Question:
about tests which ones?

i was wondering i just sent off for my packet and should be recieving it soon i was wanting to go ahead and get my test done and over with how do i go about doing this who has to set it up for me?    — angela W. (posted on February 23, 2004)

February 22, 2004
Angela, every surgeon is different and so is every patient. Once they go over your medical history they will let you know which tests they want you to have done and will usually let you go anywhere as long as you get the results forwarded to the surgeons office. My surgeon's office did let me know of several different labs/dr.s in the area that had done testing for them in the past. <p> My surgeon did not require me to do a sleep study or a psych evaluation. He screened me for the sleep study - I answered a list of questions and he determined I had a very low chance of having sleep apnea. I did not have diabetes or hypertension, so there were no tests I needed to do for those. He did have me do a heart sonogram, because I had indicated in my paperwork I had taken diet pills in the past. <p> Once you are approved, you will have to do some pre-op stuff: bloodwork, usually an EKG, etc. These are usually done within 2 weeks of your surgery date at the hospital where surgery will take place. They can't be done in advance since the results could change over time. <p> I would wait and see which tests they want, you don't want to spend money on testing that they don't require. <p> Good Luck!
   — Ali M

February 22, 2004
Since my Primary Care Dr was supportive of me having this surgery he had his own test he wanted run before he would give me the go ahead. I had been in a Diabetic research study for 3 years with him so he closely monitored my blood work and EKGs. But he wanted me to see a abdominal speicalist for my acid reflux and history of polyps in my colon. I got the OK from the abdominal specialist after the endoscopy and found I had severe acid reflux which is gone now after surgery. He also did some extensive test on my gallbladder to see if it functioned properly. My PCP also sent me to a endricronolgist for testing and found out some medication I took 20+ years ago for polycystic ovarian disease had destroyed my metabolism and I would never be successful at weight loss without the surgery. So I felt great going to my surgeon with all my test in hand and all he needed then was for me to go to dietary class. Good luck and make sure you tell your surgeon every medicine you have been on and every ache or pain you have. Nancy
   — nefish