Please help me calm down........Sorry so long.

 I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry you had a rough couple of months, but I'm glad to hear you're starting to do and feel better!
I know this is soooo hard in the beginning! 

I think the real blessing of this surgery is that it forces you to look at your life a new way, and it's that inner change that begins the real process of healing and and adjusting to getting what we're missing from our lives. At some point, it stops being about the weight. 

Keep working, and always remember to be kind to yourself! 

I have to tell you I really wish that my pre-op 3 month plan had included manditory therapy - it MAY have helped me through the first 5 weeks of severe depression I had after surgery. But then again, it may not have - I don't think that it would hurt though.  I think putting a time frame on it is wrong and 6 months to a year seems extreme. You could find a counselor who could do you a world of good in 6-8 weeks, I don't know. Get the second opinion - I know you are impatient but some counseling before surgery is a good thing.

Thanks so much for all of you guys support and advise. I do feel much better and I know that therapy will only make the transition to my new life that much better. I will continue with therapy but it will be along with my WLS as well. Thanks for listening to my venting.

It's really up to you but I would get a 2nd opinion. Esp if it was a Dr that you were referred to by the surgeon and not someone you chose. I have seen before on here of evals and them requesting more therapy and it makes me concerned they are trying to drum up business. I dunno. If you need therapy, by all means, that's great. But he's really recommending you put off surgery for 6 months? Would he say that to a cancer patient to put off chemo for 6 months? I think he's full of **** TBH.

Sorry, my therapist knew about my depression and anxiety issues (I started seeing him a few weeks prior to surgery) and he thought it was going to benefit my mind as well as my body. And you know what? It has. I actually feel like going out with my husband b/c I'm not so embarrassed. I like seeing old friends now. I don't hide in the house. But that's me. You could hate your surgery or your choice.

You have some thinking to do!

 Sorry to hear what you are going through. Hope all gets better. I also agree with Lalamonkey. You should get a second opinion.

I agree -- get a second opinion. I understand post-surgery can be a challenging journey, but at least it's progress. I have been fighting for 8 months to get my insurance coverage and overcome other inumerable obstacles, and I can tell you that pre-surgery delays suck and are depressing in their own way.

I fully agree with the poster who said no doctor would recommend delay in chemo. The only delay for therapy I would think would be justified is for people who are clueless what they're getting into and for people with very serious food addictions that could undermine success and turn into transfer addictions if not treated.

BTW, I can't think of anything more assertive that the enormous undertaking of pursuing WLS to get healthy. I'm plenty assertive and this has taxed every last shred of my ability to plow through. You've got some serious strengths, girlfriend, and don't let them tell you any different!!!

Hi. I don't know where you are in the process, but I had a similar problem. I went to my psych. eval., and he told me that he thought I needed counseling before surgery. My insurance stated that I had to do 6 months of support groups OR counseling. So, I went to a counselor for two of those months ****il she would say I was ok to have surgery ) and the rest has been support groups. My theory was, everyone has something in there life that they could talk to a therapist about!! But I knew that in MY situation, those past experiences had nothing to do with my weight. To me, ( and I could be wrong ), the support group meetings were much more beneficial to me, because I was seeing and hearing relevant topics for me at THIS point in my life.

My point is...maybe if you are completely done with all your requirements, maybe you could do this and not wind up having to go to all the 6 months that they are recommending!? Or..as you said, get a second opinion. YOU know what is best for YOU!

Keep your chin up! I hope this is somewhat helpful!

I have done all of my pre-op requirements. I have one more visit with my PCP scheduled for May 2nd. So I am basically done and then I get this bull-. I am taking it with a grain of salt and I am jumping into action.