More questions - sorry!!!

Okay I have 3 tests left and I wanted to find out what they're for and what I should be worried about. I have to have and EKG, Bloodwork and an ultrasound. So if you can give me any feedback, super!!! What is an EKG? What is an abnormal EKG? Is that where they hook me to wires and just listen to my heart? What do they look for in my blood? What things can prevent this from being okay? Like if I have a cold and my blood shows low white cell count, what happens? I used to smoke. What happens if they test me and I still have nicotine in my blood? What kinds of things in your blood will they not let you do surgery for? When they do the ultrasound do they just check your gall bladder or all over? Would I know if I had a gall stone? If so, can they take my gall bladder during surgery or do they have to wait and have me get it taken out before they do surgery? If I have gall stones, will they still do surgery? I think that's it for now. Sorry for all the questions but I'm just so nervous that now that I'm approved, what happens if something in one of these tests go wrong? Ya know? Thanks so much! Hugs, Jen

Dear Jen: When they do the ekg, that is where they hook you up to the leads (wires) that trace your heart beating. They look for any abnormal electrical activity. If you haven't had any heart problems I'm sure it will be fine!! The bloodwork is mainly looking for any signs of anemia, and infections. Did your surgeon ask about your smoking? It is possible they might do a nicotine level, if he's a stickler about not smoking. I think with the ultrasound they're looking mostly for gallstones. I had my gallbladder taken out at the time of my WLS. My surgeon usually removes it. I suppose your Dr is checking for stones to determine whether or not yours comes out at the time of your WLS. Best of luck to you!!! Hang in there, soon you will be on the losing side!!! Keep us posted, DeeAnn

Thanks so much DeeAnn! My doc did not ask me about smoking. I put on their q'aire that I don't smoke and nothing more was asked. I haven't had any heart problems or gall bladder problems. I can see me having stones though and them wanting to do surgery to remove that before they do the WLS. I'll just have to see!!! Thanks again ~ hugs, jen

Try not to worry about the few tests you have left to do. They don't hurt and will help the dr. decide the best route to take for you and your surgery. They can and usually do take the gall bladder if needed out at the same time as your wls. Good luck Cindy

When I had my testing done it was all done the same day at Sartori. For the EKG they just hook some wires up on your chest and print out your heart rythym (sp) on a machine. It's all done in about 5 min. I think they check lots of things on your blood tests. The ultrasound takes a little while and they look at everything in your belly. They are checking your liver for fattiness, gallbladder, etc. I never had prior problems but they told me I had some gallstones and Dr. G. took my gallbladder out when I had my surgery. He told me they don't take it out unless it really needs to come out as the scope positions aren't quite right for gallbladder surgery as for when they working on your tummy. My ultrasound showed a tumor on my kidney and I ended up having kidney surgery before I could have my tummy done. I know the ultrasound has also found problems in others as well. It was a godsend they found this on me.... Any problems that show up on these tests are dealt with and then you just proceed. Remember to have patience ~~ things can happen for a reason!!! Good luck!! Janie

Now I'm scared!!! I mean I know it's for my own good but now I'm so scared that my gall bladder is chock full of stones!!! And I've had a problem with kidney stones so that could mean, weird things with the kidneys!!! However, in October of last year, I had x-rays a lot and CT Scans and bloodwork and I think if something was really wrong the urologist would have found something....ya know? Thanks so much for sharing Janie!!! I can't express to you how much y'all help ease my worries or at least just educate me on what to expect. Hugs! Jen

Jen, It's funny usually when there is a question about ultrasounds, Janie & I follow up each other. That's because the ultrasound was our undoing. She's right, they look at everything in your abdomen. Mainly they are looking at your liver & to see if you have gallstones. Don't worry, if you have gallstones, he won't remove it before your WLS; he'll just make sure that he does remove it when he does the WLS. If it's healthy, he'll probably leave it. When they looked at Jane's kidneys, they found a problem. With me, they found a problem when looking at the bladder & the "female " organs. The technician got really interested & kept going over & over the same area. Then she left to consult with the doctor. Finally she came back & then acted like everything was routine. I knew something was up but she refused to answer my questions. Turns out there was a quart sized tumor growing on one of my ovaries (fortuntely benign) but a hysterectomy was needed before I could have my WLS. I ended up having to postpone my surgery 11 weeks. It was a real blow to me. I was devestated but, like Janie, it was the best thing. If they hadn't found the tumor then, eventually they would have found it and I would have had to have the hysterectomy later. I believe that having it out of the way before my WLS helped make my recovery so much easier. On a scary part, at the time, my gynecologist really thought we were looking at cancer. Fortunately he was wrong but if it had been cancer & I had already had my WLS, I'm sure my treatment & recovery would have been more difficult because of not being able to eat much & malabsorbtion. I probably wouldn't have had the strength to deal with chemo & radiation. As usual, this has become a really wordy answer to your question. Just try to relax. These last tests are really just routine. Usually the patient just blows right through them with no problem. But if you are not one of them, be glad they found the problem. (Easy to say now. I certainly wasn't happy then!) Whatever needs to be corrected can be corrected much easier now than later. And if something does have to be addressed, Dr G's staff will schedule you for your surgery as soon as it's safe for you to have it. Dixie

Morning Jen, Nothing to the EKG, it takes longer to hook you to the machine than it does to run the test! They will put little suction like cups on your chest/heart area & one on each leg. Just relax, lay back nothing to it. I've had several of them. They just want to make sure your heart is beating normally & not skipping around a bunch as a pre-caution. Wish all surgeons ran this test or ordered it. With the gallbladder no answer from me on that as I had mine out over 20 yrs ago. I believe it they find a bad one they can take it during surgery. If you haven't had any problems then don't worry. Believe me you would know if you have had problems! As far as blood tests & smoking, how long ago did you quit? I can't remember for sure how long it takes to get it out of your system. Would have been the perfect time for me to quit, but..... Good luck to you & remember nothing to it. Hugs Carolyn