Do not know what to think... - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

kimj · 10-24-2009, 03:44 PM

Hi all! I just had my psych eval the other day, and I am so confused! As soon as I got home, I searched for a site like this, and found you all!! Ok, so here is my story....
I have been on a long road to get to the point I am in to get the Lap Band. Two years ago, I requested my PCM to look into it for me. She didnt like the Idea one bit. Said because of my Thyroid and PCOS, I just had to try harder! Ok, so I went home and cried my eyes out because I though I finally found something to help me. I gave up, and started this diet called "the Fat Smash" (one of many attempts). The first 9 days is a detox period, I lost twenty pounds. Great! Then I stuck with this diet and lost 80 lbs total with the help of the alli pills. Well I started getting really sick and weak. I was advised to Stop the diet, and add more protien. ***Oh hello weight, I knew you would be back to visit!***
Well with my back problems, Very low key exercise is all I can do. Needless to say, I just feel lost.
Well hubby deployed again sept 08, and I decided to go back to my family in MO. Got a wonderful Dr., and she has 100% approval, or she thinks I will not live long past 40 at the rate I am going. I went to see a surgeon, who has done a few thousand of these surgerys (dr steven malley) and he backed me up 100%! Great! Then TRi Care wanted a psych eval. Ok No biggy.

I walk out of the psych eval on Wed feeling horrible! This Dr made me feel like I was a mess! She said she was worried about my personality because I am to bubbly and outgoing...WHAT??? I also just finished a nail tech course, and she said my hair and nails were a bit extreme. I normally have dark brown, well the girls wanted to be creative, and they colored my hair red with a black headband. My nails are pink with purple tips. OK, how..what...
I admitted to being dpressed at times, and extremely happy at times, but when your grandmother passes, or your husband just returned from Iraq, I think those are appropriate times. See the questions she asked, she never let me explain. 99% of them where about when I was a teenager. One was why I was walking so slow, that was pretty much the only question for the present. OH, one more was why I wasnt wearing any make up. She asked if it was because I just didnt care what others thought, or if I just didnt care about myself.... I told her in a joking manner, "Have you seen my face, I have this wonderful thing called acne that inflares with make up. I do have on eyliner, mascara, and eye shadow, does that count? "
When I left she told me she didnt recommend the surgery but to go have my personality looked at. I was so excited when I got there because I was one step closer, only to leave wondering why she made me feel like a bad person. My mother said she reminded her of someone that was straight laced, by the book, and with her age (and me being her youngest pt) I was a bit extreme for her.

Anyways, now that you got a book, has anyone else had this feeling after leaving? I just feel like she didnt ask enough about me to get anything out of it. Granted, some of the things I said (without the chance to explain) would worry me too.. like when she asked if I ever get depressed and what do I do or have I done to handle it... I told her heck yeah, who doesnt. I use to get super drunk... That was that. She didnt let me tell her what I do now, or how long I havent gotten drunk. If I tried to explain she would cut me off. I was in there for maybe 30 mins.

Also, if I have to appeal... What do I do?

Thank you!!
Kim

poet_kelly · 10-24-2009, 03:48 PM

First, I would go back to her office first thing Monday morning and ask if they have sent a report to either your surgeon or your insurance company. If they have not, I would tell them that they do NOT have your permission to send any information to anyone. Then I would make an appointment with someone else for an evaluation.

If they have already sent information somewhere, I would make an appointment with someone else, anyway, for a second opinion. And I would write a letter yourself, explaining what you just said here, and send that to your surgeon and insurance company.

Kelly

kimj · 10-24-2009, 04:03 PM

When I got back to my house I caled my Drs office. I live over an hour from the Psych, so My PCM Faxed a request for a copy. She was very upset about my experience. When I called them about sending it to my surgeon, they told me I would have to go back up there and sign some paper to stop it. I cant drive at this time because of my back, and I have no way to get there. So I figured if I contact the surgeons office on monday and talk with the insurance lady, I am hoping she will help too. I called tricare and she is the only tricare approved evaluator in the area, so that is why I had to go to her. I wish I had more options, I really do.
I greatly appreciate your feed back, and I think I am going to start my letter now, just so it is ready to go if needed (hopefully not).
Thank you again!

Highlandlass · 10-24-2009, 04:30 PM

First of all, welcome to T.T. It is just so maddening to hear that you were treated so terribly during the psych evaluation. Its stressful enough to be going through the whole approval thing, then you stress even more just waiting for the appointment only to be made to feel so uncomfortable and confused and feeling horrible. Some of the psych's I'm hearing about here are just power-tripping and messing with people's chance at being healthier.
Even with an aching back, I think I would rest up all day tomorrow and head straight back up there and sign the paper keeping them from sending the report on. Can another therapist/psych be added to the list of your insurance company somehow. Its just so unfair. Your appearance shouldn't be in question - lots of young people are wearing fantastic dramatic hairstyles and nail colours these days. Where has this person been hiding - in some Freudian hole in the wall? Don't let her opinion deter you from your goal. Persevere and protect yourself by getting that paper signed somehow to prevent the report from making its way to your insurance company.
Good luck and please let us know what the outcome is.

TxHunni · 10-24-2009, 04:33 PM

I agree with Kelly.
Was this woman licensed? She sounds like a complete quack. I would do what Kelly recommended AND I'd file a complaint with the powers that be for psychologists. This woman was out of line.

Hope it gets straightened out for you.

By the way... I have had 3 back surgeries, so I know what you're dealing with when it comes to exercising and back issues.

poet_kelly · 10-24-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimj

When I got back to my house I caled my Drs office. I live over an hour from the Psych, so My PCM Faxed a request for a copy. She was very upset about my experience. When I called them about sending it to my surgeon, they told me I would have to go back up there and sign some paper to stop it. I cant drive at this time because of my back, and I have no way to get there. So I figured if I contact the surgeons office on monday and talk with the insurance lady, I am hoping she will help too. I called tricare and she is the only tricare approved evaluator in the area, so that is why I had to go to her. I wish I had more options, I really do.
I greatly appreciate your feed back, and I think I am going to start my letter now, just so it is ready to go if needed (hopefully not).
Thank you again!

Oh, geez. If you have access to a fax machine, they should be able to fax you the paper to sign saying not to send the report to your surgeon. Call them back and tell them that. I'm not saying oh geez at you, I am disgusted with them.

Can you see an evaluator out of the area? I realize transportation may be an issue for you, but it might be worth it, if Tricare will accept it.

And if they won't accept an evaluation from someone else, you could still see someone else and send them that person's report. It might help you if you end up having to appeal because of this idiot.

Also, feel free to write a letter about this evaluator's unprofessional behavior to whoever her licensing board is. I don't know if she's a psychologist or social worker or what. Depending on her credentials, you would write to a different place. But do think about complaining about her. For that matter, does she have a supervisor, or is it her own practice? 'Cause if she has a supervisor, I would complain to that person, too.

Kelly

BrandnewMe · 10-24-2009, 08:59 PM

I agree with Kelly 100%. I do not feel she even gave you an evaluation if she was not listening and cutting you off. To me, she was not professional AT ALL.

I would certainly get a copy of her report to see what she wrote! I would then try to schedule another evaluation. If you are not approved because of her eval, then I would definitely seek a second opinion and include their evaluation in your appeal!

My blood is boiling, how unprofessional can you get??!! I went to Cosmetology School and I know how out of hand we get with each other! My hair was a million different colors and styles before I left school! But that does not mean anything when you are talking about my psyche and how I could handle surgery. Strange...

dswofford · 10-24-2009, 11:16 PM

This evaluator should have given you a chance to say what you needed to say. When they ask you a questions about stability of moods, they need to clarify if they are asking about our entire lives, or over the past year. I know when I went into the office to get my evaluation I was trying really hard to think back as far as I could because I wanted to be so honest and luckily the counselor tried to keep me focused on the current moment and stay on recent events. What child/teenager doesn't go through some angst and try several unsuccessful ways in the begining?

It doesn't sound like she has effective observational skills and I am sorry your insurance doesn't have anyone else in network. What if someone really had some issues and needed to see a therapist... They would be stuck with eyes wide shut??

i don't know exactly what to do, but I feel frustration myself at this situation. I'm sorry you have to experience this. I will have my fingers crossed for you.

ardita · 10-24-2009, 11:19 PM

Don't let this evaluation throw you off; it sounds like it was much more damaging than productive. I hope you are able to head off any damage to your scheduling progress. Hang in there.

DenMomLT · 10-30-2009, 09:31 AM

Kim, so sorry to hear that your psych evaluation wasn't what you expected. I had one like that on October 12. I should have gotten up and walked out when the doctor said (in the first 5 minutes) "2 of my current patients had WLS and didn't ask my opinion, I'm pretty ticked about that." Right then I should've known she had a firm opinion on it. She was also overweight, so I think talking about wanting to have WLS may have made her feel that I was taking the "easy way out." I talked to my surgeon's office immediately after and told them that I thought her report would be negative...and it was.
So...I'm going to find someone else...and will be asking questions about their feelings about WLS before I schedule an appointment.
My guess...the only thing that might happen if insurance DOES get the report from your psych visit (and if mine gets it)...is that they would require some counseling for a period of time. If that's the case...small price to pay for having the surgery at the end. Good luck!!