Wondering if this is common? I had my Psych Evaluation and they are unable to approve me until I got through some behavioral therapy. The Doctor said anywhere from 3-6 months. I am wondering if I can get a second opinion? I have never been to therapy and don't take any medications for anything. I really thought this was just going to be a formality. However, I mentioned about 3 years ago I was obsessed with exercising, maybe to the point of being unhealthy. However, now I am back to exercising a few days a week, and have gotten myself to a healthier balance. Is this standard? Any Advice?

Thanks

The topic of the Psych Eval comes up frequently in this group. What you did is a perfect example of what I suggest people don't do. I'm sure a lot of people disagree with me when I suggest that you should tell them what they want to hear so you can move forward with the surgery. I've seen a lot of people on here in the same situation as you. Postponed or even denied WLS because of what seemed at the time to be a harmless thought is not uncommon. I always suggest if a person wants to do some soul searching and dig up some bones from the past, find a therapist aside from the WLS hoops you have to jump through. As you found out, it only proves to be self sabotaging. If I were you, I would find out if you can go to another clinic for a second opinion and limit your answers to yes and no. Good luck.

1 hour ago, njcardi97 said:

Wondering if this is common? I had my Psych Evaluation and they are unable to approve me until I got through some behavioral therapy. The Doctor said anywhere from 3-6 months. I am wondering if I can get a second opinion? I have never been to therapy and don't take any medications for anything. I really thought this was just going to be a formality. However, I mentioned about 3 years ago I was obsessed with exercising, maybe to the point of being unhealthy. However, now I am back to exercising a few days a week, and have gotten myself to a healthier balance. Is this standard? Any Advice?

Thanks

I had a terrible psych eval experience. Like you, I thought if I was sane and in charge of my life and making the decision for the right reasons, I'd be fine. WRONG. Not only did I fail, the therapist went up one side of me and down the other. It was awful. In hindsight, it had everything to do with her and zero to do with me. I spoke with the director of the bariatric program, but there was no budging, no second opinions permitted, and certainly no possibility the therapist was the one with the problem. It derailed my journey completely. I wasn't against therapy (God knows I have food issues or else I wouldn't be here), but the woman who did my psych evaluation wanted me to come back after a few months of therapy to see if I was "better". Such BS. I was so anxious about the idea of being judged by her again, I stopped going to therapy after a few sessions and really thought about whether or not I wanted this surgery. Just so happened, when I was really to get back on the path, it was 11 months since my psych eval. It expired after a year. I let it expire and redid it with a different therapist, who felt so sorry for me after my tale of woe she apologized and approved me saying, "I think you've been through enough already!"

My brother-in-law was going for his psych eval this summer and I told him exactly what Ed told you. LIE. Tell them what they want to hear. That's what he did, and he was approved on the first go-round. I will say, the extra YEAR it took me to get this surgery did give me an awful lot of time to think about it, and the changes required for it to really be successful. When I went for follow-up therapy, I chose to go to a therapist I'd seen years earlier for something else. Would you believe she'd had gastric bypass twelve years before, and in the two or three years since I'd last seen her, she'd gained about fifty pounds? That was the most valuable thing I got out of therapy. Staring at her and thinking I'd really have to change if I didn't want to follow in her footsteps.

I hope you find a way back on the path quickly, and with as little BS as possible!!

I pretty much agree with keeping your headwork with a real therapist out of the loop with your WLS doc.

I also think get a second opinion or switch surgeons. You don't owe them a thing!

The first one I went to was one that my insurance would cover. It was a money game with them. Had to go 3 times, one per month and then it would be 4 months after before could send in the report into doctor. Found another that had WLS so knew exactly what I was talking about and could relate. Was not in my insurance but so worth the $200. Plus handed in the report a week later.

What a joke you have to be careful with some therapists who don't understand the weight loss issues. But yes as mentioned above tell them what they want to get the surgery then move on and if later you feel you need help then see a different therapist our goal right now is get this surgery at all costs