Psych evals

[elpasovet 83]

I'm like spazIng out over here wondering what I should expect at my psych eval to get this surgery approved. Does anyone have any information they could share on what happens during this particular part of the process?

I was watching a show lastnight called "My Weight is Killing Me" and one of the females got denied because the psychiatrist said she "presented with depression" and "wasn't ready for surgery" ALL BECAUSE she cried a little during the interview...

Is this true that we can't have any emotion during these interviews or we get denied???

[InfiniteButterfly 438]

I've cried at more than one of my psych appointments. But then, I continued seeing my therapist even after the mandated visit. Crying and being emotional is certainly permitted. They're trying to evaluate your mental state and fitness for surgery to make sure you'll be a successful candidate. Some psychs just rubber-stamp it (for lack of a better term), some are genuinely involved in the process and want you to be successful.

Part of my approval stemmed from being willing to continue to work through the process with my psychologist (and I do know I'm very lucky to have insurance that covers these visits) because I do credit at least part of my success to having someone who is very familiar with the process (most of her patients are bariatrics patients) and understands what I'm going through at the various stages. It depends on your psych though.

Was your psych a recommendation from your surgeon/bariatrics team?

[Healthy_life2 8,324]

Wow small world I watched the same show last night.

My psych evaluation went smooth. He just asked yes or no questions and we talked afterwards.He approved me.

I do have a therapist I see about every 3 to 4 months. I'm working on my body image. My weight loss is not registering in my head yet. For me I need a person to help me through my old ways of thinking and keep this new me on track and moving forward in my life.

Your on your way...you got this! Its normal to be nervous with this process.

Wishing you the best,

Jenn

[LML8789 52]

My visit was not an emotional one. she wanted to know if I understood the surgery and what I expected to change with my eating habits. She also wanted to know if I had a support system . She said she felt that I had really researched my decision and she felt I would be successful. I asked if she felt if I needed further therapy and she said no but to keep in mind that the first month after surgery is an emotional one. She also aid that once I reached goal if I found I was "slipping" to give her a call and we could do a few sessions to get me over the hurdle. It was actually a good experience for me--I was able to verbalize my thoughts on surgery, family etc and any doubts I had about the surgery, went away after that.

Relax---You'll be fine .

[elpasovet 83]

I've cried at more than one of my psych appointments. But then, I continued seeing my therapist even after the mandated visit. Crying and being emotional is certainly permitted. They're trying to evaluate your mental state and fitness for surgery to make sure you'll be a successful candidate. Some psychs just rubber-stamp it (for lack of a better term), some are genuinely involved in the process and want you to be successful. Part of my approval stemmed from being willing to continue to work through the process with my psychologist (and I do know I'm very lucky to have insurance that covers these visits) because I do credit at least part of my success to having someone who is very familiar with the process (most of her patients are bariatrics patients) and understands what I'm going through at the various stages. It depends on your psych though. Was your psych a recommendation from your surgeon/bariatrics team?

Well it's all a part of the "protocol". After I do the 3 hour seminar and 1 support group meeting then they will schedule me with the surgeon, psych eval and then move Onto labs, tests and EKG etc. but the coordinator told me the entire process from start to finish is 8 weeks. So I started August 1st and really wanting to get the surgery done by October. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Forsythia 882]

Because Northwestern Memorial is a teaching hospital, there was a student observer in my psych eval (with my permission of course). At times it kind of felt like a job interview with all the questions. And I was nervous and when I get nervous I get sweaty. But in the end the doc said I was well adjusted and didn't have any diagnosable issues. LOL. Got through on the first go round. Some people do need to go back for subsequent sessions before they are approved.

[Pepper123 320]

Mines was easy…we talked about loosing anyone or anything, and i was a basket case…i had just lost my 23years old god daughter 8 13 13..so i was a mental case i cried the doc cried lols..come to find out the doc lost her daughter, in the most horrible way..shared loss…needless to say the doc thought its okay to have a good cry no matter the magnitude of you're loss!!!!

[elpasovet 83]

Well I hope my psych eval goes as smoothly as y'all's did :-)

[thesuse2000 698]

I watched that show too. I may have missed something, but I didn't take away that the psych denied that woman because she cried. My take away was that the psych was concerned that she wasn't emotionally ready for the challenge. She (patient) wasn't following the pre-op diet and had an attitude of complete helplessness. I could see the the psych's perspective - this was not a woman who anyone could possibly believe could follow the post-op requirements for a safe surgery. And if she did make it through that, there was no indication whatsoever that she was ready to make a mental committment to making better food choices. It was very sad for sure, but she was just not in a good state for surgery.

[elpasovet 83]

True^^^

[finediva 979]

Mines was easy…we talked about loosing anyone or anything, and i was a basket case…i had just lost my 23years old god daughter 8 13 13..so i was a mental case i cried the doc cried lols..come to find out the doc lost her daughter, in the most horrible way..shared loss…needless to say the doc thought its okay to have a good cry no matter the

magnitude of you're loss!!!!

Hello, my intension is not to take you there....but so sorry for the list of your baby girl. I cry with you. Peace and. Blessings

[finediva 979]

Hello, my intension is not to take you there....but so sorry for the list of your baby girl. I cry with you. Peace and. Blessings

correction * lost*

[lindalue 70]

I am having my first visit with the Psych tomorrow then another appointment with him the next day and my final appt in Sept I have to have 3 visits with him for my insurance I was told, Sure hope it all goes well, Next week I meet with the Doctor so should know more then. Love this sight

[elpasovet 83]

I am having my first visit with the Psych tomorrow then another appointment with him the next day and my final appt in Sept I have to have 3 visits with him for my insurance I was told, Sure hope it all goes well, Next week I meet with the Doctor so should know more then. Love this sight

Please come back and let me know how it went...I'm so afraid of getting turned down, this is torture...it's my last hope.

[sunflowerchild 146]

Please come back and let me know how it went...I'm so afraid of getting turned down, this is torture...it's my last hope.

As long as you come off as being knowledgable and realistic about wls (it's not a quick fix, it is major surgery, etc.) you should be fine. I went in to the psych eval with a history of bulimia and after reassuring the doc that I am in a different state of mind now, I was cleared. Is there something specific you are worried about the doc asking you? Like something you don't know how to respond to?