Pre-Op Testing Requirements?

[Raven21 121]

I keep reading about people going for all kinds of tests. I'm sure some have to do with surgery clearance for existing problems, heart, pulmonary, etc. I'm assuming some are to document co-morbidities?

My BMI is over 40 so I don't need to document the co-morbidities for my insurance. I asked my doc about the sleep study since I'm pretty sure I have sleep apnea but she said not to bother doing it now since the weight loss is probably going to fix it (never snored or had sleep issues before I got this heavy).

Does anyone know if there are standard pre-op tests that everyone has to do? I'm just wondering what I'm in for and want to make sure I check all the boxes long before they are due!

[Justine13 264]

I had blood panels done, EKG and chest X-ray. I see a lot of people also had an endoscopy done but I didn't . I'm sure others will chime in too. Good luck!

[Susie in Lima 320]

I had to have blood work, EKG and an endoscopy. Good luck to you. When are you having your surgery?

[Raven21 121]

Hopefully early December!

[Aaron in Tulsa 147]

I'm self-pay. Because I'm young and in relatively good health, my doc is only requiring blood work and an ekg. I had a sleep study in 2009 and was diagnosed with sleep apnea, so he's not making me have another one of those.

[Ready4success 380]

I had blood work, EKG, EGD, sleep study, psych eval, 3 NUT visits, 1 Dietician visit, 1 PCP visit, and 2 surgeon visits. Most surgeons order the EGD to get a look at your stomach, so there are no surprises in surgery. I had a BMI of 41, and 2 co-morbidities, so I knew that I would be approved.

[Holly5.3 423]

Wow! Such a difference from doctor to doctor/ insurance, etc.! My sugary is 10/11/12 and I needed: Cardiologist-EKG; psychologist, nutritionist (put on Pre-op diet), Pulmonilogist- respiratory function test and sleep study (severe apnea-have to go back for another test... Torture!), abdominal sonogram - hernia and possible gall stones, mammogram (didn't have one in 5 years so I needed one anyway!), bloodwork- all ok except I'm now Pre-diabetic (frieked me out!) and clearance from regular MD. But once I have the surgery, all laments will reverse! Holly version 5.3 on it's way (I'm a young 53!)

[Aaron in Tulsa 147]

I should add that I did also have a psych eval. I didn't put it because I assumed everybody had that! :-)

[tallysfunny 363]

Bariatric PCP, Gyno, cardiologist, GI with EGD, regular PCP, 16 week weight managent program, NUT, fitness physiologist, psych eval and of course, my surgeon. Plus labs (twice already), chest X-ray, and EKG. I think that that is it?? I might be forgetting something.

And something I'm doing on the side that has all of the aforementioned people's blessing....acupuncture. The epidural steroid injections aren't working for my degenerative disc disease and tear in my L5. So I am going holistic. Thank god I have a health flex spending account because I am going to do this and massage therapy for my back.

[Raven21 121]

Can't help but wonder why people are required to get mammograms and/or Gyno appts?

[ambalam 54]

I had to get the referral from my primary,take the education class, surgeon consult, I then had to gain about 15 pounds, multiple meetings with surgeon, abdominal ultrasound (gallstones NUT appt, psych eval, upper GI scan and now just waiting on the ins. approval. All in all I have been working with my surgeon since May and it hasn't been too bad. I am so excited to get my surgery date and begin my fresh start!!

[fattymcfatterson 107]

I had the "hoops" to jump through for insurance. 6 month supervised diet, psych eval, sleep study. But as far as "pre-op tests", once I got my surgery date of september 28 they then gave me the pre op test orders. The pre op tests have to be done within 2 weeks of getting your surgery (at least with my surgeon). I am having bloodwork, an ekg, a chest xray, and the endoscopy thing. After doing some reading and the light bulb going off in my head I asked my surgeon if we could check my gall bladder. SO i have an abdominal ultrasound the same day I have the other tests. I think that is all. Some boxes we can't check TOO soon. Good luck on your journey!!!!!!!!

[AllisonWonderland 4]

I went to true results. They and my insurance required an EKG/PFT, EGD, sleep study, blood work twice because i have factor V leiden. ..6 visits (one a month for 6 months). One visit with nutritionist. Psychological evaluation, abdominal ultrasound, clearance letter from PCP, history of obesity 4 +years, letter of medical necessity. I think thats it! LOL

Surgery date sept 14