Hi, new member to the group. My surgery date is set for 9/30/03. I'm in the process of getting my pre-surgery tests squared away. Tomorrow I'm scheduled for a Veinus Doppler Test, Pulmonary Function Test & pre-admission blood tests. Seems like everyone wants a piece of me. I had a upper endoscopy last week. The admission clerk and the nurse kept asking me if I was there for a colonoscopy. I told the nurse that if one more person asked me that question, I was going to hang a sign on my butt that said "Other End". The test went fine.

Counting the days!

Lenny D

Welcome Lenny,

You will find much info on this sight. Thats funny that they kept asking if you were having a colonoscopy some people may have not known the difference and said I guess so,what a surprise that would be.

Hi Lenny!

Welcome to the forum

Keep us updated on all your tests, Im curious as to what all you are having done. Good Luck!

Sunni

PreBand

waiting on insurance approval

I'm having Lapband surgery, Sunni. I guess that they are more thorough about pre-op tests for old geezers, like me. They don't want to worry about us dropping dead on the operating table. Very bad for business.

Lenny D

Hi Lenny,

Welcome to the forum! I see we're neighbors, sort of. Where are you having surgery?

No question, the pre-op procedures vary depending on age as well as medical condition. The sheet of orders handed out by the surgeon in my office even had colums for check marks arranged by the age of the patient. I'd suggest that if anyone is thinking about surgery who is nearing their 40th birthday, do it before you get there. Men who are under 40 have it easiest of all--they didn't even have to have bloodwork done prior to surgery! As a 41 year-old female I only needed bloodwork, and after seeing what was checked off on some other people's sheets I felt extremely lucky.

Hello neighbor. My surgery is scheduled for 9/30/03 at St Barnabas. My surgeon is Michael Nusbaum. Lenny D

Welcome Lenny

You may be a geezer but I'm a real geezer. Got you beat by six years. I am six months post op and couldn't have made a better decision on how I want to live the rest of my life. Look forward to hearing more from you

Well Lenny and Jerry, I guess I've got you all beat. This geezerette is gonna be 60 - although I still feel like a teenager at times. (My dh is still waiting for me to grow up - and he's got a long wait!)

Originally posted by Alexandra

Hi Lenny,

Men who are under 40 have it easiest of all--they didn't even have to have bloodwork done prior to surgery!

That would be nice. I have a feeling my insurance process will run pretty close up to my scheduled surgery date (October 15th), and I was worried about when I'd fit in the pre-op tests. Maybe I won't need any!

I'm only 39 and I have to do a bunch of tests...

blood work

chest x ray

esophogeal motility test

upper gi

gallbladder ultrasound

Ekg

Then the doctor is making me have a consult with and endocrinologist (to determine if I have diabetes) and a consultation with a pulmonologist (to see if I have sleep apnea)!

Then of course, there's the psych eval and nutritional consult!

I'm about 1/2 way through! Hopefully, I'll be done by the end of this week! That is if the doctors I have consultations with don't send me for more tests!!!!!

I think some of these tests and consults are to determine co-morbidities...the doctor told me the more the better for getting insurance approval.

YIKES...I'm a little dizzy!

Marsha

Hi Marsha,

Most of the tests you have to do are pretty routine for the initial stages of being qualified for the band. I was talking (above) about the tests required before one is admitted to the hospital immediately pre-surgery. Men under 40 seem to have a very easy time of that.

The tests are a pain in the neck, but the important thing is qualifying for the surgery. I wouldn't care if they wanted me to sprint around the block naked. As a matter of fact I'd sell tickets.

BTW, I'm 7 days to go & counting. Soon to be a bandster!!!!

Lenny, you've got me laughing. What a great sense of humor you have. It will definitely help you as you go through this journey.

Good luck to ya!