Question:
What type of preop tests will Dr. Balfour request?

I have been approved for surgery with Dr. Balfour and I have my initial consult date for July 25th. What I want to know is what types of pre-op testing will he require so I can get that scheduled while I wait for the consult.I want to be completely prepared when I see him in July. Thank you!    — Julie V. (posted on May 2, 2001)

May 27, 2001
I think every doctor is different and every patient is different so pre-op testing will vary from case to case. I had my initial consult on April 17th with my surgeon. I was ordered to have the psychological evaluation, 3 hemocult stool specimens, thyroid testing, EKG, a stress test, mammogram, PAP smear, the pathological evaluations on a D & C I had done last year when I had a miscarriage, chest x-ray, blood and urine tests (regular stuff), and my Medicaid (VA) is wanting me to also have an orthopedic evaluation. My surgeon explained that if there is any sign of cancer, then they can't do the surgery until that problem is resolved because of the nutritional problems that go along with treating cancer. And I thought everything would go along like clockwork, but . . . my PAP has to be repeated because it came back showing abnormal cells (mild dysplasia). :-( And it's going to take more time getting everything done than I thought it would. I was hoping to have surgery by the last half of June, but doesn't look that way now. Good luck to you, though. :-)
   — SnowWhiteDove459