What kind of psychological support is offered by the doctors??
Hi Susan:
It seems that most doctors have a monthly support group.
I know that physicians usually require a psychological examination prior to surgery.
However, I wish that they had a better system for this. People think you have the operation and it's Paradise.
Personally, food was my way of "stuffing" down my feelings. Lets say I would get mad at someone. I would/could never tell him/her. I would binge until I felt better and never say a word.
Thus, even though I knew it was for my health, I felt as if I was basically cut open and felt "violated". Therefore, I had all these emotions and could not stuff them down.
I cried for 2 weeks straight after my procedure.
I had 2 surgeries to remove excess skin and was depressed after them, as well.
I think they should have a better or a way of dealing with PSD-Post Surgery Depression.
Colleen 
Susan,
Our (Lighter for Life support group meetings touch on a wide variety of topics, including the psychological reasons that can sometimes cause people to eat/turn to food. For example, within the last 6 months, one of our meetings attempted to address the important subject of addiction transfer. We include a period of open discussion at most meetings so everyone has an opportunity to be heard and both give and receive support.
It's important to note that a support group meeting is just that - support and information, meant to provoke one to think, discuss and learn. It is not meant to be a substitute for therapy, such as group or individual counseling or therapy. All patients choosing to have surgery with Dr. Kamelgard must have a psych eval (pretty standard for many doctors and required by some insurance cos). When patients use our recommended dr for the evaluation, they are told during the psych eval that there is therapy available to them, either group or individual therapy, if they feel the need for additional support beyond the scope of a support group.
Irene
Colleen, Thanks for your post. I agree with you. We use food to distract ourselves from our uncomfortable feelings by "swallowing" the feelings/ food. The focus then becomes on our out of control eating and distain for ourselves and no longer on the initial feelings that brought us to the food. I can go on and on...but will save that for another day !! My initial post was to ascertain if the surgeons are offering this service. When I asked in the doctor's office they said they do it all!! I wanted to really find out from the people that have used these doctors what really happens. Thanks again for everyone's feedback. Susan
I had my surgery nearly four years ago at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mt Holly. The surgical group that does these procedures there had a program called New Beginnings. Their weekly support group was headed by a psychologist and the program offered a lot in the way of explaining why we eat the way we do and so on.
That being said, the program no longer has weekly support meetings run by a professional and this is sad. I think professionally run support groups are really the way to go.
I also believe individual therapy is very important if you are at all concerned about transfering addictions. I actually continued to attend OA (Over-eaters Anonymous) meetings after surgery because I was pretty sure that my food addiction was not solved by surgery alone. I also saw a therapist on my own.
I think this is the area where we who have suffered food addiction make the biggest mistake...In not having appropriate emotional support, we easily return to old habits or adopt new ones to deal with whatever pain has caused the adddiction in the first place...
Kellyann,
I totally agree with you. Many people have the surgery and do not get the psychological support and /or therapy to understand how and why they use food. As a result they can develop "addiction transfer."
I actually posted this question to find out from the people who have had the surgery what kind of psychological support is offered because I am a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in
working with eating disorders, especially compulsive over eating. In the past few years many Bariatric post op patients have come to me because as I love to quote one of my patients, "The pain does not disappear with the pounds!" They never dealt with the pain, and how and why they used food to stuff (i.e,. swallow the food/pain). Nevertheless, when I approached the surgeons office to offer my services, I was told that they already provide this service. I am finding out what they really provide is support groups that cover a range of topics, but really do not get into the psychological component.
The group you described, which unfortuately for you disbanded, sounded great while they had it. That is what I do. I run groups and work individually with people to help them "Examine their Relationship with Food." My office is located in Florham Park. If you know anyone looking for this type of group or for individual therapy they can email me at [email protected] or call my office at (973) 535-3626. I offer free telephone consultation,and would be happy to provide more information and answer any questions. I also do the psychological assessments which the insurance companies requires prior to clearing for surgery.
I am glad to hear you got the help and assistance you needed and that you are on the path to your goals and happiness. If I can ever be of asssistance to you, please feel free to contact me.
Susan Simon-Fleischer, MSW, LCSW, CSW-R, BCD
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