Question:
Need Cardio Clearance

I am 33 and weigh 480 pounds. I have already been cleared by insurance for surgey. My surgeon wants a cardio stress test before he will proceed. Unfortunately, we cannot find a cardiologist that supports patients that big. I'm in Texas.    — Steve B. (posted on March 25, 2003)

March 25, 2003
Hit the internet yourself. Do not trust that your surgeon's office has looked anywhere outside of the network they belong to or whom they usually use. I went through this exact same thing. My internist wanted a Cardiolite Stress Test but the local hospital had a table weight limit of 350 lbs, I was 432. The nurse supposedly spent 2 weeks looking with no success. Then my internist and a cardiologist dreamed up some test that could be done that would give them some good info but again I was really to big for the table but they were going to work it out. Only problem is it was scheduled for 2 days AFTER my surgery. <p>Out of pure anger and frustration I hit the internet. I typed in WI Hospitals as a search title and got a huge list and started calling. The first hospital I called in Milwaukee could fit me and get me in within 2 days. So I was set, but 85 miles away. Next call was to Green Bay and their table had a 400 lbs limit but they told me that Appleton had a table that went to 500 or 600 lbs and this was a whole 20 minutes away from my house. Obviously the internist's nurse did not look too hard and certaily did not look outside of the Aurora network of hospitals. I was ticked that I had to end up doing her job. Fortunately for me I had insurance I could go anywhere so there were no delays. However, even if you have an HMO if they can not provide the test in network then they are obligated to provide it out of network. If they don;t want to start talking law suit for denying you needed medical treatment. Start with the hospitals in the biggest cities near you first. All I did is call the main numbers and ask to speak to the area that does stress tests and then when I got to that area I just explained what I was looking for and people were more than willing to help. Once you find the place call the doctor and tell them to order it and now. So please do your own homework! Most likely you will be successful at finding a place to handle you. Mine test went fine and was normal and I had my surgery on Feb 3rd this year. Good Luck! Chris
   — zoedogcbr

March 25, 2003
Ask a cardiologist for a stress-echo. You will have to get on a treadmill and walk and then the echo evaluates the dynamics of the wall motion. This is not the same as having a 2 dimension echo. The results are just as good as a cardiolite. Our office clears patients of all sizes. I wish you were in California. My boss is very sensitive to large people. After all, I used to be one of them. Good luck!
   — Sue A.