pre op tests

what are the pre op tests? I know one is something to do with the heart but what are the rest of the tests?  what do they test?  I have smoked for 20 years what if I don't pass.   However my lungs are strong and I no longer smoke.  do they test the lungs............oh boy......................

I think all doc's have different requirements but my doc required EKG, Upper GI, Gall Bladder ultra sound, chest xray.  I smoked for 30+ years and just quit last Aug.  Luckily for us your lungs will repari themselves. 

Jeannie

Jeanna -

When do you have your pre op tests?  Mine are 11/12. 

I smoked for over 30 years.  I'm worried that I won't pass the nicotine screen.  I thought (and was told) that my surgery probably would not be till January, so I set my quit date to 10/31.  Well, on 10/29,. I was called and told my surgery would be 12/9!

I quit that very day, cold turkey, and have been a good girl since.  I wonder if I will test clean enough for the surgery to go as planned.

The other thing I worry about, and it is stupid -

Will they be able to get enough blood from me for the tests without amputating a body part??   I have problems in that area - usually they have to use the little butterfly needle, and have trouble getting one full tube.  Apparently, my veins are little and deep, and tend to roll when they see a needle coming.  Seriously!  I have knots all up and down my arms from veins that have blown.

I have been told what the tests are, but I haven't received my paperwork yet.  It's all happening so fast.  Whee!  What a ride!

Christie my surgeon requries six weeks smoke free before surgery.  I believe your time frame is about six weeks so you should come clean with your surgeon about your quit date, you should be fine.  Your anastigiologist deserves the truth so he can do his/her very best job. They did take 11 tubes of blood out of me for my pre op testing I guess I forgot about that (how quickly we forget).  I was way more nervous about the preop testing than I was about surgery, it turned out that the preop tests were a breeze, yes even the barrium test!

Jeannie

When she called from the surgeon's office with the date, I did tell them that I hadn't stopped yet, as I was told previously it would be in January.  Dr. E usually requires 2 months smoke free. 

They put me on hold, and went and asked someone.  She came back on the line and said if I quit right now, that very day, I should be just fine, so that's what I did.

Don't worry - I plan to let the anesthesiologist know exactly when I quit!  I want to wake up!

I would think I'd do fine.  I've had other surgeries before, including a hysterectomy, while still smoking and did ok, but you never know, so they'll know everything!!

I'm with you - I'm way more nervous about the pre op tests than the surgery.  I'll be asleep during surgery, and it'll be over when I wake up!

11 tubes of blood?  Good grief - that'll cost me probably  1 hand and at least 3 fingers off the other one!!

mine are 11\11.  there is a nicotine screen? i take chantix hope that does not hurt it.

Yep - one of the tests is a nicotine screen.  From what I've read, Chantix won't hurt it.

I tried Chantix before, but had to stop taking it - I puked constantly.  The nausea and vomiting were awful.  So.... I went cold turkey.

Hi Ladies,

I just had my preop tests and St. Vincent Carmel. They took 8 tubes of blood and I didn't pass out. They did use a small butterfly needle. I didn't even feel it. I took the burping crystals to extend my stomach and drank the barium. The barium is not the best thing to drink, but I have had worse. The crystals are sour lemon flavored and when taken with water make air in your stomach.Try not to burp. That isn't easy. They then do Xrays while you drink the barium. I smoked for 30 years and quit 4 years ago. The breathing test is to see how much air you take in. They give you a machine to practice with at home. You have to take it back to surgery with you. It is to help keep your lungs from getting full after surgery. You do a urine test, to check for kidney function and to see if you have smoked in the last couple of months. And an EKG. It wasn't near as bad as what I had expected. It all takes about 3 hours. Yo also fill out paper work. Not bad at all. I hope I have eased your minds and good luck ladies. My surgery date is 11/18/2008 and I am ready to bust with excitement.

Teanonna

thanks and good luck!