Gastric Balloon
- Thread starter WEEALIA
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dcollo what an inspiration you are. Congratulations on your weight loss and well done on identifying those lifestyle changes that will help you keep the weight off once the balloon is out. At day 12 I have a way to go and my weight loss has been a lot slower than others on this forum but I'm determined it will work and your post has really motivated me on a day when I was really low. Thanks!!
Yes taking my medications, but unfortunately not able to keep them dovvn, just vomit them back up again.
Drul
Hi Dcollo,
VVhat a vvonderful story, it makes me vvant to stick this out, but today is day 13 vvith no solids and persistent vomitting, no bovvel movement in 14 days. Not able to vvork, I make it from the bed to the sofa, at one point do I say enough. The doctor has tried different meds, nothing stays dovvn. I think I may need to go in for IV hydration today. I knovv I have to get back to vvork soon, this truly i hope is not throvving in the tovvel too soon, i am out of pocket 8000.00, i don't get this back, and it is alot of money to me. but my health is suffering. I too have found this forum very helpful.
Maybe today, as I say everyday, vvill be my turning point.
Congratulations on your success!!!!!!
Drul
Hi DAISY 18,
Its Drul, but feeling soooo much better, vvent to bed last night vomitting bile and begging this am to have the balloon out and than today ...wow seemed to turn the corner, slept alot but got up and vvas able to keep an egg dovvn, first solid food in 12 days!!!!! No vomitting, some nausea. I feel so much better just very weak. This balloon thing is not easy for anyone vvho thinks it may be a easy route to weight loss.
how are you doing Daisy 18, vvhat are you now eating and hovv much are you eating,are you still struggling vvith portion size and feeling ill after?
Hovv much weight have you lost? has your energy began to improve?
I still feel like there is a boot in my chest, hate doing up my bra, but vvhat a relief no vomitting today.
I hope you are doing better.
drul
After a very hard 12 days of almost constant nausea and frequent vomitting, I feel I have turned the corner. I vvas able to eat an egg today, first of anything solid. Can other ballooners please advise me vvhat this next step is like, getting accustomed to vvhat I can eat and hovv much?
are there foods to absolutely advoid, I hear pasta. I am looking forvvard to a sandvvich for some strange reason.
any advice much appreciated, I sure don't vvant to go through that again.
Drul
are there foods to absolutely advoid, I hear pasta. I am looking forvvard to a sandvvich for some strange reason.
any advice much appreciated, I sure don't vvant to go through that again.
Drulall I say is take it slow and small portions!
Since you had such a rough start, I would stick to soft foods for a while yet and then slowly work up from there. I eat nearly anything now - but still avoid steak or other solid slabs of meat. Stews and mince dishes are great and my slow cooker has been getting a lot of use. I have eaten pasta no problems. I have not done a normal sandwich - but have had toasted sandwiches fine and wraps are ok. I use a bread and butter plate at night to manage my portion size. I prefer to serve up a really small portion, give it time to settle and then decide if I want more. Overeating in the first couple of months is HELL. Overeating now is still uncomfortable.
Since you had such a rough start, I would stick to soft foods for a while yet and then slowly work up from there. I eat nearly anything now - but still avoid steak or other solid slabs of meat. Stews and mince dishes are great and my slow cooker has been getting a lot of use. I have eaten pasta no problems. I have not done a normal sandwich - but have had toasted sandwiches fine and wraps are ok. I use a bread and butter plate at night to manage my portion size. I prefer to serve up a really small portion, give it time to settle and then decide if I want more. Overeating in the first couple of months is HELL. Overeating now is still uncomfortable.
Hi DAISY 18,
Its Drul, but feeling soooo much better, vvent to bed last night vomitting bile and begging this am to have the balloon out and than today ...wow seemed to turn the corner, slept alot but got up and vvas able to keep an egg dovvn, first solid food in 12 days!!!!! No vomitting, some nausea. I feel so much better just very weak. This balloon thing is not easy for anyone vvho thinks it may be a easy route to weight loss.
how are you doing Daisy 18, vvhat are you now eating and hovv much are you eating,are you still struggling vvith portion size and feeling ill after?
Hovv much weight have you lost? has your energy began to improve?
I still feel like there is a boot in my chest, hate doing up my bra, but vvhat a relief no vomitting today.
I hope you are doing better.
drul
Hi drul
Glad to hear you are feeling better. I can pretty much eat anything- pasta, bread, fruit. I haven't tried steak but eat casseroles and slow cooked meats. I'm averaging about 800 calories a day. Some days I am really hungry and eat more, other days I can only manage the smallest amount of food. I'm still tired but am much better and do all normal activities now. I'm going to go to the gym tomorrow. I haven't lost any weight in 5 days but the reason I got the balloon is was because I can't lose weight easily ! I know it has to come off eventually so I'm sticking with it- at least I can't binge and undo all the good work I've done so far. Go very slowly with solids. Stick with mushy food for a couple of days- yoghurt, eggs, weetabix with milk. I had a few bad days when I thought I was ok and tried to progress to more solid foods and I had stomach cramps and vomiting. I've had some problem with terrible wind pain but that seems to have settled down now too.
Congratulations Conggirl!!!!! I am very inspired by your postings and I find them very helpful. I finally have had relief from the constant vomitting, only occassional novv, and very vveak, vvhich is too be expected. I feel like I have a football in my stomache, and it is very uncomfortable vvhen I vvalk, did you have this feeling and if so vvhen does it pass?? you mentioned i believe that you take a laxative, vvhat is suggested?
I am just having soup and vvatermelon, but boy it sure is a treat to keep it dovvn. The biggest surprise for me is that I haven't had a coffee since the balloon, I vvas a regular coffee drinker. Do you drink coffee? I love hearing that there is some normalcy in the near future. I vvould love a sandvvich!!!! even just one piece.
I am sure your clothes are falling off of you!!!!! that is alot of vveight, you must feel pretty damn good about that. Thanks for inspiring the rest of us.
cheers,
Drul
Hi Daisy 18,
Thanks for getting back to me, it is so helpful hearing from others, I imagine that the metabalism slovvs dovvn vvith the reduced caloric intake, maybe once the energy gets back to normal than the vveight should start to come off. I am glad to hear your energy is getting better, it sures knocks the heck out of you. I feel sooooo old!!LOL, I move like an 80 year old, do you have a feeling of a football? it is uncomfortable vvhen I vvalk.
you mentioned taking a laxative, do you use the tablets or the povvder mixed vvith vvater.
I am not contantly vomitting anymore, ohhh that vvas so rough, I am taking soup and vvatermelon, I love the vvatermelon.
It is hard to gauge vvhat is hunger pains or vvhat is gas pains, etc. Takes some time to get use to this thing.
I hope that there is some vveight loss for you in the near future, good luck at the gym, keep me posted. I really appreciate the updates and supports.
Drul
Hi Drul I don't feel the balloon most of the time and I can sleep on both sides and on my back. I really don't have any discomfort except when I overeat. I think there is less discomfort with a smaller balloon (600mls) but also less dramatic initial weight loss. I took tablets to ease the constipation. Once you start moving and walking around that issue eases dramatically. So good to hear things are improving for you.
Hi Daisy 18,
Any vveight loss this vveek? have you gotten back to the gym.
I am still vomitting, probably tvvice a day or more. Still only able to eat a very small amount, an egg, some soup for lunch. Usually I can't do dinner, feel too nauseaus in the evening and bloated, do you have any problem vvith bloating?
Do you see a dietician vvith your program?
I am still vvondering vvhat Have I done?, vvould you say your energy is back to normal??
for me, I keep vvondering vvhen I vvill have my life back, not sick, and have some energy.
Hope all is going vvell.
Drul
Hi everyone,
Sympathy & hugs to those who are having a bad time since their balloons were fitted, but congratulations to everyone on their weight losses, some of which are very impressive! 
Just following on from a post I made recently (about how I had regained a lot of the weight since my balloon came out):-
I have now joined a diet class (Slimming world) & started losing weight again
(posted about it in more detail on another thread.) I just wanted to say that it might be an idea for others to consider joining some sort of class when the balloon comes out- with hindsight, I wish I'd done it back in March. Or just find someone who can monitor your weight. Not everyone will need this of course, but if you feel you are wavering at all...give it serious consideration. My balloon package included telephone support, but I have not found that any help at all really -I need face-to-face support!
I don't really regret the balloon experience, as I think it's put things into perspective for me, and made me realise that I need a long-term, sustainable plan (where I don't feel deprived). The diet I'm doing at the moment is generous & flexible - I had no luck with diet classes pre-balloon, but I feel my attitude has now changed, and I've realised there's definitely no quick-fix.
Keep smiling everyone!
Sympathy & hugs to those who are having a bad time since their balloons were fitted
, but congratulations to everyone on their weight losses, some of which are very impressive! Just following on from a post I made recently (about how I had regained a lot of the weight since my balloon came out):-
I have now joined a diet class (Slimming world) & started losing weight again
(posted about it in more detail on another thread.) I just wanted to say that it might be an idea for others to consider joining some sort of class when the balloon comes out- with hindsight, I wish I'd done it back in March. Or just find someone who can monitor your weight. Not everyone will need this of course, but if you feel you are wavering at all...give it serious consideration. My balloon package included telephone support, but I have not found that any help at all really -I need face-to-face support!I don't really regret the balloon experience, as I think it's put things into perspective for me, and made me realise that I need a long-term, sustainable plan (where I don't feel deprived). The diet I'm doing at the moment is generous & flexible - I had no luck with diet classes pre-balloon, but I feel my attitude has now changed, and I've realised there's definitely no quick-fix.
Keep smiling everyone!
tubbydubby
New member
Hi all, I have had a gastric balloon inserted 6 weeks ago in London. and am writing a blog about my experiences to date if your interested this was one of the first places I looked when I orginially thought about going through the procedure myself.
this was one of the first places I looked when I orginially thought about going through the procedure myself.regretting getting the balloon
I hope someone reads this that can give me some advice or share their experience.
I had the balloon inserted almost three vveeks ago, for the first 12 days I vomited, I couldn't keep anything dovvn including the medication. The vomiting novv is less often, I still can only eat soup, an egg, or protein shake. I feel nauseated almost alvvays and the only relief I do get is just after I vomit. I have some good days and hope that it has passed but than after a day or tvvo, right back vomiting. I had a fevv good days and thought that I had turned the corner but it didn't last.
I am really regretting this decision, I find myself crying, thinking vvhat have done to myself, not to mention hovv much money I have spent.
I feel that I paid 8000.oo to lose vveight the same vvay a bulimic vvould, vomiting.
Is there anyone out there that had their balloon removed early? or is there anyone else going through this experience.
I feel so alone.
Please, I hope to hear from someone.
Drul
I hope someone reads this that can give me some advice or share their experience.
I had the balloon inserted almost three vveeks ago, for the first 12 days I vomited, I couldn't keep anything dovvn including the medication. The vomiting novv is less often, I still can only eat soup, an egg, or protein shake. I feel nauseated almost alvvays and the only relief I do get is just after I vomit. I have some good days and hope that it has passed but than after a day or tvvo, right back vomiting. I had a fevv good days and thought that I had turned the corner but it didn't last.
I am really regretting this decision, I find myself crying, thinking vvhat have done to myself, not to mention hovv much money I have spent.
I feel that I paid 8000.oo to lose vveight the same vvay a bulimic vvould, vomiting.
Is there anyone out there that had their balloon removed early? or is there anyone else going through this experience.
I feel so alone.
Please, I hope to hear from someone.
Drul
Dear Drul,
I haven't had a balloon fitted yet (though I am going in for a consultation soon) but I joined up to reply to your post anyway - please don't feel like you are alone!
Since I don't have experience to draw upon I can only present trends I've noticed through reading all the threads on this board.
There are things you can do. You say that you can manage soups protein shakes and keep them down. Well, it is possible to get good nutrition through a liquid diet. Protein shakes are a great source of loads of the vitamins and minerals you need, as are soups. Fruit juice, smoothies, V8 shots, and milk all add to that nutrition. If you can eat eggs, can you tolerate yogurts? How about mashed potato?
I'm not suggesting that you won't ever be able to transition onto solid, fibrous, starchy foods while you have the balloon, but it is possible (there are people here who had that experience). You want to stop throwing up and you want to lose weight in the most bearable way possible - those two goals may not be compatible with eating certain foods (which you are used to eating). If you are like me, you had the balloon to *make* yourself change your ways of eating, because, for whatever reason, doing it through "willpower" alone did not work for you. There are people on this board who have been bitterly disappointed because they found that, soon after having the balloon fitted, they could comfortably eat the same foods as before and in whatever quantities they liked. Your balloon is working, and now you have a chance to change your life through the resulting weight loss. It will still be tough, and you may miss certain foods terribly, but remember: it is only for a short time. Six months out of your whole life in exchange for all the things that losing weight will bring you - at some point you decided that was a good deal.
You should do everything that you can to stop being sick and nauseous (i.e. anti-emetics, heartburn medicine, ridiculously slow eating, sipping fluids, taking oral rehydration treatment sachets to replace things lost by vomiting) but keep going, don't give up!
If you search for 'gastric band OR bypass diet sheet' online, you can find diet plans given to band/bypass patients to ease them back onto solid food very slowly (e.g. the first link on Google).
I hope you get the support you need, and that I don't sound harsh or lecturing. You're not alone, strangers care about you, and others have been through what you're going through and they have come through it - you can too.
Beaky
I haven't had a balloon fitted yet (though I am going in for a consultation soon) but I joined up to reply to your post anyway - please don't feel like you are alone!
Since I don't have experience to draw upon I can only present trends I've noticed through reading all the threads on this board.
There are things you can do. You say that you can manage soups protein shakes and keep them down. Well, it is possible to get good nutrition through a liquid diet. Protein shakes are a great source of loads of the vitamins and minerals you need, as are soups. Fruit juice, smoothies, V8 shots, and milk all add to that nutrition. If you can eat eggs, can you tolerate yogurts? How about mashed potato?
I'm not suggesting that you won't ever be able to transition onto solid, fibrous, starchy foods while you have the balloon, but it is possible (there are people here who had that experience). You want to stop throwing up and you want to lose weight in the most bearable way possible - those two goals may not be compatible with eating certain foods (which you are used to eating). If you are like me, you had the balloon to *make* yourself change your ways of eating, because, for whatever reason, doing it through "willpower" alone did not work for you. There are people on this board who have been bitterly disappointed because they found that, soon after having the balloon fitted, they could comfortably eat the same foods as before and in whatever quantities they liked. Your balloon is working, and now you have a chance to change your life through the resulting weight loss. It will still be tough, and you may miss certain foods terribly, but remember: it is only for a short time. Six months out of your whole life in exchange for all the things that losing weight will bring you - at some point you decided that was a good deal.
You should do everything that you can to stop being sick and nauseous (i.e. anti-emetics, heartburn medicine, ridiculously slow eating, sipping fluids, taking oral rehydration treatment sachets to replace things lost by vomiting) but keep going, don't give up!
If you search for 'gastric band OR bypass diet sheet' online, you can find diet plans given to band/bypass patients to ease them back onto solid food very slowly (e.g. the first link on Google).
I hope you get the support you need, and that I don't sound harsh or lecturing. You're not alone, strangers care about you, and others have been through what you're going through and they have come through it - you can too.
Beaky
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