Pre-surgery tests

[MarylandCrab 25]

Hi everyone! I was hoping to get some questions answered. I have set up all of my pre-tests and have received all of the health history questionnaires in the mail. I was wondering what kinds of tests I can expect to go through. I figure that at the cardiologist I will have to do an EKG, but is there a cardiac stress test? Also, I have to do a pulmonary test. What is that? And at the abdominal ultrasound, will I have to drink barium?

I've done a sleep study before, so I know about that. I also have to have a hematology consult, but I think that's unusual so I don't expect most people to know about that one. But any answers would be greatly helpful. Thank you so much!

[Djmohr 6,965]

I did have to do a stress test but it was not the bariatric clinic that required it. It was my general doctor. I also had an ekg. No stomach ultrasound.

Lots of blood work. I had already done 2 sleep studies and am on bi-pap so they just wanted my records. I did not have to do a pulmonary test for this but I did have one and they just have you breath into a tube a bunch of times. Very quick and very easy.

Then of course the pre-op physical.

[lovedXJesus 27]

Hi Marylandcrab! I think you and I must live pretty close to one another, I see that you have Dr. McKenna in Frederick. I live in the Frederick area also. I did some of the same testing as you and I also had to go to a hematologist because I struggled with anemia in the past. I actually have my surgery date set for January 20. I was wondering....do you know of any support groups in the area?

[lovedXJesus 27]

Also. To answer your question.....I had to go to see a psychiatrist, a hematologist and I needed to have an endoscopy as well as getting a letter of necessity from my primary. But just to make sure I had all my bases covered, I also went to the gyn for an annual and I had a colonoscopy. I think I am going to try to squeeze in a mammogram before surgery as well.

[SuzeMuze 338]

@@lovedXJesus

Dr. McKenna has a support group that meets at Frederick Memorial Hospital the last Monday of every month- in fact, I met MarylandCrab there just last week!

@@MarylandCrab

If you click on the link at the bottom of my signature/post, it will take you to Jonathan Blue's blog. I've posted there a full-blown account of all the tests we're asked to go through and how they "work". Happy reading

[lovedXJesus 27]

@SuzeMuze: Thanks for the info. Do you know if I would be able to attend even if Dr. McKenna did not do my surgery?

[MarylandCrab 25]

Thank you, @@SuzeMuze! I should have just asked you in the first place!

@@lovedXJesus, you should call the office. They are really nice there and I bet if they have some rule about you not going to that support group, they could probably direct you to another one.

[lovedXJesus 27]

Thanks @@MarylandCrab :)That's a good idea. I will do that.

[Jersrose43 837]

I had to have an abdominal ultrasound to check on my gallbladder and size of liver.

You don't have to swallow anything that is usually reserved for ct scans.

Hematology consult is a liver specialist. Your surgeon is being extra cautious or does he suspect lover disease? Do you have high lover ezymes in your blood tests?

I also had an EGD to check for h pylori. A colonoscopy at request of GI specialist based on family history

A psych clearance too

[Jersrose43 837]

Liver not lover

Ugh spell check

[MarylandCrab 25]

Thanks for the responses. Hematology is because I had my spleen removed and have elevated platelet and white count. I also had part of my pancreas removed at the same time so I know that'll turn up in the ultrasound. They didn't seem concerned at the office but I haven't had an official meeting with my surgeon. I hope that doesn't deter my surgeon. I can't find anything online about that particular condition and WLS. Nothing I can do until I meet with the doc. I am going to try not mot borrow trouble in the meantime.

Otherwise I have scheduled everything from head to toe (well, legs).

[SuzeMuze 338]

@@MarylandCrab

Glad to be of help! If you scroll back through November & December, I've been sending Jonathan blog entries of my experience- hope it provides some insight & comfort.

@@lovedXJesus

Dr. McKenna's office is absolutely incredible! I like to think we're all here to help each other, whether we're "Virtual acquaintances" or actually have the same surgeon. I'd definitely give them a call- I would think they'd be happy to see you at our meetings!

[anaxila 501]

Liver not lover

Ugh spell check

I dunno, I thought "lover disease" was pretty awesome, as typos go.

[lovedXJesus 27]

Thanks guys. I am going to call them today. Hopefully they won't mind if I sit in.

[anaxila 501]

I had all of my pre-surgery appointments on Monday; the last steps in the process before surgery next Tuesday morning. In addition to these appts I had to do a bone scan, but that was last week. On Monday, I met with the surgeon's PA and the head nurse of the program, as well as the anesthesiology team.

In addition to the usual height / weight / temp / blood pressure / heart rate, they took very detailed medical history, four vials of blood for all manner of screenings, plus a urine sample and an EKG. The anesthesiology folks reviewed all my meds and gave instructions for which to stop taking, when, and which to keep using. They gave me special pre-op skin wipes to use the night before and morning of surgery, and lots of instructions of where to go and what to expect. There was also a quiz on the content of the pre-surgery class I took last week, which I thought was kind of funny.

That was it for me for post-approval / pre-op work. Now I'm just marking time until Tuesday morning!