Today was my appointment to see the psychologist regarding VSG and I should have canceled. My morning was horrible (9 year old with Oppositional Defiant Disorder & ADHD) and I couldn't shake it off. I was still frazzled, frustrated, sad....you name it, by the time I got there. Sure enough, as soon as the subject came up about family, I freaking cried! Aaaaaah! I feel like such an idiot! I also couldn't focus on some stupid numbers he was reciting that I had to remember. (I have a bad memory as well). English is not my first language, even though I have very little accent, so I couldn't express myself as well I wanted to. I was a complete mess.

Now I am hoping he saw the whole picture. I have a very good support system, my family supports the surgery, I am knowledgeable about VSG, I have friends, interests and a whole lot of other stuff he asked about.

The secretary said he sends his reports to my surgeon the same day. I now fear going through this whole process and then being denied. Do surgeons call right away when reports are negative? I feel like sending an email to the insurance coordinator, but that will make me look worse.

I am so sad about this whole thing.

Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions?

My opinion is that if you have never been in a therapists office before it can be very intimidating especially when you are going through what we go through. you want to appear perfect so as not to disrupt the "system" of getting approval... Yet they are trained to see right through us and determine what is nerves and dysfunciton. I think (again my opinion only) that they really need to make sure that you personally understand what you are doing- you are not suicidal or homicidal if you fail- you have a support system and you are able to handle the post op care and success. Remember not only your life is changed; if you are married or have kids they can develop envy, jealousy etc. and you yourself could find a new sense of freedom so to speak with things you may have never been able to do- the divorce rate with WLS is pretty high- Personally i havnt seen anyone in my area "fail" the psych test and buleeve me when I met some at a previous support group it made me wonder HOW they got through the gate.. (lol) but try to relax i'm sure if it was fine and it is just pre jitter worry... If you have a good repore wtih your surgeons office call just to "make sure they got the report" in a few days- obviously if there is any negative connotation like they want to see you ASAP or something they will tell you... GOod luck!!

My understanding is there isn't a failure so much as there is more visits required.

Personally i havnt seen anyone in my area "fail" the psych test and buleeve me when I met some at a previous support group it made me wonder HOW they got through the gate.. (lol)

LOl, I needed the laugh. Thanks for the well wishes. :-)

My understanding is there isn't a failure so much as there is more visits required.

I can handle that. I hope you are right.

I am pretty emotional in general and I teared up when I was talking about my daughter at my psych eval and it didn't hurt me any. I think that surgeon's offices generally refer you to people who are most likely to approve you. Don't give up hope. I was scared to death that I screwed the whole thing up and mine worked out just fine. Even if they say no, it is more like they are saying "not right now."

My wife was opposed and my son just stayed neutral though wife tried to make him negative with wrong ideas. Remember you are doing it for yourself and them. By being at a healthy weight you can enjoy your family more as well as feel better.

I was somewhat fortunate, my insurance company recommended but didn't require counseling but I did have to go through an eight week course that prepared me.

Remember you are doing it for your long term health.

Hasn't everyone had a day like yours? Most of us have had a melt-down or gotten angry when it made us look less than ideal - right! I am self pay so I don't know if that affects the psych eval or not, but the guy asked maybe 3 or 4 questions for a total of less than 10 minutes. I think for him was a rubberstamp deal. Just my opinion. There seems to be no standard in this part of the process; it varies with each office. Glad I wasn't tested on memory!

If you get a denial because of this, then I would have a discussion with the surgeon's personnel. It sounds like you had a normal reaction to your morning.

Thank you Courtines, Thomas & Veda. You are all wonderful. I will post when I hear from my surgeons office.

My dr. advised that they are looking more for what type of support system you have and if you have eating disorders or ever have. Also, what got you to this point.

Hope this helps.

Kelly

My dr. advised that they are looking more for what type of support system you have and if you have eating disorders or ever have. Also, what got you to this point.

Hope this helps.

Kelly

It sure helps. I didn't "flunk" those questions, so I am a little more optimistic now. Thanks.

Don't worry. Nobody expects you to be perfect. I think I was more nervous before my psych eval than I feel for my actual surgery!

I know how you feel - they day I went for my psych evaluation, I had just found out my sister-in-law (who I love like a sister and was one of my best friends for 30+ years) was going to die. When the doc asked me questions about my mental attitude, I told her I was incredibly sad and why - and there were definatley tears. That doc passed me - I will be celebrating my 7 months sleeve-versary tomorrow.

Good Luck to you.

The psych evaluation shouldn't be a concern as long you touched on the main subject, weight. did he ask the following questions and did you answer with with the response they are looking for:

how do you feel the weight has affected your life? It inhibits me from living my life to its full and happy potential

Do you feel that your weight has affected your ability to be happy? Yes

Do you feel that you weight prevents you from exceeding at work? Yes

Do you feel that if you lost the weight you will gain back you confidence, thus improving your quality of life? Yes

Do you feel you will be able to cope with the loss of eating addiction? Yes

Has the weight have any affect on your family? (individual response based off your family dynamic)

They just want to make sure that the weight has emotionally affected you and the it hits on the key major factors personal mental health, Family, and your career.

If you answered similar you passed

I hope that helps

I think you'll be fine chickee ! ! ! They are mainly looking for trends in behaviors such as addictive personalities (previous alcohol, drug abuse), depression/anxiety, lack of coping mechanisms/skills, triggers for suicide and/or other mental disorders that could be intensified with the life-altering post-op lifestyle.

My psych eval went fine, the personality test was a bit skewed and labeled me as an introvert which is the furthest thing from the truth. And, I agree, it is very intimidating to walk into an office and feel like that one human holds the key to your entire future. Hang in there ! ! !

Any therapist worth his salt would see that you were distressed. Your emotions shouldn't hinder his decision, they are just seeing if you will have the fortitude to succeed post sleeve. Theres something about being in a psych office that makes a LOT of people cry and remember you can always go to a different therapist, your Doc wants you to have this surgery, he gets paid good and you get healthy. He's not gonna cancel you because of that, this is for insurance purposes.