depressed...
I'm glad to hear you're feeling better!
For quite a while before my surgery, I was (and still am) taking Zoloft for clinical depression, so I knew they would realize that this was not just a temporary psychological problem, but something I may have to deal with my entire life. That's why I was extra nervous about being rejected due to my depression. But my pre-approval psych eval showed that things were in control and that I had realistic expectations of, and full understanding of, WLS, so I was approved.
As for your depression/psychological problems and your surgery center (or insurance company) approving or disapproving your WLS.... It really depends upon how your WLS psych evaluation goes. Depending upon what the psychologist writes, you may not have any problems, or you may be required to undergo more therapy and then a psych re-eval. Each insurance company is different, and each case is individual, so I can't really tell you for sure what will happen.
Since you are currently undergoing therapy/treatment for your depression, they actually will see that at least a bit favorably. Although they don't want someone to be in the midst of a major depressive episode, they would rather have someone who acknowledges his/her problem and is actively working on it, than someone who says, "There's nothing wrong with me other than I need to lose weight," or "I'm not depressed at all." Denial of an emotional problem will actually lead to a denial of WLS. Acceptance and action are positively seen. But you also have to accept that you need to be in the right psychological "frame of mind" to safely undergo WLS.
Try not to worry about it... and try to understand that the insurance company's requirements are there not just to save insurance company money, but to protect you. They want to make sure that you can not only physically but emotionally handle the surgery. They don't want to okay a person for WLS, have that person undergo major surgery, and then have that person get sick and maybe die because emotionally s/he's not prepared to follow the post-surgery rules. They also don't want a person to have the surgery and then wind up being severely depressed because s/he had unrealistic expectations or won't obtain psychological help. And they also don't want to "waste" their money on someone who will eventually defeat the surgery and regain the weight lost. They want to reduce the chances of any of that happening, thus they have various criteria you have to meet before they approve you.
Do what you need to do. Go through any needed testing. Get any necessary treatment you need. That way you will increase your chances of being accepted and of succeeding in keeping off the weight after WLS.
Good luck!
~~Ilene
Lap RNY 06/22/04
296.5/165/140-130
Thanks Ilene,
I am tryin to not worry about it. My depression is pretty much under control with the meds I am on. The surgery center that I am wanting to go with is gonna review my papers and call me sometime this week to set up an appt. for a consult. They accept my insurance but I'm not sure yet if my insurance has any requirements. Ever since I decided to look into WLS , it is just about all I can think about. It's like there is hope of really, for real, losing all this weight. I haven't felt hopeful in a long time, that I really could do it.
Thank you for all the support.
debby