What was the worst part ?

Hello to everyone !

My question to you is:

What was the worst lab test that you had to endure as a pre-op OR Post-op? Was it the sleep study, a certain blood test, a stress test, endoscopy, ekg, arterial blood gas, ect.

Why, in your opinion was it scary or painful for you ? After learning about having to have the test, were you considering backing out of your surgery? Or if you were post-op and having the certain test, did it make you wish you didn't have the surgery ?

Also, as a pre-op patient, awaiting the RNY GB, I am curious as to what testing is required. If you would like to share what tests were required for you, I would love to hear it.

Well, I had the DS (9 years ago, come Tuesday!), but I imagine the pre-op testing is the same no matter which surgery you're having. I didn't find any of them particularly painful or stressful. The only post-op testing I've ever needed was my regular bloodwork, and that's a piece of cake.

I would say that the "worst part" of the whole surgery experience was getting out of bed the very first time after surgery. I had an open procedure, and I'm very short---my incision ran from the tip of my breastbone to my navel. It took two people to get me up that first time, but it got easier each time.

I'm grateful every day that I made the decision to have the DS. It's simply the very best thing I've ever done for myself. I hope you've researched the DS as well as the RNY, and have visited the Revision board, too.

None of the tests have been scary. I guess I've been seeing them as a to-do list and am soooo glad when one gets done :)

I had a psych eval -this one worried me because I know I'm just a little off my rocker, but i passed it.

Upper GI- this one was gross because I had to drink barium and it tastes like chalk, but not scary, unless you count when I almost fell off the X-ray table, but that was more silly than scary. 

Sleep study- This one was annoying but again not scary. It was annoying because I worried about the wires at night and the goop in my hair was gross :) I found out I have sleep apnea so I'm glad I got it done. I took my favorite pillow from home and my favorite soft PJ's those things helped. 

Blood gases were no big deal, it was just a needle poke. 

EKG well it took about one minute and I was done, again not scary.

Nothing I did (thank God) was painful. I think it depends on how you look at it. It's a process that we need to go through to get to our surgery.

Although I don't know how chipper I'll be in a couple of days since I just started my liquid diet. Day 1 of 14 

ive done all the tests and got my approval, nothing was painful or scary. I am scared of the 10 day liquid only pre-op diet though!

UGH...This is the third time i tried to post this reply... I hate this.

I basically wanted to know if you had to do the 6 months required by some ins co. If you had to do the 6 months, when did you complete all the tests? How soon after your completion of the tests did you know you got approved. My only worry is that I go through all the tests and get denied. Well that and the liquid diet pre-op is worrying me too. I dont know if my body will go into shock with no food in it..LOL

I completed everything last friday, everything was sent Monday, and i got my approval yesterday (wednesday) I didnt have a pre-op diet, just my 10 day liquid diet before surgery which right now is scheduled for 12/28 but i might need to reschedule.

What was the worst lab test that you had to endure as a pre-op OR Post-op? I am still Pre-op so my experience will just be those "fun" tests.

Was it the sleep study, a certain blood test, a stress test, endoscopy, ekg, arterial blood gas, ect. So far the "worst" test, mind you it wasn't too bad, was the ABG test.

Why, in your opinion was it scary or painful for you ? The ABG was not so much scary as it was painful. The needle going in my wrist hurt the most. The area was sore the rest of the day. When I went to work the next day it felt better but was still sore to touch. The 2nd day the area was all black and blue(mainly black, LOL). The UGI wasn't so bad. The barium was bearable but I have tasted worse(Milk of Magnesia). The 10 or so vials of blood taken for the blood work was easy peasy. I have had a spirometry test before but this one was different because the length of time to continuously blow into that tube was insane. 13 secs? Are you crazy? I never took in 13 sec worth of air. LOL. I do have a sleep test scheduled for next month. The only thing I am worried about are the wires and things all over the place. I just keep thinking that I will not get a good nights sleep worrying abut those things. After learning about having to have the test, were you considering backing out of your surgery? Not for one second did I think that I would back out of the surgery for a test. I have to remember that these tests are precautions that they are taking are to make sure that everything goes smoothly before, during and after the WLS. So I want to make sure my body is ready for the new tool that I will be given. Or if you were post-op and having the certain test, did it make you wish you didn't have the surgery? Not post-op yet. But I can't wait.

I am in my 3rd month of my 6 months supervised "diet" that is required by my ins. co. I am hoping that with all this work that I will get approved for the WLS. I have an uncle and a cousin who both have had WLS. My uncle is 3 years out and my cousin is about 2 months out. So I have a great support team from the "losers bench" to guide me on how they are working with their tool and what to expect with each test and step. I do have a local support group that meets every month.

With every test that I think to myself..."Do you really need that test?" I just look to the bigger picture....spending time with my son and being active with him. Granted, he is older but I still need to have the energy to run the "Mom's Taxi Service" for him to his practices and games. I have been so tired carrying this weight around that it is exhausting walking into the school from a far away parking spot.

None of the tests I had to have were bad at all.  I was most worried about the endoscopy, but it turned out to be no big deal.  They sedated me really well and I slept through the whole thing and then woke up feeling just fine.

I also had an EKG, a chest x-ray, some blood tests, a urinalysis... um, I think that's all.  I didn't have to have a sleep study.  But none of the tests were painful.

For me, it was the blood gas.  Wiggling that big needle around in my hand looking for the artery hurt.  Aside from that, it was drinking that pasty glowy crap that they watched go through my system, I forget the name.

I only had to have an EKG, Upper GI, H Pylori, and labs done. Everything was really simple, but I think the Upper GI was the worst because they make you move around a lot and it wasn't east to move. Also, you have to drink different solutions. Your doctor maybe difference and may require more tests. I am still pre-op but I think this is the best decision I have ever made and will change my life forever.