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Test for Anemia before Surgery.

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/22/2009 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
My pretest for surgery is the same day of the surgery since the surgeon who I met with for 10 minutes says I'm healthy and young. Though it does bother me that he seems to not have seem my x-rays, he did draw a picture of what he was going to do to me on the paper that covers the little beds in the doctor's office. Is this normal surgeon behavior? Should I have seen the X-rays and have them explained to me? or Does this just mean he's a really good surgeon? Should I be worried? I've never had surgery before.

Also, will the hospital test for anemia before surgery or will I have to let them know that I have problems with anemia and that maybe they should test before I go to surgery since I've been feeling cold and getting the numbness in my fingers and feet again.

Thanks for reading guys : )
Posted 9/22/2009 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
If you have concerns then you must absolutely bring them to the doctor's attention BEFORE the surgery. Way before. I don't think it's crazy that he drew a pic on the tissue paper of the bed, BUT I would definitely bring up the anemia issue because if they're going to cut you open they might want to know that you could possibly need blood. A pre-surgery blood test is not that hard for them to order. Call your doc's office today and put in a message to have the doctor call you.
Posted 9/22/2009 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor drew a diagram of what he was going to do on the bed paper too. I wouldn't worry too much about that. Surgeons are kinda like that sometimes. At least that has been my experience with mine. He was very good at what he did, but not the super talker I expected. I always had blood work done beforehand though, so I am wonder why you didn't have any done. They usually need to do a blood type and make sure all your levels are good. I agree with Stef I would put a call into the doc and ask about that today. Good luck!
Posted 9/22/2009 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, my surgeon also drew a picture on a pad and showed me what he was expecting to do I  think they do this as its more simpler than trying to explain an x-ray to someone not in the medical proffesion  Before my op i had bloods taken and a chest x-ray. good luck with your surgery Bev x smilewinkgrin
Posted 9/22/2009 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
crohnielass, I didn't think about it like that. It was easier to understand too.

nanners, I think the blood work might be done the day of the surgery before the surgery along with the other tests.

Thanks Stef17, Nanners and Crohnielass...I'll be giving my doctor a call bright and early tomorrow morning.
Posted 9/23/2009 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
I've had 4 surgeries and they always did blood work at least a week before. They've always checked my blood in advance in case something was wrong. One time, my potassium was very low and that would have been a big problem when I did the presurgery bowel prep. Before my latest surgery, my GP had me checked for anemia about a month before the surgery so we would have time to do something about it.

Are you comfortable with this surgeon? Do you think he took the time you needed so that you understood everything? Did he explain things to you in a way you could understand? Did you tell him about the anemia and your current symptoms? If you did, I'd be really concerned about why he is choosing to wait until the last minute to check you.

Did you get a second opinion? This is really important before surgery.
Posted 9/23/2009 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Dagger, I can't really get a second opinion as I can't afford the surgery or have insurance so I don't really have a choice but he did seem nice enough and explained things well except for the fact that he seemed a bit rushed and so I didn't get to ask him some questions I thought of at the end. I did ask him about the questions that worried me the most though. I, also, called today and the secretary said she'd let the doctor know and he would call me back and/or that he'd probably have them test for it on Monday before the surgery.
Posted 9/24/2009 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again guys. I called my doctor. He said they'd check for the anemia during the pretests the day of the surgery. Wish me luck.
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