I go for my psych evaluation Oct 10th. What to expect?

Okay so my last post was about deciding to go thru with the DS WLS... Now I go for my psych evaluation, some kind of educational class, and my first of six monthly weigh-ins... I don't know what to expect for the psych evaulation. I do have a couple of mental health problems but they are controlled with medicine and it is mainly depression and BPD... I am fully capable of knowing what I am getting into with this surgery. So anyway I am still pretty afraid that even though I know what I am doing that they still might not approve me when I take the psych evaluation. I am just wondering what it usually consists of. Is it a series of questions and tests or what? Also going for my first weigh in I am super afraid that I have gained weight. I did lose 5 lbs but that was because we didn't have much money so we were bascially eating meat and vegetables. I am afraid that if I gain weight they wont approve me either. I have United HealthCare Insurance. Does anyone know how much weight they expect you to lose before surgery or is there no set amount they just want you to try your hardest? Sorry for all the questions but this process is actually moving along and I am kind of worried about approval now. All I have left is to do the sleep study and 5 months of dieting for insurance requirements and then hopefully I will be all set... Thanks for your answers. Much love!!

Hi,

I wanted to say that I have United HealthCare and there was no weight loss requirement for me before I had my revision (RNY to DS).

For my psych exam the first time it was a test and the second time it was just talking. It was very general and I found it very easy. They want to approve you and I was on anti-depression medication as well and that is very, very common. I would just be yourself, be honest and it will be fine. They want to help and understand that losing weight will help you.

Best of luck, Terri 

My psych eval was just a general discussion about me, where I'm coming at the surgery from and what I expect afterwards. If you aren't in support groups, I highly encourage you to find one (or more) and start attending.

They are basically trying to determine if your mental state is solid enough for the life-changing event that is surgery.

If you are already on medication for those issues you will need to work closely with your Drs because we don't absorb medications the same way and you may have a heck of a time getting everything adjusted post-op.

Don't worry about the psych exam.  They just want to make sure you aren't  "cuckoo for cocoa puffs".

In other words, do you know your name, the year, who the president is.  Are you aware that this is a major surgery.  Do you realize that this is not a "cure" and that you will need to work on nutrition, vitamins, an exercise?  They also want to make sure you do not have an eating disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, or are extremely suicidal. 

Long story short, they don't want to get sued later if they perform the surgery and a lawyer latter proved the patient was not mentally competent enough to consent to the procedure.

Most often it will involve talking to someone, and then a fill in the bubble test.

As long as you don't disclose that you are secretly a superhero and have your change of tights and a cape in the trunk...you will be okay my friend.

More info: www.move.va.gov/download/Resources/BariatricSurgery/NCPRecsf orPreOpPsychEvalforwebposting706.pdf

 I just had mine today and I was worried way more then I needed to be. We just talked for about 40 mins about why I wanted the surgery my goals and stuff like that. He wanted to find out if I was thinking this was more of a help to loose the weight or just having the surgery and not making changes was what I was thinking. Good luck.