Hi,

I have an appt for a psych eval on Sept. 6. What kind of questions can I expect? Also, does everyone have to go on a preop liquid diet? I think after the psych eval, the dr's office will submit my paperwork to Cigna.

Any replies are appreciated.

Thanks,

Dixie:nervous

I know know if everyone has to do a liquid pre-op diet but I'd definately say the vast majority of us had to. It's not the easiest thing to get through but it does get you mentally ready to change your relationship with food. I thought of mine as a "detox" of sorts as I prepared for my new life with band.

The pysch eval is nothing to worry about. The questions I were asked were basically aimed at making sure I was prepared to follow the doctor's orders; to make sure I wanted the surgery for the right reasons (not vanity) and to ensure I had a realistic concept of how my life might change after losing weight.

I'm sure everything will be just fine for you!

Thanks for your reply. I am wanting the band to help me control my eating. It seems like I'm hungry all the time. Were you like that, too?

Yeah, a lot of my issues were based on poor lifestyle habits...lots of simple/processed carbs and not eating ANYTHING all day sometimes until dinner at which point I'd pig out almost all night until bedtime because I was starving.

We all have different things that got us to the point of needing surgery! But once I made up my mind that I was ready to change my old habits I lost weight, gained energy and greatly improved my health. So, it is worth it to me to forego those old pizza and Pasta pig outs!!!!

I think the psych eval is really just to make sure that you are prepared for the emotional ride and that you are not bulemic or aneroxic etc. I actually talk with someone weekly and it is a great additional tool to get me through some of the emotional issues that I had related to food. As far as the liquid diet, I think it is for everyone because they want to shrink the liver. Part of the liver covers the top of the stomach and the liver is fatty and slippery. So to make it safer for you and the surgeon, they put us on a liquid diet to shrink it. It is hard, but with the end goal in mind, you will get through it! Good luck!

I have just joined this forum yesterday, and so far I see alot of support for one another. I am going for a consult soon. BMI 40.9 5.1" 218. I keep climbing and climbing. Ten years ago I was 117 and feeling good. So putting on a 100 pounds in ten years has caused allot of joint pain. My sugars are perfect and so is my BP. But I noticed allot of you did not have to wait the 6 months that we have to do in Maine. Or am I misinformed. Thank you Jannno

Janno, in my case the 6 months was an insurance requirement. The insurance company wants to make sure this is something you really really want for the right reasons. Some people in my Dr's office are self pay and they pretty much have surgery as soon as they complete the pre-op diet.

My psych eval is 9/6 too :ranger: I am not too worried about it. I read on the boards here that the shrink at this particular hospital is a bit wacked herself. It should be fun!

After the eval, the doctor/nurse/nutritionist/shrink get together to decide if I'm a good candidate. If they do, then I get to see the surgeon and my paperwork goes in.

Good luck with your eval!

Margie

Thanks, maybe that is not a bad idea, but I would really like to get this done soon. But as they say all good things come in the end.