Question:
What next?

So far I have finished blood work, scheduled for Phsych eval, and have taken an EKG...I do currently have sleep apnea and I was diagnosed in 1998 at the VA Hospital in Helena Montana. Do I need to have another sleep study done? Also, I used Phen Phen for 4 months, I had a stress test and echocardiogram done in 1998, do I need to do those both over again? Just to give you a heads up, my initial consult is March 23, 2004, What else am I missing as far as tests go...? thanks for your response.    — Richard L. (posted on December 30, 2003)

December 30, 2003
Hi! I'm sure you will have to have the tests done again. They are over 5 yrs old. I had had the cardio tests done when I first started my process for WLS, then by the time the surgery was actually scheduled it was 6 months, and I needed to have them done again within 3 days and get cardio clearance. As far as other tests, I also had to see a lung doctor, and a gastroenterologist. I also needed 2 visits to a nutritionist. Good luck to you! Lap RNY 5/15/03 down 106 lbs.
   — KellyJeanB

December 30, 2003
The best thing for you to do is instead of running around trying to get tests done, WAIT on your surgeon to tell you what you need. Usually, they even schedule them for you. And yes, the other poster is right. All the tests you mentioned are way too old.
   — Delores S.

December 30, 2003
Richard: What you can do while you're waiting on your consult is gather up any evidence of weight loss attempts. Try to figure out your timeline of when you gained and lost weight and what programs you used to try and lose. If your insurance requires a 6 month doctor supervised program then the 4 months you were on phen fen isn't enough. Find out what your insurance requires in terms of proof of diets etc and that should give you plenty to do. The actual tests vary among different doctors, but most probably require a gall bladder sonogram. As the other posters have said you want those kind of tests to be as current as possible though, or the surgeon might have you redo them. Good luck on your journey. Sherry
   — sherry hedgecock

December 30, 2003
Instead of worrying so much about tests (and other posters are correct:your tests are too old and the surgeon will order what he wants done) be sure you know the criteria your insurance company goes by for approval of surgery. No matter what tests you have done, if you don't meet their criteria, you won't get approved. Also, make sure your insurance covers the tests and so forth. If your surgeon requires a psych eval, but the insurance company does not, they may not pay for it. Good luck!
   — koogy

December 30, 2003
More than likely they will want or should schedule another sleep study to determine if you O2 levels and sleep disturbance/occurances have risen or fallen. These can have a definite effect from the anesthesiologists (sp?) safety concerns. Also, if you do use a cpap in the hospital, they will have you in the cariac care unit immediately postop just as a precaution before moving you to secondary recovery. They watch everyone with possible breathing/heart related conditions like that.
   — track

December 30, 2003
Who is ordering these tests? Be careful because if your insurance does not require all of them for approval, and then you end up denied, you could end up holding the bill for them. BCBS United of WI required a psych eval and letter from the surgeon and that was it. Which meant even if I was denied they would pay for the psych eval and surgeon consult. The same with my PS request. In order for them to consider it they required a consult from the PS, therefore they paid for those. They also required an evaluation from an Orthopedic surgeon, which they had to pay for - approval or not. <p>If you are using your CPAP or BiPAP then they won't likely need a new sleep study. My surgeon used an echocardiogram from 1999, so your's might be fine. The biggest thing is that they know these are problems and plan accordingly. It's the things that they have no idea exist, that can really throw a kinker into surgery. <p>The thing I would concentrate on is putting together as detailed a diet history as you can as most insurances want that info. Have you called your insurance and found out what their requirements are for approval? Do they require a certain length of doctor supervised diet? If so, and you do not have that, then get to your PCP and get it started now so you don't waste this time. Your insurance needs to tell you their requirements, if you ask. I'll be 1 yr PO on Feb 3rd and it's been an amazing 10+ months so far. It's worth whatever hoops you have to jump through to get this new healthy life! Good Luck!
   — zoedogcbr

December 31, 2003
If your surgenhas a support group meetings why not attend and ask.
   — bob-haller