My surgeon REQUIRES a purchase of Bariatric Advantage, a pre-op and post-op Protein shake, supplements, Vitamins, Protein Bars, etc. package at just under $500.00. They will NOT allow any refunds or exchanges on unopened products. They also refused to credit me or make an adjustment for what they forgot to include in my package - a $40.00 value. I told the nutritionist that this is unbelievable, especially since I was a self-pay patient. For $14,000 (outpatient cost) one would think asking for protein bars instead of calcuim should be a no-brainer.

I think it is ridiculous that a surgeon has a vested interest in selling products. This smacks of a conflict of interest since this is a money maker for the medical firm. It makes me frustrated to have such a choice taken away from the patients. It also is bothersome when Bariatric Advantage makes me very sick to my stomach and I have discussed this with the surgeon's office. Arrrrh!

So glad to be able to rant a bit about this. Has anyone else been required to purchase like this?

If anyone likes this stuff, let me know and I will gladly mail you my unopened products (about 2 weeks worth) AND I will pay the shipping!

Veda,

I'm sorry to hear about your frustrations - sounds pretty sleezy to me.

Do you still have this stuff? I'd be willing to buy some of it from you. Let me know what you have.

Well, don't buy any more. If they give you a hard time, tell them to go pound sand. Last I checked, we live in a free society. You are self-pay and have the option of how you want to continue services.

Wow. Sounds fishy to me. I can't imagine surgeon "requiring" any body to buy anything other than the surgery they are getting. And to be honest, I haven't taken any Bariatric specific vitamins, shakes, or meals and I'm doing just fine. I think Bariatric Surgery is definitely a new market in which producers of vitamins, foods, and supplments are trying to get into and make that money. Good luck with the rest of your dealings with your surgeon's office and I hope it gets better from here on out.

Escape_Pod, I will gladly give you what I have. There is a large sealed bag, never been opened, of vanilla shake powder that can be mixed with Water or milk. I also have plastic bottles that have different flavors of the Protein shake powder, which is meant as a convenient way to take the product with you to work or wherever. I think this is at least 2 weeks worth. If you private message me with your address, my husband will mail you the products right away. I gave the chewable supplements to my stepson who likes them a lot. Funny how we are all so different!

I'm kind of sorry that I vented because my surgeon is great at his technique. I did go to the office the other day and told them that their product does not agree with me. Regardless, I do like to be given reasonable choices in life - just sayin'.

Thanks all for your comments - at least I know I'm not alone in my thoughts on the subject.

That's awful. Post his phone number we should all call and complain!