Question:
Has anyone gotten counseling Pre-op ?

As I wait for my initial consultation (4 months away) I thought it would be a good idea to go into counseling to help me with my psychological fondness towards food and eating. I want this surgery to be successful, but realize that the sugeon will only make physical changes, leaving me with all my my old psychological feelings. How does someone literally go from feeling one way pre-op, and then post-op eating like you should, never turning to food for comfort again etc. I can't find a Counselor that specializes in Food Disorders or anything under my insurance co. I tried a regular counselor, and she really didn't know how to help me. Am I the only one wondering about these issues, and is there anyone in the Denver area that knows of a good counselor that can help? I have BC/BS PPO. Thank You!    — Michele B. (posted on January 17, 2003)

January 17, 2003
Hi there! I was wondering if you are going to need a psych evaluation as some insurances or even surgeons require one before precertifying you for surgery. Perhaps your surgeon can recommend someone that s/he sends people to. I have found my counselor (assigned by my surgeon) to be most helpful, even when my stepdad died in Sept. last year. However, I kind of had to "fire" her for the grief counseling part of it because she put EVERYTHING in the context of food and eating disorders. "Did you find that your patterns of eating changed after X happened?" Things like that. So now I see my counselor for food issues and my minister for grief counseling. Goodness! My head is going to be so straight when I am done with all this!!! LOL good luck, hope that helps!
   — RedHeadBeauty

January 17, 2003
Perhaps if your surgeon cannot suggest a counselor for you, there is a hospital or university near you (that does the surgery) that you can contact and ask. My surgeon's office is 2 hours away from me. Fortunately I found my therapist by contacting UCLA's bariatric program who employs a counselor for their weight loss program. She had one opening so I was lucky. Good luck to you! :o)
   — Jennifer A.

January 17, 2003
This is actually one of my pet peeves with WLS. Probably a huge percentage of morbidly obese people have SOME issue with food, be it emotional or obessive. These issues HAVE to be addressed, or they will manifest themselves somewhere down the line, in some fashion or another. Having WLS is not going to cure the person who turns to food for emotional comfort. I did address these issues long before I even considered surgery, and I think it's one of the reasons I was approved for surgery so quickly without any real co-morbidities. My therapist was willing (but wasn't required) to write my insurance company. I learned, before surgery, why I used food when I was upset, and how to stop. I learned how to avoid "trigger" foods, and how to give myself permission to eat "bad" foods on occasion and in moderation. It took awhile, but food - and bad eating habits - no longer controlled my life. I had WLS because, for some reason, I was unable to lose weight through "traditional" means. I am 13 and a half months post-op, and I can honestly say that I haven't had one problem with food issues. That's not to say I haven't had some issues with the surgery itself - but that's another story.
   — Cyndie K.

January 17, 2003
I am so glad you asked this question!!! This is one of my pet peeves as well. Yes, you should definitely see an eating disorder specialist to over come your association with food and emotions/ triggers. I have a great therapist I am seeing. I will check with her to see if she knows of any people in your area she can commend and I can email you with some info. In the mean time, here's a great link to find someone in your area thru Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center: http://www.edreferral.com/ Best of luck to you.... aims
   — chickiewickie