Gastric Balloon

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michellew67 said:
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 ....... 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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Hey, I Hope so... :(
My doc says not to worry, but i m still apprehensive..

I am based out of India, so getting it done in Mumbai..
Getting married in December, so my last attemp at looking good at the wedding :D
 
I had a couple of bad days at the start, but took all the medication that the dr prescribed me (anti nausea (2 types) and anti cramping) and they definitely controlled it. I was only sick once in the first week. I have been sick once more about 11 days post op and I now know that was because I ate too much and it was too rich. I haven't had a bad day for over 4 weeks now. I do keep a close eye on where my balloon is, as if it drops I can feel uncomfortable, so I just more it up and I am fine again. My tip is to really watch what you are eating - not too much and not too rich. After a couple of weeks I felt pretty well back to normal energy wise and this week (week 5) I have been able to work out at the gym completely back to normal.
 
day 5:
cramps still there..although no nausea, no vomiting.. food is gonig down well.. bt pain killers also nt able to stop cramps (though subdues the intensity)
surviving the day with pain :(

is it normal?

p.s. already lost 6lbs..
 
Gonggirl said:
zeee - cramping is not abnormal. My doctor told me to take Buscupan (sp?) for the cramping. Helped heaps.
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Yeah, my doc recommended me the same..
last night was no pain, so slept peacefully :)
but right now, its terrible.. comes in stages..shoots n subsides...
really do not want to rely on anti biotics.. but guess no other option...
 
3 days in

Hi,

I had my Balloon fitted 3 days ago, I'm a bit worried that I haven't eaten anything since then. I've managed to drink fluids ok, but haven't had the urge to eat anything since I had the procedure done. Is this normal ?

On the plus side I'm down 2.6kgs so far.

Weight 1 months before procedure 113.5
weight on day of procedure 106
Current weight 103.4

My experience of the procedure was great. I had a general anesthetic so did'nt feel a thing. My first day was pretty good, the second I did'nt sleep so well and was'nt feeling great, yesterday I felt a lot better and today I feel like I can leave the apt.

The only thing is that I cannot feel the balloon in my stomach, I've read other people on here can feel it and move it. Anyone else not able to feel it ?

thanks to all the previous posters who helped me make a decision to have it done.

Chaac
 
I can't feel my balloon if it is in the right place (which for me is just in under my left rib). Awesome work so far on the weight loss! I am 18kgs down now and feeling so good (6 wks 2 days post balloon).
 
My cramping went after 6 days, i was able to feel human again, the cramping eased somewhat after 4 days and wasnt as severe on days 5 and 6. I never vomitted at all, and never felt hungry.

I have a major problem and I am hoping someone can help. For 3 days now I have been getting really hungry and seem to have gone back to my old habits of grazing. I found I can eat the same size portions as i could before the procedure so today rang the hospital for advice, I was told, its normal not to feel the balloon after time, as it settles, but I was always under the impression that i would feel full, and was only able to eat small portions.

Someone did advice me that the balloon may have slipped down my stomach and to try and push it back up, well truth is, I cant feel it, I am at my wits end.

Has anyone else experienced this, please let me know. I do have an appointment with the bariatic surgeon tomorrow, but need answers and advice now...
 
Chaac said:
Hi,

I had my Balloon fitted 3 days ago, I'm a bit worried that I haven't eaten anything since then. I've managed to drink fluids ok, but haven't had the urge to eat anything since I had the procedure done. Is this normal ?


The only thing is that I cannot feel the balloon in my stomach, I've read other people on here can feel it and move it. Anyone else not able to feel it ?


Chaac
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Hi Chaac,
I wouldnt worry too much about not wanting to eat, that will all change, I didnt eat for almost 3 days too, I was in hospital for 3 days and all i managed was, 1 spoonful of porridge on day 3, and day 2 1 spoonful of mash potato. I wasnt sick at all, I just couldnt physically eat at all. Even after 5 days I was only managing scrambled egg made with one egg for breakfast, and a yogurt later in the day. After 7 days I managed toast with the scrambled egg, and half a tin of Big soup. I did find i had problems with lettuce, not sure if it stuck to the balloon and i couldnt rinse it through with water, but i would be crippled with wind and the smelly burps as an after effect, so i stay clear of lettuce,

I too cant feel my balloon, I am actually worried now that its deflating, Although I havent seen any blue dye when i got to the loo, I can eat much larger portions, I had my procedure done 30th June, so really its still early days for me.

Good luck with your journey.
 
Gonggirl said:
I can't feel my balloon if it is in the right place (which for me is just in under my left rib). Awesome work so far on the weight loss! I am 18kgs down now and feeling so good (6 wks 2 days post balloon).
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Hi Gonggirl

I too cant feel my balloon, can I ask you, what are your food portion sizes like, do you still get the full feeling after eating a small amount. As I dont, I tested this last night I ate steak, mushrooms, onion rings, and cheesy potatoes..yes and i fried the mushrooms to see if it made any difference. A week ago, i would have been up all night suffering even eating half that meal, last night, i managed the meal not problem, and it never caused any problems. I am so worried, as I have never been able to feel the balloon in my stomach, so I can tell if its slipped or not. So far I have lost 17lbs and that was mostly in the first 2 weeks, I havent lost anything since, and this morning i got on the scales, and actually put on 2lbs after eating my huge meal last night. Oh I am at my wits end...
 
Addictedtofood said:
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 :(
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Hi.

I really do sympathise with you as I too am going through the same thing, I havent lost any weight in 2 weeks, and cant feel my balloon, and get extremely hungry too, 500 calories is not a great deal of food, in order to lose weight we do need to eat less calories than is recommended but 500 cals, in one day, is saying your only allowed one meal a day. Its been 4 weeks and 4 days since my procedure, and today I am so worried that i cant feel my balloon and feel i can eat normal size portions and that the balloon has stopped working for me. I wanted to know if anyone has experienced this too. I know its only an aid to help with weight loss, and its up to us to watch what we eat, maybe i need to look at my food, and start on a healthy eating plan (again). I dont even get sick, or feel sickly anymore too. Also if your able to exercise, that helps too with weight loss.

I hope things pick up for you, and good luck with your journey
 
Hi Michelle
I definitely know I have my balloon! I am eating 1/3 to 1/2 what I use to - but I have to say that some days I am STARVING and eat more than others. On those days I really try and watch what I am eating and make good choices - I also try and restrict my portions even if I don't feel FULL, ie I try and eat around the same amount each day for my main meals. I can also eat more at lunch time that other meals - dinner is usually not a heap. I know what you mean about the smelly burps and wind. Last night I was nearly incapacitated - and I am not sure what set me off :eek:(
I find I am best with home cooked meals - the slow cooker is my best friend at the moment - meat cooked up with lots of veges. Best of luck with it all and let us know how you go at the doctors tomorrow. I think I am eating around 1000 calories a day - some days less, some days more. Weight loss seems around 1.5kgs a week. I am at the gym regularly and I work out hard while I am there.
 
Thanks Gonggirl for your reply.
I went out for Sunday lunch today, even though it was carvery i still didnt put the usual amount on my plate..and great news i couldnt even eat half of it, I must have just been having an off day yesterday, I just finished working night shift and it must have upset my balance a little. I noticed i am crippled with wind after eating lettuce, so i avoid it now like the plague. which is a shame, i so love salads. I very rarely put potato on my plate as it does fill me up quickly, so i just usually stick to meat and veg, (ie carrots, cabbage, turnip) but not a great deal, infact roughly the same portion as two packets of the frozen veg you microwave. They come in handy too.

When I think about my dinner last night, in reality it wasnt a huge portion..approx 150gms of steak, two mushrooms fried in olive oil, 4 onion rings and a large spoon (portion size) of potato topped with cheese, (you get it from iceland, its done in the oven) So really it wasnt that much, so thats how i must have been able to cope with it. I think i am just panicking over nothing. I jsut have to watch what i eat from now on.

I do go to the gym too, thats where i noticed my great weight loss, but i promised i wouldnt keep going on the scales, incase i get disappointed.
 
I too cant feel my balloon at all... and i was under the impression that it has deflated or something..
so, yesterday i sat down to have my meal and ordered a minstrone soup n tomato bruschetta.. thinking i was very hungry n cud finish it all...just being adventerous :D...

to my disappointment, i could eat it all ( i bowl of soup n 6 pieces of bruschetta) :(

still consoled myself with somethng or the other..
however, was feeling uncomfortable with all the food..
and within a few hours, i could b found in my washroom, puking out all that soup n tomatoes :puke:

i learnt my lesson that even though u can eat, u shud nt..cz balloon will throw it up..it just doesnt digest...
 
zeee said:
i learnt my lesson that even though u can eat, u shud nt..cz balloon will throw it up..it just doesnt digest...
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Poor Zee,

I too tested myself yesterday I went out for sunday lunch, i put on my plate less than what i would have normally and i couldnt eat it all, although i havent thrown up at all the whole time i have had the balloon in, I have been close to it, but never actually done it. I am just starting from scratch today, and making small portions whether my stomach likes it or not..lol
 
I'm now just over 3 months in, can't feel the balloon at all, haven't from day 1. The last 6weeks haven't been good for me, firstly I'm moved house and starting eating the wrong foods out of convenience, I work away from home a lot so eat out a lot, I'm vegetarian and it's difficult getting low fat foods, I went on holiday for 3 weeks, again not good, broke my ankle a couple of weeks ago and now struggling to get back on good foods as I struggle standing to cook. My first 6 weeks I had lost 9kg but I'm sure nothing has come off in the last 6 weeks, my check up is next monday, maybe a week of good eating might start shifting it, I really need some support now. Well done everyone else who has lost lots and I know how all of you feel when you find yourself back to bad habits, it's all down to self control, funnily enough chocolate was my worst habit and I can't eat it anymore.
 
Does everyone know how much fill they have in their balloon? I have 700mls - which apparently is the max and I can assure you that I absolutely know my little friend is on board. When it was first put in I could move it around very easily - lately it is getting more difficult and I suppose my stomach must be shrinking and with exercise my abs are getting tighter. Must remember to ask dr at next check up.
 
Hopeful999 said:
I'm now just over 3 months in, can't feel the balloon at all, haven't from day 1. The last 6weeks haven't been good for me, firstly I'm moved house and starting eating the wrong foods out of convenience, I work away from home a lot so eat out a lot, I'm vegetarian and it's difficult getting low fat foods, I went on holiday for 3 weeks, again not good, broke my ankle a couple of weeks ago and now struggling to get back on good foods as I struggle standing to cook. My first 6 weeks I had lost 9kg but I'm sure nothing has come off in the last 6 weeks, my check up is next monday, maybe a week of good eating might start shifting it, I really need some support now. Well done everyone else who has lost lots and I know how all of you feel when you find yourself back to bad habits, it's all down to self control, funnily enough chocolate was my worst habit and I can't eat it anymore.
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Hi Hopeful,

Your right about self control, the balloon is an aid to weight loss, similar to slimming tablets..only what we have to remember is smaller portion size. tip is to use a smaller plate. I too for the past week have kind of gone off track too. I havent lost any weight in 2 weeks, but luckily I havent gained any too, maybe its because although my balloon has only been in for 4 weeks..(5 on wednesday) the mass amount of weight lost in the first 2 weeks is due to the fact we arent eating at all, and if so, only liquid food. As soon as we do start eating the weight loss slows down. I wish you all the best, and You know what needs to be done to help yourself. I even feared I had lost my balloon and oveate over the weekend...boy did i suffer..:ack2:
 
Gonggirl said:
Does everyone know how much fill they have in their balloon? I have 700mls - which apparently is the max and I can assure you that I absolutely know my little friend is on board. When it was first put in I could move it around very easily - lately it is getting more difficult and I suppose my stomach must be shrinking and with exercise my abs are getting tighter. Must remember to ask dr at next check up.
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Gonggirl,....I am sure i overheard the surgeon ask for 200mls of fluid for my balloon when he was putting it in, but dont quote me on that...lol


ps...I havent been able to feel my balloon at all in my stomach, so I cant see if it moves easily..lol
 
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7 weeks post balloon and I have lost 18kgs. Jeans I have gone from a size 26 to a 20/22. I am working out hard at the gym 4 - 5 times a week and I am going to start introducing a couple of walks a week now too. Feeling fit and great. This is the smallest I have been since before I had my son over 5 1/2 years ago.
 
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