Passed Psy-eval!

After a fast 500 mile round trip I passed my Psy-eval yesterday.  My Psy said that 1/4 of me was abnormal, 1/4 was normal and she couldn't determine or evaluate the other-half of me.  She said that she would sign my letter of her approval for the surgery. I had about an hour interview with her then a  567 question test and a final interview.  After that I had meet with my Dietcian who is the one that actually schedules the surgery for the surgeon.  She said she would try to have me scheduled for surgery sometime in July.   Of course, I have to go back for the pre-op test, another 500 mile round trip, but that is a small price to pay even with gasoline prices being so high. . .  Today, I meet with my other dietcian in Houston and I am officially at 309. (the weight I needed for surgery).   Thanks for all your support over the past couple of months. Mike Ray

Keep the Faith Mike! You're doing great. That roller coaster ride is just starting to pick up some steam and before you know it, you'll be in for a hell of a ride. I have a saying that I've used when I'm working towards a goal, "It's all about the journey" Meaning it's what you do every day that counts to get you towards that goal. (Kind of like eating an elephant one bite at a time.) Make sure you're getting some walking in and get that body in the best shape you can before surgery.  Best of luck and thanks for sharing the good news... Jim

Thank's for your support.   Hopefully, I can start walking more.  I went to the doctor again today, for skin-tags between my legs.   That was fun, she looks about 28 years old, blonde and attractive and here I am holding up my testicles with my legs spreed. . .   Oh, well, she zamped them with liguid nitron so maybe in a few days after I get over the discomfort I can start my walking exercise. Mike

Mike, Congratulations on making it though the psych gauntlet and making the weight goal as well. The mileage of driving between your home and the VA hospital is a pain but worth it.  Having a postive attitude toward jumping through the hoops helps a great deal. The weight-loss success you will have is worth the effort.  That being said, I hate to say that the psych process does not get any better even 6 months out, though my cir****tances may be unique. Our WLS has a psych on staff as part of his practice. The original doctor I took the big test with and interviewed with retired last month and a new psych just joined the staff as a replacement, but with no WLS prior experience. Our program has post-op check in visits with the psych at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months out.

I just had my 6 month review with the new psych yesterday, and with her being new I was not sure what to expect, the prior guy was obsessed with spotting OCD behaviors and working with patients to overcome self-confidence issues and family-guilt resolution issues, those issues in my opinion seem to be more prevalent in the female patients I observed in the post-op group session I use to attend.

So the new psych asked me how I felt about how my body was changing and if my self-image was matching what I see in my post–op photographs. I said no, that my mental image was of a larger person than how I may actually be in reality. So she said I should take more photographs of myself and line them up next to the mirror so that I get use to seeing the real me. And I said, that would be the last thing I would want to do. I want to feel like I am still a large person and use that as a motivation to be careful of what I am eating and be the motivating factor behind my exercising. The last thing I want to do was to feel “happy” about the way I look, because that would be the root of complacency that would lead to make poor choices in life, because I would have the feeling of being “done” and I would lose my motivation. She though that was insightful and proceeded to write a whole lot of notes based on this discussion.

Then she asked me why I do not attend the WLS post-op groups, and I said that after the initial 2 months of recovery, that the session mostly degraded into a women studies class in self-loathing, coping with over-bearing mothers, and planning what restaurant to go to after the session to have dinner and drinks. I put in a plug for the Men’s Forum and said that I would rather have the tough-love and accountability I receive here, than to sit in a groups session where hugs are give to those that confess to eating chocolate and ice cream post surgery. In my opinion dumping should not be a condition to learn live while momma gets her chocolate fix, but to eachs own. Once again she took a long series of notes and then asked me to come back to the groups session to discuss these feelings in an open forum. 

Mmm, well I am not rushing back to make those observations to the WLS group, but it makes me wonder how men and women really cope with body and weight images and issues, and how a psych can really make educated pronouncements of good or bad candidates based on a test ans some basic "feelings" based conversations.

I am glad you passed, but keep a smile and a sense of humor ready for the psych visits in the future.

Herb

Thanks HerbR.  It's kind of funny, the Psy was really strong on recommending that I start attending a OA group.  Although, I haven't been in a OA group, I have experienced other groups.  I told her I got more out of OB's men's forum than anything else.  The main reason was that the men didn't pull any punches. . .   She started writing down a few notes. . . along with the .com information.   Maybe, we should send the Psy's our bill for helping educate them. Mike

Herb, that- "…take more photographs…." Business is actually very helpful. What I’ve gotten from folks who deal with people having "Body Dismorphia" after WLS is having photos with other people in them is very helpful in getting a more real "mental image" of self. Not to lull one into complacency, but just to "keep it real." I had been at goal for over a year and was still walking up to XL shirt rack And my wife would remind me- "You’re wearing a Medium." It took a while for me to pick myself out in group photos, still a little tricky. Feeling like I’m still "The Fat Guy" has faded at 4 years out, but not completely. On the other hand, being freaked out by it? The Body image issues do effect women more negatively than the guys. The support groups dissolving into - "Confessions of Sweets Indulgence by the Wounded Daughters of Distant Fathers" type of "Enable-fest" is Very, Very, Very typically reported by the men. Everyone heads in their own direction away from life being "All about The Surgery." Some go after their "head / esteem issues" from their past…. The Men? Typically can throw off much of those and concentrate on Living. Great reply here!! Thanks! Best Wishes- Dx

Thanks for the comments Dx.   

And, who says people are crazy to get WLS?  (humor, ar, ar)

Terrific news Mike.