I just got home from the hospital. I am a bit dizzy from the anti-nausea drugs but I feel otherwise quite good. I had read that the worst part in the first days is the risk of dehydration, and my doctors let me stay an extra few hours at the hospital to relax and have a second IV to boost me fluids. I haven't tried drinking anything yet.
The doctor told me only water today, then days 2-4 only liquids, days 5-7 purees...and then small portions, chewing each bite 25 times. Small portions, lots of chewing and only when I am hungry. It should be different now that I have to eat mindfully... I will keep you posted. I am feeling optimistic, and I don't mind feeling hungry.
I eat emotionally without realizing it (before today), like I am feeding a monster in my head... I hope that this balloon will help me stop the bad habits and I will start my new journey. I also hope that the buzz that I have from the drugs doesn't wear off and leave me puking all night. I went to hospital at 8AM, by 9AM I was awake and now it is 2PM.

Hi again guys!

Just over a month on, and I'm 10 kilos down. That's the good news, and of course I'm delighted.

BUT the bad news is that I'm still feeling lots of nausea & have to keep running to the loo - won't go into to graphic detail! My doctor now has me on 2 lots of tablets to ease the symptoms, plus a vitamin supplement, and has said to just stick to fluids. I'm never hungry anyway.

My point is that nothing comes easy in life. The balloon should do exactly what you want it to. But, for some people (like me!), it's anything but easy!

Be warned - expect some discomfort - but don't be disheartened!

Lots of luck xx

Hi i hope you don't mind me popping in for a chat, I have looked at many websites to do with weightloss surgeries. I would love to have the gastric balloon fitted but it costs far too much but amazing how far people would go to do anything to lose that weight. I admit i would. Do you still have the gastric balloon inserted or has it now been removed because you have now reached your target. Please let me know i am interested and finding the right price in the UK

Hi kenz!!!
I hope you are sill ok and feeling fine!!
Good luck!!
On friday its gone be me!

Hi there!!
Right price in uk that is hard !!!
I did research on internet talk to people around and will get my balloon from national gastric balloon center. They do only that and lap band. And after 6 months you still have support team with you for another 6 months.
I will tell you more next week after my procedure!
Wish me luck!

Hows it going for everyone. Kenz you still hanging in there? Doing okay Tootles? I fly out Monday and I am scheduled for 1300 west coast time on Tuesday. It is not very expensive in Tijuana. I got a package deal for $3500 American dollars. I'll let you know how it goes. Isn't someone in Tijuana this week for a BIB gastric balloon?

Hi just to drop in and say Hi.I am doing my G/ballon on Tuesday in Sydney as part of obesity reasearch.Had all my tests,and of I go on Tuesday.Bit worried about being sick in the biggining but Need to be done.The good news its free since it is a trial.Can someone tell me more about fenel and pepermint tea since I never heard about that combination.
Wish me luck

Hi Everyone. I hope that you are all well. It is one week now since I had the balloon placed and I have lost 2 1/2 Kg. The first night and second day were really awful, I wasn't able to get enough fluid so my doctor gave some glucose infusions once a day for the first three days and by day 4 I was feeling much, much, much better. I have started eating normal food but am very very very careful to eat slowly and nothing too difficult to digest. We went out for lunch yesterday and I was able to eat some shrimp and grilled vegetables with lots of chewing, and only ate about 1/3 of the plate before I was FULL. My body feels hungry, but my stomach does not. My goal is not to starve, only to use the balloon to have control. I have started writing down all of my food and when I get to 1000 calories (not there yet), I am going to join Weight Watchers to make sure that I keep moving forward.
Those first days without food are like detox and I am really glad that I got the extra infusions to keep hydrated, I think that without them I would still be sick, sick, sick!
I did research before getting it done and if I was in the UK (I am in Athens) I would definately go the National Gastric Balloon Center... despite the costs, they have the best information and the best support and that is MUCH more important than the balloon.
Good Luck everyone!
KENZ

Hi Kenz
I am glad you are doing okay.
Stellas
I get my balloon done on Tuesday also. I fly out of Dallas early that morning and my procedure is for 1 pm. I will be back in Dallas Thursday.

Hi there
I had my balloon fitted almost 2 months ago in Prague
I've had acid reflux from the start but its now REALLY bad !
No one has really mentioned this on here so I just wondered if anyone else had it & what they did to ease it ??

I am on drugs from the clinic but they are not as affective as they were at the start !
Its really horrible as I wake up 3 or 4 times a night kind of puking up the acid (sorry TMI!)

Any advice anyone can give would be great !
I've lost almost 2 stone so far & am pleased with that but am afraid that if I can't sort this out I may have to go & have the balloon out early (

Cheers
Sam x

I don't have a problem with acid reflux yet... but my medication is quite a strong acid blocker, so I hope that it keeps working. I do feel a bit of reflux sometimes but it is not acidy. Maybe you need to change your drug. I was also told to have my last food and drink at least 2 hours before bed and to sleep up on two pillows to avoid this. It sounds awful and also can't be good for your esophagus. Maybe avoiding acidy foods and coffee and chocolate etc. would also help?

Good luck with it. I hope that you and your doctor can find a solution.
Kenz

Hi angela could you please tell me how you got on after the opp i had it done 5 weeks ago and i need suport many thank sue

I have managed to lose 20llbs in 2 weeks which is unbeleivable for me! but dont feel any different in size - This is possibley due to the balloon making my stomach feel bloated.

Get in touch if you have a balloon now or in the past - I would love to hear from any motivational stories.

Speak soon

Angela[/QUOTE]

Hi $ammy
I had acid reflux the 2nd day and coffee ground emesis(old blood) the third day. I am on omprezole. 120 mg the third day, 80 mg the fourth day and am down to 40 mg daily now. My stomach got real irritated the third day because I was not able to lay down. I was traveling back from Mexico. The first five days were hell. I am on day seven right now. Nothing motivational to tell yet. I haven't thrown up in four days. I threw up the second and third day only. My insides feel raw. I feel like something is scraping my insides. I have lost 12 pounds (5.45 kg). I was very dehydrated when I got home. Am enjoying my baby food.

Hi Sam,

I had my balloon put in back in February and have lost three stone since! Down to a size 12 now (brilliant!). I also had terrible problems with the acid reflux and found that changing my tablets helped. The clinic gave me cimetadine which is a very old drug (rarley used by the NHS now). I changed over to lanzoprazole (zoton) which has made all the difference. Omeprazole is just as good. My daughter (who had it done at the same time) suffers from terrible eggy burps but in fairness to the balloon it is only when she eats something she shouldn't have! If we eat anything high fat or very acidic the balloon goes hard as a rock, we dont digest the food for hours and we feel vile - serves us right really! We are generally very pleased with results but it certainly has its side effects Hope this helps xxx Tina

Just an update...

It's been around 6 months now that I've had the balloon in - doctor wants me to keep it in for as long as I can.

Today I've lost 40kg, since last year November...

Had the balloon put in due to health complications in February this year...

I weighed around 120kg.

I'm now down to 82kg!

I still get horrible "eggy" burps... and gas. And feel a little horrible now and then. But anyways.

I had the balloon done in Johannesburg, South Africa. No support, nothing. I do see a good dietician though and have been on a very strict diet. I feel good. I go to gym 3 times a week. Anyone else here from SA?