I have a question for everyone on here....

I went to the surgeon yesterday and we are waiting on one more paper and I can get a date....let's just say hopefully Nov 8th.....and I have to have all my vitiamins and things before I go in for my next visit at the surgeons office, which is fine, I do not have a problem with that, but I also have to pay $150 for their website which I am having a problem with. I seriously do not want to pay that to join their website. It is not worth the money. I checked it out and as someone who went to school for Web Design and currently works for an ISP, it is not work $150 and I do not care if it is for a 2 year memebership. Has anyone else heard for this? To be honest, I do not even have Internet at home, I do everything I need to at work. Kind of irritating me. Michelle

Michelle: I have never heard of having to pay to join a website, for a bariatric surgeon! All the sites I've heard of, that are affiliated with surgery programs are offered free of charge. Are they saying you have to join? I would definitely question this practice. I would even go so far as to suggest you would check with the AMA, or even a lawyer, as to the legality of this practice, if they're persistent about it!! Is it too late to consider another surgeon, if they refuse to budge on this? I would have a real problem with this too!! On a happier note, best of luck and hope you have a surgery date soon!! DeeAnn

Michelle, Honestly i have never heard of it. my surgeon told is has his stats on the hospital website and it would be free for all of us. but i have never heard that you had to join a web site for this surgery. i found a good place for vitamins is purtian cuz they have specials buy one get 2 free and they have good prices. if you like i can send you the link.. i will be in des moines the 19th my daughter has a dr. appt there. i am thinking of coming down the nite before. so we dont have to leave so early in the morning cuz i hate driving early in the morning....if you need anything let me know.....lynda

I talked to a friend who had it done, they want you to get on there everyday and chart your progress, diet and all that. They said if you do not have Internet or a computer, go to the library. So, I am not the only one who has a hard time with this? They want you on it all the time and the surgeon will read your stuff as well. To keep better track of you. What do you guys thing? Michelle

Go to Fitday.com and it charts the same exact things as Mercy's website. The surgeons don't look at your info. At least they never looked at mine. I actually put my own password on mine.

I just don't understand why we have to subscribe to it. You have to pay them $150 for this and it HAS to be paid before surgery.

I can't help but wonder if this is a way to get around the insurance companies limiting what they can charge you for the surgery. They just call it something different, such as paying for the website use. I think it's a bunch of baloney & I bet they can't make you pay it. There are people who will not use computers no matter what (my husband is one) and I doubt if they can require that they do it. I do know that some surgeons require that you pay a set amount before they will do the surgery even if you are fully insured. I forget what they call it but I had to pay $200, which got refunded, if I remember correctly. Dixie

Hiya Michelle....I have never heard of this and honestly I think it is a crock! Does your surgeon know about this site? Fitday? I wouldn't even think twice about paying that kind of $ to join a website! Good luck 2 u, Janet S