Disappointing Psych Eval

Now don't worry I am not crazy--but my psychological evaluation at St. Vincent's didn't go as smooth as I would have liked!  Seven years ago I was hospitalized several times for depression and I have a history of being sexually abused and a dysfunctional family.  I have worked VERY hard in counseling the past six years to improve myself and think I have come a long way.  Unfotunately, my background is too complex for the psychologist to make a decision himself, so the "Team" whi*****ludes my surgeon, will make a decision on my case.  I asked the psychologist if there was a chance that the team would come back with a decision that I can't have the surgery and he said no, but I might have to do additional things before having the surgery.  I can deal with that, as long as I know I can have the surgery--but I will be very sad and frustrated if the requirements that the team says I have to complete take a long time to complete.  I wasn't completely comfortable that the interview with the psychologist focused on my current mental state (it seemed we spent the whole time talking about my complicated past) so I wrote the psychologist, my surgeon and the rest of the team a letter and faxed it to them.  The letter basically explains how I used to be versus how I am today and why I think I can be successful at the surgery.  Has anyone here had requirements to fulfill from the psychologist before having the surgery?  If so, what were they?  Positive thoughts and prayers for a speedy path to surgery would be appreciated!

I hat to attend support group meetings at least once every two weeks before surgery.. that was it... but you have ot log them and they check them so you have to go

I think the Doctors fail to tell people that they dont have to go to the psychologist at St. V.  You can go to any one you want to go to .. i went to one local to where i live and told him what i thought he needed to know.  lol  my current state of mind is all that is his business, past may or may not have impact on our ability to be successful, like you said, your state of mind in the past and your state of mind now are very different,  I have suffered with depression and lifes events too so i know where your coming from.  Hope it all turns out well,  they may ask you to continue counseling after the surgery which is a small price to pay.   Good Luck to you, hope you hear something soon.  Hugs, Carla

Try to think of it this way... they don't want to keep you from surgery, they want to make sure you have the tools to be successful with it. I was required to go to support group meetings, and do counseling for my surgery. I had to attend 4 support group meetings, and I was able  to do that in a month, so it didn't take too long.

wow another person whom sounded like me~~~~~~~~i have the same past issues and they r exactly what i say PAST ISSUES that took me alot of years to deal with and i been doing good for 5 years now im proud of myself we are called surviors~~~~~~the psych questioned me also and i flat out told him i am a surviovor and i do not let people hold this against me in any way because i was not at fault by any means and im proud of how far ive came because im telling u before i was a horrible person thats because i had no idea on what feelings i were dealing with then i researched sexual abuse and i read a terrific book that was called outgrowing the pain and hon im here to tell you dont give up the recomendations arent going to be unrealistic my recomendations were i had to attend a xtra class besides pre op it was called lifestyles and also go to counciling prior to surgery and guess what it did not post pone my date im in for aug 8 which is in 2 days whooo ooo just be patient and do as tey ask and u will be fine and im here for you i know what youve went through and always remember we are called surviovors!!!!take care n good luck~~~~missy

I went to the st vincent's psychologist, i personally thought there were things about my life that were none of his business...i had never met this man before...and I'll likely never see him again...to say he could "evaluate" my mental state on that one meeting seems a bit out there to me....I shared only what I was comfortable sharing with him about my past and present....I didn't have to do anything extra to get my surgery....i understand why they have you do the psych eval, but for me I just felt like my private life is on a 'need to know' basis, and he didn't 'need to know' some stuff, ya know? :) hugs jen

Thank you all for your comments and encouragement.  I am glad to hear that the history of requirements before surgery are not horrible.  I just hope the team review of my case goes well.  I guess the most frustrating part of this delay is this is just what I feared would happen.  In the past, I have struggled with being honest about my medical history, but I have learned that to let my medical care providers help me the most, I have to be completely honest with them.  So in the meeting with the psychologist, I tried to be very open and honest--hoping that my honesty would help show the psychologist that I have worked on the issues.  Instead, I feel like my honesty and the work I have done on my problems has been held against me.  I am trying to keep in mind that the purpose of the case review is not to hold my psych history against me but instead to keep me safe and healthy through the surgery and afterwards.  Just tough to keep that in mind right now--once I know the outcome of the case review, I will feel MUCH better because right now my mind is going to the worst case possible scenarios.  Thanks for the support!!

Last night I went to a meeting at St Vs. I heard that guy was a jerk.. I would just like to say I am going with IU (because of insurance) and they told me, because I also have mental issues, that as long as I dont have any eatting disorders I should be fine. I dont have any but that is what they told me. I hope they are the same up there. I know how frustrating it is. I wish you luck!