very new

[RLittman 4]

Hi there. I have researched the web and decided to attend Dr. Spivak's seminar. Plus it helps that he is on my insurance - Unicare. I'm 46, female, 5'6" and 220. I have been overweight my whole life. I am not a big yo-yoer. I have dieted successfully on my own, but always regained. In the last few years I have tried to lose but as I get older the pounds are just not coming off like they use to. I literally have to exercise the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest and back along with diet to lose 1-2 pounds a week. So here I am at the threshold and the decision seems easy - I have no doubt I want to do lap band. My insurance requires psychological evaluation - one question - if I am not depressed (and I am not since I have lived with this my whole life), but frustrated with my current lifestyle - will I still qualify? Or should I go in there boohooing so I have the depression diagnosis? I am borderline diabetic, have foot problems, degenerative lumbar discs disease, arthritis in my back and hips, high cholesterol - isn't that enough or do I need to be depressed as well? One other thing, my general practitioner is not in favor of this kind of surgery, period. He is very old fashioned about it - diet and shut up. Ins. requires that I produce my general practitioner's notes but will I need a letter of recommendation as well? My orthopaedic doctor supports my decision and will offer a recommendation. Any thoughts on the subject? Can Spivak do the letter of recommendation or will it need to be from my gp? Thanks:confused: :confused:

[mini_me 3]

you should not try to fake depression...you seem to have enough other symptoms that look like they constitute co-morbidities...