Losing Enthusiasm For Surgery??

I'm going to jump in here and say its probably a combination of depression and feeling like the hamster!  I have depression and the same thing happened to me.  I also switched surgeons, although,  my new surgeon took all of my old surgeon's records and we started from that point.  It still took forever and you just get so overloaded with things in your brain and things that you have to do that you overwhelm and freeze.

I call it 'dirty room syndrome' LOL.  Its like when you walk into a room that's way too messy and you know you have to clean it up but you just stand there, frozen, not even knowing where to begin and feeling this impending sense of doom - its never going to get done!

Hang in there!!!!  Your time WILL come as is has for so many of us.  Keep the big picture in mind and move forward.

Thanks to all *****sponded

I am not in treatment for depression. I am taking 300mg of Wellbutrin or the generic equivalent. Initially when I began to take it it gave me a slight boost in energy and did almost nothing for the depression. The energy boost is gone and the depression is unchanged. I got the Wellbutrin from my PCP and not a Psych. I decided I needed to get a MUCH better handle on the depression before surgery. I posted here in the forum about additional or different anti depressants and got a few that I will bring up to my PCP when I visit him this week. People here on OH also advised that I see a Psych for therapy as well as better informed medical advice concerning the anit depressants. I have no excuses for not getting my arse to the Psych. I just flat out didn't stay on top of it. That is not the big bad doctors faults. My general outlook on life is really focused on my kids. I had a crazy off balance mom so I do everything in my power to make sure they have a different childhood. So Im on auto pilot all day everyday caring for them. I can;t really grasp or define my feelings towards life in general beyond the fact that I definitely want to live a long healthy life. If for no other reason than to keep my mom from halping to raise my kids if something should happen to me

I switched from University of Chicago to Dr. Inman. To make a really long story short, University of Chicago gives their patients a list of tests an things to have done at the information session. There is no one on one surgeon visit until MONTHS later. The surgeon then adds on a bunch of requirements tailored to each patient. The problem is that by the time the patient gets their individualized list of things needed prior to surgery, the tests they were INITIALLY told to complete are old. The majority of my pre op test results are dated from 2010. Even though they had no intention of scheduling surgery, they still submitted for and recieved insurance approval from my insurance company. That was the last straw and I switched to Dr. Inman. Once I switched to Dr. Inman, I asked about continuing the process. I was told that since I am on the younger side I would nothave to repeat the pre op tests and that since I already had insurance approval their Psych would accept it and not require me to obtain clearance from his office.

Apparently this is not the case. I recieved a letter yesterday that stated that I must repeat the Psych eval, the stress test? (letter isn't in front of me) blood work and something else. The letter basically says I am not cleared for surgery until those things are done. The part about the psych eval states that I will not be charged for the exam so it's not like they are trying to make a quick buck. I believe they will likely flag my eval and send me through even more hoops. They state that all the tests are required to be less than 30 days old, howver if I complete the tests and the psych does flag my eval and require further sessions or a waiting period...then the second set of pre op tests will need to be repeated...and round and round we go. I appreciate the mixed bag of responses and maybe, JUST MAYBE it is frustration with the process. But the very few people I told are starting to ask when the surgery will take place. When I explained what has happened to this point they proceed to give HORRIBLE advice. My PCP's office can't believe the hoops Im jumping through for this. It's just gotten old. Honestly. The holidays are approaching so the notion that this whole mess will drag in into 2012 is not a far fetched possibility.

I will likely jump through a few, and I mean JUST a few more hoops before I set this on the back burner. Dr. Inman is 3 hours away, 4 when u allow time for the hour time difference. It will be getting dark at like 4pm soon and winter weather is around the corner. I have two small kids that I have been shuffling to and fro, and leaving here and there while I go get blood work and xrays and mammograms and EKG's and pulminary check ups and psych evals and nut visits and etc.

I have no idea how to plan my life for the surgery. How to tell my husband to plan his time off to help me. Same for friends that I have asked to help with my kids. Again, 11 and a half months or actually next week makes a full year later, I can't even pretend to be able to ballpark a date for surgery. It coould be anywhere from Oct/Nov to feb/March of next year.

I am going to use some of the time to get a handle on depression as people here have suggested. And it does help to know that the frustration is normal and not the signs of some sort of psychotic break....The responses really did help. So thanks again...

Rant Over.

I am going through Dr Inman and I can tell you that all the tests are NOT required to be less than 30 days old. (At least in my case and others that I know about) Some of the blood work may be but they will schedule it all at one time............maybe because of the fact that you are taking the
Wilburton they feel that you need reevaluated.....


I met Dr Inman and started my process last November and had my Psych evaluation In February. I just did my pre-op testing this past week and everything is now in place for my surgery on September the 21st. They schedule all of your required testing the same day, they understand that people travel quite a distance so they try to get it all together.

Dr Inman's office should have sent you a letter with a contact person's name & email address, is this who you are contacting?   Good luck

the insurance approval is the biggest hurdle.  the other stuff should fall into line fairly fast

Thanks for responing,

Now Pk****ch what you say is interesting. In the paperwok I got at the initial visit it said that the tests must be less than 30 days old. And also, I never considered that they may want another psych eval because of the well butrin. Thanks, I would have never thought of tht....it never crossed my mind!! Well hopefully that is why. I said that the tests have to be less than 30 days old because its written on the sheet in the packet where it outlines the process to getting the sugery.

I was called with my pre op testing date about a week ago. I played phone tag with St Vince because the messages I left for Heather were always returned by St Vince scheduling...I still never got ahold of anyone who could answer the question I had for them. The great folks here were able to sorta provide the information that I needed. I got a letter Friday that requested the second psych eval and the additional tests. The letter was from the case manager or something and it was written on Meridian Surgical Group letterhead. And yes all my testing was scheduled for the same day, and I was still able to add the psych visit on that day as well....will be a LONG day. But thanks so much!! You provided a totally different view on what the psych eval could be all about....Good Luck and Best Wishes for your upcoming date!!! Congrats!

Good luck and remember in the end it will all be worth it to get the best surgery!