Hi, this is my first time posting......I have been following many threads as I have been deciding whether to pursue the sleeve or not. I am currently 32 years old and 140 pounds overweight, bmi=44, and had been researching for a while and had decided to pursue the sleeve. Well, I did all of preliminaries and was cleared on all except for the psych evaluation.

They denied me for surgery because they said I have an unhealthy connection to food and have eating disorder thoughts....(binge eating). This is all new to me, and you know, I already knew that I had an unhealthy connection to food otherwise I would not be over 300 pounds! I don't believe that I have an eating disorder, but I do emotionally eat. I have been overweight my entire life and actually have had some success (abt. 35 lbs in the past year) with Weight Watchers and I learned a lot in that program about eating healthy, etc. I kinda feel like I am in the perfect place to get the sleeve and continue on this path of bettering myself, and now to be told that I have an eating disorder, huh?

Ok, so if I pay all this money for therapy and get all my food issues fixed, then would I still need the surgery? I expect to have to work with the surgery...so.....I don't know. So, they want me to go thru 3 months of therapy and then redo the eval. So, I'm wandering.......if its legit or if they are just trying to get more money....since they recommend that I see them once a week for 12 weeks. But, I also know that therapist are paid to see what you don't see, so maybe they're right......hmmmm....i just don't know. Kinda bummed...Any thoughts anyone?

I really do think that this surgery has the potential to cure this illness, which makes me wonder if BED is truly a mental illness or if it's primarily based on physiology. I even saw an obesity specialist about a research proposal re: bariatric surgery and emotional eating/BED, but he said that while the topic is interesting to him, I'd have to do a master's to pull it off, and at this point, I'm not ready to make a commitment (maybe after I graduate medical school in 2 years). But I really do think that this surgery cures some people of their eating issues - obviously not all, as I've seen some people on this forum really struggle, to the point of making themselves vomit after surgery - but I do think that the psych evals they have now may be overly stringent. It's one of the reasons I wanted to do that research project - to see if the results would make it possible for more people to become eligible.

BBJ and others -- this topic is soo interesting to me because like many of you, I too would have qualified for the BED diagnosis (met ALL criteria) -- but like BBJ, I just don't show those symptoms anymore. It's fascinating to me that a surgery could eliminate what I thought was definitely a mental disorder --

I don't think about food anymore, I don't obsess with what is in my kitchen, in fact I forget to eat more often than not, making myself eat because it's healthy. Seriously. I NEVER thought I would ever think that way. And to credit that "thinking" with the bariatric surgery is wild in my opinion -- does the stomach affect our thinking that much??

Case in point -- I made 10 dozen Cookies for Xmas and 3 pies. I didn't touch any of them because I just wanted to be on my diet for Xmas. A week later -- we have at least 2 dozen cookies left and 3/4 of a pie in the fridge. I've given up trying to get my family to eat them because they're just sitting there -- I think I might have to throw them out. In years past, that food would have been gone within 3 days of making them. AND my mind would have been obsessed with the food -- unable to stop thinking about it until I ate it myself. Really, truly, this is a miracle. Or just great surgery.

As to the topic on hand, I too think that the psych evals are meaningless -- seriously, how many morbidly obese people do not have an eating disorder??? and if they have this type of surgery, how many continue with their previous patterns of eating?? I bet not many.

Well I could go on and on . . so I'll stop. Good luck with the insurance -- I would do the 6 months because it'll set good ground for you after the surgery.

I completely agree with what Julie says because never in my life, even when I wasn't fat have I not obsessed over food. It was always an issue, what I ate, what I didn't eat, when I ate last, when can I eat next, did I eat too much, the list goes on and on.I asked my surgeon the first time I went to see him post op if he cast a spell on me, hypnotised me or did surgery on my brain and not on my stomach. If I hadn't experienced this feeling of not obsseseng over food myself, I would have never ever believed that it could happen by such a simple (technically at least) surgery, they took out 80 or 85% of my stomach, not my brain??!!! But this just proves that obesity, overweight, eating disorders are much more complicated than simple eat less, exercise more and lose weight. I feel truly blessed and I feel like hugging my surgeon, I nearly did this last time I saw him, but in England it's not politically correct, I'm sure if I was in Paraguay I would of squished my surgeon to death! Happy New year to you all!

.... they took out 80 or 85% of my stomach, not my brain??!!! .....

Did you guys look at this vid?

It discusses the "brain" in the gut....who knows, perhaps that brain has a mental illness that causes it to want to eat...and when its removed, the illness is removed too.....just saying.....

I have to admit I was not completely honest in my evaluation as I work for a police department and we use those tests and I had to take them several times.

With that being said, I worked on my issues with food from Jan last year to when I had surgery in November.

I started to re train myself on eating. It started just with educating myself on what calories where in what, especially in Restaurant food, Chili's for example, I thought 2 chicken tacos was a good lunch, well somehow the manage to pack nearly 1000 calories into those two tacos!

Then I really started looking at the calories and fat grams of everything and put myself on the diabetic diet.

Learning to eat right was the best thing I could do before hand, I don't miss or crave the wrong foods now that I can't eat them.

If your insurance wants just 12 sessions and there is the smallest chance it will help you with the head hunger then I would go for it.

Think of it as an investment in your future for a better self. Beating the head hunger if half the battle!

[ Trying to post a picture of what I ate for Christmas lunch(not sure if it will work), a bit of everything,(including a few glasses of sparkling rose) and that night I had the same again and a cupcake

Chilo, the amount you ate, was that self control plus the sleeve or just what your sleeve lets you eat? How far post surgical are you?

WhooHoo! Way to go Restoration!!! Great job being assertive and getting a second opinion and also taking good care of yourself by getting some counseling! I think you are going to be really glad not to have to postponed your surgery. Congratulations!

I agree with those who have suggested that there is usually a physiological component to the problem of overeating. I can only pray that the wonderful experience that I have had with VSG continues for the rest of my life, because I just don't feel inclined to overeat anymore, and I would never want to go back to the constant hunger, feeling guilty when I ate, and/or the preoccupation with food. I still love food and I still enjoy cooking and eating occasional treats--but honestly, the food doesn't "call my name" the way it used to--and I don't feel deprived at all. I have had two adults, a 2 yr old, and a 4 yr old living in my home since August. They bring in donuts, pastries, pies, Cookies, ice cream, chips, etc...on a regular basis. Not only that, I'm cooking large meals almost every night of the week. The bottom line is that I am literally surrounded by all kinds of food and it just doesn't matter. I eat when I'm hungry. I don't have to work hard to make healthy choices, because even my preferences seem to have changed. Every now and then, I am thrilled to go out to eat and order a special dessert and take 2 bites. I bring the rest home and share it. On at least 4 occasions, I have brought home a dessert that I intended keep for myself to have a few bites of each day and then I ended up throwing it out several days later because I had forgotten about it. COME ON...FORGOTTEN a special dessert from a restaurant???? Not in my past life. Ever. There is all kinds of emerging research on the "brain" in the stomach. For me, this surgery has taken that stomach brain that was destroying me out the the driver's seat and finally, given me back a sense of dignity, responsibility, and self-control.

Awesome Katt!

BBJ and others -- this topic is soo interesting to me because like many of you, I too would have qualified for the BED diagnosis (met ALL criteria) -- but like BBJ, I just don't show those symptoms anymore. It's fascinating to me that a surgery could eliminate what I thought was definitely a mental disorder --

I don't think about food anymore, I don't obsess with what is in my kitchen, in fact I forget to eat more often than not, making myself eat because it's healthy. Seriously. I NEVER thought I would ever think that way. And to credit that "thinking" with the bariatric surgery is wild in my opinion -- does the stomach affect our thinking that much??

Case in point -- I made 10 dozen Cookies for Xmas and 3 pies. I didn't touch any of them because I just wanted to be on my diet for Xmas. A week later -- we have at least 2 dozen cookies left and 3/4 of a pie in the fridge. I've given up trying to get my family to eat them because they're just sitting there -- I think I might have to throw them out. In years past, that food would have been gone within 3 days of making them. AND my mind would have been obsessed with the food -- unable to stop thinking about it until I ate it myself. Really, truly, this is a miracle. Or just great surgery.

As to the topic on hand, I too think that the psych evals are meaningless -- seriously, how many morbidly obese people do not have an eating disorder??? and if they have this type of surgery, how many continue with their previous patterns of eating?? I bet not many. Well I could go on and on . . so I'll stop. Good luck with the insurance -- I would do the 6 months because it'll set good ground for you after the surgery.

Juli,

I too baked like crazy for Cmas, I enjoy it as part of the holiday. However I had zero desire to eat the cookies. In the past I would have ate them even from the freezer. I was nervous about going back to work because it is a glutton fest there around the holidays and much to my surprise even though the candy and cookies were right there in the room with us I had zero desire to have them! I did treat myself to a cookie last night as a New Year celebration and gift for not having one thing for the entire Holiday season! It was good but, it did not provide the same enjoyment as it did pre surgery. There is definitely something to this surgery curing far more than the fat.

Dr Oz had a show on about the brain and bowels and he said they both are very similar in cells and receptors. I hope they figure out what in the receptors of some cause this crazy need to feed! Surely there something in the stomach that sets it off in the first place.

I've found what I used to like pre-op (sweet wise) I don't like now. I didn't eat ANYTHING sweet until I reached goal, the first week in November, so at Thankgiving my daughter made a 'from scratch' chocolate pie....MY MOTHER'S recipe. I took a couple of nibbles. Afterwards I asked her father, my husband if it was good. When he said it was great, I asked, 'Was it as good as it always is?' He said it was wonderful....it tasted funny to me, I didn't care for it. She left pie with us, when my DH had a piece the next day, I took one more bite just to see....and it still didn't taste good. Glory be, praise the LORD!!! LOL You know what DOES taste fabulous to me now though.....pumpkin bread from Star Bucks, or my own. I discovered from their nutritional info that it is THE healthiest treat they carry and of course I share it with my husband. I eat approx. one fourth of the slice. It's delish! It's interesting how things change post-op....and how WE change!

WhooHoo! Way to go Restoration!!! Great job being assertive and getting a second opinion and also taking good care of yourself by getting some counseling! I think you are going to be really glad not to have to postponed your surgery. Congratulations!

I agree with those who have suggested that there is usually a physiological component to the problem of overeating. I can only pray that the wonderful experience that I have had with VSG continues for the rest of my life, because I just don't feel inclined to overeat anymore, and I would never want to go back to the constant hunger, feeling guilty when I ate, and/or the preoccupation with food. I still love food and I still enjoy cooking and eating occasional treats--but honestly, the food doesn't "call my name" the way it used to--and I don't feel deprived at all. I have had two adults, a 2 yr old, and a 4 yr old living in my home since August. They bring in donuts, pastries, pies, Cookies, ice cream, chips, etc...on a regular basis. Not only that, I'm cooking large meals almost every night of the week. The bottom line is that I am literally surrounded by all kinds of food and it just doesn't matter. I eat when I'm hungry. I don't have to work hard to make healthy choices, because even my preferences seem to have changed. Every now and then, I am thrilled to go out to eat and order a special dessert and take 2 bites. I bring the rest home and share it. On at least 4 occasions, I have brought home a dessert that I intended keep for myself to have a few bites of each day and then I ended up throwing it out several days later because I had forgotten about it. COME ON...FORGOTTEN a special dessert from a restaurant???? Not in my past life. Ever. There is all kinds of emerging research on the "brain" in the stomach. For me, this surgery has taken that stomach brain that was destroying me out the the driver's seat and finally, given me back a sense of dignity, responsibility, and self-control.

Chilo, the amount you ate, was that self control plus the sleeve or just what your sleeve lets you eat? How far post surgical are you?

I am 5 months post op,it was both i have to say, i did eat another similar portion a few hours, mainly turkey though