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presurgery psych eval



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So what will the psych eval sessions be like? Don't see much discussion on it, just want to know what to expect...

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You fill out a big questionnaire that asks you in a dozen different ways if you're suicidal, have depression, have addiction issues, etc.

Then, you'll talk briefly with a therapist who will likely ask you why you want to have surgery, what motivates you, how your diet's going, if you have support at home, and basically how you're doing.

It's no big deal.

It's essentially just to establish a relationship in case you need a little help later.

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Note that your experience may differ--I didn't have to fill out any questionnaire at all, just sit and chat for a hour or less. The key idea seems to be to establish that you don't have unrealistic expectations about the surgery. There are some threads about the topic on here . . .

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And if you are very very lucky it will be so easy , you'll wonder if you could have phoned☎ your part in.😜

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Mine was simple, filling out a questionnaire to see if you are depressed and/or have anxiety.

Then my therapist really didn’t ask me any food related questions at all. Just about my family/support and what I did for a living. My program had a list for the therapist to run through and she pretty much just did that

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Mine was the same as most. I filled out a questionnaire that asked like 600 questions, most the same just worded different, then seen a therapist. I was int here maybe 15 min. He asked about support and about my relationship with my spouse and my eating habits, and if i had any addictions, then i was done. Very simple.

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And mine was a 15 minute phone call. She asked me a few questions and I answered in such detail that I covered some of her subsequent questions as well. Granted, that cost me $400 and wasn't covered by my insurance, but on the bright side I didn't have to take time off from work and travel anywhere.

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Mine was given by my psychiatrist. We discussed my expectations, why I wanted surgery and what my goals are. It wasn't scary at all. Just a little chat.

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Thanks everybody. I'm just worried I will get to that stage and then therapist say no because I am on antidepressants and anxiety meds, my mom has Alzheimer's and it has put a lot of stress on our family. My siblings and I barely speak which threw me into a depression. I hope these aren't considered "red flags" and I'm not allowed to go forward. I don't gamble because I did see an addiction forming there so I voluntarily had myself banned from all local casinos. I hope they don't see that as a problem and say nope, you're too jacked up...

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Thanks everybody. I'm just worried I will get to that stage and then therapist say no because I am on antidepressants and anxiety meds, my mom has Alzheimer's and it has put a lot of stress on our family. My siblings and I barely speak which threw me into a depression. I hope these aren't considered "red flags" and I'm not allowed to go forward. I don't gamble because I did see an addiction forming there so I voluntarily had myself banned from all local casinos. I hope they don't see that as a problem and say nope, you're too jacked up...




I feel you, my eval is on 5/2, and it has me more anxious then any other part of this journey...

HW 302
SW ----
CW 284
GW 150-ISH

"I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful." - Unk

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I was required to have 4 psych visits. Two to talk about previous and current issues and to determine if I really knew what I was getting myself into. The third was the 600 question test that most people on here seem to take and the fourth was just a follow up on that test. Please don’t get worried that because you have anxiety you won’t get surgery. I have bipolar, anxiety, insomnia and I’m a recovered opioid addict. If you’re honest and have documentation to show that you’re being cared for by a professional for any issues you may have, and that you DO understand how this is a full life change and what exactly happens when you have the surgery you’ll be fine. My psych approval took a few weeks longer than most since they needed my regular psychiatrist’s notes from the past year to evaluate if I was stable and recognized when I was changing from “normal” to manic to depression. Other than that, it was all good. :)


HW: 311
CW: 262
SW: We’ll see on May 10!

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Thanks, this helps a lot moondoggie1983. just4nise good luck on yours!

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Gosh, what kinds of muck and mire we all have had to wade through to where we are! Reading. your stories, your tales, has only strengthened my own resolve to go forward. I am proud to know such survivors, prouder yet that I am one of them. And folks, our stories are not completely over yet. There may be yet twists and turns, but we shall and will make it through to each of our futures. None of us is requesting a superficial assesment, we each are wonderfully complex individuals, after all. But sunshine☀ trumps shadow, ☁joy trumps sorrow and pain and our tomorrow's shine brightly ahead. Thus ends my little sermonette on Life. 😝👍🌈

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Thanks, this helps a lot moondoggie1983. just4nise good luck on yours!

Glad I could help you feel better! I promise it will go well for you! Good luck and keep us posted!


HW: 311
CW: 260
SW: We’ll see on May 10!

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On ‎5‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 11:37 AM, Frustr8 said:

Gosh, what kinds of muck and mire we all have had to wade through to where we are! Reading. your stories, your tales, has only strengthened my own resolve to go forward. I am proud to know such survivors, prouder yet that I am one of them. And folks, our stories are not completely over yet. There may be yet twists and turns, but we shall and will make it through to each of our futures. None of us is requesting a superficial assesment, we each are wonderfully complex individuals, after all. But sunshine☀ trumps shadow, ☁joy trumps sorrow and pain and our tomorrow's shine brightly ahead. Thus ends my little sermonette on Life. 😝👍🌈

Amen!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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