pre-op testing - enough already

[serenity 1]

I have been truly overwhelmed with the number of diagnostic test I have had to complete before surgery. I am afraid I won't have any sick time left for recuperation. So far I have seen the nutritionist, psychiatrist, sleep specialist, pulmonary doctor, gastroentronolgist(sp?), internist, cardiologist, I am sure I am missing someone. Aside from the nutritionist and psychiatrist, I have had two or more appointments with the others and never can they seem to be scheduled in one day or early morning. Rather 12 noon seems to be the favorite appointment time of day. How do you keep your business to yourself (not sharing with your job) when you have miss a week of work for test?

Now, I am waiting approval for the latest and greatest CPAP machine.....and of course I have to go back to make sure it works. Enough already. :cry I did not have this many test when I was bringing life into the world. :faint:good grief!

[nbjen 0]

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL!!!! There are only two people I work with that know what I'm doing and there is one other person that I DON'T want to know and she's been asking questions when I'm not here about why I have all these appointments - it's no one's business!!! And for using so much time - that's me in the same boat too. I hate using so much time plus all the time when I'm recovering. I wish all that time for appointments could be when I'm recovering. That is one of the reason's I'm having surgery on Friday and returning the next Wednesday. I hope I'm ready; if not I guess I'll call in sick. I'm telling anyone else who ask's that I'm going away for a long weekend.

But to be positive - it will be soooo worth it!!! Frustrating but worth it! I have surgery on Friday and I just can't wait to get it over with and be on the other side recovering! I used to work a schedule where I had days off during the week and that would have been really nice for this surgery to get everything done.

Keep your chin up and just imagine how you will feel in a year from now! I wonder how much weight I'll actually loose, sometimes it seem unimaginable that I could be a "normal" size!

[beachgirl 2]

Wow, that's a bunch of tests. I didn't have to have any at all but I was selfpay in Mexico.

[Candle 11]

I'm right there with you!!

Blood work

Nutritionist

Shrink

EKG/ECHO

Stress Test

Sleep Study 2x

Pulmonary dr 2x

Consult for Upper GI

Upper GI procedure

Lap Band dr 3x

6 month supervised diet with PCP 6x

I'm up to my neck in $30 co-pays and raising a lot of questions at work.

Ugh!!!!

[Big As Life 0]

I didn't have to have all of that...I did have to have sleep study, but I only had to wear a monitor at home and then took it back in the next day..I had went to pre-register at surgery center and the anesthesia doctor said I would have to have EKG and release from doctor before he would feel comfortable putting me under...I went that very day and got appt for next day to have EKG and release paper work done...I was so upset I was afraid that I would not be released to have surgery..but...no problem...doctor said everything was fine...I was a self pay, so I didn't have to go to all of the different doctors...

[serenity 1]

Thanks for the reply NBJEN...you are 100% correct, it will be worth it. Post when you are banded and share the experience.

[kacee 3]

I guess I didn't think about it because I have to go to my doctor every three months or so to get bloodwork done for my cholesterol anyway....so I had full bloodwork done last month already. Then I had had a stress test and EKG done as well, so I just sent for those results. THEN I had just gone to an ENT for my snoring and had my sleep test(s)....CPAP here I come (YUCK) so I had those results too. Basically I walked in the door and all I had to do was start calling my doctors to fax stuff. I wasn't required to have a psych test for some reason. Maybe because my medical issues were prevalent...who knows.

[keiko 1]

Ditto on the tests. They are a major pain, but I know my surgeon and I know more about my health and mental state than my PCP ever did! I had a very unsupportive PCP...in fact he told me 2 yrs ago that he would NEVER OK surgery! (Like being 100+ lbs. overweight is soooooo good for me!) He kept saying that I should go to Weight Watchers (as if I never heard or tried them!) At that point I mentally said "adios" and took it upon myself to start the ball rolling. I had to jump through hoops w/BCBS but it was worth it. Surgery is scheduled for May 16. Getting the testing done meant taking a lot of half days off for dr. appointments. I didn't tell anyone at work (and don't plan to). All my boss knows is I'm having surgery. I'm sure he thinks I have some dread disease like cancer, but too bad, I'm not telling him anything. (And I do have a dread disease-fat-which will kill me if it continues.) As far as any questions afterward, I still won't tell anyone because the company I work for is gossip heaven, and I refuse to have my life picked apart by everyone else. Sorry for the rant, but just keep telling the company that you have doctors appointments and let it go at that. By law they can't get info on your medical condition, so if you have the time off available, go to your appts. and don't worry about it.

[Hazelbunny 0]

WOW - that is alot of tests. I just had to have a metabolic panel, a complete liver panel, and an upper GI.

I had a sleep study within the past six months so I didn't have to have another one.

[lilaz602 0]

I have to get lab work and I request to get an upper GI. I want to know ahead of time if there are going to be any issues. My doctor told me my insurance only requires a 5 year medical insurance showing a BMI over 40. I am extremely lucking. I will have to go on a 3 week pre op diet. I am hoping to have all my paper submitted to my insurance on Friday. My doctor office thinks I can get my surgery done by the end of the year! :cursing: The only think I am not happy about is I will have to stay in over night, my insurance requires it. I am so excited! I know it can take up to 30 days for my insurance to approve so wish me luck!