Testing

[Orangebrittainy]

What kind of tests did you go through in the days leading up to the surgery? Can you describe them to me?

 

[Robb Wilder]

At days before the surgery, I had already had a CT, Echo and Heart Cath. The Preop stuff was just Urine test, Blood Test including a blood gas, and just going over details with an anesthesiologist and an RN. The rn gave me my spirometer and told me to practice. Also I was given a special wash.

Not much else was done. That was the friday before my surgery. My surgery was on the following wednesday.

 

[Jkm7]

In the several weeks before my second surgery, I had my first heart cath so was nervous but it was truly painless and I had no residual discomfort. They gave me versed and (I think) demerol and I felt nothing and remember little. It took less than an hour and I went home after resting about 3 hours to be sure the wound had sealed. I would never dread a cath again as it went so easily for me. I was permitted to drive and go about my regular routine next day.

TEE was a snap and something I was anxious about, as well. It, too, went easily, took about 15 minutes, gave them excellent info about the condition of my valve. Again, I rested a short while after (maybe 30 minutes), went home and went about my usual routine next day with no limitations.

Day before my surgery, I had blood test (NOT a blood gas test), chest x-ray, urine, EKG, physical exam and meeting with anesthesiologist.

None of this was anything more, for me, that pain free and easily done.

 

[Heart]

3 days before surgery I had to get blood work, echocardiogram and chest x-ray.