Appointment with new PsyD

I went to see a woman PsyD on Friday. I felt MUCH better with her. She didn't perform another one of those 500 question psychological tests on me. She had questions specific to my purpose for being there. I filled out forms, answered her written questions, then we talked for about an hour. This time, I took photos of my family - to proove a point - genetics is playing a huge role. I had a photo of my great-grandfather, his son (my grandfather), my mom, her brother and sisters, and a photo of my mom with me and my 18 year old daughter who is also considering WLS. The point was this: I have had little contact with the majority of family on my mother's side, yet everyone on that side of the family is morbidly obese, and 2 of them can't even walk very much any longer because of the weight. My sister and dad? Both are skinny as a rail. I told her I am NOT a complusive eater, a stress eater, or a food addict - which the previous psych insisted. I am, however, guilty of eating too fast and therefore too much when I am alone at work where I am usually rushed - but I'm usually the LAST one done eating when I'm with family or friends. I am guilty of poor food choices. I am guilty of not eating frequently enough through the day. I am guilty of yo-yo dieting so much in 25 years that my metabolism is shot. I am guilty of lack of exercise - because I am so tired when I get home from work that I have no energy to do anything AND I physically hurt. I love sports though, and I miss playing soccer, tennis, and even tag football. If I could do those things again, I would. She told me that I need to get off of night shift. There have been reports that conclude that night shift is not good for your health nor for effective weight loss. I've only worked night shift for the last 15 years. She was very understanding - I think under "normal" cir****tances, I would have a good evaluation from her, but I am worried about the other pysch. This one has to review the other one's notes, because she must include in her report that I saw the other guy first. I have a really bad feeling about the other guy's notes. He basically accused me of being evasive, deflective with his questions, and more or less in denial that I had a food addiction, so I think on his notes alone - I would have been denied WLS. I hope that his notes don't mess this up for me or taint her report.

She will probably take them into consideration. However, it's been my experience that psych professionals usually like to form their own opinions. Who better than them to realize that individuals have biases? This will happen when the time is right for you. I say that with confidence because had I had my surgery when I was approved, before we moved to NC, I do not think that things would have gone as well as they have. I don't want to go into details, suffice it to say it was good that I waited. Hang in there. Take care. ~Ellen

Glad to hear that you got to see someone new and better. I wouldn't worry too much about the other guy's notes - she will probably just review them but make her recommendations based on her conversations with you. Good luck! Hugs, Donna

If he treated you like he does other patients, she probably won't consider them worth the paper its written on. Something tells me this guy isn't well-respected in his profession. GOOD ON YOU for taking control, seeing someone else and not listening to all the negative. I have faith in you! Karen

Curious thing just now...I got a phone call from the other psych's office. It came up clearly on my caller ID. Any other time someone called, they would leave a message to call them back... But this time, the caller stayed on the phone while the machine ran, then they hung up before leaving a message. I wonder if someone (he) got the release form for his notes to be sent to my new psych? If find it strange that that office would call me, hang onto the phone long enough to listen to the entire phone message, then hang up without leaving one. I doubt it was his office staff. They've always been very professional.