Originally published November 25, 2008
So Tuesday I met with the nurse, then Thursday I met with a psychologist. Psychiatrist? I don’t know what the difference is. But basically insurance requires a psychological evaluation to make sure I’m mentally stable or whatever… that I can emotionally handle the whole weight loss thing.
Can I? who knows. But I guess I’ll find out.
I didn’t realize it was multiple visits for this thing. Three minimum, plus a visit to do a 500-some question True/False evaluation. The doctor is a personable enough guy. Don’t think he’s much older than I am if at all, and it was a pretty casual chat. We talked a bit about the surgery stuff, what I knew… did I have questions, a bit about how they’ve come to realize that the mental health aspects are very important, etc.
We talked a bit about my family, growing up, etc. I had brought up how I had read about a number of WLS patients can end up transferring addictions and such. Told him about how my dad was an alcoholic (dry for over 30 years now), and so we got a bit in to my own drinking. I didn’t cover it up… talked about how when I drink too much I black out, forget things, etc. I’ve gotten to that point maybe eight times in my life (maybe more? would I remember all of them? heh.. just kidding.)
Last time I did this was over two years ago, and there’s only been one instance (well, since the first time I ever got drunk and realized this would happen) that I drank that much in a situation where I didn’t have someone I trust around to watch over me. Now, I can buy a 12-pack of beer and it will last me six months. In fact, I think there’s still a couple in the fridge from my last purchase sometime around May or so? And I don’t really drink when I go out cause I hate paying those prices!
So drinking? yea, not a problem.
Gambling? Boring. And I’m no good at it. Cripes, I downloaded a Texas Hold’em game to try and I suck.
Drugs? Well… either because of, or in spite of my step-dad… no thanks. Guess that’s one thing I probably could thank him for if I ever see him again, I have absolutely no interest in drugs.
What else is there? Oh yea, sex… well… I’m single, that one might not be so bad. Shopping? Hmm… I actually do kinda like to shop… tools, gadgets, computers stuff… hmmm… eh, I guess that will be one to think about later.
As part of this whole psyc-eval, there’s a list of about twenty things that you have to rate yourself on as a gauge of how ready you are to deal with the changes that are .. well, that you must make when it comes to WLS. You have to check off if you think you do it well now, need some work, or need a lot of work.
There were seven things I picked that I do well, three that I need a LOT of work on and the rest were in the some work category. The three I need a lot of work – avoiding drinking when eating, taking vitamins, and getting exercise. I need to go back for another appointment in December, and we decided I would set a goal or three… or was it two.
First, I would start getting more exercise… or least some. So I’m going to start hitting the gym a couple times a week… at least. Next, try to cut back… maybe even eliminate drinking with meals, including bout a half-hour afterwards. And I know we talked bout vitimins, but don’t remember if this was part of it or what…but that’s an easy one.
So… those three will be taken care of in the next week or so, and I guess we’ll go from there.
