Gastric Balloon

[Rafiki]

HI Colly

Please don't be nervous. I am not sure how normal my experience was. The Doc told me that another girl he did, had no side effects whatsoever. But a few extra tips that have helped me:
* make sure you take ALL the medication given to you to stop the nausea cramping etc and take it at the right time, it definitely helps. There was one my dr gave me called Zofran Wafers and they were fantastic.
* if you start solids and still vomiting alot, pull back towards the liquids again, for a while.
* eating small amounts regularly helps more than 3 square meals (for me anyway). Otherwise you get hungry and put too much on the plate.
* have a friend with you (or partner) for the 1st 24hrs of recovery
* have some nightwear which hardly touches your stomach or can be adjusted or pulled below the belly
* don't plan to be anywhere or do anything for at least the first 4 days - stress doesn't help recovery
* take 2 weeks off work if you can (you can always go back early if you are ready)
* just keep thinking about your goal when it gets tough or u are sick of feeling sick, imagine yourself at your goal weight and what you will be able to do that you don't do now
* sleep as much as possible

I am sure you will be fine, and the success I have had so far makes me feel really good within myself. After only a few kgs I have already adjusted what I am wearing. Keep me posted and any more questions don't hesitate to post, if I can't help I am sure someone else can!

Take care and good luck

Rafiki

 

[mupett]

hey,,, dont worry, keep on keeping on, it settles down i promise... keep taking the meds and you will be OK, after the sickenss settles and you are eating again, thats when the real work begins,,, you really have to work with your brain to start a new way of eating, and what you think about food. ive just got over xmas, and although i eat what i wanted, i was sensible and managed not to put any weight on!! im went back to my normal schedule of weight lifting classes and thai boxing almost immediatly, at first i struggled with energy levels, i went a bit dizzy now and then, and getting enough fluid in was an issue, it was either fluid or food at one point, but honestly once your body gets used to functioning on less fuel and liquid its OK, and now without the extra weight i find im fitter, more agile and stamina has been much improved, im always careful about abdo contact, as im paranoid about the balloon bursting, but really, keep the faith as it does all get better!!

 

[gloria1]

re gastric ballon

Well said re the negative or one sided comments.
No complains so far from myself.
Yes comments on both side are useful, ultimately after research and investigation its up to individuals.
I am sorry that some people even after surgery have lapsed into prior behaviour i am seeing this 6 months as a retraining / behaviour program by restriction and looking at the bigger picture of Why ?

Thank you for reading Gloria uk

 

[Rafiki]

HI Gloria and others

I do hope my comments weren't percieved as negative - they were merely MY reality and unfortunately for me, the 1st weeks HAVE been difficult - that is my experience. I don't even wish my experience was different - because for me it has given me a big jolt that this is serious stuff and not just the next step along the line in a series of weight loss attempts - indeed I am planning this to be my last major weight loss experience, as I certainly don't want to put myself through this again.
In any case this forum is about sharing experiences, whatever they may be - not about glossing over the negative ones and highlighting only the positive. I think it is fantastic that others have had few side effects - just means their bodies are different - nothing more, nothing less. Information about the effects of GB are very thin on the ground and I felt that it was worthwhile to share my thoughts about MY reality - people can choose to take or leave my comments.

Anyway since my last posting things have improved somewhat for me - after 3.5 weeks. I am feeling more energised and although still tired, my food is staying down and I am finally getting and retaining the nutrients I need to have energy. YAY!!

Keep on everyone - don't lose heart because it is worthwhile, to feel better about yourself, to love yourself more, to have better health, to do all those things you have avoided while overweight and to live a longer life!

RafikiGirl

 

[gloria1]

re negative unhelpful comments

Hi no, was referring to S who has had every procedure done according to his posts but seems to still seems to be stuggling and need to lose tons of weight,so i guess its sour grapes on his part. I hope he finds his long term solutions as i hope we all do.

Anyway 6wks and 24 1bs off,i agree re very small meals no way can i eat 3 meals with enough vits and cals or have 4 or 5 small(i mean a small side plate)
and cant eat high fats like chesse or fats as feel so ill after them .
Good Luck to us all in this search for a healthy sane life.
Gloria

 

[stella1]

post baloon

Hi I am just at the end of my 6 months and in 10 days my baloon is coming out.I did vomit for most of 6 months,my weight is down to 67kg from 93kg.So yes its great and I would do it again!!!My fear is now when baloon is out I will start eating since its going to be a "big hole" in my tummy.I am already freaking out and don't want to go on that road again.
Can someone tell me who already has taken baloon out how did they feel after,hungry???I am determined not to eat but a bit worried too.
Good luck to everyone for me it was miracle!!!

 

[DocPotter]

so what's it like?

I am really really scared about the balloon insertion procedure. I'm afraid that the actual insertion will be too painful and that the sedation will be too mild. How was your experience with the actual insertion/removal. I am doing this as part of a clinical trial in the US. I will have it for 6 months with 8 months of follow up beyond that. I'm getting a generous stipend for participating in the study, but I would have done it even if I wan't getting paid, but as the date draws near, I am getting very apprehensive about the procedure.
Help...

 

[stella1]

I had full anastetic so I was asleap during insertation so don't worry about that part.Next tuesday it is coming out so again I will be asleap!!!Thats the easiest part of whole process!!!
Stella

 

[sharon29]

hi ya
i know exactly where u r coming from i had my balloon on 8th feb 08 here we are 24th march i weigh the same as wen i started im really annoyed wiv myself and i dont know why! i think it is because everyone else is doing so well i had it done here in uk was ill 4 2 weeks if u fancy a natter maybe we could bash this out 2 gether

samm

i know what you mean i had mine fitted on 29th november 2008 and at the moment feel like i've wasted my money as my weight doesn't seem to be going down.have you lost anymore weight?

 

[tinamckeown]

Hi Stella,
Had mine out 5 months ago - I thought I would be starving but I really wasnt. I had a very sore throat for the first few days and really carried on eating the same size portions as before. Have remained very paranoid about my calorie intake and very rarely feel hungry. Xmas has been my un-doing as have put on 6 pounds more through eating bad than big. However back to slimming world as ridding myself of 6 pounds a lot easier than 3 and half stone! Dropped from size 18 to 10-12 and there is no way I am giving up my size 10 jeans!! xxx Tina

 

[DocPotter]

I had full anastetic so I was asleap during insertation so don't worry about that part.Next tuesday it is coming out so again I will be asleap!!!Thats the easiest part of whole process!!!
Stella

Unfortunately, I have been told that general/full anesthesia is not an option for me, just conscious sedation, that's why I'm so nervous.

 

[colly777]

i have done it

Hi everyone i had my balloon fitted on monday in Prague and as we are speaking i am sat in Prague airport feeling very poorly. Today i was in tears thinking i hope its worth it i have been following peoples posts for the last couple of months. Hence, why i made my decision to have it done. I just feel so lousy but hey its day 3 any advice i will be most grateful for. Well done Tina thats a great loss. I am 14 stone exactly so i intend to update regulary and let you all know whats happening. I just want this sickness to go. do you end up getting used to it or is it always this unfir Lol. Alo i am thinking of joining a diet club to make my life changing relationship with food, has anyone else done that? So thanks for reading and feel free to offer me any advice i better go as i am going to be sick (sorry for that) Colly x

 

[Glasgow-Ghirl]

Hi everyone i had my balloon fitted on monday in Prague and as we are speaking i am sat in Prague airport feeling very poorly. Today i was in tears thinking i hope its worth it i have been following peoples posts for the last couple of months. Hence, why i made my decision to have it done. I just feel so lousy but hey its day 3 any advice i will be most grateful for. Well done Tina thats a great loss. I am 14 stone exactly so i intend to update regulary and let you all know whats happening. I just want this sickness to go. do you end up getting used to it or is it always this unfir Lol. Alo i am thinking of joining a diet club to make my life changing relationship with food, has anyone else done that? So thanks for reading and feel free to offer me any advice i better go as i am going to be sick (sorry for that) Colly x

The sickness does get better honestly...I could write about everything here but I have kept a blog so feel free to have a nosy there. I kept a daily diary of everything to look back on.

 

[Glasgow-Ghirl]

I am really really scared about the balloon insertion procedure. I'm afraid that the actual insertion will be too painful and that the sedation will be too mild. How was your experience with the actual insertion/removal. I am doing this as part of a clinical trial in the US. I will have it for 6 months with 8 months of follow up beyond that. I'm getting a generous stipend for participating in the study, but I would have done it even if I wan't getting paid, but as the date draws near, I am getting very apprehensive about the procedure.
Help...

I had the sedation and it made things alot better...i dont remember much about it except being asked to swallow...it wasnt nice but not totally horrific either. You will be fine honestly

 

[colly777]

The sickness does get better honestly...I could write about everything here but I have kept a blog so feel free to have a nosy there. I kept a daily diary of everything to look back on.

I just read all your blog what a great idea. Today its still the stomach cramps but i am feeling positive had a yogurt for breakfast and kept it down. I hoping i feel bit better tomorrow.

 

[slctoronto]

Hi everyone

so I had my balloon put in last friday, what a week its been! I dont know how people travel after having this procedure, Ive barely moved from my bedroom. Today thursday is the best Ive felt, far less cramping and nausea, but my acid reflux is terrible. Im on 2 of the prescription pills for acid instead of 1 and its still bad. Doctor tells me my stomach thinks the balloon is a huge piece of food so its trying to digest and creating a lot of acid. Other than that I feel a lot better. Days 1 & 2 were the worst for me, water would barely stay down and the vomitting was often and painful. But I wass also drowsey from the meds so slept a lot.

So the worst thing right now is the acid, plus the feeling like I have a massive air bubble in my stomach and need to burp, but I never do. Please tell me that doesnt stay forever! for those that have had the balloon over a month do you eventually barely feel it?

Yoghurt drinks have been my lifeline after water! I find the yoghurt coats my stomach and makes me feel like Im having something more filling. Today I can graduate to pureed foods but Im unsure what to try, so going to try some tiny flakes of tuna see how they go down. Its unbelieveable to me that Ive been only liquids for a week and not felt hungry! but I feel faint and lightheaded from not eating.

I cant imagine ever eating normally! to those that have been through this can eventually you eat anything you want just small amounts? I hope I can still eat my hubbys dinners just small amounts. My sheet says to avoid starches...bread I can do without but wholewheat pasta I love to eat.

if theres any canadians on here Im on a weight loss site called myweightloss.ca if you want to chat there, my name is louise36. I will be writing a blog about my experience too.

To the person asking about the sedation: i had conscious sedation but I dont remember a thing, so dont worry. i vaguely remember waking up at the end and feeling something down my throat but its vague. you will not be conscious. i think in some of the foreign countries they do it differently and Ive heard of people remembering the whole thing, thats awful!

Im done 9 pounds since my highest last week, its not been easy but Im feeling positive about finally shifting this weight!

 

[Glasgow-Ghirl]

I just read all your blog what a great idea. Today its still the stomach cramps but i am feeling positive had a yogurt for breakfast and kept it down. I hoping i feel bit better tomorrow.

How you doing? Hope your feeling a bit better. The cramps do go honestly. I thought they never would be it does get easier.

 

[Zoton]

Unfortunately, I have been told that general/full anesthesia is not an option for me, just conscious sedation, that's why I'm so nervous.

Hi! Just to reply about the concerns with sedation vs general anaesthesia etc - I had my balloon put down (in England) with no sedation at all. It wasn't the way I would normally choose to spend a saturday morning - but I would definitely do it that way again (and will when the balloon comes out). I chose to have it without sedation as I wanted a quick recovery period, plus I didn't want to add the potential (very small) risks of an anaesthetic to those potentially encountered with the balloon.

I'm not saying that people should have the balloon without sedation - but that you really shouldn't worry about the procedure. Have some sedation, but don't get overly stressed about the thought that you may have some recall about the insertion - as it really isn't that bad a thing to remember.

Hope that helps.

 

[DocPotter]

Thanks. That does help. This morning I had my intake appointment with the clinical trial team and I'm feeling better about it. I got to hold/fidget with a saline-inflated BIB - it was bigger than I expected and looks just like what I think a breast implant would look like. The staff at the office was absolutely wonderful.
I've decided to keep a blog about the experience. This site won't let me post a URL yet, so I will use the word DOT in place of the period.

rachelweighinglessDOTblogspotDOTcom

 

[colly777]

How you doing? Hope your feeling a bit better. The cramps do go honestly. I thought they never would be it does get easier.

Hiya i have a question i am so bloated i mean my stomach has literally popped out. whats this all about? does it go down and did it happen to you?