setbacks

Just need to share my morning.  Most of the time so far i've been anxious.  Till this morning.  Drs are asking for pulmonary clearance.  At my office visit he is asking for more tests.. I know it is necessary.  I have asthma and COPD.  It scares me that maybe it will keep me from having the surgery.  Does anyone have these issues and was given the go ahead  for their surgery?

I had sleep apnea and was on supplemental oxygen when I had surgery.  The tests will help the surgeon know if there are any potential difficulties he needs to know about prior to surgery.  Unless your COPD is severe, I can't imagine it's an automatic disqualifier. Good luck! Kix

I had to get a pulmonary clearence before my approval.  I have asthma.  But mine is not that bad.  And he cleared me after my testing.  He just wanted me to start advair 10 days before surgery.  Otherwise, I am not on meds to treat it.  He also wanted me to doa sleep study and I have just been diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea.  He is a wonderful Doctor and wrote out a through action plan for me prior and post op for my surgeon.

I had apnea.  The testing is not only for clearance but also to let the docs know how they need to manage you when you are in the hospital.  I had low 02 sats while I was in the hospital so I was kept on oxygen for 48hrs after both my surgeries, and I had my saturation testing multiple times each time I was walking around.  When it got below 80 back to bed. The thing about surgery and recovery is that anesthesia depresses breathing, and morphine depresses breathing, and you have to work hard for a little while to fully inflate those lungs.  That's why they make you use the inspiration spirometer so often.  Don't worry about it too much, think of these tests they order as the doctors looking out for your best interests.  They want you to have surgery, but they also want you to survive surgery and have an easy recovery.  Best wishes! Jenn

Thank you all for your words of encouragement. Your positive answers gave me perspective and hope.  Connie

Hi there,  I  had to have a pulmonary clearance due to low oxygen levels in my blood, I had to go back twice but the dr told me it was just to make sure.  he made me do a walking oxygen test.  But all was well and I was cleared.  Good Luck!!!!! Estelle