I am new here and am considering the lapband. I have an appointment to see the doctor on the 26th, but have pretty much decided that this is what I want to do. My insurance will cover the procedure, but I need to have psychological testing to determine if I will be compliant.....it seems to be a requirement for all prior to surgery. Can anyone tell me what to expect? Is this a "hard test" to pass?

Mine wasn't. I remember filling out a bunch of those Personality tests, multiple choice mostly, then spending an hour talking with the pyschologist. Mainly, she wanted to be sure I had realistic expectations for the surgery, and to find out what kind of support I'd have from family and friends. Went very well, and I actually enjoyed it.

For some reason my doctor didn't recommend psychological testing for me (I'm really not sure why. But I'm a licensed social worker so maybe he thought I was "normal," shrug.) From what I've heard, the psychological testing often consists of the MMPI test. This test has been around for ages and you can learn more about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMPI.

The general purpose of the testing is to determine if you are psychologically prepared to accept the challenge that lapbanding provides. Being banded forces you to change the way you eat, the way you look at food, and maybe the way you cope with things, if you use food as a coping mechanism.

Without asking too many personal questions, I expect you will pass the test just fine if you feel you have been well adapted to life and can accept change, and are not currently depressed.

Research the test a little and you can find out what to expect.

Good luck!

Mine was more tedious than hard. I had to do a couple of personality tests, which added up to almost 600 questions. Then I spoke with the psychologist for about 10 minutes. Nothing major.

Hello,

My name is Liz and I just got my first adjustment and I have a questions about gas. Does anyone get lots of belching and what do you do about it.:girl_hug:

All I had to do was fill out a diet history and that's what we discussed for about 30 minutes. Just about EVERYONE passes and it's a requirement by most surgeons as this surgery is elective. Hmmmm... I suppose if plastic surgery were covered by insurance, they might want one too. LOL.

Hello,

My name is Liz and I just got my first adjustment and I have a questions about gas. Does anyone get lots of belching and what do you do about it.:girl_hug:

You might find more responses to this post if you select a different place to display it. Belching is very common after a fill and it subsides once the swelling from the fill goes down... a few days. Try to eat smaller meals... even if it's 5 small meals a day. Some people use Beano to help with the belching and gas. It's wise to stick to fluids and a soft diet for the first 1-3 days post-fill.

Thanks to all for your replies. It seems everyone has had a different experience. I hope mine will be an easy one!

I did my eval day before yesterday. It consisted of chatting with a therapist for about 45 minutes and then taking the MMPI-2. I thought all went very well.

...Until I got home this afternoon and found a message from the therapists office saying I have to go and retake that damned MMPI-2!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the heck?:girl_hug: :angry

I had to fill out a whole lot questionnaires. Seemed like alot and then I had to meet with a "behaviorist" about 4 times. She was a social worker by training. It took 4 times because I was hesitant and unsure about getting the procedure done. Otherwise, I think it would have been 1 or 2 times at the most.

I would have loved to answer to a test... after two hours with a "social worker" who wants to know every personal, bad, upsetting or negative thing I've ever been through...a written exam sounds like a breeze!!! I still don't know if I "passed"! I think it is reasonable to think that we all have past, present, and future issues to deal with. Doesn't that make us normal?

I am new here and am considering the lapband. I have an appointment to see the doctor on the 26th, but have pretty much decided that this is what I want to do. My insurance will cover the procedure, but I need to have psychological testing to determine if I will be compliant.....it seems to be a requirement for all prior to surgery. Can anyone tell me what to expect? Is this a "hard test" to pass?

I found out from my insurance company that the psych was not required by my insurance company for approval for the surgery. I had to call them to get approval before my visit. They approved me for one visit only. The psycologist new why I was coming to see him and I thought he would be prepared to give me the test. He was not. I called the Dr's office and explained to them the the psyc was not required for insurance approval and asked if I needed to still the test done. My Dr said I did not need to have it done as long as the psycologist could make a recommendation based on my interview with him. Evidently he was able to because I am now banded.

I called the therapists office this morning and was told I the MMPI-2 I took came out as "invalid"

Harrumph!

Guess I'll be invalid a second time...

I just finished my psych testing today (passed, whew!)

I had to take home many many questionnaires, then spend about 4 hours with a phd who dug around in every painful corner of my life, it seemed. They are doing research to develop questionnaires that can be done by the surgeons office, but they say that only added about an hour and a couple question sheets, everybody has to spend 2-3 hours.

That was last week. Tonight I met with a psychiatrist who spent about 15 minutes with me, had already gone through my file, and cleared me.

My friend is having gastric bypass soon and all she had to do was 1/2 hour with a social worker! Anyway, glad it is over....

3 hours

Interview with Dr

457 question survey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It apperars as though there are a variety of ways they "evaluate" individuals. I have not yet heard of any patient being refused,delay, failed or denied surgery, based on psy. eval. Has anyone heard of delay or denial?

(I did wonder though, if anyone could fail it would be me--I have a full past) I was given my surgery date 4-2-2007 so I guess all is good!