What was everyone's pre-op/physical like?

[Yvonne]

What was everyone's pre-op stuff like? I know everyone is different and if there is anyone who used Dr. Inman, I'd love for you to weigh in. Also, it says a "physical", how naked am I going to get for this physical? Just curious. LOL

 

[Munchkin]

Mine was no big deal. No clothes removed! One embarrassing moment. Doc says I want you to push me away from you as hard as you can. I told him I was afraid he would be hurt. Doc says it's a diagnostic test and you have to do it. Ok I says and shoved him back as hard as I could. He hit the wall and cracked the sheetrock...

 

[Yvonne]

That is too funny. Did he laugh?

 

[DSRIGGS]

I don't even remember my pre-op physical if that tells you anything.

 

[JuliaDS]

For me, the physical was in the office with the PA and consisted of taking my vitals and double-checking my medical history and medications/supplements. No clothing removed. I did have to go for an endoscopy and colonoscopy after the physical, in addition to the very long list of specialist pre-op visits and testing before the physical, but the physical itself was very light. At that visit, I also signed the consent forms and took away my post-op prescriptions. Good luck!

 

[Settledownnow]

The pre-op physical is nothing, but the weeks of pre-op testing (and additional costs) has worn me down. I am in the process of pre-op testing for revision and completed the physical, upper GI, psych evaluation ($500), 3 visits with dietitian ($150), bloodwork, updating mammogram/pap, pulmonary clearance, and today was the last pre-op requirement of cardiac evaluation. I was not informed about the costs (given a bill for $2000) and the fact the test was 3 hours long and I would be injected with radioactive material. I do not have any history of heart problems. I had a meltdown, walked out, and said to myself, "F - it, I'd rather stay fat and spend the money on a luxury car." Bad day for me personally, but everyone's situation is slightly different. I found pre-op testing to take approx a month with being flexible on the scheduling, having the checkbook open, and asking for first available appointment.

 

[Yvonne]

@Settledownnow who is your surgeon? Can I ask your age? I'm just curious if you're going to my doctor or not to compare this all. Would they not submit that stuff to insurance? I won't be able to afford cash in hand for any of that. I've had my dietetic appointments, my psych evalu and a recent EKG.

 

[Munchkin]

That is too funny. Did he laugh?

I apologized but he wasn't happy. I had told him I was strong. He just didn't believe me.

 

[Settledownnow]

@Yvonne not, I am 50, and have another surgeon, not Dr. Inman. In fact, I just needed to vent because I was emotional after today. I apologize if I confused you with my response. You sound as though you have all of your ducks in a row with most of the pre-op having been completed. The physical with the surgeon is a breeze and my guess is you will keep on all clothes.

 

[Yvonne]

Thanks for answering. I honestly had a meltdown myself knowing I might have to have a stress test myself, so I understand {{{HUGS}}}.

 

[southernlady]

Other than pulling up my shirt for the hospital to do my pre-op EKG, I didn't remove any clothes.

Mostly weight, height, blood work, and going over my medical history.

 

[Elizabeth N.]

I apologized but he wasn't happy. I had told him I was strong. He just didn't believe me.

Serves him right for not believing you!

 

[JacobC]

Dr. Inman was my surgeon. I had about 12 - 15 vials of blood drawn, did a barium swallow (I think, it was a contrast scan), breathing capacity test and EKG, and met with her PA for ~20 minutes. They noted an irregularity on my EKG and referred me to a cardiologist for a consult. Since I didn't have any prior EKGs to compare, he did a stress test (which was no big deal, about 15 minutes on the treadmill). The pre-op testing was really easy other than the stuff I had to drink for the GI scan tasted nasty. Oh, during the GI scan they had tablets you take that basically fill your stomach with gas - I was burping for about 10 minutes. All-in-all it was pretty painless. It did take about two weeks to get into the cardiologist and get the stress test scheduled and performed.

 

[Yvonne]

@JacobC how long did it take to get in for the pre-op, after you had a date? Well, I just t did a barium swallow as we're trying to find a reason to get them to take out my lapband. She found 3 things wrong. Yay me. I had an EKG in March, so I wonder if I'll need a new one. Blood work is always fun as they have the HARDEST time getting my veins. I mean, really hard time. Good times! Thanks for answering!

 

[JacobC]

Well, I wasn't under the time pressures you were. I went in mid-May for my pre-op testing and everything except the cardio stuff was done that day. It took maybe 10 days to get in to the cardiologist & get the stress test done and cleared. They also found out that I was diabetic and referred me back to my PCP to get my A1c to 8% or less. At that time it was 13% - so my PCP told me the earliest I could get retested was 60 days. Mid-July I had gotten my A1c down to 6.8% and went back to Inman's office. She was on her annual mission trip through early August so they scheduled me in on September 9th. If I hadn't needed to get my A1c down AND she wasn't out of the country, I'm guessing I could have been in for surgery in maybe a month to forty-five days.

edit to add: Her PA(?) Loanne told me that if everything is okay at the pre-op scan that you should expect at least a month to get on the schedule. I'm sure if there are time/insurance concerns going on they will work harder to squeeze you in if there is a cancellation, etc. I was just fortunate enough to not be in that situation as long as I was able to get in SOMETIME in 2015.

@JacobC how long did it take to get in for the pre-op, after you had a date? Well, I just t did a barium swallow as we're trying to find a reason to get them to take out my lapband. She found 3 things wrong. Yay me. I had an EKG in March, so I wonder if I'll need a new one. Blood work is always fun as they have the HARDEST time getting my veins. I mean, really hard time. Good times! Thanks for answering!