Well I didn't "pass" psych

I didn't pass psych.

Everything was going great until the end when she asked me if I was a binge eater.  I said no.  So she said "When was the last time you ate more then you should have".  So I said--last week. She wanted to know the ciru****tances.  I told her I made a sandwich (one chicken salad sandwich) and I decided I'd have another even though I wasn't hungry. 

That is it 2 sandwiches.  She said that could qualify as a binge.  Really????? I am 310 pounds. DH is 240 and can eat 2 sandwiches and he doesn't have a weight problem.

She was really  reaching I thought.  She suggested I go to a therapist and Maine med would follow up in 4 weeks.

I was SO UPSET that I told her I didn't want her to send my records to MM and that I wanted a 2nd opinion.  She said no, she was sending them.  So I told her she could not without my consent...and she said "fine, then I'll just tell MM that you don't want me to release your session with me and they will know what that means".

Needless to say I left crying. Ending up giving her release and am now waiting to see a psych.  Not sure what good that will do me.

My eval was certainly not like the other ones I have been reading about :(

I have a hard time believing that anyone can be morbidly obese and not be at least somewhat of a binge eater. Isn't that what our reduced stomach size is supposed to help us with?

I'm so sorry that happened to you. Please keep trying, and I know you'll get approved someday - hopefully soon.

(((HUGS)))

Debbie

I agree with PP, I know I overate at times and I had my comfort foods, but the whole point is to understand what the surgery will be doing to help you and over come that. I'm so sorry hon. I hope you can get a second opinion and they clear you. Good luck.

The psych exam is to determine if you are capable or making the decison to have surgery (i.e. not mentally incompetent, depressed ect.), to determine if you are mentally capable to follow the diet after surgery, to determine that you are capable to understand that surgery is not reversible and that you will be different for your life, also to determine that you are capable in understanding that you will need help after surgery and have the means to get help and to be able to cope with the changes that you will go through.  NO where does it ask the psych to determine if you are a binge eater.  I would talk to your surgeon and explain what happened. Is this someone who they refer all their patients too?  Maybe she was having a bad day?  Just call and tell them exactly what happened and you reacted to her being so unfair badly because you were scared of not having this surgery bc you ate 2 sandwhiches!  How stupid is that????You will be okay.  Just stick to whatever else your surgeon is telling you to do and go from their.  If it is a negative report, you can always ask for a second opinion!  It is NOT the end of your journey!

That's just stupid!  I didn't make it up past 300lbs by just eating wrong choices. Hell no, I was a binge eater. That's why this surgery is so good for me. Can't binge now. Stomach only holds so much and surgar is no longer my friend.

I didn't have a psych.  I mean, I did so much research that the doctor was fully aware I knew the risks. I told him what they were.
I'm now 9 days out.

I'm so sorry she put you through that trauma!!  This just doesn't sound right.  The only thing I can think of is that she thought you were in denial of your eating problem when you said you didn't binge.  Binging is eating more than you need to eat... plain and simple.  You don't have to do it everyday to be a 'binge' eater.  But like everyone else said.... the reason we are overweight is because we eat more than we need to!  Duh.... that is a no brainer.  You should not fail 'because' you are a binge eater. For her to bully you like that is just plain wrong!!  I would write a formal complaint. When I had my psych evaluation I had to take two different tests that were T or F, and multiple choice.  Then there was some sort of grading of those tests.  I guess there are 5 main psychological reasons why people become obese.... I had all 5!!  The psychologist talked to me for about a half hour and made sure I knew all the risks, that I didn't have unreal expectations, and that I had already taken steps to change my way of thinking and habits when it came to food.  She was very nice and sympathetic... hell, i was even crying in there!  She did say that I exhibit some peculiar behaviors though.... hey... nobody's perfect..  LOL.... But I passed otherwise.  Good Luck to you... and talk to your doctor and tell him you want a 2nd opinion... you have that right.  Hope it all works out for you!
Take Care,
Debbi

At my psych eval, it was suggested that I go through some cognitive behavior therapy to address my issues of grazing and snacking when I am bored. But it wasn't required. My psych worked right in the bariatric program so I think she was specifically trained to deal with the issues we have.

I would definitely talk to your surgeon about what they think, and/or get a second opinion. I went into the psych eval thinking that at least if there was something 'wrong' it would be identified and could be 'fixed'. If your surgeon thinks the 4 weeks of therapy is needed, it's really not that long. I know it sucks to hear, nobody ever wants to go to therapy. But if it helps you be better prepared for your lifestyle changes, and helps you to be more successful, then why not.

I am sure everything will work out fine. Try not to stress out about it, just one more hoop for you to jump through, frustrating as it is.

Sounds like she over reacted to your two sanwiches!  The doctor for my psych eval classified me as  having "eating disorder NOS"  I think that means non-specified, because I confided in him that I do have an emotional eating issue.  Eating makes me feel better and I eat when I'm sad, upset, anxious, bored, etc.  When the WLS clinic saw that, they said I had to seek therapy for this issue before I could have surgery because he diagnosed it as an eating disorder.  You're probably in the same boat.  I found a thepist at an eating disorder clinic and after 2 visits, her professional opinion was that the 1st doctor incorrectly diagnosed me with that, and I don't have it.  I am still seeing her to get help with emotional eating, but I feel like I've really improved.  We ALL emtionally eat, but i think some worse than others.  Get a 2nd opinion. It seems rediculous based on what you shared that what you did would be considered a binge.