Question:
What are the tests that have to be done before surgery.

I am just starting the process of test and the ones i know for sure are the sleep apnea, mental evaulation, and physical. what other things do i need to get set up to make the process quicker.    — rose_78 (posted on January 22, 2006)

January 22, 2006
Rose, It depends. I wouldn't be making any appointments without checking what your insurance requirements are. If you going to self-pay and use a WLS clinic, let them tell you what tests they are going to need and were to go get them. Most insurance companies now require a 6 months supervised physician weight loss program and then you begin the process.
   — the7thdean

January 22, 2006
Besides the psych eval and the potential sleep study, I went in a week before my scheduled surgery (with the Barix Clinic) and spent the better part of the day answering medical questions up the wazoo, having SEVERAL vials of blood drawn for just about every kind of test possible. Then they did an EKG and something to do with a respiration machine. All in all it was relatively painless and it was interesting to see an in depth analysis of my health. I had never had most of those tests run.
   — L S.

January 22, 2006
well i have had to have a physical , thyriod screen,psych eval. nutrition consult, upper gi serieswith marshlellows, cardio pulmonary clearance nad suppervised diet.
   — Nurse Spencer03

January 22, 2006
Rose, I don't know what your Dr. or insurance requires, however, my Bariatric surgeon requested that I see the following doctors: Gastroenterologist (stomach, EGD scope, etc), Cardiologist (heart, stress test, etc.), Pulmonologist (lungs, breathing, check for sleep apnea, etc.), Psychologist (mental capacity to handle surgery pre & psot-op, etc.), Primary Care Physician (general health, etc.) I also had to have a venous doppler to check for bloodclots in the legs as well as xrays. It may sound overwhelming, but it's necessary. When it was all over, I was glad I had these tests; it let me know how I was medically. However, please check with your Dr. Rose. Cindy B, NJ
   — cynamon

January 23, 2006
Call you rinsurance company or go online and find out their clinical guidelines for surgery (have them send you or download a copy). I did everything concurrently: I went to my doctor for the madatory supervised diet (although I had been through that already), I went to the surgeon and got a date for seven months later (a month after my supervised diet ended), and I went to see specialists for any health problems. I went to a cardiologist because my BP was a little high, to a poulmonologist for sleep apnea, and to a gastro-intestinal guy to check if I had any problems that would preclude surgery. I also had the psych eval. By the time my six monthw was up, I had all my ducks in a row to submit for the insurance, and was approved. I already had my surgery date, so I did not have to wait long for the surgery.
   — Novashannon