Question on Pre-op tests

[marquesa]

Hello, I am wondering what sort of pre-op tests one is required to do before knee surgery....and approximately, in what time range can they be done ?

One of the doctor assistants I talked to said they had to be done within 30 days of the surgery or insurance would not cover them.

Can they be done in the two or three days right before the surgery? Who is to perform the tests?

Please relate your experience with this.

Thanks, wishing you all a great day!
Marquesa

 

[cotton1958]

Depends a little on your age. For instance, if over 50, an EKG.

They do a urine specimen, blood work, weight, BP...etc...and ask a lot of questions.

All of the above was done by hospital admissions.

Mine had to be within 5 weeks and before 5 days before surgery.

 

[Jamie]

Doctors sometimes have their own ideas about when the pre-op work must be done. Thirty days would be the outside of the time frame most likely. But it may be that they want them done at least a week before to be sure that time is allowed to deal with anything that might be found.

The type of tests that may be required (again, doctors are all different on this) would be blood work, urine analysis, a checkup and clearance from your family doctor, checkup with a dentist, a check and clearance from a cardiologist or other specialist if you have particular health issues going in to surgery.

For example, if it was determined that you had any type of infection, that must be cleared before your surgery....a few days right before surgery might not allow enough time.

This is something you need to talk over with each doctor in your interviews. They will be able to tell you what they require.

 

[Josephine]

To be current for the op they need to be done between 1 and 3 weeks beforehand. Any later and the results won't be back in time. Any earlier and things might have changed.

 

[beachbum]

Had mine last week (Oct. 7), surgery is Oct. 20
Tests: blood work, urine specimen, blood pressure, EKG, temp, x-rays (knee and chest).

7 days and counting ....:shk:

 

[abunnybabe]

I had to get medical clearance from my PMD within 21 days of surgery date. And I am having my pre-surgical testing and joint class on 10/15, surgery is on 10/23.

 

[tom67]

Good girl, sounds like your really on the ball Terri.

 

[tom67]

Beachbum, your on the ball too.

 

[Pat29627]

They'd told me I had to have a checkup by my regular doc, so I scheduled that appointment, but then at joint clinic which was two weeks before surgery, they did all the testing. That day was neat. They whisked me from bloodwork to urinalyses, then to an office where I sat and the anesthesiologist came and talked, and the OS, and a nurse. Then they took me to a room with a screen to show a PT film while they served snacks and the two physical therapists talked to me and demonstrated exercises that I was to start doing immediately. I was the only one in there since the others were still busy elsewhere.

I wasn't scared about surgery. I have a friend who's a photographer and he did our son's wedding about six weeks after his second knee replacement. He stressed pain meds and exercise. I just assumed I'd be back to normal in a few weeks, especially with a partial. I think I was actually looking forward to having the surgery, I'd waited so long.

Pat

 

[cindy88fan]

I'm 45 and I had to have an EKG done 10 days before surgery. I had to have blood work done 7 - 10 days before surgery and I had to have an appointment with my family Dr. for release to have the surgery. It all depends on what your Dr. wants done. You need to call and ask what you need to have done. With all my tests I had to have a Dr.'s order to get them done. I just couldn't walk into the hospital and say I need a blood work up done, I'm having surgery.

 

[Judles]

Now relax a little! Your head must be swimming!! :sct::thmb:

 

[calling_all_angels]

Marquesa ,
My Os's asst: gave me a script to give to my Doctor for bloodwork. And that was all I had to do. Your Os asst: should be able to tell you what you need to have done and if you are to use your own GP. Do you have a date now for you TKR??????

 

[marquesa]

WOW! everything I need to know..Thank you so much!!

No date set for the surgery, yet..I start the 3 interviews on the 27th, and 28 of this month. I hope the surgery will be early or mid January.
Can't wait. It helps to know all thisfor the interviews, as I will have many questions, and when I do return to Houston for the surgery, I will have three weeks total to be there..unless, of course, something unforseen should happen...and it won't.

The pre-op questions occurred to me because of the short time I have to be there, do the surgery, and recover enough to return home.

So it sounds like i may have to make one extra trip sometime within a month to do the pre-op tests to allow any time needed to take care of anything that might come up. I have been in excellent health, used to have asthma, but living in Mexico with the clean mountain air has handled that.

I appreciate all the answers as it will help me to ask all the right questions to prepare for this...without any surprises.

I am sometimes so fearful about this surgery, and yet I know I have to do it.

Pray for me to pick the best man to do it. I certainly am armed with a list of highly recommended surgeons and have researched them best I could until I can meet them in person. I am especially concerned to get adequate pain meds, especially for when I return. Anything slightly narcotic is very hard to get in Mexico, even with a doctor prescription. So ironic, in the states , fairly easy to get pain meds from a doctor and have to get prescriptions for everything..and here one can get many US prescription meds "over the counter"....but very difficult for pain meds.

One of my questions will be about that..to see if I can get enough to bring home for the weeks ahead of the surgery. Anyone else here had that problem?
Best regards, Marquesa

 

[Texas]

Hey Marquesa just one word of advice you are so right look at mine i didnt really scream my dr .i should have most important ,ask him everything and anything and get answers..........please thats all i can say...........make your list and ask away.........Please post anytime we all understand the nerves but you got us now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol:hehe::hehe:

 

[Jamie]

Marquesa, if you are going to try and stock up on some meds to take back to Mexico, be sure you discuss that way up front with your doctors in the interviews. When surgeons and family doctors prescribe them here, normally they only give a week's supply or less because they are highly regulated here also. They want you coming back and talking with them before they reissue a prescription.

Then if you find a doctor who is willing to give you a large prescription, pharmacies may be hesitant to fill that much at once. So you might want to find one that is connected with the hospital where you are having surgery and check with them beforehand.

A third area that could be a problem is taking a large amount of prescription pain killers on the plane. Of course, you would NEVER want to pack them in checked luggage...they would be GONE when you arrived. If you carry them on, just be very sure they are all in the original bottles with the prescription labels on them. Even with that, once you know what airline you are traveling on, you might want to call them ahead of time and ask if there are any special precautions you need to take when traveling with more than a week or two's worth of prescription pain meds. There could be questions and problems at the US end with the Transportation Security personnel and even with the Mexican airport authorities as you enter the country.

 

[Josephine]

Just imagine!

 

[marquesa]

Jo, that picture is just too good!!! where did you ever find it? Thank you so much for the post..I am going to be so much better informed this time.

I truly didn't realize how much the pain meds would be needed until I have been following these posts for awhile. No way was I ready for the surgery the first time I had it scheduled...

Muchas Gracias, Amiga!
Marquesa

 

[loggon]

You did not say how old you are. I know you are having your surgery in Houston.

Some of the test include of course the blood test, if have ever been diagnosed with asthma, you may be asked to see your allergist, or ENT doctor. if you have high blood pressure or depending on your age an ekg.

But the test can be done within a few days of the surgery. The blood test they usually want to be done within 10 days of the surgery.

 

[Josephine]

I've had the pic ages - I think I nicked it off someone in another forum! Cute isn't it?

 

[kimberlyann]

My doc recommended that my yearly obgyn exams be current, and my dental work current, so I had both of those done in the month before my surgery. I had a CT of my kidneys done because I need one every 6 months because of frequent kidney stones.
The surgeon required my general doctor to sign a medical release and provide recent blood work, lung x-rays, an ekg and urinalysis. This was to be done 10-18 days pre-op.
Then the hospital required me to have blood work done for typing and crossing for transfusion purposes. Also, a pregnancy test for anyone (female) under 50 years of age. Regardless of any previous things like hysterectomies or menopause. This was to be done about 3-5 days pre-op at the hospital.
I also had weekly Procrit injections for 3 weeks prior, but the alternative to that was self-donation 2 and 3 weeks pre-op.

I do not know how these things are accomplished by folks who live out of town, but I believe they can be. I said during my pre-op period, that I didn't know how anyone could have worked full time and met all of these requirements. It was very time consuming.

As for pain medications, I do not know what your solution there will be. One thing I do not know, but should know as a pharmacist, is can those meds be mailed to you legally? Could you use a mail-order pharmacy? I will try to find out that for you if I can.

Take care, and don't worry, you are on the right path!