Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Did You See A Cardiologist?



Recommended Posts

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×