psyc nut question...

Hi all
I am finally on the road to surgery...it has been a long process, but now I am moving.  My Psyc/Nut is on Monday.  Is there anything to worry about? I am pretty healthy physically and nutrionally, as well as psychologically, but just not sure what to expect.
Well, any advice would be nice, have a great day!  THANKS!!!

I did mine thru Nortons, it took all of about an hour or so. First I watched a video of people who had had surgery, then talked to the nutritionist who was new & didnt know a whole lot on the subject of bariactrics, she was telling me stuff like make sure you eat from all the food groups and how many servings of veggies to get. With me being a RNY patient, we are to eat protein, protein, protein. But anyways, I then met with the psyc lady & I was probably with her for a whopping 10 minutes! All she asked was if I had any family members with a history of mental illness and some general small talk. I was really surprised by this as I would have thought we would have talked about why I was overweight, why I used food as a crutch & so on but that wasnt the case at all. I told her that I was surprised at how the visit was so short and her reply was 'well it seems you know what youre getting into'. I just smiled & said thank you & left.
Where are you having yours at?
-Tracy

Hi TEACH,

Relax and don't let yourself get worked up between now and the actual interviews.  If I remember correctly you are going to use Norton's downtown right??  It's a breeze and more of a informational visit.  No real testing goes on for the "psych" portion of the meeting.  You will do 4 things while there: see a video, see the nurse, see the nutritionist and see the therapist.  Usually three other people are scheduled at the same time and you guys basically rotate between the 4 stops!  It all takes about 90 minutes.  After that day they will finish writing up your packet and send it to the surgeon's office for review.  My surgeon's office called me about a week later.

Tracy,

LOL....I bet the lady that did your psycho-social assessment was named Mary and likely the NUT was Casey!  I truly like both of them (I like all of the people I have met that work at the bariatric group) but I too was under the impression that the whole process would have a more "professional" feel to it and was a bit disappointed!

Mary and George are social workers (LCSW) and not psychcologists or psychiatrists.  I too am a social worker with a master's degree (I'm a CSW) but I do not practice as I have been a stay at home mom for three years now.  What they do when they interview you is more of an interview to collect info for s psycho-social history.  I think it's VERY misleading that they refer to it purely as a PSYCH assesment (I think it's more of a Norton's wording thing than a Mary and George thing).  In fact, unless things have changed in the years since I received my degree, it's illegal for a non-lettered PSYCH professional to administer and interpret any true psych testing and unless they are hiding another professional up on that floor, they don't have anyone with this degree at Norton's Bariatric Group.  I suppose this is why we get the "psych lite" version.

My dream job when I decide to go back to work is to go into bariatrics.  If and when that ever happens though I will not mislead people into thinking they are having a PSYCH appointment and stress them out!

OK.....off my soapbox!!

Norton, and I am with Dr. Shina as well. Thank you.
I don't know if you know my story, but my husband has been very ill and I put it on the back burner and now he is doing better and I am able to do more for me. He wants me to go as he doesn't know when we would be able to do this again.  Not to mention many conflicting answers in regards to what my insurance needs...finally  I ended up calling them and speaking to the lady myself.
So, off I go on Monday at 8 am.  And, like you I have done a great deal of research, and I am more than ready. Hopefully I will be as easily assessed as you have been. Though I am obese I have an extensive knowledge of nutrion already so I hope that this nut appointment goes well.
How did you like Dr. shian if you don't mind me asking?
thanks so much for your input.

Take advantage of your situation and do what you can for yourself right now. And it sounds like your husband is supportive also so thats always a plus. Good luck to you on Monday, Im sure you will do just fine.
As for Dr. Shina, I absolutely love him. His is direct, straight to the point & doesnt BS anything. He is not the hand holder type & doesnt coddle you in any way shape or form and thats exactly what I needed. Nothing is sugar coated! His staff is more than willing to help you any time, any day as well.

Becka-
I think that would be a wonderful transition for you to go into the bariactrics side of social work. I think there are too many professionals involved with our process that really dont get a feel for what we go thru and with you going thru it first hand would be just the edge you would need to be successful at it. I think people would appreciate your insight into the whole process. Too many wls patients dont really realize the whole picture sometimes and I think that would just be awesome to talk to someone on a professional level that has been there done that.

    Hi  Pre-K. If you have Dr.Shina you are in the best surgeons hands possible. I went thru the downtown center and got George for my eval and he asked lots of insightful questions and made me think.. Erin was the nutrionist there at the time, I think you will Enjoy Casey or Jennifer which ever you get.. Be sure to ask any question you have, there are no dumb questions, ok?? Make sure they give you their cards so that you have them if you need them.. Connie made sure we had copies of all the peoples cards in our info packets too..
   I had my surgery done at suburban and here's how it went, general details as Im not sure what surgery you are having.. I went in signed up and they took me back, gave Todd a lil pager to call him when I was done and he sat to wait. They took me back, weighed me in one last time,  THIS IS YOUR STARTING WEIGHT WITH DR. SHINA, I use my beginning weight, he uses hospital weigh in. Connie came in and talked to me and my family. She answered my mom's questions and really made my mom alot more comfortable with the surgery. We then talked to the man in charge of the drugs and in came THE MAN. He will ask you questions, Are you sure you want to do this, Do you want another surgeon.. As Connie should tell you, he asked these to everyone!! He's not trying to scare you off... I was glad Connie prepped us for that, cause as he was asking them I thought wow he doesn't want to do this.. lol
  I was one of four surgeries that day and the first patient had been late so we were all behind our scheduled appt.. So things felt like they took forever.. but I really dont  think they did in real time.. They rolled me back, and I was asleep before I could even feel the mask on my face.. I woke up with the heart surgeon in my face, scared me to death.. he had white hair that kinda stood up!! First question I asked was open or lap? They tried to give me pain meds and I kept refusing them, told them I was a lil sick at my tummy and was put in my room!!! Done!!! I did not see Dr.Shina again till my two week follow up.. Dr.Gellar released me. I had lapband and was only there 22 hours, I think..
   Good luck and enjoy the ride..
 Remeber we are here to help you out too, and Im sorry you have had such a rough time with  getting this on the way. Im sorry your hubby has been ill too!!!
 dawn