Hello all,

I am knew to this, I had my doctor (Kaiser, San Diego) refer me over to the Bariatric Healthy Choices. I went to my orientation yesterday and now I am waiting to get an email to go get my first set of labs done. I have a question, I am seeing a counselor and am on depression and anxiety medication (mostly because of my weight). I do see a counselor as well because I want to be healthy in all areas of my life to have a successful surgery! Do you think that they will not give me the referral or not let me start the choices program because of the meds and counseling?

Thanks for any help you can give me to ease my mind!

Amanda

HI YOU SHOULDNT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND IF YOU DO SWITCH DOCTORS SINCE IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ALREADY THAT YOU ARE ON MEDICATIONS AND WHY. GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATS ON YOUR CHOICE TO BE HEALTHY.

I take depression and mood stabilizers meds and haven't had any issues with getting approved for surgery. The fact that you take meds (IMHO) means you are taking the steps you need to be healthy. I haven't heard of anyone being denied the surgery because they take psych meds.

Best wishes!

I had no trouble going through the hoops. Neither will you! Just be honest and don't try to fudge anything.....I decided to do that and because of my honesty they felt I was ready to make a change in my life for the better....

Hi I too am on depression and anxiety medication, and while I'm not a Kaiser insurance holder, it did not come up at all through the process of approval. I was asked about it briefly in my psych eval and that was it. Good luck!

Thank you so much for all of the comments and wishes on my knew journey! This definitely helped to ease my mind! I have just started my journey and am so excited! Best wishes to all of you!

The kind of stuff they look for is a person who is desperate to have the surgery because they think it'll solve ALL of their problems. Your approach is realistic and founded in real life. You've already taken some of the steps you needed to take.... and I would encourage you to continue counseling AFTER your surgery because drastic life changes + a surge in hormones from weight loss made me feel crazy! I see a lot of people exhibit "OH MY GOD You need some time on a couch" behavior, post surgery.

The one and only concern my WLS doctor expressed was that one of my anti-depressants was extended release and I could not crush it for post-op. So, I talked to my psychiatrist and we came up with a new plan. In fact, my WLS doc seemed happy that I was already in therapy and had a good relationship with a psychiatrist.

When my number had finally come up I had just gotten a new Doctor (GP ) Could no longer work with the one I had for 30 years. Fired my Psychiatrist. And was on the look out for a new and improved life...

I told her why I got read of them and how I was looking to work with them on this my last change that desperately needed to take place...

She said how can I allow you to go through this with no support. I said how can you let me go through this with no support...What???? They were not helping me, they were hurting my progress. They were trying to tickle their own ears with how wonderful they were. I knew more then they did at times, they were not listening to me....

When I explained why the changes, she saw my meaning and said you are Approved. She said she would have never done that before. But understood that if something is not working it is just pulling you down and hurting your progress. The smartest thing I ever did was dump those two!!!!