Did your surgeon recomend or require anyone to see a cardiologiest prior to surgery? I'm just curious as my surgeon has not said anything about it and I would think it would have been part of the testing routine.

Thanks...

Dan

I had an EKG as part of my preop testing, but the 3 seconds of that came back normal, and that was that.

Generally you will have a routine EKG as part of the pre surgery testing. If it's normal, you probaby won't have to see a cardiologist, if the EKG shows a problem, they will want further testing.

sometimes it is your PCP that does the pre-op testing, sometimes the hospital does it.

My EKG showed a problem. First time that ever happened to me and I had to get a pet Scan, which turns out I have a slight abnormaility, but it's an ok kind. No problem.

I also had bloodwork and a chest x-ray. Really it's just to be sure you have no underlying problem that makes you at risk for problems during anesthesia, sugery and recovery.

CXR-EKG-UGI-Colonoscopy-Sleep Study-Mamogram-Pap Test-Psych Evaluation-and just a Full Blood work up-9 tubes.

That is why Mexico scares me so much.

If You want to have optimum results from surgery -you need a good clear picture of the Patient.

NO SURPRISES.!!

I agree with all the Pre-Op requirements.It was good to know where there were worries and where I was Healthy.

Your are right about the extra tests. I did not need upper GI as I had one because of acid reflux. I already knew I had a hiatal hernia befroe surgery, which was fixed at surgery ( No more heartburn!!) and I had already had my gallbladder out, so didn't need an ultrasound. Already had routine colonoscopy, too. Did not need sleep study. Mammo and Pap were up to date as well.

Oh and I had an endoscopy several years before seeing the surgeon because the hernia was dicovered during the UGI and they wanted to rule out esophogus problems from the reflux.

so I was able to skip some tests merely becasue I had already had them.

I did have to see a cardiologist, but that was because I have a heart murmer and aortic insufficiency - the valve in my heart leaks. It doesn't cause any big problems, yet, but they wanted to be sure. It made my anesthesiologist feel a lot better..... Plus, my cardiologist helped me get my approval by writing a letter of support for the procedure. He felt that a reduction in weight would put less stress on my heart, reduce my blood pressure, and alleviate some chest pain from the leaky valve. Which it has already. If you have any heart defects or problems, no matter how insignificant, I would see your cardiologist. They won't want any surprises in surgery....

I have to see a cardiologist for pre surgery clearance ( I do not have any heart conditions that I know of), a pulmonologist, gastroenterologist for an upper endoscopy, a vascular study of my legs aka ultrasound, see a nutritionist, sleep study chest xray and tonsof blood work. I am glad as I do not want any surprises either!

My Cardiologist/Arrhythmia Specialists is actually the one who recomended the LBS. I was being treated for Afibb and needed to loose weight to have a shot of correcting the heart rhythm. Week before my LBS he did a standard EKG as part of the pre-op requirements. He found I had a heart flutter that had to be corrected before I could go forward with the LBS. I had lost 50+ lbs to date so he tried an Ablation. It worked, my heart is back to a normal rhythm and I had the LBS done on 2-25-08.

I saw a cardiologist and had an EKG--but also was then scheduled for a stress test at the hospital.

Wow, that was wild! So you're on a severely inclined treadmill and your left arm is hooked up to an IV that's shooting solution into your veins and on the right arm is a blood pressure cuff--and a nurse. So when the nurse needs to pump up the blood pressure cuff, she makes you let go of the treadmill and hold onto her shoulder! What a ride!!! Luckily, I hit the max heart rate in no time (but my son had been on the treadmill for one half an hour and still couldn't get his heart rate up--had to go back for the other stress test, with drugs instead of a treadmill...) :shades_smile:

I am having an EKG, which is required by my surgeon. I just had one about a year ago, so am not anticipating any problems, but better to be safe than sorry.

He also requires an upper GI and blood work. This was all co-ordinated by his office and I am going to the hospital tomorrow to have it all done in one shot.

JoJo! 9 tubes of blood???? Did you have any left? I hope they don't take that much out of me tomorrow. 12 hours is a long time to go without food in preparation for the other tests for a fat chick. I might not be able to walk out of there if they bleed me dry too!! LOL

Yes, I had to see a cardiologist because I have high blood pressure and the surgeon wanted a clear picture of my heart health to make sure everything is okay. My cardiologist did a complete workup - echo cardiogram, stress test, ekg, and an imaging test that shows a three dimensional view of the heart (very cool). All is well and I'm just waiting on my March 14th date.

I had to have an EKG too and I don't have any health problems it's just a requirement for all his patients to get one during pre-op appointment.

Because I have a really high BMI, my insurance company (not my surgeon) required cardiac and pulmonary clearance. I have no health problems, other than joint pain, but it was still required. I also had to do the sleep study. Finally, I have finished all my stuff. Just waiting for approval and my surgery date!!

Wow, I didn't have any of this... just a psych and dietician. I guess I should be glad everything worked out okay! :thumbup:

I am to see a cardiologist 3/18/08. My doc explained that is due to my age (50), HTN, and other chronic conditons. I see you are young. It may be your doc does not think you need the cardiologist because you are young and possibly do not yet have the health complications from your obesity some of us older ones have. I wish you the very best and I commend you! I should have had this surgery when I was your age!

:tea:

Tammygirl

Yes, cardiologist (echo stress), endoscopy, psych eval, dietician, x-rays, ekgs, lots of blood, even had to meet with the anesthesiologist. Lots of pre-op stuff required by my surgeon - and I am a relatively healthy individual, besides the excess weight. Still I get it - you're going into surgery (no matter how "minor") and I appreciated the thoroughness.