Question:
Anyone told UPPER GI & GALLBLADDER SONOGRAM not required for surgery
I've had hassle with this area's radiology centers. I was told there is a 300lb weight limit for the table. My PCP tried to refer me (my surgeon said they had to do it) but after trying over 10 facilities including hospistals, they couldnt find any that would perform this on someone over 300lbs(Im 320 right now but I expect to lose more). My surgeon has decided that he will not require it before surgery since I have no previous symptoms of ulcers. However, I explained to him occassionally - maybe 2-4 times a month - Ive had a bad case of acid reflux. However, since Ive changed my eating habits, I get it less often. Does this sound right to anyone? Ive always seen people have these tests done? Im a little less confident of my surgeon now because I know many people that have had these tests done before surgery? (including some of his own patients)...Am I blowing this out of proportion? I have my 3rd consult tomorrow afternoon. I'd appreciate any advise you can give. Thanks, Alicia — Alicia C. (posted on October 22, 2002)
October 22, 2002
I didnt have either of these done before surgery.
— RebeccaP
October 22, 2002
I didn't have either of these tests either, despite severe GERD.
— Lesa H.
October 22, 2002
I had to have a Gallbladder Sonogram before surgery and an Upper GI two
weeks after surgery to see if I could have my G Tube removed.
— Lawrence R.
October 22, 2002
I had my gallbladder removed 16 yrs before surgery; but I didn't have to
have an upper gi before surgery.
— dibie1221
October 22, 2002
Hi Alicia, I just had an UGI and a Gallbladder ultrasound which is what I
think you mean by sonogram. This was done at our local hospital which is
not a big facility (only about 130 beds. I asked the xray tech if the table
would hold me before the radiologist even came into the room . I weigh
about 300 #. She said it will hold up to about 400 # I think and if someone
was bigger than that they have a table that goes up to 500 #. I was
concerned because you start out standing on this ledge with your back to
what is actually the table. Then as the test progressed they lay the table
back so you are flat on it. I too have had reflux / heartburn for years. I
found out I do not have gallstones but I do have a hiatal hernia which I
did not know I had. I actually saw it while he did the test - it was kinda
interesting to watch the barium go down. I would think that they could find
some facility that has a table for people over 300#. It seems like there
are quite a few people over 300 # who need xrays too. Good Luck !! Kelly
— Kelly B.
October 22, 2002
Hi, I also can't get the upper GI done.Because once before I tried. They
said I was to heavy and I might break the table. Then they called the
manufactory to ask how much would the table hold. needless to say I felt
awful ashame, little, stupid ,embarrased etc... I told my WLS dr office
that they may not be able to do it. and she said to call her if they can't.
because there's other ways to do the test.
— Naes Wls J.
October 22, 2002
I had the sonogram, but not the GI test.
— Roxanne M.
October 22, 2002
I didn't have either one of these tests, even though I had acid reflux.
— Tambi B.
October 22, 2002
Alicia, I can understand why you're worried. I thought my health was fine
as a pre-op, and that I would breeze through the sonogram and upper GI
tests with no new "news." But the sonogram showed gallstones I
didn't know were there (so the gallbladder came out during my RNY, thus
saving me a second surgery later). The upper GI showed a hiatal hernia
(from acid reflux I'd had years earlier that had "gone away"). I
didn't need to have the hiatal hernia repaired, but it was important
information for my surgeon (and other docs) to have. Without those two
pre-op tests, I wouldn't have had a clue I had either of those conditions.
Good luck, and keep pressing your doc to get these tests done if you
possibly can!
— Suzy C.
October 22, 2002
I didn't have lots of the tests that I've heard others say their doctors
required. I had minor reflux, but nothing serious and we didn't do the
upper (thank God - had one years ago!) or gallbladder. My gallbladder was
removed during the RNY as they can see if it's bad during the surgery.
Common practice, I'm told to check it because often the sonogram misses
disease of the gallbladder.
— [Deactivated Member]
October 22, 2002
I think this is terrible! There ARE bigger tables made for this test but
these facilities get the cheaper (smaller) ones. It's usually the big
giant hospitals that offer a better setup for the morbidly
obese.<p>That being said, I had my upper GI at a facility that had a
smaller table only. The tech asked my weight, I told him. and he said I
was over the weight limit and they would have to have me stand for the test
instead. I was fine with that. No embarassment, they acted like this
happens quite often there. Ask these facilities to ask the Radiologist
there if you can stand for the test.
— thumpiez
October 22, 2002
I had to have the gall bladder ultrasound before my operation but not the
upper GI. Is an upper GI where you swallow the barium? I had that test
post op. I did have to have an endoscopy pre op though, so that's two
tests that required me to lie on a table and I'm over 300 pounds.
I find it very odd that NONE of the hospitals in your area have a table
that would accomodate you. I would certainly expect that a hospital that
performs gastric bypasses would have tables sturdy enough to support their
patients for their other tests - and so many people in our society are over
300 now that it's madness not to have ANY. I would be a little worried
that the surgeon is going into this operation "blind" but I'm
afraid I don't have any good advice for you.
— sandsonik
October 22, 2002
Hi Alicia, I am having surgery on December 9th. So I am right now in the
process of having the before testing done. I do have to have the ultra
sounds, but not the GI. I have talked to some who do not have to have
either. I think that you should feel confident in your doctor and just
trust him. If you do not have problems on a regular basis, he will be able
to see the gallbladder when he gets in there, and if you look to have
problems, he will take it out. I think that the test just help them to
know before hand so that they can let you know rather they will have to
take it out. I don't know about the GI, but that is the purpose if the
Ultra sound. Good luck, I will be thinking about you!
— poohdotsmom2
October 23, 2002
Alicia,
My surgeon didn't require either of the tests before surgery. I did agree
beforehand to have my gallbladder removed - no matter what. My doctor
always takes the gallbladder if the patient is agreeable to prevent another
surgery later. As it turned out, my gallbladder was diseased so it was not
big deal anyway.
The only tests I had before surgery were the blood tests for the
anesthesiologist, EKG and a chest x-ray. I had to be cleared by a
pulmonologist, but that was simply the chest x-ray and a few questions got
that out of the way. If your surgeon is willing to do the surgery without
these tests, I don't see a problem.
— Patty_Butler
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