sghatl

<p>My PCP is requiring a stress test before she will approve me for surgery. She is not anticipating that I would have a problem since my EKG's and Echocardiograms have been normal. She said my lack of mobility has not challenged my heart so she doesn't know how it will perform so she sent me to the cardiologist for a stress test. I will be having a chemical stress test on Friday and I am a bit concerned about the test and what it might uncover. I know that if it does uncover anything, it will be a blessing is disguise as I might not have found out about it otherwise. It is my last hurdle in getting approved for surgery.</p> <p> </p> <p>My question is this - what does the test involve and why does it take 3-4 hours? Also, how concerned should I be about the test in general?</p> <p> </p> <p>I would appreciate any and all answers.</p>

Hi there. Me too. I am hoping for December. I finished my pre-op testing today and only awaiting clearance from the cardiologist and the stress test I had today. My primary care doctor wanted that last piece before she would clear me for surgery. She wasn't expecting anything but with my history of arthritis, she said my heart hasn't been challenged aerobically in a long time and she wanted to see what I would do. As far as I know, the test went well. The only reason for me to wait until December is that I have a vacation scheduled for the end of November and I am currently in a 21 week liquid diet program at the hospital. It doesn't end until the 20th of October and there is not enough time to heal and be prepared to go out of the country less than a month later. My insurance didn't require the liquid diet but my BMI was too high and I wanted a safe surgery. I actually have been losing since February and started the liquid diet the first of June. I lost 18 pounds on my own in 4 months just watching what I ate. I will be transitioning back to food at the end of next week. It will be a slow transition spaced over 7 weeks. I plan then to eat regular food until it's time to do my pre-op liquids for 2 days before surgery. My surgeon requires 3 weeks liquid and 3 weeks mushies post-op. I don't anticipate that being a problem for me, because of what I am going through now. I see that by being balanced nutionally, I don't feel week or deprived on my liquid diet. I have a second appointment with the surgeon next Tuesday. I should find out after that an actual date. I didn't start this journey until May so it's been relatively short for me. Good luck to all of us.

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At least my insurance is paying for the test.

My nutrionist gave these samples for meals during the mushie period. Breakfast - 2 oz cream of wheat with vanilla Protein powder or 1 soft scrambled egg cooked with fat-free cooking spray and unflavored Protein Powder lunch - 1 oz (2 tbl) baby food turkey with unflavored protein powder or 1 oz (2 tbl) mashed potatoes (thinned with milk) with unflavored protein powder or 2 oz (1/4 cup) baby food pears with unflavored protein powder dinner - 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese with vanilla flavored protein powder or 1/4 cup pureed peaches with vanilla flavored protein powder also can use blended Soups like vegetable, tomato, bouillon and low-fat cream soups (4 oz) well cooked and thinned oatmean, cream of rice, grits(no butter) sugar-free Gelatin, baby food fruit or unsweetened pureed fruit, light yogurt, sugar-free low fat pudding I have to have 1-2 cups of skim milk daily also. Hope this helps Don't have a band date yet - working on it.

Jobstud - why a 2 part stress test? All done at the same time? I already got pulmonary clearance and am waiting word from psychiatrist on whether I got approval from him - don't expect not to though, visit with him went well.

I forgot to mention my health history in asking my question. Yes, I am overweight, my current BMI is 58 but I started at 63 and have been on a liquid 800 calaorie a day diet for 13 weeks. I have hypothroidism and some hypertension. Other than arthritis in the knees, which is why I am having the chemical versus the treatmill, I am fairly healthy - normal blood sugars and cholesterol my entire life.