eej1422 0 Posted June 2, 2011 I was wondering if everyone that has self pay had to have a counseling appointment? I was scheduled to have mine today and my surgery is next wednesday but than it got canceled because the office lady forgot to tell the counselor of the appointment. So now its scheduled for after my post op appointment. I am also wondering what they do during this appointment this is the second time they 'forgot' to tell her. I'm not depressed or anything that would come up with in the psych exam I'm pretty healthy at 36 bmi I never really eat just to eat or over indulge. I understand why one would be needed for insurance approval but I was just hoping someone could answer my questions. I just hope this is skip able. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jennifer1 180 Posted June 3, 2011 i was self pay and i didnt do the psych part. and i'm perfectly sane!!LOL! i think that's only a requirement for insurance. $$$$$ in my pocket!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Papillon Princess 13 Posted June 3, 2011 While a lot of people think this is BS...some surgeons require it to make sure you are fit to have the surgery mentally. I think a lot of people go into this surgery and either lie through the psych eval or don't take this seriously and may not be over some emotional issues that they have that cause them to eat. Your surgeon may be requiring this and that is normal. If you read about some of the band failures...the band did not fail them, they failed their band. Some people have not worked through their emotional issues with food and learn to eat around their band. My appointment was about 2 hours and it wasn't bad at all. The lady was very pleasant and it was just like talking to someone for a few hours. I was wondering if everyone that has self pay had to have a counseling appointment? I was scheduled to have mine today and my surgery is next wednesday but than it got canceled because the office lady forgot to tell the counselor of the appointment. So now its scheduled for after my post op appointment. I am also wondering what they do during this appointment this is the second time they 'forgot' to tell her. I'm not depressed or anything that would come up with in the psych exam I'm pretty healthy at 36 bmi I never really eat just to eat or over indulge. I understand why one would be needed for insurance approval but I was just hoping someone could answer my questions. I just hope this is skip able. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sandy1 1 Posted June 3, 2011 I was wondering if everyone that has self pay had to have a counseling appointment? I was scheduled to have mine today and my surgery is next wednesday but than it got canceled because the office lady forgot to tell the counselor of the appointment. So now its scheduled for after my post op appointment. I am also wondering what they do during this appointment this is the second time they 'forgot' to tell her. I'm not depressed or anything that would come up with in the psych exam I'm pretty healthy at 36 bmi I never really eat just to eat or over indulge. I understand why one would be needed for insurance approval but I was just hoping someone could answer my questions. I just hope this is skip able. I was self pay and never had one. All I needed was medical clearance from my heart DR and blood work Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eej1422 0 Posted June 3, 2011 i was self pay and i didnt do the psych part. and i'm perfectly sane!!LOL! i think that's only a requirement for insurance. $$ in my pocket!!!! I was self pay and never had one. All I needed was medical clearance from my heart DR and blood work Yeah I thought it was unnecessary! My self pay is 9900 including everything! So I don't know if its possible to have them cut this psych out! Which it probably isn't because we have to pay the surgery site the full amount than they pay the office. If not I'm probably just not going to show up the day of the appointment, that's the exact same thing she did to me! While a lot of people think this is BS...some surgeons require it to make sure you are fit to have the surgery mentally. I think a lot of people go into this surgery and either lie through the psych eval or don't take this seriously and may not be over some emotional issues that they have that cause them to eat. Your surgeon may be requiring this and that is normal. If you read about some of the band failures...the band did not fail them, they failed their band. Some people have not worked through their emotional issues with food and learn to eat around their band. My appointment was about 2 hours and it wasn't bad at all. The lady was very pleasant and it was just like talking to someone for a few hours. 2 hours thats too much time to be there! I could never talk to someone that long I did not know. I don't think the office thinks its that important seeing im not going till after my pro op appointment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Papillon Princess 13 Posted June 4, 2011 It's not like you just talk about whatever pops up in your head; there are questions that are asked and they discuss your expectations with the surgery. I think you meant your pre-op appt, so I assume they still want you to complete it before surgery? You may want to check and make sure that "missing it" won't cancel your surgery. 2 hours thats too much time to be there! I could never talk to someone that long I did not know. I don't think the office thinks its that important seeing im not going till after my pro op appointment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ElizLuna 0 Posted June 7, 2011 It was required for me and I was not happy about going - just another thing to do!! However, she was super nice and gave me some things to think about.... Nothing life changing or anything that would change my mind about surgery but just how to handle things that come up... I would do it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roziecakes 20 Posted June 8, 2011 I am self-pay, and I had one. It was explained to me that most of the pre-op stuff, including the psych eval were to make sure that I was ready for the surgery physically, mentally and emotionally. What I gathered is that my doctor wants me to succeed; and people who are not prepared mentally will not succeed, and they will have then wasted their money and time. I'm not saying you're someone like that, but I do think it's important to get evaluated by a professional. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites