Pulmonary Clearance

My surgeon has set up an appointment with a pulmonologist in order to obtain  pulmonary clearance.  I will not be able to see the pulmonologist that the surgeon typically works with because he is not a participating provider with my insurance so I will be seeing someone else. 

In an attempt to be a good advocate for my health, are there certain questions I should ask or things that I should make certain the pulmonologist knows about?  My surgeon's office is sending over paperwork and my med rec notes but I'm a little worried about seeing someone who is possibly not familiar with (and perhaps not an advocate of) WLS.

I'm also wondering what I can expect to happen at the appointment.  Any info you can provide is appreciated.  TIA

Im assuming that you have already had your pulmonary function test?  The pulmonary clearance is when the Dr. reviews the results of your function test and determines if your healthy enough for surgery. 

At the appointment, the Dr. gives you a general once over by weighing you, listening to your heart and lungs and then he will go over the results of your pulmonary function test and will let you know if he feels your a good canidate for surgery based on those results. 

I would think that you would only need to ask any quesitons if he/she tells you that your NOT a good canidate based on the test results.  Then I would want to know what they actually found based on the function test.

You will be fine...but let us know how everything goes.

Hi prettydee, I have not had the pulmonary function test.  What does that consist of?  Will it be given to me on my first visit to the pulmonologist? 

Thanks for your help!

The pulmonary function test consists of sitting in this plastic booth and you do series of breathing exercises.  You will have to blow into this like tube thing and it is recorded and measured by a pulmonary technician that gives you instruction on what to do during the breathing exercises.  

I had my function test first and then like a month later I had my pulmonary clearance.  That is cool if you can get them both done in one day. Let me know how it works out.

Lucky you I have to go for aa chenical stress test. I hate them.  Had one 2 years ago,but the Dr. won't accept them. It's better to be save then sorry. No one wants any complication, when we are at this point.

My pulmonary clearance was broken out into 3 different appointments.  First, I made an appointment to see the doctor.  Then, he makes a 2nd appointment to do the actual breathing tests.  When they tell you to take a big breath and blow it out, take a BIG OL BREATH, the biggest you can, and blow as hard as you can.  They measure the strength of your blow and the length of it.  Blow your heart out!!  They do this a number of times.  3rd appointment he brought me back in and told me my results.  I don't know if each doctor is the same but that was my experience.  I was a little miffed, I feel like they know you are coming in for clearance, why can't the bring you in and do the test the same day?  Each doctor visit for me is a $30.00 copay and I feel like they just stretch it out.   But, thank goodness at least I currently have insurance...   Becky