Tests Before Going To Mexico?

I've asked Rosella if there are any tests that I should have done up here before I go down there, and she said no. I read in a post from Cindy Keener, that Dr. Aguirre asked her to get an echocardiogram before she goes down and to bring her health records with her........ I'm wondering what's going to happen if I get down there and for some reason there's something wrong and they can't operate. It would be a waste.... Has that happened to anyone? I don't have any health problems except heavy menstruations. But that is something that concerns me. Heavy bleeding and blod clots. I'm blessed to live in Canada and have universal health care, so blood test and things are free. So I think I'm going to have some tests done to make sure all my levels and things are alright. Is there anything that I should request from my family doctor to have done before I go, even if Dr. Aguirre doesn't necessarily require them? What things should I let Dr. Aguirre know about me before I go down there? Any help will be much appreciated!! Cheers! Lorraine

HI LORRAINE THATS A GOOD QUESTION. IM NOT SURE WHY SHE WOULD SAY I NEED AN ECOCARDIOGRAM AND OTHERS DON'T NEED ONE. IT COULD BE MY AGE MAYBE? I'LL BE THIRTY EIGHT IN JULY. I DID MENTION TO HER THAT I HAVE HEART PALPITATIONS FROM TIME TO TIME. MAYBE ITS BECAUSE OF THAT. NOT SURE. I HAD AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM IN SEPTEMBER WHEN I WAS PLANNING ON DR TODD DOING MY SURGERY.( THIS WAS BAFORE I FOUND OUT MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT REGARDLESS OF ANY COPLICATIONS I HAVE ) I TOLD HER THIS BUT SHE STILL REQUSTED THAT I HAVE ANOTHER ONE DONE A WEEK BEFORE I GO. THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY HEART IS SLIGHTLY ENLARGED DO TO PROLONGED WIEGHT PROBLEM. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT I TOLD HER THAT ALSO. SO THIS COULD BE WHY. MY ECHOCARDIOGRAM IN SEPTEMBER WAS GOOD. THE CARDIO DR SAID I SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE SURGERY NO PROBLEM. SOME OF THE US DRS WANT YOU TO HAVE UPPER GI AND COLONOSCOPY TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY THING WRONG WITH YOUR ESOPHAGUS. AND COLON. ESPECIALY IF YOU HAVE ACID REFUX OR GERD. AND IF YOU COMPLAIN OF ADOMINAL PAIN. BUT THIS COULD ALSO BE BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO HELP WITH GETTING INSURENCE TO COVER WLS. THANKS CINDY

as a rule of thumb, ask your regular doctor for "clearance" for surgery. That tells them to check for everything that needs to be checked. I did learn that today at a seminar. That should include urine, blood, heart, etc.

Dr. Aguirre requested NO tests of any kind when my daughter went. They took one blood sample, nothing else. Looking back, I don't know what we would have done if complications or problems arose. I did not see any sign of even a cafeteria at the Cardiomed. Or much of anything else, besides a few hospital rooms and the reception station was the size of a lg. phone booth. I didn't see too many nurses either. It was a pretty quiet place. Im not sure where they would do any tests. Red Head

Hi!! Just thought I would throw out my two cents here. When I first emailed Rosella and asked if I needed any tests she told me no and that I would only need to bring a medical case history for Dr. Aquirre to look over. When I got there they took a blood sample and urine sample. They also did an EKG on me when I was getting my legs wrapped the morning before surgery. When I was released from the hospital, I was given a folder with the results of all the lab work they did on my blood (three pages long) and the EKG read out, so I could bring them home with me and give them to my PCP. I had my gall bladder removed a little over a year ago and the only thing that the hospital here in the states did differently was to do a chest x-ray. I have heard it said before in this forum that only two things would keep you from having the surgery....being pregnant or being anemic. As far as heart problems go, Cardiomed is a cardiac hospital and they are well equipped to deal with any cardiological problems. Hope this helps! Tera