I have been banded since 7/01/08. I have a friend from Louisiana, where I live, that went to Houston to have her band last Monday. She tells me that her dr wants her to pay $200 to go to support meetings, and she would have to travel about 75 miles to go there. Evidently, she wasn't told this before the surgery.

Does anyone else pay for their meetings? Do you think she could go with me to mine? Even if my dr would charge her she would at least be near home? As far as I know mine is free. Unless the cost is included in my bill to Insurance. The hospital where I had it has a meeting once a month and so does my dr.

Thanks for any help.

I have been banded since 7/01/08. I have a friend from Louisiana, where I live, that went to Houston to have her band last Monday. She tells me that her dr wants her to pay $200 to go to support meetings, and she would have to travel about 75 miles to go there. Evidently, she wasn't told this before the surgery.

Does anyone else pay for their meetings? Do you think she could go with me to mine? Even if my dr would charge her she would at least be near home? As far as I know mine is free. Unless the cost is included in my bill to Insurance. The hospital where I had it has a meeting once a month and so does my dr.

Thanks for any help.

Honestly, that does not sound right..........I am getting banded on Aug. 5 and that includes everything for life. Physical Therapy (personal trainer for a limited amount of time), support groups for the life of the band, and if anything should ever go wrong with my band he will fix it for free.......that is a sweet deal!! If you are wondering (Dr. Nick Nicholson, Plano)..........I would just take her with you, $200 is insane.

My doctor's support meetings are free. In fact they are open to the general public. Your friend's arrangements sound way off base to me.

I will have to pay a $200 program fee when I schedule my surgery. I was not told it was for the support meetings though. Not sure what it is for actually..

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