Pre-op tests done!

Hi all!! I hope everyone is doing well. I had my pre-op tests yesterday. This is what my day was: ultrasound of gallbladder (she also looked at more stuff), X-rays of upper chest (I'm not sure what this is for I'm a non-smoker), Upper GI (barium, to me, is not as bad as I thought it would be), EKG, Pulmonary (they put the thing on your finger to check your heart rate), I got that little thing you have to breathe into after your surgery (can't remember the name right now) and then they took 3 vials of blood but no blood gases for me. The hospital where I am going to has a Bariatric Institute so after that I got to eat breakfast and go there. They (Melissa and Billy who are GREAT!) went through everything. Billy took my before pictures and weight and gave me a copy and will also email them to me. I signed a living will. The one cool thing was that Kathy who is having her surgery the same day as me was there too! A dietician talked to us and then Melissa showed us a whole bunch of stuff (how big the hospital gowns are, a picture of their hospital beds, a picture of an average incision on a real person, and the also had ALL the tubes that will be in us there and explained them in detail which I liked alot). Also, we will go back there monthly to weigh and when we were there someone came in who had the surgery in December and she was nice enough to sit down and talk with us. She has lost over 100 pounds! I feel even more prepared now than I thought I was. I'm sorry this was so long but I know that I love posts like this and wanted to put it out there for anyone who wants the info. I hope everyone is doing well!! Tina

I have the same surgery date as you and had my pre-ops yesterday too but only did the procedures. WOW seems like your hospital is very much into the education aspect and I am jealous. Sue 273/257/?/150 T-12 days & counting

Sue, That's one of the things that I like about my hospital. I had to pay $200 to "attend" the Bariatric Institute (not covered by insurance) but that is good money spent in my book. I will go there monthly and not have to pay anything else. Also, something I forgot to mention, the girl in the office, Billy, had the surgery in 2003 so she "knows" what she's talking about because she's been there. They also have the monthly support group meetings. I will be going to my first one Monday night. How was your testing experience? I expected worse than is was for me. Tina

Tina- That sounds like a great place! Wow...all your tests in one place?? (At least that is how I read it in your post). I had most of the same tests except I had a stress test and echocardiogram (heart problems run in my family). But I had all my test at 20 different places. It was awful having all those Dr. and lab appointments. I like the fact that you got so much educational informatoin prior to the surgery. How great is that!? Linda