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I cannot believe surgery is tomorrow. This came really way too fast but not soon enough. The 14 day Bariatric Advantage diet was terrible but manageable. Surprisingly I have not been that hungry nor have I craved all the old food I used to eat. I think doing a farewell tour of my favorite food and analyzing why it was my favorite really help me understand what I ate and why. Today I am going the pre-surgery cleansing routine that starting with downing a full bottle of Magnesium Citrate. It hasn't hit me yet but I plan to bolt to the bathroom at any moment because this puppy is about to blow. I'm a little excited and a little nervous. What happens, happens and I have every confidence in my medical team along with my family and friends. So who else is getting sliced up tomorrow?

Best of luck!!!

I used to love Muscle Milk when I was in better shape and lifting. It was like drinking a milk shake, no idea how it was good for me, it probably wasn't. You're lucky you get to have the Muscle Milk, I'm on a strict diet of Bariatric Advantage.

That sounds like the old Slim Fast Diet. They put me on a 14 day all liquid Protein shake diet. I'm on day 11 of 14 and have lost 14 pounds. The weight loss will come.

Gas is mostly pre-op, you are locked up afterwards so you'll be fine.

I don't look so good in yoga pants.

Beyond the 4 shakes a day which I add fruit or other sugar free flavoring I also drink water with a squeeze of the kool-aid flavoring. I have indulged in drinking a strained bowl of cream of chicken soup the other day because I couldn't handle the non-stop sweetness streak. I miss savory flavors. I have sugar free Popsicles as well in the freezer. Other than the insane gas I'm doing well.

I am planning on a 4 day weekend off and then working from home for a week or two but I don't have any kids, I have two cats that are about the size of 3 year old. Good thing for your mom and sister.

The CPA in me reminded me that you could add that to your Schedule A deductions of your tax return under medical expenses. It's always tough to get any real deductions on medical with the 7.5% of AGI threshold but don't forget about it come tax time next year. This should fall under medical expenses, perhaps a grey area but I've seen so many worse abuses on interpreting the US tax code.

I got through 7 days of Bariatric Advantage shakes and I have 7 more to go before surgery on the 28th. I am doing my best to make these shakes enjoying but alas no, they still are gross and I occasionally need to prevent myself from hacking from the smell of them. I've lost 12 pounds and I am not hungry so I got that going for me which is nice.

Nope, no fee. Would your doctor charge you $600 as a program fee for getting your gallbladder out? Medical practices tend to use these extra admin fees on patients who opt for elective surgery. They feel they need to charge it because how many patients start the process and quit before the medical practice can realize the full amount of charges which makes the admin duties profitable. When in the process did they drop this on you? It seems a little steep but if you feel it is worth it and you can swing it, go for it. Probably easier than starting all over again.

I am concerned about taking too much time off. When I went through cancer treatment a few years ago I took time off from work and when I came back it was never the same. I ended up losing the job about a year later (found a new job making more money about a week later). This time around I am keeping this whole thing on the down low. I do not think my co-workers need to know I had major surgery. I float between two different offices so people are used to me be missing for a week at a time for no reason. I kinda feel I am going to have to find a new job once I hit my goal weight. I am not sure I want to forever be known as the guy in tax who lost a shitload of weight rather than the amazing CPA tax pro that I am. I'll have to see how it goes as time goes by.

I am having surgery on Friday February 28th but I am only planning on taking Friday and the following Monday off from work as paid time off. I am thinking I can work from home, in bed on my computer starting on Tuesday. I could do my job from anywhere that has an Internet connection. I am not sure if I want to burn through PTO/Vacation days if I don't have to. Are there others out there who don't have to go into the office that went back to work sooner than later? What do you think?

Congrats on getting a date, it gets really really real at that point.

Woo hooo, way to go!!!

I just went through that process last Wednesday night. I joked I was eating like a man on death row. I had Cheesecake Factory and did a neighborhood tour of my favorite local Chicago joints and finished off with a Chicago pizza. It was great but as I ate the various things during the last few days I really thought about what I was eating and why. It was quite enlightening as to why I got to the weight I am. Why did I scarf down 1300 calories at McDonalds for lunch without really tasting it. My last McDonalds as I tried to enjoy it tasted like crap. I may not have the same cravings after surgery but I am looking forward to savoring my next solid meals.

I'm on day 6 of a 14 liquid diet pre-surgery, it of course is terrible but doctor's order. I found drinking a lot of Water with a little flavor helps get you through the day. I am allowing myself savory clear Soups every other day but it's mostly the Bariatric Advantage shakes. You'll do fine.

I found it in the coffee section of the super market. I was looking for the big bottles of the sugar-free syrups but I didn't find anything sugar-free but I did see these which is actually a better option.

It's for coffee but it seems to work with my Bariatric Advantage shakes. They also had French vanilla.

I am doing St. Alexis in Hoffman Estates on the 28th. I figured both hospitals are about the same with a slightly different names so I took the first available. I typically work with Northwest University Hospital but I wanted something close to home which is why I chose the Kane Center. I have my Pre-op testing next Thursday. I am curios on what is involved for this appointment. How brutal was it?

Good lord, what did I get myself into. I just finished Day 3 of my pre-op liquid diet and the gas is off the charts. I am drinking the shakes recommended and sold by my surgeon (Bariatric Advantage) and the gas is unbelievable. I'd get on something else but I already paid a good $140 on it so they are being drunk even if I clear the room every now and then. fart jokes make me laugh like a 3rd grader or Anderson Cooper when he gets the giggles. I can't help but lose it because for some strange reason I think fart jokes are really funny. I know it will all pass and on February 28th I'm having surgery and will have a whole new set of complaints to share. For Topic Title reference: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=step%20on%20a%20duck

I just finished day 3 on Bariatric Advantage shakes and I am over them. My tongue feels really gross even after brushing my teeth but I am assume that is the toxins leaving my tongue or my taste buds begging for something savory. My surgery is on the 28th.

I wonder if there is a different set of requirements for band vs sleeve. Dr. Wallace had a good talk with me when I told him I wanted the band. He told me to consider the future, what happens 10 to 20 years from now. He said I should think about the idea of having a medical device inside me for the rest of my life. What happens when I am 80 and it is causing other issues. That's 40 years from now. I could not get my head around that so I changed to a sleeve.

We have the world famous Garrett's Popcorn here in Chicago. People wait in line for that stupid stuff. Even on a trip last summer to Tokyo Japan I found a Garrett's Popcorn shop with a line out the door. It's good stuff but I'm sure I can't be good for you and I've been yelled at years ago about not eating popcorn. But there's nothing better than a nice big bag of a Chicago Mix (Carmel and cheese).

I'd be okay with using a different product but I have already paid the $143 to the Kane center for Bariatric Advantage and I don't want to pay for any more whey Protein products. I have not started my shakes yet so maybe I'll have a different result. I may just tell myself that it's only 15 days, muscle through it.