I messed up and now I have to prolong my surgery

[Angelsoul219 6]

I feel like crying as I write this. I was so close to getting my surgery date. I have clinical depression and OCD. All I had left to do was my psychological evaluation. I got myself so stressed out over the psych evaluation that I triggered my OCD. My doctor told me I'm going to have to postpone my surgery!! Now what I ask??? All the clearances I've already had done. What happens to those? Was it all a waste of money? I don't want to do this all over again. Can anyone tell me how long those clearances are good for? Am I forever doomed to not pass the psychological exam?

[Babbs 14,680]

There's a reason for these clearances. To make sure you're ready physically and psychologically for the surgery.

Try to get your OCD and anxiety disorder under control, whether with medication or therapy and ask to be evaluated again to prove to them that you can handle the difficult psychological aspects that come with the surgery. Look at it as a great opportunity to take control of your emotional health as well as your physical health.

Prove to them you can do this!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I am so sorry you have a delay. They do happen. My delay was primarily because of financing so did have to redo some clearances.

The best thing to do is ask. Ask what your next steps should be. Do they want you to do something specific before they will clear you? Your surgeon's office should also be able to tell you how long the clearances are good for. Do they have a patient coordinator? If so, he or she can help you map out a strategy.

A delay is not the end of the world. The clearances, including the psych exam, are required so that you will be in the best position to have a successful outcome.

[DaisyAmy 561]

My surgery was delayed about 5 months due to uterine cancer/hysterectomy that needed to be dealt with first. It may depend on your insurance, but mine gave me like 4 years to have the surgery once approved. I would have had to redo the psych part if it was more than a year. Check with your insurance, I bet you'll be fine and even more ready to handle the surgery once the psych clears you. Best of luck.

Edited February 19, 2016 by DaisyAmy

[AvaFern 3,516]

The psych exam is a formality...did you tell them that you were having OCD issues? They have an hour to judge you, so the trick is to not be honest if you sincerely have a problem. I would tell your doctor that you are seeking therapy for your OCD, make sure you have documentation that you have scheduled appointments with a therapist and that you feel that you should be fully back to your managed self within a month. Ask if he if would consider tentatively scheduling the surgery 4 weeks from now, with another psych eval at week 3. This time, when you go in, spend that hour acting your butt off like a person who does not have challenges with mental illness. They do not care if there is anything wrong with you, but if you flat out tell them there is a problem, they have no way to have any plausible deniability if they approve you for the surgery. They want to approve you, but if you give them a reason not to, legally they can't do so and not be worried about liability.

If that doesn't work, then you tell you doctor that you would be happy to have your attorney contact him to discuss the cost of everything you have paid so far and to review how he feels you should be compensated for the time and money you have wasted when the doctor is no longer willing to follow through on scheduling the procedure due to an illness (OCD) which has minimal evidentiary basis for denying this particular surgery.

[Valentina 2,642]

Do NOT KEEP SECRETS FROM YOUR SURGEON!!!!!!.

Today I have now written that twice. Why do people think that lying or keeping secrets from a surgeon that has your life in his hands while his hands are in your guts is a good idea?

Do you want your surgeon keeping secrets from you???? Of course you don't.

Your surgeon needs to know as much about you as he possibly can in order to get you through to not only a successful surgery , but for the "new life" that you are anticipating after surgery.

Your mental evaluation is a critical part of your not only pre-op, but post-op as well. Many, Many of us see therapists for years and years after our surgeries. WLS is life changing--in mind as well as in body.

PLEASE, take the time to be upfront with your therapist, and your surgeon. That way you will be sooo much more capable of coping with all of the life changes that will be coming your way.

I know it's frustrating to have this "stall" in your plan, but if you're not quite "calm" enough mentally just now, take the time to ease your mind and spirit. Once your OCD is "kinder and gentler" ,you will be able to focus 100% on your WLS.

PS: I don't think that threatening the surgeon who you are relying on with your very life is a good idea, do you?? Better to talk with him/her and ask, "what can we do now"? I bet he/she will have some answers. This is not your surgeon's "first rodeo".

Think about what I have said. That is all I can ask of you.

Prayers going "up" for you.

I care,

Valentina

[Babbs 14,680]

The psych exam is a formality...did you tell them that you were having OCD issues? They have an hour to judge you, so the trick is to not be honest if you sincerely have a problem. I would tell your doctor that you are seeking therapy for your OCD, make sure you have documentation that you have scheduled appointments with a therapist and that you feel that you should be fully back to your managed self within a month. Ask if he if would consider tentatively scheduling the surgery 4 weeks from now, with another psych eval at week 3. This time, when you go in, spend that hour acting your butt off like a person who does not have challenges with mental illness. They do not care if there is anything wrong with you, but if you flat out tell them there is a problem, they have no way to have any plausible deniability if they approve you for the surgery. They want to approve you, but if you give them a reason not to, legally they can't do so and not be worried about liability.

If that doesn't work, then you tell you doctor that you would be happy to have your attorney contact him to discuss the cost of everything you have paid so far and to review how he feels you should be compensated for the time and money you have wasted when the doctor is no longer willing to follow through on scheduling the procedure due to an illness (OCD) which has minimal evidentiary basis for denying this particular surgery.

With all due respect, because you know I adore you, but you can't be f*cking serious with this post?

You're advocating for someone with an obvious psychological issue to lie to a professional to just get their way? You of all people should know that this surgery isn't for the faint of heart, and especially someone with problems with anxiety and OCD?

[2goldengirl 2,076]

The psych exam is a formality...did you tell them that you were having OCD issues? They have an hour to judge you, so the trick is to not be honest if you sincerely have a problem. I would tell your doctor that you are seeking therapy for your OCD, make sure you have documentation that you have scheduled appointments with a therapist and that you feel that you should be fully back to your managed self within a month. Ask if he if would consider tentatively scheduling the surgery 4 weeks from now, with another psych eval at week 3. This time, when you go in, spend that hour acting your butt off like a person who does not have challenges with mental illness. They do not care if there is anything wrong with you, but if you flat out tell them there is a problem, they have no way to have any plausible deniability if they approve you for the surgery. They want to approve you, but if you give them a reason not to, legally they can't do so and not be worried about liability.

If that doesn't work, then you tell you doctor that you would be happy to have your attorney contact him to discuss the cost of everything you have paid so far and to review how he feels you should be compensated for the time and money you have wasted when the doctor is no longer willing to follow through on scheduling the procedure due to an illness (OCD) which has minimal evidentiary basis for denying this particular surgery.

I have to disagree. OCD can seriously affect a person's ability to be successful with the surgery. If I am reading the OP's post correctly, it's her own doctor who treats her OCD that told her she needed to delay. Threatening legal action is no way to get a positive psychological evaluation, or a positive reaction out of anyone!

[Stephanne 24]

I had gone through the entire process, psych evaluation, sleep study, everything then I found out there was a clause in my insurance and they weren't going to pay for any weight loss surgery at all ever so I and to back out. 1 1/2 years later my husband changed jobs and we had new insurance. The first thing I did was check to see if they covered bariatric surgery, they did! So I went back to the surgeon thinking I'd have to start from square one. They said they'd submit everything to insurance and see what they accepted and I would only have to redo the things they requested. Well, they approved me for surgery right away! I didn't have to redo any of it. Some of that stuff was over 2 years old. So, just take care of the things that need to be taken care of first and then come back to the surgery when you are ready. This surgery is HARD, physically AND emotionally. You need to be at the top of your game going into it. I know it's disappointing to be so close and not have it happen, but in the long run you'll be better off waiting.

[mistycal 81]

I had a complication with my insurance and I had to find out how long they would keep the tests/clearances I had already been through, and they said a year, after that I would have to redo the process. I'm sure it differs at every Drs office though!

[Angelsoul219 6]

Thank you for your responses. I still feel hope in getting my surgery someday in the near future thanks to you!!