Back to work after 6 weeks... How to deal with repeated questions....

Well my first day back was March 13, 2006 not a bad day.... I work full-time as a Social Worker and a Activity Director for a Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, Independent Living facility. But my second day after working a 9 hour day and driving 40 minutes to work and back home i came home and crashed...I got home at 5:07pm and by 5:45pm I was asleep until 12:45am then I was up until 1:00am then back down to sleep until 6:40am... Is anyone else feeling really tired after going back to work? I love the feeling that everyone noticed the changes in me but a few are being really I feel like I need to wear a sign that says No I didn't go on a vacation I had surgery...And I'm okay...I'm not sick........... At first I appreciated all the concern but now I feel everytime I drink water or especially during my lunch break everyone looks to see what is she eating....Some of my fellow co-wokers are actually fighting between themselves and trying to figure out who should get the surgery next. They really don't understand everything you go through to get ready for surgery and then for the rest of your life............ Oh well sorry I venting......It can be hard especially working around doctors and nurses all day.... One doctor from Stanford actually praised me by saying that she couldn't have done it and she was impressed how well I have done so far. That made me feel a little better....Thanks for listening and reading my post....... suzan

I was back to work 2 weeks after my surgery and I still get tired after the work day. I don't think most people have a clue of how much we go through first to get the surgery, then for what follows. Try not to let them get you down. Leeanne

WOW....Just 2 weeks after surgery..I impressed.......I know I need to just igorne the stupid questions but answer the ones that seem caring. Usually i'm the one who is the perky one and everyone is telling me to slow down....Thanks for all your love and support.........Suzan.

Suzan, I'm lucky in the fact that I got laid off 14 days before my surgery. (Our company was bought out by a group from India) Right now I am collecting unemployment mainly because I am making more on that then working (No childcare to pay for). Anyway, I feel I am lucky because once I put myself back out into the work force it will be all new faces and I won't have any questions to answer. Society has made WLS so taboo and knowing someone that has had it done is like coming face to face with someone who cheated death. (In their eyes anyway) We just have to be careful to remember these people didn't go through the hours of informative classes and months of research on WLS like we have. I guess it's normal to get grilled with questions, especially from potential future WLS candidates. For them, who better to ask then someone that is going through it right now? Dawn

Sorry to hear you got laid off. Hopefully it didn't effect the cost of your surgery.. Thank you for your kind words.........Looking forward to a new healthy me.........Actually with all the walking i do at work and going up and down the stairs my frozen scale finally moved after 2 1/2 weeks weeee.......... Suzan

Suzan, I know how you feel. I went back to work at 4 weeks. I am 7 weeks now. I still get a bit tired, yet feel pretty good now. All the questions I know can be frustrating. It will die down after awhile. Take care and things will get better!! Nobody knows how we feel about ourselves except us, so people should not give their two cents about the surgery. We are the ones who had to endure this life change, not them. You are doing great! Andrea

Andrea Thank You for your advice...By the way you look great in your picture. Suzan

Congrats on going back to work. I work as a nurse in a very busy unit, and I work 12 hour nights. I feel the same as I did before surgery....tired. But not to the point of exhaustion. A couple of days I had very busy assignments and I didn't get to eat but once a night during my twelve hours, and didn't get my fluids in, so I had to make up during the rest of the day. Majority of my coworkers know that I've had surgery, and some have questions just for better understanding, and they're very supportive. I did have one comment of "You've been eating all night", so I kindly told her (not really) that I have to eat quite often and to mind her damn business....she left it alone. Keep up the good work Suzan! April

Thank You April........... You probably know from working in a hospital setting as long as I keep on moving I have no problems but when I sit down for my 30 minute lunch "poof" I feel like taking a nap........Everyone has been so supportive at work. Actually stating slow down and take it easy. It is actually easily to get more execise in at work then I did at home...The steps all over the facility really help.....Nice to hear from a fellow co-worker in the health field. Take care Suzan