I have now transitioned to mushy foods now and my portions are so small and I take twice as long to eat as my husband eating his normal serves (and usually seconds - his seconds, not mine!). I have lost around 11kgs in the first 3 weeks (2 weeks pre op diet) and 1 week with the balloon. My goal was 30 for the 6 mths with the balloon plus whatever I lost before the balloon - so 26 to go!!! All in all I am feeling pretty good at the moment considering it is only 1 week in. Some nausea, but all in all good - just not a lot of energy at the moment, but I expect this will get better as I can eat a little more and my body gets use to the whole thing.
Gastric Balloon
- Thread starter WEEALIA
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littlemissnic
New member
I had my balloon fitted on the 11th Jun and have lost 10lbs so far. I get back ache, but having read other peoples stories on here it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one and the reason for it. I've only been sick a few times and that was when I tried to eat too much and rich foods. I moved on to blended home made food after 7 days, prior to that was eating pureed fruit, soup and the odd jar of baby food. Now I've made some food, blended it and frozen it in small portions in accordance with my menu plan from the clinic. The clinic did say to have a cup of protein supplement in the afternoon, but it tastes awful and makes me feel sick - i think because I just dont like it, so I'm worried I'm not getting enough nutrients and vitamins etc. Does anyone know of anything else I could have instead?
I've been cycling to work and back, only 2 miles each way, but I'm finding I'm really tired and in bed by 8.30 every night. Which is worrying as I'm meant to be starting swimming at lunchtimes as feel I don't have enough energy, but can't see how I can eat anymore as I'm so full from what I am eating. I don't ever manage to eat everything on the menu plan from the clinic.
I suffer from acid reflux and so heart burn, can anyone recommend anything for that?
Hope to chat to others who are going through the same as none of my friends really understand.
I've been cycling to work and back, only 2 miles each way, but I'm finding I'm really tired and in bed by 8.30 every night. Which is worrying as I'm meant to be starting swimming at lunchtimes as feel I don't have enough energy, but can't see how I can eat anymore as I'm so full from what I am eating. I don't ever manage to eat everything on the menu plan from the clinic.
I suffer from acid reflux and so heart burn, can anyone recommend anything for that?
Hope to chat to others who are going through the same as none of my friends really understand.
Patient experience story needed!
Hi all, I'm a magazine writer and I'm writing about the gastric balloon. I was wondering if any of you are willing to share your experience with BIB in the article? Don't worry about confidentiality, you'll be anonymous if you want to! I'd prefer patients who have had the BIB balloon and are Malaysians or Singaporeans because the mag caters for mostly Asian readers. Please pm me if you're interested! And no, this is not a bogus trick, I assure you!
Hi all, I'm a magazine writer and I'm writing about the gastric balloon. I was wondering if any of you are willing to share your experience with BIB in the article? Don't worry about confidentiality, you'll be anonymous if you want to! I'd prefer patients who have had the BIB balloon and are Malaysians or Singaporeans because the mag caters for mostly Asian readers. Please pm me if you're interested! And no, this is not a bogus trick, I assure you!
Little Miss Nic - I am on Nexium everyday to manage acid levels and I have had no heartburn or acid reflux. I too have had problems with rich food and if I do eat too much - My stomach just doesn't seem to digest it and I have to vomit to get relief. Best of luck with it all.
O
OzCatmum
Guest
Hi all,
Have just about hit the 20kg mark, yay!! Had a loonnggg plateau but just stuck it out (had no other option really, I won't diet again, and the balloon is not going anywhere!).
Agree on the Nexium- my programme has Somac (pantaprazole) prescribed, which has prevented reflux altogether. I ran out recently and found I had nausea and heartburn after the first missed dose, so definitely source something for heartburn if this is causing a problem for you. Nexium has a similar action and is available in most countries over the counter so might be worth a try. Not all heartburn remedies are created equal, by the way, it may be worth trying a few!
Hope you are all well, hope you find your magazine subject Ackie. To be honest, I haven't come across any Malaysian or Singaporeans on the site as far as I know, but many people read these sites help may come indirectly.
Cheers,
OCM
Have just about hit the 20kg mark, yay!! Had a loonnggg plateau but just stuck it out (had no other option really, I won't diet again, and the balloon is not going anywhere!).
Agree on the Nexium- my programme has Somac (pantaprazole) prescribed, which has prevented reflux altogether. I ran out recently and found I had nausea and heartburn after the first missed dose, so definitely source something for heartburn if this is causing a problem for you. Nexium has a similar action and is available in most countries over the counter so might be worth a try. Not all heartburn remedies are created equal, by the way, it may be worth trying a few!
Hope you are all well, hope you find your magazine subject Ackie. To be honest, I haven't come across any Malaysian or Singaporeans on the site as far as I know, but many people read these sites help may come indirectly.
Cheers,
OCM
catinablenda
New member
Littlemissnik..there are lots of vitamin and mineral supplements around. I am taking sustagen, lucozade, supradyn which are easy to drink and taste fine. You can make up the sustagen with skim milk. I am taking pariet to reduce the pH of my stomach acid twice a day and motilium x 2 before food to help with gastric emptying.
I have had my balloon in 7 weeks now and have had continual nausea and vomiting. Now seeing my gastroenterologist on a weekly basis and back on a fluid diet, hence all the nutritional drinks. I have tried eating small amounts of solid food and almost everything I eat causes me pain and great discomfort. I have completely lost interest in food (negative reinforcement) but realise that a fluid diet cant be maintained for any great length of time and still have a good quality of life. I expect that I will have to have the balloon removed ..just taking it week by week..
I have had my balloon in 7 weeks now and have had continual nausea and vomiting. Now seeing my gastroenterologist on a weekly basis and back on a fluid diet, hence all the nutritional drinks. I have tried eating small amounts of solid food and almost everything I eat causes me pain and great discomfort. I have completely lost interest in food (negative reinforcement) but realise that a fluid diet cant be maintained for any great length of time and still have a good quality of life. I expect that I will have to have the balloon removed ..just taking it week by week..
balloon in 4 days ago
hello everyone.. got the balloon on monday and after 2 days of cramping, spasming and vomit false alarms.. i was feeling better this morning. i'm afraid i still havent figured out how much is too much and hence this afternoon i had half a glass of water a little too fast and have been cramping all day long now... is this weird? am feeling dizzy when i walk too... and the cramps are radiating to my back....
wishing this would go away so i can get back to normal soon.. how did everyone learn to figure out how much food or water was too much?
hello everyone.. got the balloon on monday and after 2 days of cramping, spasming and vomit false alarms.. i was feeling better this morning. i'm afraid i still havent figured out how much is too much and hence this afternoon i had half a glass of water a little too fast and have been cramping all day long now... is this weird? am feeling dizzy when i walk too... and the cramps are radiating to my back....
wishing this would go away so i can get back to normal soon.. how did everyone learn to figure out how much food or water was too much?
Danielle123
New member
Hi All,
i stumbled across this forum and think it really great all the help and motivation which you guys give eachother, be it just to lend an ear to eachother!
i've read quite alot that the process is quite lonely? what do you mean by lonely?
i am due to have my balloon on the 13th July and want to lose around 6/7 stone, is the balloon the right option for this amount of weight loss?
i hope all of you are ok! it would be great to meet some new friendly people who know what it is i'm going through!
D x
i stumbled across this forum and think it really great all the help and motivation which you guys give eachother, be it just to lend an ear to eachother!
i've read quite alot that the process is quite lonely? what do you mean by lonely?
i am due to have my balloon on the 13th July and want to lose around 6/7 stone, is the balloon the right option for this amount of weight loss?
i hope all of you are ok! it would be great to meet some new friendly people who know what it is i'm going through!
D x
Hi Cheekygirl, I live in Melbourne and have just started researching gastric balloons. I would love to hear about where you got your procedure done, how much it costs and whether you are happy with the outcome- any information really!!!!Well thought I would check in again am 15 weeks in with the balloon and have lost 19kg so I am so excited, plenty more weight to lose also. I have just found out that you do have to take nexium everyday as I was only having it when needed but if i laid on my right side to sleep the reflux and acid was really bad but taking the nexium for the last 3 days straight just before dinner has been a god send because now I dont have to sleep just on one side and getting a sore hip. My goal is to lose 25 kilos before my balloon comes out in July, then I am waiting for 4 weeks and having another one put in, as then I still have 5 months left of my programme, I am just waiting on how much it costs which will be around 1500-2000 hopefully. I am in Melbourne, so if anyone wants any questions answered I am here, also congratulations to everyone with their weight loss.
Thanks
Addictedtofood
New member
Not feeling full - no weight loss!!
Hi everyone!
I had the balloon fitted last Wednesday. I went through the nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, feeling really faint...and today I already had a bad day (10 days later), with binge eating and stuffing crap into my body. I feel so guilty I could cry... I think what tipped it off was that I stepped on the scale and there was NO budge after the 10 days.
I keep reading posts on here about all the drastic weight loss in the first few days. My mother went through the same thing and lost heaps.
Has anybody else felt it isn't working? I'm not even feeling full or cramps anymore...I'm so depressed. It sounds like just my luck....
Also, what is everybody eating while on the balloon. I got an outline of 500 calories for the next 2 months, but that is just bizarre on all accounts and I refuse to eat so little. Obviously if I eat a lot I won't lose, but I really doubt 500 calories is sufficient for a healthy lifestyle....
You support, please
Hi everyone!
I had the balloon fitted last Wednesday. I went through the nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, feeling really faint...and today I already had a bad day (10 days later), with binge eating and stuffing crap into my body. I feel so guilty I could cry... I think what tipped it off was that I stepped on the scale and there was NO budge after the 10 days.
I keep reading posts on here about all the drastic weight loss in the first few days. My mother went through the same thing and lost heaps.
Has anybody else felt it isn't working? I'm not even feeling full or cramps anymore...I'm so depressed. It sounds like just my luck....
Also, what is everybody eating while on the balloon. I got an outline of 500 calories for the next 2 months, but that is just bizarre on all accounts and I refuse to eat so little. Obviously if I eat a lot I won't lose, but I really doubt 500 calories is sufficient for a healthy lifestyle....
You support, please
It took me around 12 days to feel like the balloon was "normal". I still take it slowly drinking, but can at least have a big mouthful now. I still eat very small meals and try and really listen to my body - over eating means pain and discomfort. Not fun.
Hi everyone!
I had the balloon fitted last Wednesday. I went through the nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, feeling really faint...and today I already had a bad day (10 days later), with binge eating and stuffing crap into my body. I feel so guilty I could cry... I think what tipped it off was that I stepped on the scale and there was NO budge after the 10 days.
I keep reading posts on here about all the drastic weight loss in the first few days. My mother went through the same thing and lost heaps.
Has anybody else felt it isn't working? I'm not even feeling full or cramps anymore...I'm so depressed. It sounds like just my luck....
Also, what is everybody eating while on the balloon. I got an outline of 500 calories for the next 2 months, but that is just bizarre on all accounts and I refuse to eat so little. Obviously if I eat a lot I won't lose, but I really doubt 500 calories is sufficient for a healthy lifestyle....
You support, please
I am 2 and 1/2 weeks in and most of the time I don't even realise that my balloon is there - until I go to eat. I simply could not, even if I wanted to, eat what i use to. I went out to dinner on Saturday night and had 6 prawns in a garlic and tomato sauce and a couple of chips, no alcohol only water and the tiniest bit of birthday cake imaginable and that was me done. 6 prawns would have been inhaled before on the way to eating a large main meal. I estimate that I am eating about 1/3 of what I use to (and that is a good day - some days would be less).
Notwithstanding the balloon, you still have to make good decisions about what food you put in your mouth. The balloon is simply a tool to make it easier to eat less, you will have to make your own decisions about eating well.
I have started back at the gym today - took it easy but felt pretty good. I could feel the balloon but I didn't want to be sick or anything. I had 1/2 a shake before I went and I think that was enough, any more and my stomach would have been too full.
I had great weight loss in the first two weeks, but have lost nothing since. I assume it is my body stabilising. That is another reason to get back to the gym.
Best of luck and remember, make good decisions about your food, think positively and it WILL happen.
Hair loss?
Hi,
Im halfway through my 6 months with the balloon. I've hit a weight plateau, but whats worrying me more, is the amount of hair I'm losing. In 3 months I've lost 10kg's, but in the last month I've noticed significant hair loss. I have quite thick hair luckily, but my mother mentioned she had noticed my hair thinning aswell. My bathroom is full of hair! Does anyone have any suggestions? Hopefully this isn't permanent!
Hi,
Im halfway through my 6 months with the balloon. I've hit a weight plateau, but whats worrying me more, is the amount of hair I'm losing. In 3 months I've lost 10kg's, but in the last month I've noticed significant hair loss. I have quite thick hair luckily, but my mother mentioned she had noticed my hair thinning aswell. My bathroom is full of hair! Does anyone have any suggestions? Hopefully this isn't permanent!
Sylvie1981
New member
Hi all!
So glad to find this forum! I'm from the Netherlands and there's absolutely no info on the gastric balloon here.
I've had the balloon fitted last tuesday, so four days have passed and this is actually the first day i feel a little better.Yay!
Been sick for three days and especially the stomach ache and cramps are terrible!
I've had some yoghurt and some soup today without having to vomit so I'm really happy.
Really hope I can join in with u guys to talk about our big balloon adventure
Sylvie
also have a question, I know having a drink is not an option if u want to loose weight but is it ok to have a glass or three maybe four when im at a party?
So glad to find this forum! I'm from the Netherlands and there's absolutely no info on the gastric balloon here.
I've had the balloon fitted last tuesday, so four days have passed and this is actually the first day i feel a little better.Yay!
Been sick for three days and especially the stomach ache and cramps are terrible!
I've had some yoghurt and some soup today without having to vomit so I'm really happy.
Really hope I can join in with u guys to talk about our big balloon adventure
Sylvie
also have a question, I know having a drink is not an option if u want to loose weight but is it ok to have a glass or three maybe four when im at a party?
5 weeks post balloon and at my weigh in this morning I am 15.9kg down. I am really happy with the balloon - most of the time now I don't even feel my little friend and it is really helping with my portion control. Some days I still get super hungry - but I can fill up and feel satisfied earlier. I feel so much better and I am down from a 26 jeans to a 22 and some of my 22s are getting loose. HAPPY!
Getting mine fixed on Saturday..n feelnig very very scared.
Profile: weighing 14 stones
Looking to lose: 3-4 stones
ideal weight - acc to my body frame is 65kgs ( 144lbs)
veryyy veryy veryy nervous..
really dont know whether will be able to lose the weight or not
only my partner is aware of this...
how many days does it usually take to get back to work after the procedure?
Tx
love
Z
Profile: weighing 14 stones
Looking to lose: 3-4 stones
ideal weight - acc to my body frame is 65kgs ( 144lbs)
veryyy veryy veryy nervous..
really dont know whether will be able to lose the weight or not
only my partner is aware of this...
how many days does it usually take to get back to work after the procedure?
Tx
love
Z
lavieboheme
New member
Hi all,
I had the balloon fitted three days ago on Monday.
I went in for a gastric bypass/sleeve gastrectomy on 9 July that had to be abandoned due to there being too much fat on my abdomen basically. The surgeon's solution was to have the balloon for six months, lose weight and then re-try the surgery in six months time.
I was lead to believe it was a pretty minor procedure: incorrect! I've been suffering with waves of nausea and stomach cramps for the last few days that I really wasn't expecting to be so bad. Luckily I haven't actually vomited but that's probably more to me hating throwing up than anything.
Today is my first day on pureed food. I've managed a few spoonfuls of porridge, a cup of tea, some mashed banana and couple of spoons of yoghurt so far. I feel slightly better for having eaten after four days on water, but my balloon doesn't seem to like it that much!
As I say, I tried to avoid over researching beforehand because that's what got me so stressed out before the last surgery. Any advice and tips on if and when it gets better? Right now I want to pop the bloody thing!
Thanks,
A
I had the balloon fitted three days ago on Monday.
I went in for a gastric bypass/sleeve gastrectomy on 9 July that had to be abandoned due to there being too much fat on my abdomen basically. The surgeon's solution was to have the balloon for six months, lose weight and then re-try the surgery in six months time.
I was lead to believe it was a pretty minor procedure: incorrect! I've been suffering with waves of nausea and stomach cramps for the last few days that I really wasn't expecting to be so bad. Luckily I haven't actually vomited but that's probably more to me hating throwing up than anything.
Today is my first day on pureed food. I've managed a few spoonfuls of porridge, a cup of tea, some mashed banana and couple of spoons of yoghurt so far. I feel slightly better for having eaten after four days on water, but my balloon doesn't seem to like it that much!
As I say, I tried to avoid over researching beforehand because that's what got me so stressed out before the last surgery. Any advice and tips on if and when it gets better? Right now I want to pop the bloody thing!
Thanks,
A
michellew67
New member
Getting mine fixed on Saturday..n feelnig very very scared.
Profile: weighing 14 stones
Looking to lose: 3-4 stones
ideal weight - acc to my body frame is 65kgs ( 144lbs)
veryyy veryy veryy nervous..
really dont know whether will be able to lose the weight or not
only my partner is aware of this...
how many days does it usually take to get back to work after the procedure?
Tx
love
Z
Hi Z, Good luck with your procedure, I think the getting back to work all depends on how you react to the procedure itself....I had mine done on a Wednesday, I was due into work fri back shift but was still in hosp until midday, I still was in alot of pain, very similar to gastroentorisis (sp) thats the only way i could describe it, and i felt very lethargic as your still not really eating at that point, I had the pain at least 5 days after the procedure, I returned to work on the Monday. However, Whilst i was in the hosp there were other patients there that told me i was well ....as there had been other ladies in having the balloon procedure and all they did was vomit the whole time, i only vomitted the once, and never did it again. So i count myself as lucky. Hopefully you will be a lucky one too.
Where you having your procedure? I was also lucky enough to have mine done through NHS, and I thank my lucky stars too, I am giving me this 6 months to make a difference for myself. Good Luck..
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