pre-op tests monday

Im going in for all my pre-op testing Monday at st. V carmel, anyone got any advise?? Im soooo excited surgery is sept. 13th its getting closer

Relax and think that it is one step closer to becoming a loser!!! I also had my surgery and pre op testing at St. V's in Carmel. Who is your doctor? I had Dr. Gupta and highly recommend her to anyone considering the surgery. For the preop testing: *Took about 6 tubes of blood *Had me pee in a cup *Did a Breathtek test which is done orally by breathing into this little bag thing twice. *Gall bladder ultrasound, have someone poke you in your right side and it will tell you what this will feel like. Uncomfortable but not painful to me. *Chest X-ray, no big deal at all you just stand there. *Upper GI.. .You will drink a barium liquid that tastes not too hot. You will get a 1oz cup of "crystals" which I thought tasted ok and you have to swallow all of them at once, you chase them with 1oz of water. Lay down on the table and roll all the way around to mix it up in your belly. They will take some x-ray type pictures of your belly after this. Then you will lay on your side and drink another thinner barium that tastes a teensy bit better and they will take more x-rays while you are drinking it. When you are done you can finally burp which you will feel the urge to do as soon as you swallow the crystals. *EKG- they will put little stickers with electrobes on them all over your body on legs, chest, etc and run a current through them. You will not feel a thing. *Pulmonary function test where they will have you breath in and out of this tube as fast as you can (hypervenilate). You have to do it 3 times and get a consistent reading each time. It is not that bad but once you finish you will be dizzy for a second. They will show you how to use your spirometer which you will need to use for 2 wks before and after surgery. Hope this helps! Jan

thankyou Jan, I had no idea what it will be like so nw I have a general idea, I am a lil scared ill throw up on the crystals and barium, but i will try to keep in mind its one step closer, I have Dr, Evanson I really like him, I have heard many good things about Dr. Gupta also.

This is my first posting. I have my testing Monday at St Vincent's Carmel, too. I am scheduled for surgery on Sept. 7th. Which surgeon are you using? I have Dr. Jones. I'm excited, too, although I go through weepy periods ocassionally, too. Have you scheduled your dietician class yet? I have mine Tuesday. I am coming from Fort Wayne, so I figured I could get everything over at once. Becka

Cool Becka, what time are you going to be doning your testing Monday?? I have to be there at 6:45 in the morning, then my medical release appt is at 12:00 I have not scheduled my dietician class yet. maybe we will meet Monday.

I am scheduled for testing beiginning at 8:30 am. Are you nervous about any of the tests? I don't think they will be invasive, but I'm dreading the barium - I've heard it tastes awful.

I am a little nervous about the barium like you, Im afraid i wont be able to get it all down or keep it down, maybe Ill see you ther Monday, then after wards Im going to be starving, no food after midnight the night before, amd i know my one appt isnt until 12 noon, its going to be a long day but well worth it in the end.

I have mine next Monday. I have surgery on 9/8 w/Evanson. Good Luck!!!

congrats on your date, good luck on your tests too, I just love Dr. Evanson dont you??