Who decides if you need additional tests?

I had a colonoscopy done in May 2017 but my last endoscopy was in May 2016 (I sent a copy of the results of this in with my paperwork and the results of the colonoscopy in May 2017) but I know they prefer you to have an the results from within 12m previously.

When completing the paperwork my family Dr had a section to complete about me needing a sleep study but I don't snore, have a neck wider than the stated figure etc and you needed 3 yes's to need a study, I got 2 yes's to that questionnaire (age being over 35 - I'm 37 and bmi) so it was a No to needing the study for me.

My query is, now I have my appointments starting to come up which one of them would be the person to require additional testing such as a sleep study? (I was referred in April, Orientation in July and appointments for SW/Dietician are this week and the rest end of Jan beginning of Feb).

At my nurse appt., she decided on everything I had to do. She had all the paperwork ready for me. I had to do a sleep study and I don't snore. Get ready for that one. I had colonoscopy, endoscopy, bloodwork, ecg, abdominal ultrasound and a sleep study.

That's so frustrating needing it at that late stage. By the time I see the nurse it'll be 11m since I was referred and I would have had a sleep study referral sent in if it was thought to be needed back when I was originally referred! Argh! i might ask my family Dr to refer me now rather than wait just in case.

I hoped not to do a sleep study myself but the Nurse said I needed one. I asked her to refer me as if my family doctor referred me I would have likely waited 2 months whereas because the Bariatric Clinic referred me I had an appointment the following week. They also stamped the paperwork urgent so my results were available within a week instead of 1-2 months to my family doctor.

Good luck!

Me too!

I would have your dr send you for one anyway... that way you have it.. and it's on your own timeline.. and it won't hold up everything :)

How long does it normally take from your family Dr making the referral to having the study done?

At Humber river the internist decides which tests you will get.

Hi anncha,

At TWH, it's the Nurse Practitioner, but she is the first appointment usually after orientation.

I had asked my doctor when I first saw him about a referral to the OBN to send me for a sleep study, and he said no. Lol. In his infinite wisdom, he didn't think TWH would ask me to do one. He was right. In fact, they didn't ask me to do ANY additional testing.

I'm 46, I had a starting BMI of 56, and I'm 5'2... but my neck was under 15 inches, I didn't snore loudly, and didn't have any of the other "markers". I also was pre-diabetic with GERD, but no other co-morbidities... and they considered my surgery very low risk.

Assume the best... everyone's experience is different. Hang in there, and don't go running to get every possible test in advance!!

Twh is awesome..my neck is well .. sleep study in the offing :(