Psyc eval/ Wait time? - ThinnerTimes

Sweetgirlinsd · 12-05-2005, 10:23 AM

Hi I was just wondering what do they not want to hear and what do they want to hear.. i was just wondering what makes u fail a psyc eval? Has anyone ever failed one?

Another question... is there a huge wait for the surgery? How long did u wait to have the surgery or was it when u finished everything then they gave u a time a few weeks later?

Thanks!
Kristy

Marilyn · 12-05-2005, 04:45 PM

As a GBS patient and a therapist myself it was very interesting to go to the psych eval. The psychologist told me that there no failing answers so I wouldn't worry about failing. What they are looking for are some specific Diagnoses that would make following the post surgery diet challenging. If you were psychotic or schizophrenic and are having hallucinations that would be a problem. I think they are also looking for signs of substance abuse (ie. alcohol and drugs) that would also be problematic before and after surgery. Also they are screening for depression, anxiety or other illnesses that would make aftercare more difficult. None of these disorders would necessarily preclude you from having surgery but they would have to monitor you very carefully especiallyl if you are taking psychotropic meds (ie antidepressants and others). They say that the psych eval is to make sure you know what you are asking for and that you have the capacity to understand and follow through with pre and post surgery requirements. Personally I think it is a cover your a** move to ensure that they are picking patients that will ultimately be susscessful. Don't worry you'll be fine.

Dave · 12-06-2005, 06:04 AM

My evaluation was a joke. He pretty much asked if I was crazy and that was about it. It took 20 minutes. He dicated everything at the end which took 10 out of the 20 minutes. It is a CYA for the program.

My doctor doesn't have a huge wait. Once you are approved you can probably get the surgery in 1-3 months. I started the process in late September and my surgery is the end of this month. I wasn't in a hurry either.

momronda2k · 12-06-2005, 07:01 AM

Hi Kristy, my phsyc eval was basically questions like, what do you want to accomplish by having GBS and going into depth about this. I didn't go into the vain atributes I want as much as I want this for a healthier life style for my family and children. She asked if I ever hear voices or have thoughts of suicide. They just want to make sure you understand everything that is going to change with your body and lifestyle. Not bad. My phsyc was a woman and does this for GBS on a regular basis, so she was very good.
The wait time depends mostly on YOU! If you are just starting this process, get a pap smear done ASAP, and ask your GBS office which phsyc they can recommend. Make sure your insurance will pay. I had to pay out of pocket. At your first Dr. visit they will give you a list of all the tests you will need. My initial consult with my GBS Dr., was Oct 25, and I had all my blood work and EKG done the next day. You can go to the hospital and have some of the work done and go to a local blood draw center to have the blood work done. Then come Monday of the following week I was calling both places begging then to get the results faxed over to my GBS Dr. right away. I called every day that week. So my GBS Dr had all my testing results by Wednesday Nov 2. I called my GBS Dr office almost every day asking them to dictate my chart and get it to insurance approval. I was under a time constraint though, because my insurance was changing from Blue Shield to Aetna. Aetna is very difficult to get an approval from so I needed to have the surgery before the end of the year. They dictated my chart and had insurance approval on Nov 21 and I had my surgery Nov 28. It went very fast for me, and I think it is because I was very aggresive. Everyone is different with the tests they need, so everyone's time frame is going to be different. Lot's of luck with you
Ronda
Lap RNY 1/28/05
307/295/150ish

Sweetgirlinsd · 12-06-2005, 06:53 PM

Thank you Ronda. I actually just switched insurance to Health Net PPO, from Health Net HMO. I checked with Dr. C's office a long time ago about this insurance. Im not sure how quick they are about things. But my insurance is effective Jan 1st. So i guess im not able to schedule an appointment with Dr. C until my insurance is effective. But I've already had an EKG, pap, updated physical, ive had my gall bladder out when i was 16, and some blood work actually done this month. I've actually visited with my doctor for 6 months with a diet program to show documentation. Is there anything else I can do that you or anyone can think of before i can actually set up my first visit with Dr. C? My goal (hoping) is to have the surgery during spring break of college so i have a week to recover, which is in March. thank u so much for your help!!

Blueyz · 12-06-2005, 09:19 PM

My psych eval was a joke, too. I just knew what to say and she really didn't even ask me much about wls and my past failures. She just talked to me for 30 minutes and then said "ok...your doctor will have the report in 2 weeks..you are good to go"

Snubby241 · 12-07-2005, 09:49 AM

Mine was also a big waste of time. Just got asked what sounded
like canned questions and I basically recited the long list
of "diets" I've tried over the years.