any work excuse besides hernia?

[username_taken29]

I know it's nobody's business, but we have a very tight knit group at work and I will be asked what surgery I am going for. Just wondering if there are any other excuses besides hernia since I've done some reading and the explanation isn't exactly straightforward.

I'm 30, fit and active. I guess I could go for hernia repair but any other suggestions from the group? Thanks!

[username_taken29]

On second thought, I wonder if the quick snappy summary could be I've got a strain in my abdomen from the gym so have to get a hernia repair....

If they ask why I need to leave town I'll just say I was referred by to a specialist my doc is comfortable with?

[merrix]

I'm in a lucky situation that I won't need an excuse.
I'll be 'working from home'.
However, my excuse for relatives and friends is planned to be an injury from a heavy squat gone completely wrong. Back, abs or groin.
Of course, it helps that I do the surgery overseas, and stay in a hotel all by myself the first week post-op, when I will be at my worst.
Excuse for friends and relatives this week is just business travel.

For those in a different, more normal perhaps, situation - I see the problem. But I have no help to offer unfortunately...

[C_lab34]

For people that I'm not very close to, I just say I'm going to have surgery, and they don't inquire further. For people I'm closer to, I tell them the truth. I think there is too much silence on this issue and I don't think people should feel ashamed. I've felt shame and self loathing my whole life for this for no real reason. What I've found is that rather than serious shock or amusement or mockery or whatever I might have feared, most people just don't really care. They're initially surprised for a second, and then that's that.

[billylee]

For people that I'm not very close to, I just say I'm going to have surgery, and they don't inquire further. For people I'm closer to, I tell them the truth. I think there is too much silence on this issue and I don't think people should feel ashamed. I've felt shame and self loathing my whole life for this for no real reason. What I've found is that rather than serious shock or amusement or mockery or whatever I might have feared, most people just don't really care. They're initially surprised for a second, and then that's that.

i agree.
I started with uro surgery and since at big hospital of some distance that took care of most. If I needed to get more detail I might have continued with addition of "to help ED". Only a few very close friends did I tell that I was having prosthesis/IPP/implant. There is a big difference in our age U, but to those friends near my age, if ED was mentioned then it was obvious that there could be interest. If close enough of a friend I would open up more....maybe even show them the sample Titan pump given to me, or even share Coloplast data. Again, only to most special of friends did I share this. Might surprise you of the genuine interest by some of your close male friends. ED of some sort probably affects some 80+% males over 50 (my stat, but I have some knowledge). I suggested hernia to your post, but it was not my usual reply...maybe hernia or prostrate type surgery. As mentioned, to most that is the end of conversation.....unless just nosy or a real interest. If really interested then you can be the judge as to the extent of the information you want to share. Sharing can be a good feeling if helping a friend who you had no idea had ED. billy

[Anonymous 3]

The only people who know I had an implant are my wife and the surgeon/hospital staff. And I certainly didn't tell my teenaged daughters lol!! My wife was very worried about what to tell her colleagues at work and I said tell them I had hernia surgery. I made it easy for her. I took myself to the hospital and drove myself the two hour trip home the next day. I am a little surprised with myself that I have been so open here on FT, but I guess it is because it is anonymous and via keyboard.

[scooter65]

I just had surgery on Monday and I have been honest with a handful of friends and relatives and the rest I have used the hernia excuse BUT be warned, it seems like 2 out of every 3 people you tell that you had hernia surgery then follow up with several more questions/comparisons. If you opt for that excuse, learn about hernias first, I wish I had.

Personally, I prefer to give the honest answer though.

[charlesr]

I told people that I had prostate cancer with surgery, and now I had reconstructive surgery. They get the message. If they (male or female) are dying to know, then I tell them.

[chiali09]

I think hernia is great, wish I had done that.

I used Prostate Resection as an excuse. I think that's just as good. Hernia, no one would have asked what is is.

[stringerbell]

Dr. Kramer told me to say I had prostate surgery, that way I'd get sympathy points. The other "lie" he told me to use is hernia surgery since people would think I was a weightlifter. Prostate surgery is good because it's vague, could be benign, could be malignant, no one knows and they can't ask