surgery that he had. It saved the government lots of money and cost us lots. :( 

 

Oh I didn't realize that there would be no wait for EI.  I have sick time but only enough for 2 weeks so to take more time off I can either advance some sick leave or go to EI.  I don't think I'd want to advance 3 weeks of it because what if I get sick in the next year or however long it takes to get out of the red.  EI is less money but probably the best bet, thanks for the notice of the no wait period.  Do I contact them as soon as I know my surgery date to get it sorted out?

I'm sorry, I don't remember exactly what the process was as far as when to contact them to get the ball rolling. I think it's close to the time you are going off work, though. I think you have to submit a Record of Employment, which I don't think your employer will provide until you're actually off work. Just give them a call at the EI office and hopefully you will reach someone who knows the correct answers. 

I had my surgery 6 months ago and we did not have any classes to attend other than the 1 hour orientation just to hear about the various surgeries and a PowerPoint presentation. I wish I had had more pre-surgery information as I really felt lost going into it and post surgery, I did not feel prepared at all. You girls are really lucky to have all of this pre-surgery stuff now. Take advantage of it all and take everything they offer. The better prepared you are, the easier it will be for you to succeed. I actually just saw the dietician this week at the Vic and told her I am starting to have the same old cravings like I used to (snacking) and so she signed me up for the Craving classes. I thought they were just for the new bees so I was glad to hear I could go to. So if there any of you oldies out there having craving problems too, give Amara a call. there is a $10. Charge for the 4 classes. I am signed up for Feb 4th afternoon class but there were also evening classes. Barb C

Hi.  I know 4-6 weeks is a lot being away from work but it isn't just because of possible post op complications.  In the reading material it says some complications can occur even 30 days post op.  The other thing is getting used to eating again.  First week post op is liquid.  If you are doing alright, then puree for up to 4 weeks.  If you are doing well on puree, they may give you the go ahead to start soft food earlier.  Every step of the way you are learning what you can and can't tolerate with your pouch.  Good luck!