Hi Alison

Thank you for the information. I am doing the research on the gastric ballon for myself and two of my friends. Two of us live in California and the 3rd lives in Virginia and so we are open to flying to the east coast of Canada.

Could you please give me Dr. Woodhead's contact information? Thanks,

Dr. Woodhead's office number is 604-946-6500; he's in Delta which is just south of Vancouver, BC. I've also heard good things about the Surgical Weight Loss Centre in Toronto (Lap Band Surgery Clinic | Weight Loss & Gastric Balloon in Toronto, Canada) and Laser Montreal (Laser Surgery). Also, check out the Puget Sound Surgical Center in Seattle, as they are supposedly starting a clinical trial on the balloons and looking for participants.

Hope that helps.

Hello

Just had to let you know about my balloon as I am so pleased. I had the balloon inserted on 4th April 2009 and since then have lost 21lbs. I am in the UK but just wanted to let you know how I am finding it. I have been very sick for two weeks but feel fantastic as my system is being cleansed.

I have lived on pureed soups and never feel hungry which for me is a new feeling as I have always been a bit of a greedy thing.

I am getting into clothes I haven't worn for 2 years and it is so exciting. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to lose weight quickly and doesn't want dastic surgery.

Would love to hear from anyone out there with their experience and if they are as happy as I am.

Cathy, Brighton, England

Cathy, Great news well done on the loss, If you look at my thread "MY JOURNEY BEGINS" there are a few of us on threre at the same point , I had mine 11 days ago now and have had a similar story to you cant eat very very odd for me !!!

Keep us updated on your fab journey.

Amy

Hi everyone,
Well im nearly three weeks in and got to say still feel shit ha ha..... im still getting a bit sick and have a mother of a pain under my breast bone which goes through to my back, i had to come home sick from work last week and been working today an it was hell... but the good new is iv lost 21lb yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
If I could just get rid of pain and leep a little bit down it would be fantastic!!! So if anyone has a miracle cure please please tell me id love to feel well for bank holls at the weekend.
Now how is everyone else doing, I see your doing well Chick good on you, hay did you have an air or liqued one, just wondered if thats why I feel so crap....
Well keep me posted all and good luck for this week
x

Hi Di,

I have had my ballooon out for 9 months now but remember the chest/rib pain well! The can actually physically manouver the balloon out from under your ribs and push it down into your stomach. Its a bit uncomfortable first time but can be done! I also found that as the weight comes off and you are close to being "normal" weight the balloon becomes really obvious and makes the top half of your stomach really stick out - bit like alien!

xx Tina

Hi Tina - 9 months later how are you doing with the weight loss? Did you keep it off? That seems like the big question, reading everyone's posts it seems like the balloon does indeed help with weight loss, but were you able to maintain?
Thanks.

oh wow Tina somebody who actually knows what pain im in, it sounds like it is under my rib cage and not in my stomach thats for sure... who moves it back down in to the right place it is something i need to go back to hospital for...that would so make sense as nothing seems to be going down my food seems to be stuck at the bottom of my throat an when it is tyring to pass the pain is hurrendus.. let me know how to get it back down if you can, id be most apreciated
dee x

Hi - I have had my balloon since March 16, and have lost about 25 lbs. The problem is--it is always under my rib cage. It's uncomfortable to sleep, sit, etc. Sometimes it is not there, but I can't figure out what causes it to move. Any ideas about this, and what I can do about it?

hi katerow,i was told by dietician to drink plenty water as that will make balloon float to the top meaning u cant eat as much as it cant get past balloon so im just guessing that its ur water intake that makes the balloon move around. maybe next time when its annoying u take some water and see if it moves???

Yes, thank you, I will give him a call today.

Hey Everyone,

Hope all is well...I'm nearly two months in, it's gone sooooooooo quick. I have lost just over 2 stone and I'm well chuffed with that. I am finding my hormones are all over the place with it though and although I have lost the weight, I don't feel like I though I would, if that makes sense..ANyone else feeling/felt like this at this stage?

Cornishgal x

Hi cornishgal
Firstly well done thats brill....
Yes im feeling a bit like that to, I lost 22lb the first couple of weeks when I was so ill, then put 4lb back on when I started to eat which to be honest I expected, but iv lost the 4lb again but stayed the same now for nearly 10 days so a little bit disheartned but hopefully will start loosing again... but like you, I dont feel any different and dont really believe that I have lost the weight, its a real weird feeling.
But hay if its working its fantastic and we can only keep up the good work to see results..
Good luck for the next week
xx

two months in and feel somewhat the same way. I think the weight of the balloon has something to do with it--the stomach always feels a little heavy. And I don't know about anyone else, but I am VERY constipated, which adds to the feeling that I haven't lost much, even though I have lost 25 lbs!

I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling like it, lol.....Makes me feel better about the whole thing. It's been two months today and I'm really pleased with the weight loss, as I can see it in my clothes too, but just not in my head. I think if I get another stone off, it will probs help...It's been a whole lifestyle change, which has been hard, but needed to be done...I'm hoping to lose about 2lb a week now until it comes out in September, I don't want to lose it too quickly, as it goes back on twice as quick, been there and done that before
Can I ask what your starting weights were? You have done soooooo well both of you, I know how hard it is, well done you