Hi folks,

Just a question. I know every doctor will be different, but does anyone have experience with a doctor allowing/not allowing tests previously conducted to be utilized?

I ask because I have had sleep studies done twice in the past (most recent in 2010) and my most recent colonoscopy was in 2013. I know my doctor will tell me, just curious 'beforehand' about the experience of others.

Thanks!

That's for the feedback, guys! You're giving me hope! One less thing to stress over (I would rather not stress, and then be told I have to do it, than to simply stress all that time, and have to do it anyway - at least I'll get a little peace until I know for sure, because there's hope! LOL).

Mistie:

It sounds like your surgeon is like mine. Mine requires all of the age-appropriate testing be done prior to surgery. Since I was 50 when I started the process, and hadn't had a colonoscopy, I had to have one. Pap smear had to be within 2 years (I think). Mammogram had to be within a certain numbers of years. All of these timeframes were the accepted standard of care in place at the time.

Since I have a history of PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) caused by sleep apnea, I had to have a cardiac stress test for cardiac clearance.

I use a v-pap (variable pressure) now so I didn't have to have any sleep testing. He only required it if you had not had the test.

My insurance required a psych eval and 6 months of nutrition visits (although they dropped that requirement on 7/1/15), along with a BMI of a certain amount.

All of the other things were requirements of my surgeon. I had an upper GI to check for a hernia. I had an upper endoscopy during my colonoscopy. Today at my preop I had an EKG, a chest xray, and blood work.

Mistie So sorry to hear you have been postphoned till next week. Wow you certainly are meeting with a lot of people.During my first visit I only met the surgeon and the nurse who took my weight and went over all my meds that I take. About a week later I met the NUT and do not need to see her again. Hope all goes well for you when you do meet them all next week.

Thank you! I look at it as I just have time to come up with more questions. I am also going to go ahead and get medical records from some of the doctors I know they will want them from (ie. gastro doc, obgyn, etc.), as I do have a complicated medical history. And I know! They told me to expect to be there several hours. Honestly, I think it's great. It's a 3 hour drive, so I'll take care of a lot at one time. It also helps me feel that things are/will be moving right along, AND this will allow me to get so many questions answered, because I will be meeting with almost everyone in one day! It also makes it feel like they are more efficient, and I like that. I went to another doctor previously, and it was a disaster (they told me I had to lose 125 lbs before they would do surgery - uh...that's why I'm here? They also never set me up for a nutritionist, instead, tried to tell me to eat salads to lose 125 lbs before I could have surgery - when I reminded them I could not, because of taking Coumadin, the nurse was clueless - talk about flashing red lights going off! - and then the doctor said he would not operate on someone with a history of Crohn's disease - even though I have not been treated since I was 13, ie. 26 years ago, and it says on his website which surgery is recommended for someone with Crohn's!), so I chose not to return to that clinic, and instead, chose this clinic courtesy of my PCP. So they are definitely getting points for arranging everything like this! After the last attempt... I'm definitely praying for a better outcome. I admit to being quite nervous - not about the surgery or anything else, more so because of my experience with the other doctor!

Mistie:

It sounds like your surgeon is like mine. Mine requires all of the age-appropriate testing be done prior to surgery. Since I was 50 when I started the process, and hadn't had a colonoscopy, I had to have one. Pap smear had to be within 2 years (I think). Mammogram had to be within a certain numbers of years. All of these timeframes were the accepted standard of care in place at the time.

Since I have a history of PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) caused by sleep apnea, I had to have a cardiac stress test for cardiac clearance.

I use a v-pap (variable pressure) now so I didn't have to have any sleep testing. He only required it if you had not had the test.

My insurance required a psych eval and 6 months of nutrition visits (although they dropped that requirement on 7/1/15), along with a BMI of a certain amount.

All of the other things were requirements of my surgeon. I had an upper GI to check for a hernia. I had an upper endoscopy during my colonoscopy. Today at my preop I had an EKG, a chest xray, and blood work.

Don't laugh - it's not that my doctor has required anything (yet), I'm just trying to prepare before my FIRST visit! LOL. These are just some of the tests I've heard (read about) others have had to have, so I was just wondering if more recent tests I've had done would 'count,' to save time, money, and quite frankly, the experience of doing them again! I hate the colonoscopy (I can't be put to sleep with narcotics, I stop breathing - so I have to be awake during this procedure...FUN!) and sleep study. Everything else, I don't mind.

If I can bypass the sleep study and colonoscopy, potentially pulmonary, as I saw him last year (I have a history of pulmonary emboli), I anticipate the EGD, EKG, and quite likely a visit to the cardiologist (no heart problems REALLY, but I had several mild heart attacks a few years ago due to a random virus - the receptors on the virus were the same as on my heart, so when fighting off the virus, my body attacked my own heart! The damage healed up quickly though, since it was an external cause) - none of these do I mind though, as they are fairly quick and painless.

Now, my mother DID ask if I thought, when they tell me to go do the psych eval, if they would just let me talk to myself, since I'm a licensed counselor (actually, PhD, rofl). Hmmm, now wouldn't that be an awesome report!

Glad you've gotten so much of yours out of the way, @@Sharon1964 - you must be getting close!

Glad you've gotten so much of yours out of the way, @@Sharon1964 - you must be getting close!

My surgery is Saturday! I'm so excited!

My surgery is Saturday! I'm so excited!

Yay! Congrats! I can't imagine how excited you must be! In no time at all, you'll be living a new life!! Please let us know how it goes!

My sleep study was done 11 years ago and my dr accepted it.

My sleep study was done 11 years ago and my dr accepted it.

That's wonderful to know! I'm hoping since nothing really changes (unlike blood work, for example), mine will be accepted, as well!

Yes, get the original report from where you had the study done. My report had my weight listed on it. I weigh more than that now.