Unpleasant Pych Evalution

Hey Everyone--I've so enjoyed all your messages. Ok here's the thing. Did all the tests at Good Sam's, except the sleep study, but here's the thing. I completely loved everyone and the information I received, except for the Pych. appointment which left a horrible feeling in my gut. She was very negative and hard on me--it was as if she was sure I was going to fail. She said based on my pych test that "I'd be someone who would only lose 7 of the 10 pounds required. Then call making excuses and begging for them to still do my surgery anyway and that have the personality of someone wanting to cut corners" I left her office mad , angry , upset , and worried . She further said that she wouldn't hold up my surgery, but would make it wait 9 month or however long it took for me to lose my 10lbs. I'm blown away and don't know what to think--has anyone else experienced this.

I am sorry to hear about the bad experience. I had mine with Dr. Poole in Portland and he was great. Before I went I was freaking out thinking how bad it was going to be but when all was done it went good for me. I am just blown away that a medical person would be that unprofessional!!

Thanks for the positive feedback. I was just surprised and wondered is anyone else had an unpleasant experience with Dr. Ude the pych for Legacy Good Sam.

She wasn't unpleasant to me. I have had psych classes before, though, and have met with a psychologist in the past (for pain management) so I was a bit prepared for my meeting. I found her very helpful and not negative. It could be that your tests and conversation actually give her concern. Are you concerned about your ability to follow through? These tests are primarily guidelines to help suggest who will or won't succeed. Do you think you might not yet be ready for surgery (ok, there's ready and there's "ready")? Are you mentally and emotionally prepared (sure, you're physically prepared, that's why you went to the doctor in the first place)? What did she suggest? Did she actually say she was going to suggest that you NOT have surgery? Do you need to get a support group in order? I think Dr. Ude was a bit harsh. She wasn't as negative with me as it sounds she was with you. My issues don't center around food and I don't use food as a crutch -- if anything, if I'm stressed I don't eat. Let me tell you now that if you use food to satisfy an emotional need no surgery will help you. If this is your problem maybe you can see a specialist who focuses on eating disorders. You need to evaluate your relationship with food and your emotions. If you have any questions, let me know and I'll see if I can help you out. Lori

Strange--I think Dr. Ude and I prehaps that clashed personality wise. I am an emotional person, but not when it comes to eating. She didn't recommend that I don't have the surgery--just that she feels I will not lose all of my weight and she will not allow me to have the surgery before I do so. I eat just because I enjoy food--I truely love cooking, chewing, smelling, and tasting food. I don't seem to eat more or less with different moods. I've alway been on the heavy side and since having my children I just haven't been able to loose the weight and when I do loose some it always comes both in two-fold. I understand your thoughts on using food as a crouch, but that's not me. I just had to make a mental choice that I want to be healthy, active, live to raise my children and hopefully my grand-babies some day in the far far far future. I want this surgery because I want my life back. I want to run and play with my kids w/o peeing my pants, breathing hard, or feeling horrible pain (from the weight). I want to sit in a plastic chair in public w/o worring about fitting in it or having it break. I want to go up and down the ladders at work w/o turning sideways because my hips are to large with my flashlight, radio, & such. I want to not be embarassed to put on a swimsuit and actually enjoy swimming again. Mainly I want to live the life that I havent' been able to because of this excess weight and become healthy again. I think that this surgery is saving my life and I'm very much ready for the oppertunity. I think I'm really "READY". Thanks for you thoughts, concerns, and information, but believe me I'm truely READY!

Hi I saw Doctor Udie, I wasnt to happy that they forced me to take the test even though my insurance didnt require the testing to be approved for the surgery. I had also taken the test from her 5 years ago and she used some of the info from that test which I thought was intersting. Since they made me do the whole thing over again. Then they wouldnt except another psyc doctor testing results either.That had already done the testing this summer. So I had to pay out of pocket to do it allover again $297 dollars. I have found that some of the process is alittle intersting. Like for example the EKG they do that we get charged for only to be refererd to a Cardilogst Specialist to be told that their is nothing wrong with my Heart and that he could see how their combuter made the mistake. This mistake will cost me about $500 and some dollars. If their going to refer then they should just not do the test themselves or if their not equiped/trained to do the test to begin with. Please I understand that your heart has to be strong etc. But they should just have you go to a specialist right from the begining. Please dont get me wrong. I understand that all the test are important but all seems alittle to much like-- You do it our way or its the Highway approach! Instead of following what is also required from your insurance.

I totally understand the $$$$ part. I had to pay $400.00 out of my own pocket for my psyc. consult. I wish they would work around the insurance companies better. My insurance (BCBS-Fed) does pay for psyc consults related to pretty much everything except obsesity. I was ticked that they couldn't bill the insurance differently to have them pay some of the cost. Of course the main reason was for obesity, but there are other issue such as depression and such that totally could of been used. Oh-well I guess its all worth it in the end--especially after the WLS. Thanks for listening to me vent--it's nice to know that I wasn't the only one.

I walked in to my phcy eval and walked out 10 min later with the ok in my hand. All She wanted was the $100.00 for the phcy eval. Maybe she just wanted you to have more classes with her. My I couldn't pay for anymore classes and she know that. That maybe why she sent me packing so fast. Good luck, Sharon Lopez

Yeah--I know that it seems to be required and I sure there's a good reason for the pych eval, but it seems like a waste of time, especially when it costs so darn much out of your own pocket. Mine cost $400.00 for 45 min. I sure wish I would of had the $100.00 10minute consult (Ha Ha). Thanks for you reply. Steph