pre-op questions need answering

Can anyone tell me what test I will have to get before surgery and if i can get them from my PCP. I want this to go as quick as posible so I thought I would start getting the test done with my PCP now. Thanks for any and all advice. i love coming in and reading all the post, its like getting a great big hug from family everytime I come in.

Hi, I had to have a chest xray, blood work, EKG, and a gallbladder ultrasound. Every surgeon is different but that is basically what they want to see, ask your surgeon and see cause I'm sure it would speed things up. My surgeon had me do all my testing about 3 days before surgery. Good luck.

Tabatha, It will depend on what insurance co. that you are using. It took over a year for me to get insurance approval. I had a stress test, sleep studies, psychological profile, just about every blood test they do, x-rays of most of my body(looking for arthritis). I had to be on a supervised exercise program for six months, under the supervision of a dietician for six months . Your PCP needs to write a letter of recommendation for the surgery to the ins. co. and then they will respond with what they want from you. Then you can proceed from there. Lots of luck. Carol

hi tabatha.....i had to go to the hospital the week before surgery,i had to stay 4 hrs for bloodwork,xrays,a blood gas test,also they looked at my liver with ultrasound. I had to go to the same hospital that my doc did the surgery....My PCP does not do testing for that doc,so you could call and ask them.................vickie r.

hi tabitha, I know you are excited but don't jump the gun here. First make sure you EVEN have to have letter from your pcp. Mine did not even know I had surgery until after the fact. My insurance did not require a referral from him. I picked my surgeon after much research and called and made an appointment. He ordered all my pre-op tests THEN HE sent the letter of medicall necessity to my insurance company. Sometimes we kind of get in the way and slow things down by trying to do it ourselves. Also, be aware that, depending on the insurance you have, it could take a while to get approval and the tests are only good for a certain amount of times. Usually labs for thirty days. other tests usually 90 days. Some might be good for six months but none that I know of. Then you would just have to go thru it all again. Good luck

Hi Tabitha, I had to have a lot of blood work done. I had to have glucose levels checked, cholestrol checked, thyroids checked, iron-B12 levels checked, and chest Xrays of lungs, and liver and heart. Then I had to see a nutritionist and a psychiatrist. It is best to go ahead and get the psych eval done as soon as possible and get it over with. I wish I had found a better nutritionist, although I thought she was great, but she wasnt as far as WLS patients are concerned, I was eating wayyyy too many carbs for post-op patient. Good Luck!!

Thanks for all the advice yall. Alot of it made since that I should wait and see so I will bide my time and try not to go crazy just waiting. Im just in a big hurry and alot of my friends say that waiting isnt one of my good qualities.