Seeing a councilor during long 100 +lb journey

[Spartan 4]

I ABSOLUTELY feel that ongoing Counseling/Psychotherapy should be an integral part of the Lap Band experience.

While it varies from person to person, the problem of obesity comes down to a very simple equation: We eat TOO much of the WRONG stuff. And most of the time, we do that not because we are physically hungry, but because of the "head hunger" that so many of us experience. And, simply because it gives us physical pleasure to eat good tasting food.

Sure, there are segments of the Obese population that have some form of metabolic disorder, there are absorption issues, and some other elements that play a role in the path to becoming Obese. But MOST of the problem lies in the fact that we simply eat too much of the wrong food. And, of course, we don't exercise our bodies nearly enough.

The fundamental mechanism of the Lap Band is to restrict our consumption of food. Plain and Simple. If you eat too much, you're gonna suffer. If you don't chew properly, it's gonna hurt. It's a valve. It's a Spigot. It's a throttle whose job it is to keep you from eating TOO MUCH (note to those engineer-types out there: I know it's not technically a"valve"…it doesn't open/close. I know…but you get my point…lol). There are some theoretical elements of the Lap band that some people here like to toss around as fact, that relate to reduced appetite and hunger, but that does not occur in all people….it is more the exception than the rule.

The point here is that a HUGE component of the weight loss process is the MIND GAME. It is psychological in nature, and if that particular part of the puzzle is not dealt with, you will not be entirely successful in your weight loss efforts, with or WITHOUT the Lap Band. Some people get lucky and the band is all they need to lose all the weight, but they are really the exception. And, if the band stops working or needs to be removed, then you have a big problem if you have NOT dealt with the mind/emotional issues relating to obesity.

So many Lap Band patients see the Band as some magical device that is stuffed in their stomach and Voila! ….they're not hungry any more. Nothing could be further from the truth, for MOST Lap Band recipients. It takes discipline, self control, patience, and a strong personal commitment to the process to make it work properly.

And THAT is why regular Psychological Counseling is SO important in this process.

Personally, I feel very strongly that regular sessions with a Psychotherapist that specializes in bariatric issues (and I mean SPECIALIZES, not just as part of the practice) should be a requirement of getting a Lap Band, not just a single session before the surgery. This should be an ongoing process, designed to support you in your weight loss efforts, and help you identify and manage the issues that have driven you to overeat in the first place.

Now, on the other side of this, I do think that SOME of the Pre-operative Psych consultations are a joke. The insurance industry really needs to do some "housecleaning" with regard to how they handle these evaluations. Some of it really is "going through the motions", and that, honestly, doesn't help anyone at all. But that doesn't keep the PATIENT from taking a proactive stance and seeking out quality behavioral therapy to assist them in this process. As a Lap Band patient you should absolutely NOT be rejecting the idea of psychological intervention in your Quest for better health,,,,you SHOULD be wholeheartedly EMBRACING the idea that your problem with obesity is multi-faceted, and needs help from multiple resources, and NOT just a noose around your stomach.

As I stated earlier, I feel that counseling and ongoing therapy should be a REQUIREMENT for anyone who undergoes Weight Loss Surgery of any kind, and I am kind of surprised that insurance companies do not make this a KEY part of the process, other than the initial Psych consultation. I believe that it is a CRUCIAL component of success in this area.

It is known that a certain percentage of Gastric Bypass patients will put the weight back on within a few years of losing it. This is not a result of any deficiency in the surgical mechanism, but it is a direct result of the "mind component" of weight loss not being addressed properly, or even addressed at ALL in so many cases. It is also known that in the case of the Lap Band, a very large percentage of Patients never reach their intended goal, and, again, it is because (in many cases) the psychological and emotional issues that brought the patient to the point of needing surgery have never been addressed. So, yes…you ABSOLUTELY need to make Psychotherapy an integral part of your Weight Loss Surgery experience.

With Regard to Therapists who specialize in Weight Issues, yes, there ARE those who maintain a Specialty Practice in that field. You need to hunt for them a bit, and I should warn you that MOST Psychotherapists will say that they deal with weight issues, but the fact is that most of them do not deal with it as a SPECIALTY. And, you really do want someone who is a specialist in this, someone who has been doing it for a number of years as a primary practice.

Sometimes you will see them in the yellow pages, but as is most often the case, the BEST practitioners do NOT have to advertise. It is very possible that you can get a referral from your Surgeon's office; they very often have good links to Professionals in this field. Also, if you contact your local chapter of Overeaters Anonymous, they often can refer you to Professionals as well. Again, I have to emphasize the importance of finding someone who is very well experienced and trained in Bariatric Psychology as a SPECIALTY, and not merely an incidental part of their practice. I think if you ask most Psychotherapists if they treat people with Obesity issues, they will all say yes. But, the vast majority of them will only have a couple of patients for whom it is a defining issue, and their experience in treating this problem is not very deep. So, take the time to find someone who really IS an expert in this….you will be well-served by having this kind of professional on your Team.

S.

[kellyjoiii 19]

I agree with everyone else. I see a counselor (a psychiatrist every six weeks) and a licensed therapist every week. (Wow, just saying that makes me sound really messed up lol) but I started going because of anxiety. I agree with the others also....about the numbers. 40% seems low..and I heard ore like 60% but it varies from person to person...(I am at almost 82% loss of my excess weight, 3 lbs away from my goal (or 10 depending on whether I wanna be in the 150s) and can honestly say counseling has helped GREATLY. So many things bring us to fill the voids in our lives with food (In my opinion) and my counselor has helped me figure those out. He has also helped me to embrace my accomplishments and look at myself differently. Internal dialogue is so very important here. It can be hard, there is crying, there is anger...there is self realization. But in the end, so worth it for me. Good Luck!

[mwinston2000 1]

Everyones different.... I feel that I news that type of support, I need to be more mindful of what I'm putting in my mouth. Also, my surgeons office has a monthly meeting where the psychologist and nutritionist are there for support and to answer any questions we

may have..... You should see if yours does the same

[hmm33502 187]

I don't have a councelor, yet....but I think it's a good idea. I think it is important to talk your feelings over with someone who understands you and can give an "educated" opinion, instead of an uneducated opinion like you would get from friends or family. There are also local support groups for ideas about ways to overcome roadblocks, and groups like Overeaters Anonymous for extra added support.

I had 168 lbs to lose originally and have decided to share all of my information through blogs and Facebook. The more people that know about my journey, the more I am accountable for being successful. I don't want to have to make a post on facebook about being a failure!

Good luck to you! It can be done. There are quite a few people here who have done it, many with psychological support!

[stratcat 10]

Hi everyone, I dug back in the archives, read this over again, and was so moved by the replys (all over again) that I wanted to share it with everyone that is new to the site.