*Psych Evaluation Tips?

[tal 129]

Hello! Im 22 and on my journey to get this VSG. I have finished my Nutrition Consultation and all i need is this psych eval and Im extremely nervous!

Does anyone have any tips at all or any ideas on what they ask??

[anonbaribabe 236]

Just be honest. They're not trying to trick you, they just want to make sure that you'll be able to handle a life-altering surgery.

During my psych consult I had to do 2 or 3 (can't remember) questionnaires. No difficult questions, but a lot of strange questions—I think some were to just determine if you were reading all of the questions. During my conversation with the psychologist, he asked about my life: family history, relationships with family and significant other, why I wanted the surgery, if I had a history of ED. He also asked me questions about VSG. I had to describe what the surgery was for and physically what would happen because of the surgery (removal of 80% of stomach). I specifically remember that he asked me if it was reversible. Our conversation was only 20 minutes or so and he told me after that he didn't see any issues with me getting the surgery.

[rs 1,473]

Ditto what@anonbaribabe said

[GradyCat 3,695]

They're just going to ask you if you have a support system around you to support your WLS efforts, determine if you have depression or anxiety that might affect your ability to follow the program successfully, make sure you have realistic expectations for the outcome, and stuff like that.

[ABawdyMermaid 70]

9 hours ago, anonbaribabe said:

Just be honest. They're not trying to trick you, they just want to make sure that you'll be able to handle a life-altering surgery.

During my psych consult I had to do 2 or 3 (can't remember) questionnaires. No difficult questions, but a lot of strange questions—I think some were to just determine if you were reading all of the questions. During my conversation with the psychologist, he asked about my life: family history, relationships with family and significant other, why I wanted the surgery, if I had a history of ED. He also asked me questions about VSG. I had to describe what the surgery was for and physically what would happen because of the surgery (removal of 80% of stomach). I specifically remember that he asked me if it was reversible. Our conversation was only 20 minutes or so and he told me after that he didn't see any issues with me getting the surgery.

This is pretty much what mine was as well. I just spoke to a psychiatrist who discussed the different surgeries, and she asked a lot of questions about me, if I had any eating disorders (or thought I did), etc. We also talked about my hubby and what my home life was like as well.

We talked at length about my struggles with food as well as all my worries with the surgery also. Like @anonbaribabe just be honest about everything, since it's important that they know whether or not you could handle such a life-changing surgery.

(I'll preface this next part by saying that I'm not accusing you of being one, but) sometimes people look at the surgeries as a way to fix all their problems, but the thing is that it's a tool to be used, and if you don't use it properly (by following your diet recommendations, exercising, etc) then it may fail you. Some people still retain the mindset of their old eating habits even after the surgery, and then they don't lose weight and such.

I think I'm rambling now, lol, but hopefully you understand my meaning. The psych evaluation is just to make sure that you're ready for all these changes!

[Ed_NW 684]

I wanted the surgery so I answered the questions exactly how I had to so I wouldn't be held up. Some people look at the Psych Eval as an opportunity to pour their soul out to a professional. I had an agenda and was determined to stay the course. Just decide before going in to see the therapist what your game plan is. If you want to be open about everything and hopefully get a referral to a Psychiatrist, do that before seeking WLS. That's just how I viewed it for whatever it's worth. Good luck with your journey.

[notmyname 593]

I'd also say think about whether you like him/her. I've found seeing a therapist regularly (once a month) to be much more helpful than seeing my nutritionist.

[chellyvillen 21]

I had a different therapist for the eval than the one I normally see.

The eval person asked me to explain what I knew about the pre-op, surgery, and post-op process. And I had to answer a questionnaire with like 200 questions on it, and some of them were on there multiple times so you should be answering them the same, so if you are honest it will be easier to do that.

My eval took almost a month to get back to my surgeon and it held up scheduling my surgery, I had to call them over and over to send it - it was super frustrating to me - and I never went back to them.