Hi all, just stumbled upon this website and I am glad I did. I am about to get banded soon too I hope. My insurance has approved it, just have to go thru another approval from the hospital, and then I am on my way to. I went to my first informational seminar today, and I am glad because a lot of my questions were answered. I have made my appointment with the psych, so I guess it will all be downhill from there. Or maybe uphill????? I dont know! Either way I am so exited. Hmmmm, wonder what they ask you as far as the psych eval? Any input?:biggrin:

My psych evaluation consisted of the psychologist asking questions about my family, education, illnesses, medications, etc. to get a history on me. He asked me the reason for getting lap band, and the steps that I have taken to get to surgery. He then had me do some kind of test that was about 250 true/false questions. He said the test was initially used to see if patients were ready for surgery. Now it's been extended to include weight-loss surgery. The test was no problem. I had to wonder how truthfully some people might answer the T/F question, "I often torture small animals." ????

Good luck on your getting final approval!!!!

i checked with my insurance first, and they said that any licensed medical mental health professional would be fine. i just went and saw a counselor at a psychogist's office. He was really cool, and we just chit chatted about me for an hour. That was it. He pronounced me sane, said I had a good head on my shoulders, and wrote a letter to my doc.

Another place I had called was going to make me come in for a minimum of 2 visits (with specialty copays for each!) and I was going to have to do one of the tests. Those tests are actually really silly. They have all sorts of random true false questions on them, with little gems like "Sometimes I hear voices in my head" or "I really hate my mother" thrown in. Only someone who's truly nuts would answer true to those, so how can they get a good reading on you? Some places don't even see you for a visit. They just give you the test and make their diagnosis from there (this is how it works in the program that I am getting my band done in, but I found out that the psych wasn't in network AFTER I answer 350 of their questions)

The questions aren't that bad, just annoyingly long, but I might check with my insurance first to see who has to do your eval. I found my hour talk with the counselor to be pleasant, and possibly even somewhat cathartic, so you might prefer to go that route.

Welcome! Those seminars are very helpful! I was not required to have a psych test.