approved 100%
I recently started the lap band surgery pre-op check list and was informed today that my insurance will cover the costs. I am so relieved and excited about this news!
As long as the rest of my pre-op tests go well, I may be having the surgery by early April. While I am excited, I am wondering what to say at work when I need to have the week off.
I work at a salon & spa and although I like the people that I work with, I am afraid that "tails will wag" if I am truthful. Taking a week off will not be that hard to do but I will need a reason when requesting the time off. I feel like this is a private matter and they do not need to know, but I also do not like the idea of becoming a liar.
I have heard so many times from (normal sized) people that losing weight is easy, simply eat less and exercise or Weight W****ers is the best program, simply count your points, when your points run out just stop eating for the day...Ugh, if it were only that easy for me!! I also fear that if I did tell them about my procedure, upon my return my co-workers will be watching everything that I eat and that would make me feel really uncomfortable.
There must be others who have experienced this and I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and I look forward to getting to know many of you!
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I do NOT consider this lying. I am a very private person when it comes to medical issues. When someone asks about my weight loss I simply tell them that I have been working very hard on it for close to a year. If they press further I tell them I had some health issues flare up that I had to take care of by losing weight. If they press further, I tell them that I am working with my doctor, a nutritionist, and a personal trainer, that I log everything I eat, and that I work out 6 hrs. a week. (That usually shuts them up!)
My opinion of WW (not that you asked, but...) is that the points system is only as good as the quality of food you spend the points on. You could eat Snickers bars and stay within your points range! Also, WW is a business and they are in the business of keeping you coming back. I joined countless times, and had less and less success with every attempt, as their program kept changing. The best (to me) was the old style WW program - actually not too far a departure from my post RNY eating plan.
Best of luck to you!
As to what and who to tell, you'll find as many choices as there are people! I chose not to tell more than a couple of people at work who I knew I could trust because it's a very tight "community" (read: gossipy) workplace. I really didn't choose to be the latest fodder for speculation and conversation. As far as folks knew, I was going out to deal with a medical issue and would be out for several weeks. The people who needed to know, knew. The others were told (when they asked) that I was dealing with a medical issue and was "ok."
Later, as the weight loss became glaringly obvious, there were a numver of people who asked if I was "OK" and if I was losing intentionally. i reassured them that I was, in fact, literally "working my butt off" to make it happen and when they asked how I was doing it, I explained that I was working with my doctor and a nutritionist, was exercising 4 - 6 days per week, and had changed my entire eating plan. All very true.
At this point, 9 months later, I'm much more relaxed about what people know and how they know it. The reality is, for me, fairly complicated because Dr. P was not able to complete the re-routing, so I really have a "half-bypass" (closer to a "loose lap-band")... but I've followed the RNY protocol from day 1 and consider myself mentally to be a RNYer. All details that the vast majority of people don't know or care about.
You just have to make the choice as to what's important to you. If you don't want to tell anyone, you certainly don't HAVE to (there are laws - HIPPA - to guarantee your privacy). But also don't be surprised down the road when people are justifiably concerned that your weight loss is healthy.
Hope this helps a bit!
Karen
Yep - just tell them you are going out for a medical leave. It's true, and they don't need to know anything more. I like Karen's way of telling people she was dealing with a medical issue and was "ok"
Funny - I chose to tell people at my job but NOT my family. I work in healthcare, and I felt I needed their support if, should something happen that I was not 100% prepared for. However, my family, I knew would be a huge challenge and didn't feel like "arguing" or trying to get them to understand "my point" My immediate family (parents, brothers, and in laws) know I had the surgery. Everyone else has just been told basically what Karen said - that I was working with a doctor and nutrionist, eating 4-6 small meals a day, watching fat, carbs, and sugar, and going to the gym.
Congrats again!
