I have my Psychiatric appointment in 2 weeks and never been to one before

[mommyof6 1]

I have my Psychiatric appointment Aug15,2013 and i dont know what to expect,nor what they are looking for to be able to approve my surgery? im concern and worried I might say something wrong.

[Macy6 356]

I have a history of major depression and anxiety. I'm currently being treated for depression. I was open and honest and had no issues. My theory was, if they didn't feel I was mentally ready, than I wasn't mentally ready. Mine was a breeze.

[NoneYa 380]

I can't be 100% sure but I think they want to know the below list. It is what I went over during my eval.

You clearly understand the surgery and what will be done to you and that is is not reversible.

How the survey will change you and your life.

That you have the ability to follow through will Drs orders

That you understand the importance of following Drs instructions.

That you have the proper expectation of the surgery(what it will and will not do).

That you understand the issues you have/ have had with food that caused you problems in the past.

That you have learned to control the issues that caused you food issues in in he past ( your triggers, your binge foods).

Maybe someone else can add to the list.

[Arts137 1,811]

2x4 said it all.

And if you think you are a little bit crazy, you are probably fine...

[gmanbat 5,889]

I hate to diverge from the crowd but my psych eval was unfair. I told the guy I was a hippy...in 1968 and 1969. I've been clean ever since. The insurance company turned me down for drug abuse and behavior problems. My angry surgeon sent off a nasty fax. I was approved..but after the first of the year and the new copay kicked in. You get the picture. The psych worked for the insurance company (but not officially.)

My advice is do not volunteer a lot of information that they don't need to know. Some psychs are realistic and fair, some are just weeders for the insurance companies, (with probable kickbacks).

[NoneYa 380]

Gmanbat...This is one reason I chose to use someone of my choice, someone not affiliated with my PCP, bariatric surgeon-insurance company or anyone else. I also used a licensed counselor instead of a psychologist. If you read your insurance requirements you may find you can too. I was not given a test. Instead I discussed me, my life from childhood to adult, my traumas and tragedies and my successes. As I talked to her I could actually see my issues forming and my triggers being created. She was the perfect person for me and i actually plan to return to her just because it felt rather good to finally verbalize some of what had been crammed down deep below the layers of garbage I had covered it up with over the years. I paid cash and did not bring my medical records into it. My past records were not given to her and my visit with her was not placed in my ongoing patient records. All of that was ! not neccessary. The only thing that was neccessary is determining whether or not I would likely be a successful WLS candidate. Everything is is private IMO.

[Arts137 1,811]

I hate to diverge from the crowd but my psych eval was unfair. I told the guy I was a hippy...in 1968 and 1969. I've been clean ever since. The insurance company turned me down for drug abuse and behavior problems. My angry surgeon sent off a nasty fax. I was approved..but after the first of the year and the new copay kicked in. You get the picture. The psych worked for the insurance company (but not officially.)

My advice is do not volunteer a lot of information that they don't need to know. Some psychs are realistic and fair, some are just weeders for the insurance companies, (with probable kickbacks).

HA! This is bad, bad bad. Listen, I had to get Top Secret clearance for my job, and I honestly told them that I was in college from '67 to '71 -- and I inhaled! No problem, coffee is the only drug I got left. I mean I have reformed but I NEVER repented!

[TheOldMeAgain 128]

My psyche evaluation didn't go to well. I had a 45 minute interview along with a 567 T/F questionnaire. A lot really depends on the doctor you have. Some are willing to recommend WLS even if you have depression or other mental issues and others are not. There are many experiences across the board. What it comes down to is Know Thyself. If you feel that you are properly prepared and ready to make a huge like commitment then tell them what they want to hear. Don't bring up all your life problems and past. There is no way that a doctor can accurately say whether your mentally healthy enough or not in such a short period of time.

[SarahB928 25]

My surgeon had a list of people he recommended, I found one my insurance would accept and went to him. He was in the same building as my surgeon and pretty much had a list of questions he rattled off, mostly about the surgery and lifestyle change. Still waiting on surgery approval so I am not sure if I passed or not. Lol Fingers crossed that I get my approval soon.

[Brighteyes 237]

I already did a 500+ questionnaire and meet with the psychologist later this month. I have issues with depression and anxiety mostly stemming from a previous incident which happened 15 years ago. I have been in therapy for 6 months prior to even considering WLS. It was the hard work I did in therapy that got me to the point I felt confident enough to want the protection all this extra weight gives me off. So here is my advice. Be honest and forthcoming. We all put in this weight for a reason. Better to understand that reason now than to try and deal with it after WLS when the stakes are so much harder. Best of luck on your journey!

[BADB0Y 26]

I didn't have any issues either. My eval was focused on making sure I was prepared for the changes coming, and had the mindset to make the needed lifestyle changes.

[RunningA5K 645]

I had my psych eval last week. Rather cold and clinical. She was on the list that the surgeons office provides for acceptable psych to go to. No niceties, no pleasantries. Sat down for a cold 6 page interview that encompassed what did I know about the surgery, the risks, what do I understand from what to expect after the surgery, even what my understanding of the actual surgery was, family questions, mental type questions, some neuro questions, etc. Her questions, for the most part were yes/no questions, and I found out pretty quickly that if I tried to quantify my answer, she didn't really care and responded with 'these are standard questions'

Then was led to another room for the computer portion of the 'fun' day, and that was 338 questions with about 300 of them being completely ridiculous. She told me to try and answer all of the questions, and to be open and honest. Which I did.

After that was over, I was brought back to her to discuss the results of the test. The first thing she indicated was that the test seemed to indicate that I was much more positive 'than the average woman going through Bariatric surgery' and had much less negative feelings 'than the average woman going through Bariatric surgery'. She wasn't saying this as a compliment however...which really surprised me.

In the end she said that she felt I was a good candidate for the surgery, and that I was we'll informed of the risks, etc. and that she would recommend me. I still have another appointment with her coming up soon and then after that appointment I think that is the end of the psych appointments.

Just my experience...but it does sound like the experiences can be different depending on the clinic, insurance, etc.

Good luck to you!