Appointment with shrink tomorrow.

Hi all, next week is my apointment with the shrink, Wow three hours of questions then a break, then one hour with the DR. sounds wierd! I am never comfortable with people prying into my life, like this sounds extreem. I made a decision to do the surgery and I dont know what else they could want from me. Can anyone share their thoughts on what they went through with this process. Thanks T.

I am with you on going to see them. I have my appointment on the 26th. I am not looking forward to it. I don't want to not qualify for the surgery because of them.

Hi Tom..... Well, that sounds like how Dr. Zimmerman's office handles the appt. To make a long story short...I failed his evaluation and then proceeded to call him everything in the book as he chased me down the hall after I slammed his door in his face......lol. I felt railroaded to tell you the truth. I spent 3 hours with someone (not a shrink...not a psychologist) who asked me TONS of questions and then sent me away with TONS of paperwork with the same questions on it to fill out over the lunch break. When I came back, I spent all of 10 minutes with Dr. Z. who, not so politely told me that I had "father issues". Hmmmm....let's see. DUH!!!! He told me (in that short time frame that I allowed him to speak) that I would fail at WLS and fail miserably. I was horrified. But...on the other hand, I would not fail if I agreed to see him or one of his colleagues in his office for 6 months and then he would release me. I do have issues with my father......BUT.....I had more issues with the way that whole thing played out. I did file a complaint as well. Personally, I can't believe that he could know me enough to assign lables and a diagnosis from a notebook full of multiple choice questions. That's just my thought. So, I paid the $300 bucks, even though I have the best insurance and didn't pay a dime for anything else (including my surgery) and I went to see Dr. Friedman. I spent a couple of hours with him and I passed. He asked the questions, he saw my facial expressions when I answered, he was able to see how I reacted to certain questions. And again, he said I had father issues. Of course I do. I was abused my entire childhood....BUT....he also was able to see the big picture, which Dr. Z could not do by not seeing me himself, but letting someone else paint the picture of me. And I do believe that he intended there to be 6 months of billed appts to be added to the coffers as well. Several of us paid the $300 fee to Dr. Friedman to bypass Dr. Z. But some have sailed past Dr. Z as well. Believe me, with as many people who have had or who are thinking of having this surgery...you will find that many stories. Some good, some not so good.....Some similar, some not. But you know what Tom? We stand together. I don't know what I would have done without these people, as I had so very many hoops (mainly medical) to jump through. So hold your head up. Feel proud of who you are and YOUR personal decision to go forward with this surgery and you will do great in your psych eval. Don't be afraid to voice your determination and your strengths in regards to what it will take to get through this....because we all do eventually get through this. We'll be waiting here for you to tell us how it went. Take a deep breath and just go do it. SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We care. Shel

Thanks for your response, and you are right it truly does help to talk to you and the others here. YIKES!!!! Zimmerman is who my appointment is with. I don't know anyone who doesent have any issues I think the difference is how you deal with them. I have been known to say that my family put the "fun" in " disfunctional". I am not fond of surgery or Doctors but I feel that for me this is a matter of life and death, I can't live with the pain and discomfort any longer. When I filled out the paperwork for the doctor I realized that everyone in my family on both sides of my parents family had heart problems and I owe it to my wonderful wife and all of those who depend upon me do do something about this now. You are right we call can succeed at what we want and it is wonderful to hear from everyone. I'll keep in touch. Thanks Again :) Thomas

Hay Tom, I'm with the other here. The woman I saw for my eval after my million questions really pi$$ed me off... Here is my encounter with her I had posted on my page.... 02/16/2006 Ok so I go to get the results of my psych eval today. I was really a bag of nerves about it knowing it could be the one thing that held me up if they felt I had some issues to deal with. So anyhow, I go in and see the Dr. and first thing out of her mouth is if I'm depressed at all now is the time to talk about it and that's what she's there for. Which struck me totally dumb because I'm so NOT depressed about anything. It was almost like she didn't believe I was truthful with my answers in my questionnaire. I looked her straight in the face and said I can't tell you something that's not true. I'm a well rounded person (in more ways then one..) I love to laugh, I love to have fun, I have a great family, I have three awesomely great boys two of which are teens who's friends love to be at our home and I love having them there. And I really don't give a rats ass about what people think of me. I live for me and do what makes me happy and in turn my family is happy because I am happy. She just kinda looked at me like she didn't know what to say. I dunno maybe shes just used to people coming in depressed, hating themselves and with a poor self image. And I'm in no way saying that's how everyone must feel because like I said mentally I'm fine. I mean yeah, I'm fat (yep I used the "f" word..lol) But that doesn't mean my life sucks. I have issues with my health and THAT sucks but that's the reason why I'm seeking out this surgery. She then said well sometimes people think if they tell us they are depressed it will hinder their chances for surgery and they come in and are not truthful. I was like, I don't really know what to tell ya. She still seemed not thrilled with my answer but what ever, like I said I don't give a rats ass. So by the end of the convo, she said I feel you'll do fine with the surgery but if after you feel the need to come in and talk we'll have your file open for six months so just remember were here for you. And people wonder why I hate shrinks!! I was there cuze like you I HAD to be there not cuze I wanted someone who doesn't know me from BOO picking my brain.. To know they have our aproval in their hands really ****** me off. She also went on to tell me she was suprised I was approved because I wasn't "THAT BIG"... Let me see being 5'5 and 252 yeah I qulify and BCBS seems to think so too.... Good Luck to you cuze like I said I think they suck eggs and I wouldn't **** on em if I saw them on fire on the side of the freakin' street..... Hugs ~Na-Dene~

Hi Na Dene, Thanks for responding. Well I feel just like you and I have never minced words about telling someone where to go or even how to get there lol, so if they **** me off I too will let them know. I am glad to hear that you are heppy because I am not sure a lot of us are. The world is a depressing place sometimes however we are the ones who decide if our glass is half full or half empty and mine is always half full. I have been through some real s__t in my life and I always come up on top. I have the love of a wonderful woman and that is something that will always make me get through it. Everyone has the capability but not everyone taps in to it. Keep it up and I am sure that you will be sharing more sucess stories with us all in the future. I am not as concerned about meeting with them now after talking to you all. All The Best Tom

Hi Tom, Well, I can't give a lot of advice here as I got lucky because I see a therapist currently and Dr. Ryder allowed her to send in a letter of approval for me. But, I just wanted to say don't sweat it too much because it all WILL work out for you one way or another. If this doc doesn't work, go see another. As someone here one told me (a great piece of advice), You are your own advocate in this process. Best of luck! Trace

Hi, Trace and thanks for responding. I agree we all are our own advocate and I am determined. Im not fond of this 6 month thing and I wi**** could be over tomorrow but I understand somewhat that they need to know a lot before they proceed. I must admit I am not a patient person to begin with. I belive in Get er done. All of my appointments will be done by Nov 7th so the wait will get worse starting then for me I guess. I notice a lot pf people talking agout Dr Roye I have Dr Pohl and don't see many posts about him ??? I am going to do this and no one is going to stop me. I have mede up my mind. THanks again and All The Best. Thomas

hi tom . that appointment is a big farce. you talk to a theorapist for 2 hours they make a report and then you go back to the dr. who never met u and they try to **** u off. i had the blonde russian dr. that tryed to tell me i had problems i never even thought of so baSICALLY THEY DONT KNOW YOU . THEN U ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THEN THEY MAKE A REPORT . GIVE IT A DIAGNOSIS SEND IT TO THE NEXT PERSON WHO LABELS U AND THEY FLIP A COIN TO SAY YES OR NO ELAINE

Hey Elaine- I loved that response because it is totally true!! Thanks for the laugh of the day!! Shannon