I had mine done 29/11/09 lost 28 ibs. Tried to respond re your insertion but it would'nt accept my post tried 3 times/.

We all seem to get different advice.
Try the coke a diet coke every night to clean the ballon and burp like mad, i was only told this after the terrible indegestion i got for 2 wks.
i have a weekly mtg with the organisation who gave the ballon in U.K and follow a module.

Yoghurt is not allowed after the settling in period due to it fermetting same with excess fruit which i love but at time struggle with.

Cant eat fats or pulses at present as i feel really off stomach/ taste.

Having porridge, drop of milk, later a very small dih of mixed berries

2 ryvitas, 3 oz fish meat chopped salad or veg

later a piece of fruit

small meal pm and a food supplement drink later

lots of luck Gloria

well my balloon was the best thing that happened to me i lost 4 stone in 7 months i feel and look like a new person it is not easy the sickness gets you down but now after having it removed for 10 days and the surgeon asked if i would have it done again yes i would it has all been worth it i have gone from a size 20 to a size 12 people do not reconise me and friends say i look 10 years younger i have joined slimming world and still doing alott of workout good luck and any questions please contact me
sue

I am the same! my stomach looks really bloated a week and a half after the procedure. normally I have quite a flat stomach I dont put on weight there but since the balloon its been rounded. im also surprised how high up on your anatomy the stomach is! duh I thought it was lower lol

Morning Everyone,

I found this board and thought that I should write and let you all know my experiences of the Gastric Balloon and the worst case scenarios that can happen. When I was 22 I had Gastric Balloon fitted at St.Jans hospital weighing 23stone. A fantastic little place in brugge very high medical care but as so many of you have found very little aftercare. The ballon procedure is to numb the back of your throat and give you a seditive they then slope and endoscopy down your throat to check your stomach and ask you to swallow the balloon down. This is in the least very uncomfortable. After the procedure I waited for 30mins for the aneasthetic to wear off and left to return to England.

On the way home the dreaded pain began. You start vomitting but because your stomach is fairly empty it is just green goo as you havent eaten 12-24 hours before the procedure. 12 hours on because of the level of acid in your stomach and a balloon now being in there you get heart burn. The level of stomach acid is to high and it hurts like buggery. along with the dry wretching.

for the first 4 days you will have a hell off a time but with simple over the counter medicine such as Zantac this can be controlled. Your stomach usualy becomes accustimed rapidly a max of 2 weeks and your not vommiting. For me it was the standard 4 days.

Then the liquid diet starts and you start your normal tasks.

Let me tell you this is the best bit you start loosing weight rapidly. I went to the gym 4 times a week and became healthier fitter and stronger for the first time in my life. I looked great! And boy did people notice. The designer clothes came on and the energy that I had transformed me. Being overweight makes you feel awfull and less outgoing also I found during my various sizes people take you less seriously when you are over weight maybe because you look comical or because they feel that there better because they have the ability to limit there intake. There are many reasons people are overweight but thats another thread......

So 4 months in I had gone from 23stone to 15:10! 6 months 14.5 then I plateued your stomach can handle normal sizes and is used to the balloon and you just dont get the weight loss anymore at this stage.

This balloon was such a radical change in my life that I stupidly kept it in far to long 10 months then the enevitable happened and it slipped into my large intestine. I was admitted and at first the doctors thought I had constipation and kept me in for 12 days whilst I lost a further 2 stone in 12 days! Bloody NHS! They finally conceeded removed the balloon by cutting through my abdomen and stitched me back up.

13 months on I'm back to the same size I was at the beginning (well close).

Heres the kicker I'm off to have a second placed in Prague in a month. It is an amazing piece of kit and the temporary discomfort at the beginning is worth it for the change in your life. But you have to learn about eating from this and healthy exercise you also have to be very strict and dont leave it in to long. When it does come out your stomach is still the stretched over sized stomach it was before the only differance is you havent got a large part of it filled now so you will start eating more but if you strict in this phase your stomach will shrink again to a normal healthy persons size and you've done it. But all of us will have to struggle to watch our food intake for the rest of our lives.

This can help it does help just take my story of how not to do it and learn the lessons of doing it safely. I didnt want to have it removed because it made such a change in my life but it almost cost me my life. This is the only danger with the gastric balloon (well not only but the mayor one) leaving it inserted to long.

Good luck to everybody.

Okay, I've decided to commit to the US clinical trial and am feeling quite excited about it now. In a little over a week I will begin the prescreening appointments (EKG, physical, bloodwork, barium swallow, gastric motility, psychological, etc...) This will be spread out over the next 6 weeks, with a procedure date in mid-March assuming all the screenings go well. There is also a 50% chance that I will be in the research group not getting the balloon, but I would still go through all the same pre-screenings because I won't know the group until just before the procedure date. Both groups will get nutrution/exercise counseling, so either way, I will benefit from being in the study.
Has anyone had any issues with airline travel with the balloon? Getting though security...cabin pressure issues....etc...?

wow thanks for that long post! I cannot believe you had it in for that long! here in canada my removal date in 6 months is already booked. In fact Im hoping to have it out in 3-4 months as I want to get my body ready to start trying for a baby.

now to gain all that weight back you must have been overeating a lot, and perhaps not the ideal candidate for a balloon as its so temporary. have you not considered a lapband?

In my situation I was a normal weight all my life until a few bad years where I piled on 40-50 pounds. I have stopped overeating and kept at that higher weight for 4 years (not gained anymore). My problem has been that every time I tried to diet, I would just get so damn hungry and give up. I just cant do it. I felt that the balloon would stop the hunger and let me eat less, to lose the weight.

when I get back to my normal weight I know I will not pile it back on. For one, I now know how impossible it is to get off, so if I gained even 10 pounds I would make sure not to continue. I will never forget that I resorted to putting a balloon down my throat.

when the balloon comes out yes I will resort back to my normal eating, but my normal eating does not make me gain weight, just maintain. Id need to be constantly overeating to gain all that back, and thats not going to happen. I'll be very happy with my 1800 calories per day and will eat how I ate for 20+ years before I gained the weight. It was the trying to cut calories to lose the weight that was impossible for me.

anyway I feel that the balloon is only good for those who have not had an ongoing weight problem, those people probably need the lapband that has long term control. here in canada they tend to perform the balloon on those with smaller amounts of weight to lose, not those with over 100 pounds.

tomorrow I would have had the balloon in for 2 weeks, its not been easy but Im feeling a lot better. I still cant imagine working out, but I guess at some point I wont feel the balloon at all anymore and will be able to do that.

SLCTORONTO Yes but bear in mind to keep that extra weight on you would still have to keep a higher calorie intake than a thinner healthier paerson. As such your stomach will be stretched and larger than a thinner persns so I know that you think weight wont go on again, I said the same thing, but it is the same as when you where fat you get very hungry very easily and your appetite isnt satisfied as easily.

Those 3 months after the balloon in out is hard you have to learn the lessons and under eat from what your stomach tells you to (just like a diet). You will become very hungry not in the first month as your physchology is in place from the previous 6 but your appetite does increase again - rapidly -. Im sure you will do it though I'm not slating balloons there fantastic just warning that after the removal it is a very hard struggle and with everything it is an aid.

Why havent I had the band? Simple havent got 7500 pounds and because it is a surgical procedure I wouldnt feel confident going abroad to the cheaper destinations. A balloon you just swallow not alot can go wrong but with large metal implements near your chest you have to think twice about taking the cheap route. I shall try once more with the balloon if I'm still to weak after removal and start gaining, having the experience I have now, banding will definately be on the books.

DocPotter Flying within a pressurised air cabin is not a problem with a gastric balloon insertion. The balloon will slightly expand and contract but within normal limits.There are no security issues as the balloon is saline filled or air filled unless your clutching your tummy and they think you've swallowed narcotics is about the only thing I can think of that would go wrong.

RE: the flying and airports: millions of women have breast implants and they dont go off at security. I would be worried about the cabin pressure making the balloon feel uncomfortable and not planning any trips myself while the balloon is in. But Im sure its fine.

Will: yes you make a good point, I will have to see. Ive read varying opinions about whether a larger persons stomach is actually physically bigger than a thinner persons. Some say the stomach does in fact not stretch. I hope to continue to exercise and eat normally and not gain weight. If I have to undereat that will be annying, that why I got the balloon! I am planning on trying for kids so that will be an issue in itself as you do gain a bit there. But I know many people who dont gain a lot of fat on their arms and legs when pregnant and I hope to be one of those.

good luck with the 2nd balloon insertion, please keep posting on here I like talking to people going through the same thing. here in canada we are sedated so I didnt have to swallow the balloon or anything, I dont remember the insertion at all. I dont think I could do that! hey eventually did you find that you couldnt tell the balloon was there at all? ive had it for 2 weeks and morning and night I still get an uncomfortable feeling.

The feeling doesnt go away entirely it is always felt within your body as an object which shouldnt be in there but it does depriciate in intensity, your in the very early stages it will change alot from these early weeks. I would keep the ballon in for the 6 months and not remove it early it gives you time to re-enfore the physchological behavior and you've paid alot of money for it get all the time you can!

I take it you have taken this step as an aid to having a baby or IVF treatment? To give you an idea I have posted some pictures of before and after treatments of what can be achieved to motivate you. I do hope you dont gain again but having a baby in itself is very stressfull and some women dependant on age never quite get back to the shape they where in before.If youa re planning a baby straight after you will ahve to be very very tough.

I'm just posting to let people know the safest route and the pros and cons of someone having had the worst possible outcome happen. But I'am still a big believer in the balloon however it is an aid the banding option is a permanent fixture.

But doctors in there aid to sell these procedures only usualy mention it briefly. However I'm sure most people are'nt as nieve as me and can keep the weight off after the op but bare in mind at my thinnest through the balloon I ran the london marathon (24 miles) under 5 hours. I was extremelyly dedicated and lost over 9 stone during the course of 6 months. I realy put my heart and soul into it. Even the most dedicated can be ebaten when they think the worst is over. You havent won till the fat lady sings. lol

Okay well here are 2 photos of before and after. The after isnt even at my thinnest. Just to give you all that boost of what you can all do. We all have it in us.

P.S. HOT RIGHT YEH I'AM!!!! lol

Anyone with any direct questions about insertion removal or the worst of having the balloon slip please E-mail me at WJCAitken(AT)Hotmail(DOT)com. I'm happy o help. Having been through the worst and the best. I hadmy insertion done under very very mild anaesthesia....eeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr not a plesant experience but bearable. Will

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Thanks for posting the photos. I had to laugh (not at you, at my resemblance to you, so please don't be offended). The photos of you with your shirt off ("before") were like looking in a mirror. If you were a little less hairy, had breasts, and my head (I'm female), I swear I have the same shape body as you exactly, minus a few gender-specific parts!
Each day I am feeling better and better about the prospect of a balloon, although it will be another 6 weeks before I know if I am selected to have the balloon.
One of the pictures makes me think you have a young child/children? I have a 3 and 4 year old. What, if anything, did you explain to your kids about the balloon?
Rachel

yes you are hot!! I like the photo of you and the child, nice clothes too.
thanks for sharing. I know getting pregnant after will not be easy. but I feel getting pregnant after loosing 40 pounds will be better than getting pregnant being 40 pounds overweight. keep in touch, are you nervoud about going through it again. when you going?

Rachel (DocPotter) I'm far to young to have children, 24! And not offended you must be very handsome too!!! lol! No he is my Nephew. If I did have children I certainly would'nt be telling them about procedure it is a very low risk procedure it is not mayor at all. Its not a pleasant procedure but if something goes wrong they just pull it out again. IJust like swallowing a party balloon uninflated with a bit of string attached. If it gets stuck just pull it up again. And even in the case of my original balloon slipping due to the time of having it in I'm fully recovered just with an added scar on my belly where it was cut out.

I never tell people about my balloon, only people I feel it may help, it is a highly personal part of your life. I'm having the second one inserted on the 12th of February and not even my partner of 3 years will know. That way everyone is very impressed with your dieting, will power and the change in you. If you tell people about balloon they either a)worry uneccesarily or b) take a large part of the hard work your doing away from you and place it all at the feet of the ballon.

SLCToronto No nerves I dont have the fear of the unexpected now just know its an uncomfortable experience. But worth it. And your defo right being lighter during pregnancy will help alot. Good luck braver than me!

I know what you mean, only my husband and one friend know. I dont need all the opinions!! and its a new procedure here in canada so everyone will think im crazy.

swallowing a party balloon with string?? urghhhh makes me want to vomit right now thinking about it!! thank god I was out of it :-)

I've been telling people about the clinical trial (people I work with) because I am so fortunate to work in an incredibly supportive place. Everyone was extremely supportive last year when i worked very hard with diet and exercise to lose 30 pounds. I haven't gained any back, but I have hit a terrible plateau and still need to lose another 40 pounds or be out of the obese range and into the high end of overweight. One of my colleagues recently had the lap-band procedure so I was able to witness what a great, supportive group of coworkers I have. I have discussed it at length with my husband, because I need to know I have his support and understanding. I have not told my parents or in-laws and do not intend to. I have not told friends outside of work. One advantage of the procedure not being available in US other than through clinical trials, is that nobody seems to really have a preconcieved notion or formulated opinion. I find that my coworkers are just extremely curious and are asking me tons of questions.
I realize not everyone works amoung such supportive folks. I am fortunate that I work in a city that has a major research university hospital so clinical trials for all sorts of meds and procedures are very common here.

Random question: Any one been on a roller coaster with a balloon? I bet that would feel WEIRD!

-Rachel