I am hearing from some people about all the tests they had to go through to get this done.

Would love to get them all under one thread for other "Newbies" to read so they are not so worried.

Please list all the tests and age so that we could get an"idea" of what to expect! Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Baileym

I had to have a bunch of blood tests including folate, coagulation studies, and general lab profiles. An upper GI. An EKG. A chest X-ray. An abdominal ultrasound. And that was it as far as I can remember.

Nancy

Hi,

I am 38 and had to have a chest x-ray, EKG and full blood work.

Hi

I'm in Australia. I'm 45. I had no special tests for the surgery what so ever.

Janeen

105kg/92kg/55kg

The tests I had to have to be qualified for banding involved blood work, a full physical (which included an EKG), a psych evaluation, a meeting with a nutritionist, and the consult with the surgeon.

A lot later, when my surgery date actually came around, I had to have more bloodwork since almost a year had passed. But everything else was still OK.

Thanks for the responses, keep them coming! I can see such variety!

I also heard many women talking about a Pap exam as well, is this included in the full physical?

Also at what age do you think more extensive test should be done??

Just Inquiring and looking for different experiences of the "before procedures"!

Thanks again, it has all been a big insight!

Baileym

P.S. Please don't forget the age!!

I'm 23 and the tests my surgeon required were an EGD, Manometry and a full physical (including pap, within the last year). I also had to meet with a dietician and have a psych evaluation. For older patients, my surgeon sometimes has them meet with a physical therapist.

Melissa

I also heard many women talking about a Pap exam as well, is this included in the full physical?

I think the answer to that is yes, though it might not be something your surgeon specifically mentions. I know I was asked when my last pap test and mammogram was at my consult, and the answers seemed to satisfy. Then when it was time for the surgery--ten months later, remember--I was not asked these questions again.

There are two rounds of tests, remember--first to qualify for WLS, and then those immediately pre-surgery. The age thing only seemed to come into play with regard to the pre-surgical testing. The WLS qualifying tests were the same for all the patients in my surgeon's practice, no matter how old. But some patients seemed to have different marching orders with regard to the presurgical tests, depending on their age--like women under 40 and men under 45 need only tests X and Y, while people over those ages might need X, Y, Z and more.

A lot also depends on whatever conditions one might have already (such as a tendency to heartburn, high cholesterol or whatever). I know some of my surgeon's patients have had upper GI testing but I had never had any digestive complaints and so that wasn't prescribed for me.

I'm 40. My original surgeon was Dr. Szomstein (before I was denied by my insurance). I had a chest x ray, upper gi, esophageal motility test, sleep study, psych eval, blood work, consult with an endocrinologist and pulmonologist. WHEW!

Now I'm private pay and going to Mexico. I there I just need blood work and a chest x ray , that's it!

Marsha

Arghhh!

The more I investigate, the more SCARY things I find out!

I just read that a person had a catheter...I sure hope this happens when I am asleep!

It seems to be getting scarier and scarier!!

Comforting words would be PERFECT right now!!

Thanks!

Baileym:(

Hi again... the surgical nurse told me that if I went to the bathroom just before they wheeled me into the O.R., I would not have to have the catheter. So, of course I took that option. I have heard that some others have had it once they were asleep and it was taken out before they were woken up. Hopefully, you can have one of these options.

Good luck,

Hmmm.... can anyone who had Dr. Deol answer that last bit of info from Sassaay?

Thanks!

Baileym

Hi, I am 51 and had the psych eval & dietician appointment which is required to rule out eating disorders and to let you know how important healthy diet is because you will be eating so much less and healthy choices will be so very important for your body. I also had to have an endoscopy because i have a hitial hernia & he wanted to make sure it was small enough as not to interfer w/ the banding. I had a cheast x-ray because of my age and a lung x-ray because I was a heavy smoker(7 yrs ago). I think those 2 x-rays and the blood work is all part of ANY SURGERY, called pats..pre admission tests. Don't panic ..they are just a few steps required for a better life !! Good Luck

TOTALLY depends on who and where your doctor is. In Mexico, they just want to know you are okay for the surgery at hand. In the US, they want to make sure you can't sue them for anything afterward.

If there's psych testing, they just want to know that you are not likely to be suicidal when your coping mechanism--stuffing food in to deal with life--has been removed.

Well I feel like mine went fast. I decided to do it in June and by August I was done. Quick huh.

34 Years young

Full phys, and blood work

EKG

Pshy. evaluation.

Dieticion counsel

Upper GI

No Xrays

All this was two days before surgery and I had a initial exam in July.

Hi,

Speaking as someone who works in the operating room. The catheter thing is a surgeon preference but usually the pre-op nurse, like Anne said, will ask you to go to the bathroom before. If you do get a catheter, it is usually what we call an in and out, where they just wait for the patient to be asleep, insert the catheter, empty your bladder and take the catheter right back out. How long did the surgeon say the procedure was going to take? At the hospital I work at they take an average of around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on whether the patient has previously had surgery. I'm not scheduled until 3/24 but so far I have had to have blood work, a full physical, EKG, a psych evaluation(which I must say was interesting), a meeting with a nutritionist(where I found out it is true, I do overeat ),and the consult with the surgeon. I am 41 and can't wait to get it done.

Good luck with your research.