questions about the tests before surgery

kellymoos · January 28, 2004

Didn't know which section to post this under so I posted it here!

My sister is looking into getting the lap band and her insurance will cover it 100% after she gets a dietician evaluation, sleep study and psych evaluation. Her question is what goes on during these test. I am banded but did not have to do any of these prior to being banded, so I am really no help to her about these topics. So any replies will be wonderful!!!!! THANKS..

January 28, 2004

I didn't have the sleep study. I had a meeting with a nutritionist where she just asked what my eating habits were and questioned what diets I'd tried in the past and told me what I had to change and gave me all the information on the 2 pre-surgery diets.

The meeting with the psychiatrist just consisted of him asking a lot of questions. I think they basically want to make sure you're not really depressed and have unrealistic ideas about this surgery because it still takes a lot of work on your part for it to be a success. If they get the feeling you need to see someone about your depression they'll not let you get the surgery until you talk to a professional. Both meetings lasted less than an hour.

marsha · January 28, 2004

Ok...here goes:

My sleep study:

I arrived at the center at about 7pm. After cleaning my skin in different places with alcohol and pumice, the "sleep technician" hooked me up to a lot of electrodes (a couple on each leg, a band around my stomach and chest, several electrodes stuck to my chin and around my eyes and about 6 stuck to my head). The electrodes were connected to wires that were hooked up to a monitor. At about 10:30, I went to bed. There's a video camera in the room watching your every move and you are wired for sound (they want to see if you're snooring!) I got up at 5am, they disconnected my wires, I took a shower and went home...

The psych eval was easy! First I took a written test of about 120 questions. I just had to answer True False or SOmetimes...they were questions like..."do you ever think of killing yourself?", "Have you ever taken someone elses medications?" Stuff like that. Then I sat and spoke with the psychologist for about 1 1/2 hours. She asked about my weight loss efforts, my family life growing up and about my family situation now. She also asked about my support at home, etc.

I hope this helps! If you have specific questions, I'd be glad to try to answer!

Marsha