To not let employers know I’m having bariatric surgery?

[Mollie85]

Am planning bariatric surgery at the start of a two week leave period in October. I am having a sleeve. Realise lots of people are against this and have been doing my research for a long time, so please- no helpful horror stories I’ve made up my mind.

My Aibu is this: Am I being unreasonable to not let my employer know? I won’t be using up sick leave, just annual leave and by all accounts should be able to return to work in two weeks (sedate desk job, no lifting).

I presume I don’t have an obligation to tell them (certainly nothing in my contract) but wondered if I should let HR know should something go wrong and I need extra time?

Thanks in advance

Well I won’t be lying if I say I’ve been away as I am actually going to Czech Rep for it... (simply can’t afford UK prices)

The op is on the Monday and I leave on the Sunday so I stay in the hospital for a week. They do this just in case of any adverse affects. Then I come back on the Sunday and start my weeks recuperation at home.

I haven’t even told work I’m going to Prague. I figure a week in a private hospital, I could be anywhere - so it’s not like I can comment on any tourist attractions

Haha Lu! If I lived in the UK, I’d be joining you in your yoga class (when I was healed)

Provided you're ready to go back at end of leave why would you tell them

Hey Mollie! Woohoo well done for taking this massive step. I had my bypass at the end of Feb and am doing great. I didn't tell my boss. I did say I'd had prior surgery that needed amending scarring etc but I also said i could cover it with holiday. He did of course refuse as he's a bloody brilliant boss. I took 3 weeks off. 2 sick and 1 holiday. I think I'd have found it hard going back before. Although I did start some decorating on the 3rd week lol. Go for it.

Fuck the nay sayers

I had a gastric sleeve too and told work I had planned surgery just not what. I only had a week and filled out a self certificate form (normal sick form at our work) but could have had more if I needed.
No one knows at work.

And I went to Prague. Who you going with?

Good luck Mollie.

Good luck op having my sleeve done in August. You do not have to tell anyone

Hi OP, I’m 3 years post sleeve and it was one of the best things I have done. I regained a wee bit, but am losing it again. It’s easy to get lazy later on. You won’t regret it. It is entirely you call who you chose to disclose this info to. People are always going to have opinions about it. Be aware that the recovery period is tough, but you can do it! Be happy and proud of yourself!!!

Ooh good luck.

Start a blog or thread about it please.

Yes, good luck. Stay positive and ignore the unhelpful comments. Your health and life matters, so well done for taking action. I hope it all goes well.

Morning all, thanks for more lovely comments over night.

Hobby - New Leaf. It’s a UK company that organize it all, which I liked the sound of. I fly into Prague but the hospital is an hour away.
I was also looking at Lithuania - a company called Nord Bariatric who looked really good too, however logistically it wasn’t possible because of the flights - I didn’t want to have to start worrying about getting on trains to connecting airports (never been on a train and didn’t want to start navigating when I was five days post op and getting stressed out).

So I chose New Leaf because I’d watched a YouTube video from a girl who had been there (they also have a cosmetic surgery branch - tempted to ask if they’ll chuck a boob job in for free?) and also because of the testimonies I’d read.
The woman who runs it has had a bypass herself and she is super responsive on email / phone, etc.

I think it still might be a struggle traveling, but this is why they keep you in for so long afterwards and it’ll be a two hour flight into Gatwick. Then an hours flight back home, so I should be able to manage that.

Now off to look for some super light luggage....

NB - I was thinking of blogging / vlogging the “journey” - a thread is also a great idea . For those interested of course

I went with New Leaf too. They are great. They also have a great Facebook group which is definitely worth joining before you go if you haven't already. Best thing I have done!

Also is the girl you were watching Stephanie? If so I went at the same time as her.
The journey back was hard but I left on Friday as I recovered very well and moved my flight forward.

New leaf has a great reputation OP.

I went to Poland (unfortunately for complicated medical reasons it could not be done - but nothing to do with the Clinic. Am now at the end of the NHS wait)

I was so impressed with the thoroughness of the clinic with tests prior to the Op. Over 50 Brits there having various bits done (mostly cataracts) and really professional. From the research I did before I went , New Leaf sounds very similar.

Our thread 'gastric bypass in two months' is a continuing blog of those going through this procedure, where we give each other tips and advice. Please come join us !

Will definitely come and join you when the time is right, Font! Will also start my own thread about the procedure. So as to not be too identifying, the dates I used in my OP were... sketchy at best - suffice to say... by October I hope to have lost a fair bit of weight

A Hobby- wow! I’m so pleased to be talking to you - do you mind if I ask you some more questions? Happy to do that over DM/ email if not here?

Yes go ahead. Happy either way, Dm me first and then you can decide what method is easiest