CubsWinCubsWin

The way they have you hooked up to all those machines how in the world would you not have sleep problems. When they did my sleep study they said I had zero minutes of REM sleep the entire night. I remember that night as being quite miserable. At first I didn't like the idea of using a C-PAP machine but at this point I don't want to sleep without it (or I can't sleep without it). It has given me much better quality of sleep and has actually helped in improving my overall health since I've had it going on a year and 3 months of use.

They are most likely doing the 330 question evaluation you do on the computer before you see the shrink. It will ask the same questions over and over again in a slightly different way. They are looking for patterns in your answers to see if there is something odd going on with your personality. Some of the questions you'll think are nuts and they pretty much are. Don't worry about it too much, the shrink is not the final authority on whether you'll be successful after surgery.

You look good and only after 3 and half months, that's very encouraging. Keep up the good work.

They are most likely doing the 330 question evaluation you do on the computer before you see the shrink. It will ask the same questions over and over again in a slightly different way. They are looking for patterns in your answers to see if there is something odd going on with your personality. Some of the questions you'll think are nuts and they pretty much are. Don't worry about it too much, the shrink is not the final authority on whether you'll be successful after surgery.

The way they have you hooked up to all those machines how in the world would you not have sleep problems. When they did my sleep study they said I had zero minutes of REM sleep the entire night. I remember that night as being quite miserable. At first I didn't like the idea of using a C-PAP machine but at this point I don't want to sleep without it (or I can't sleep without it). It has given me much better quality of sleep and has actually helped in improving my overall health since I've had it going on a year and 3 months of use.

The way they have you hooked up to all those machines how in the world would you not have sleep problems. When they did my sleep study they said I had zero minutes of REM sleep the entire night. I remember that night as being quite miserable. At first I didn't like the idea of using a C-PAP machine but at this point I don't want to sleep without it (or I can't sleep without it). It has given me much better quality of sleep and has actually helped in improving my overall health since I've had it going on a year and 3 months of use.

I am glad to hear what the next 3 weeks have in store for me, I'm in the middle of week one. Keep the updates coming, we all appreciate them.

Just stay out of the "Guy's Room"
I made the mistake of reading something in the ladies room and I fell off my barstool in horror.

Just stay out of the "Guy's Room"
I made the mistake of reading something in the ladies room and I fell off my barstool in horror.

I was wondering why I didn't see many people posting right after surgery. I am known for live-blogging my life as it happens particularly when I travel. This time around, I had no interest in telling anyone anything. What a weekend!!!
I arrived at St Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates (burb of Chicago) and found a very friendly staff and on my bed I found a bear named Bari. The room was green which I guess is calming but they were running late so I am not sure the paint had the right affect. Various doctors and nurses would stop by and I told them all my life story, if you looked official I talked. Finally I was taken back toward the operating room. The injecting the first part of anastesia to make me loopy and at that point everything was "awesome" and I had to point it out to everyone who would listen. Once in the OR they put the mask on me to shut me up. I have no idea if they ever asked me to count backwards from 10. The last thing I remember was when they blew up the bag I was laying on to make it easier for them to transfer me to the surgery table. Next thing you know I was somewhere else.
I don't remember much from the recovery room other than moving over to a recliner from the bed and also being in quite a bit of pain. After a couple hours in the recovery room they wheeled me over to my hospital room for the remainder of my stay.
I liked my room, there was a tree outside my window that was a gathering place for a couple hundred small birds tweeting away about their day. I found out that they leave the tree at sunrise (go to work, run errands, etc) and return right before sunset. It did not look like anyone worked from home. I really enjoyed the birds every evening and morning. I thought they'd might be a little annoying but at some point they collectively decided to all be quiet.
The first night was rough. I could not sleep for various reasons but mostly because it was quite loud, bells and whistles going off on random intervals waking me through the evening. The most annoying alarm was all my fault the first night. We discovered I have inherited a heart abnormality from my mother that drops my resting heart rate to below the alarm threshold. I'd doze off and that damn alarm would go off. The nurses were confused so they called the doctor on call and had the alarm threshold lowered. They were impressed with my resting heart rate, they said that will benefit me as I lose weight and get back into marathon running shape.
Day 2 and 3 were about the same, the 3rd day was better than the 2nd. The nurses were quite accommodating and I became a bit of a fixture due to me doing laps around the 2nd floor every few hours. I became progressively better as the hours went by and by Sunday afternoon I was ready to go home. My home sickness was not due to being away from familiar surroundings or even the cuddling power of my 2 cats, I wanted to go home because the cable channels were anemic. I got home Sunday night just in time to watch "Live from the Red Carpet" and then the Oscars. Was it funny, I'm not sure, I was pretty hopped up on pain meds so everything was funny to me that night.

I was wondering why I didn't see many people posting right after surgery. I am known for live-blogging my life as it happens particularly when I travel. This time around, I had no interest in telling anyone anything. What a weekend!!!
I arrived at St Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates (burb of Chicago) and found a very friendly staff and on my bed I found a bear named Bari. The room was green which I guess is calming but they were running late so I am not sure the paint had the right affect. Various doctors and nurses would stop by and I told them all my life story, if you looked official I talked. Finally I was taken back toward the operating room. The injecting the first part of anastesia to make me loopy and at that point everything was "awesome" and I had to point it out to everyone who would listen. Once in the OR they put the mask on me to shut me up. I have no idea if they ever asked me to count backwards from 10. The last thing I remember was when they blew up the bag I was laying on to make it easier for them to transfer me to the surgery table. Next thing you know I was somewhere else.
I don't remember much from the recovery room other than moving over to a recliner from the bed and also being in quite a bit of pain. After a couple hours in the recovery room they wheeled me over to my hospital room for the remainder of my stay.
I liked my room, there was a tree outside my window that was a gathering place for a couple hundred small birds tweeting away about their day. I found out that they leave the tree at sunrise (go to work, run errands, etc) and return right before sunset. It did not look like anyone worked from home. I really enjoyed the birds every evening and morning. I thought they'd might be a little annoying but at some point they collectively decided to all be quiet.
The first night was rough. I could not sleep for various reasons but mostly because it was quite loud, bells and whistles going off on random intervals waking me through the evening. The most annoying alarm was all my fault the first night. We discovered I have inherited a heart abnormality from my mother that drops my resting heart rate to below the alarm threshold. I'd doze off and that damn alarm would go off. The nurses were confused so they called the doctor on call and had the alarm threshold lowered. They were impressed with my resting heart rate, they said that will benefit me as I lose weight and get back into marathon running shape.
Day 2 and 3 were about the same, the 3rd day was better than the 2nd. The nurses were quite accommodating and I became a bit of a fixture due to me doing laps around the 2nd floor every few hours. I became progressively better as the hours went by and by Sunday afternoon I was ready to go home. My home sickness was not due to being away from familiar surroundings or even the cuddling power of my 2 cats, I wanted to go home because the cable channels were anemic. I got home Sunday night just in time to watch "Live from the Red Carpet" and then the Oscars. Was it funny, I'm not sure, I was pretty hopped up on pain meds so everything was funny to me that night.

Look who I found waiting for me when they took me back for surgery.

Look who I found waiting for me when they took me back for surgery.

Look who I found waiting for me when they took me back for surgery.

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?

I don't look so good in yoga pants.

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.

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 don't look so good in yoga pants.

I don't look so good in yoga pants.

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 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 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.

Woo hooo, way to go!!!

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