Gastric Balloon

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8 weeks post balloon and I have lost 19.5kgs and feeling great. I will be stoked when I get past 20 kgs lost. Still have an occassional BAD day but it is linked with overeating/overdrinking or too much rich food. When it is bad it is very uncomfortable and I have thoughts about having the balloon out but most days I love my little friend. 37kgs is my goal and I am now over half way with 18 weeks with the balloon to go - that means I need to lose around 1kg per week and I will reach goal - WOO HOO!
 
Hi Gonggirl that's really impressive weight loss. Congratulations.

I'm having my balloon inserted next Tuesday in Melbourne Aus. I'm not nervous just impatient. I really can't wait to start this weight loss journey.

Did anyone suffer fatigue over the first couple of weeks? When were you able to do normal activities?
 
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Hi Daisy18 - yes definitely fatigue in the first few weeks. You will not be eating very much and could be feeling nauseous and crampy as well. I am pretty sure I was back at the gym (slowly) after 2 weeks. By 4 weeks my body had adjusted to the new meal size and I felt completely normal. As I mentioned previously I still have bad days, and I have to really work at drinking enough each day - particularly when I am working out/exercising 6 days a week. If I don't drink enough through the day, I get super thirsty at night and it is really hard to be able to drink enough before I go to bed. I wore my first pair of size 20 jeans for years on Friday and it felt awesome!!!
 
Gonggirl said:
Hi Daisy18 - yes definitely fatigue in the first few weeks. You will not be eating very much and could be feeling nauseous and crampy as well. I am pretty sure I was back at the gym (slowly) after 2 weeks. By 4 weeks my body had adjusted to the new meal size and I felt completely normal. As I mentioned previously I still have bad days, and I have to really work at drinking enough each day - particularly when I am working out/exercising 6 days a week. If I don't drink enough through the day, I get super thirsty at night and it is really hard to be able to drink enough before I go to bed. I wore my first pair of size 20 jeans for years on Friday and it felt awesome!!!
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Hi Conggirl,
I am nevv to this forum, i am due to have my balloon placed this Friday, hovv did you manage on those first fevv days follovving, I am abit nervous as have heard many say that they have had terrible cramps and vomitting. Any vvords of vvisdom?
Drul
 
daisy18 said:
Hi Gonggirl that's really impressive weight loss. Congratulations.

I'm having my balloon inserted next Tuesday in Melbourne Aus. I'm not nervous just impatient. I really can't wait to start this weight loss journey.

Did anyone suffer fatigue over the first couple of weeks? When were you able to do normal activities?
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Hi Daisy18,
Good Luck on tues, I am having mine also this vveek on Friday, I hope you and I can get in touch and support each other through this nevv, exciting yet abit scarry process.
Please let me knovv hovv you make out. All the best!!!
Drul
 
Thanks Gonggirl. I'm no longer cool calm and collected. I'm panicking and dreading the nausea etc. I went in today and it's all set for 10 am tomorrow. I have to stay overnight, a minimum 24 hours. At least there will be pain relief on hand!!

Drul, good luck for Friday. I'll let you know how I'm going
 
I found the first few days not to bad. I took all (and I mean ALL) of the medications recommended by my doctor (2 different anti nausea, an anti cramping and at night a relaxant) exactly on time - did not miss one. This really helped manage things. Also don't overdo food - it is going to take at least 2 weeks to be eating normal foods again. I still have a shake every morning for breakfast. Take it slowly on the fluids - little bits often is the way to go. I was only sick once in the first few days, and I think I overdid the fluid. I was sick once at 11 days - overdid the eating as I was away for the weekend (that was HORRIBLE and so uncomfortable until I vomited). I was only in hospital for a couple of hours and then home. I have learnt to really listen to my body - some days I can eat a lot more than others and if I overdo it, I get acid, a horrible stomach and burping (I am 9 weeks this wednesday). So there is the tip from me - don't overeat or overdrink! I also learnt to move my balloon around - if it is high up in the stomach (under my ribs) I don't even know it is there. If it drops down I get uncomfortable and I don't think my stomach empties effectively and I get acid and have a bad night's sleep. Ask your dr about how to move your balloon - it is really important you know how to shift it if it moves as once you settle in with having a balloon, it shifting into the wrong place is probably the reason you will get uncomfortable. When you move it, there is instant relief. Best of luck with the ops! have you been on pre-op diets? I was on a super strict diet for 2 weeks (shakes and veges) and lost 6 kgs before the op.
 
I have been prescribed the following medications
Nexium for acid- started a week ago
Zofran wafers for severe nausea
Maxalon for nausea
Pain relief patches (can't remember the name)
Buscopan and charcoal tablets for bloating and belching

I have been on my normal diet. I only have to fast 6 hours before the procedure. I was surprised by that and by the fact I have to stay overnight but I have every faith in them and would rather err on the side of caution anyway.

Another interesting thing is when I start on solids and real food (by day 10) I am only allowed to have 3 meals, no snacks in between. She said you can 'trick' your balloon with snacks and the most effective way to lose weight is to just go 3 meals. This is different to what I've read on this forum. I was also told not to have meal replacement shakes or soups (except really chunky ones) because they slide past the balloon and don't create a feeling of fullness which we should aim for (to reprogram our brains to register fullness with small meal size).

Thanks for the advice especially about moving the balloon.

We shall see how it all goes..........gulp!
 
Hi People,

im now just over 4 weeks post op and have lost just over a stone! 16lb!

4days post op i SUFFERED MAJORLY, couldnt keep anything down AT ALL! the stomach cramps were unbearable and i felt extremely weak, slept most of the time when i wasnt vomiting!

now ive started eating 'properly' again and the burps are HORRENDOUS!! there so embaressing...!! is there anything i can take or drink in order for them to get better... this is gross, they smell like...POO! and its making me not want to eat at all!! any tips would be GREAT...

thanks Guys,

a very smelly burping Danielle x
 
Hi Danielle I'm no expert but I was told by the doctor to have a tiny bit of flat Diet Coke after meals. This washes off food particles which have stuck to the balloon which causes the smelly burps
 
daisy18 said:
Hi Danielle I'm no expert but I was told by the doctor to have a tiny bit of flat Diet Coke after meals. This washes off food particles which have stuck to the balloon which causes the smelly burps
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Hi Daisy, thanks for getting back to me, iv been drinking diet coke but its just bloating me out completely!

do you know if there any particular foods i should steer clear of??

Danielle x
 
daisy18 said:
I have been prescribed the following medications
Nexium for acid- started a week ago
Zofran wafers for severe nausea
Maxalon for nausea
Pain relief patches (can't remember the name)
Buscopan and charcoal tablets for bloating and belching

I have been on my normal diet. I only have to fast 6 hours before the procedure. I was surprised by that and by the fact I have to stay overnight but I have every faith in them and would rather err on the side of caution anyway.

Another interesting thing is when I start on solids and real food (by day 10) I am only allowed to have 3 meals, no snacks in between. She said you can 'trick' your balloon with snacks and the most effective way to lose weight is to just go 3 meals. This is different to what I've read on this forum. I was also told not to have meal replacement shakes or soups (except really chunky ones) because they slide past the balloon and don't create a feeling of fullness which we should aim for (to reprogram our brains to register fullness with small meal size).

Thanks for the advice especially about moving the balloon.

We shall see how it all goes..........gulp!
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Good Luck Daisy18,
I too am very nervous, and yes there is conflicting info, vvhat you shared regarding the shakes does make sense. I hope you have a speedy recovery vvith limited discomfort, I look forvvard to having some dialogue vvith someone going through the same thing around the same time I am.
Take care,
drul:grouphug:
 
Danielle

I get the burps sometimes too and I think it is worse when I don't drink a good amount of water about an hour after eating. This is what was recommended in the material I was given - I have heard about the coke, but not via my doctor. He said I need to drink the water to wash the balloon after eating. You wait an hour to give your food a chance to go down a bit. If I drink my water - no smelly burps. Hope that helps.

Daisy - I do the shake mainly in the morning because I don't want to be overfull going to the gym. If I do snack it is in the morning after having a workout - it makes me hungry and I try to go for some healthy protein. I rarely snack in the afternoon (unless I do an afternoon work out). I find if I have a good filling lunch that easily last me to dinner.

Dinner is definitely my smallest meal of the day. You also don't want to overeat your meals as you want to be able to fit in your "washing" drink about an hour after eating (see comment above re smelly burps!)

Hope you are doing well - thinking of you!
 
oh Daisy - meant to say meds i took were pretty similar. I did not get the Zofran - apparently they are pretty serious stuff and I was waiting to see if I needed them. I didn't. I took Maxalon and another anti nausea.
 
Firstly..Congirl absolutely fab news with the weight loss, I seem to have stuck, but then again, for around a week i have been naughty, i havent eaten properly and ate crisps and chocolate etc..i went back to the gym today, so hopefully that will help me get back on track.

And also yes to the smelly burps, i have suffered all day today with them, but i hadnt drank enough yesterday, so suffered today.
 
Well I had my balloon in 26 hours ago! I stayed overnight and was on an IV drip and they gave me pain relief and sleeping pills. I threw up about 10 times- just small amounts and I could not keep any liquids down at all. I have a bit of pain and some nausea and both come in waves. I really do feel OK though. I certainly couldn't go to work or do housework but the discomfort is manageable. I'm hoping this is as bad as it gets.

Good luck Drul
 
daisy18 said:
Well I had my balloon in 26 hours ago! I stayed overnight and was on an IV drip and they gave me pain relief and sleeping pills. I threw up about 10 times- just small amounts and I could not keep any liquids down at all. I have a bit of pain and some nausea and both come in waves. I really do feel OK though. I certainly couldn't go to work or do housework but the discomfort is manageable. I'm hoping this is as bad as it gets.

Good luck Drul
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Hi Daisy18,
Glad to hear that you feel ok, vvovv it does sound like some of it vvas pretty rough, vomitting 10 times doesn't sound very nice at all.
Like you, I am getting very nervous as I approach the day, its coming quickly.
I vvill only be kept 1-2 hours after the procedure, and I vvill not be getting pain relief or sedatives, but vvill get Pantolac for acid. I have gravol on hand.
soooo nervous about it.
I haven't told anyone, not sure hovv to tell my teenagers and i knovv they vvill be vvondering vvhy i might be sick for the next fevv days and i absolutely hate lying.
Hovv have your friends and family reacted?
take care and I do hope that you are over the vvorse. Keep me posted. VVe vvill both be alot smaller in 6 months, that is pretty exciting.
drul
 
Intragastric ballon vs lap band

I am doing the research for my 19 year old daughter. She is starting university September 7th, and all she wants is to loose weight.
We are undecided if ballon or lap band, she is 5.7 inches and 200 lbs
any one can recommend procedure? what about weight kept off after
months after they take the ballon out? - anyone has done the intragastric ballon in Montreal? - will appreciate your comments
 
Day 3 and I can finally keep medication and liquids down. I have been drinking water by the teaspoon but have been bringing it all up until this morning- have managed to drink 2 cups of water today and it has stayed down. I have lost 3.5 kgs (starting weight 87kg's) but I suspect most of it is water. I also have cramping and spasms and they come and go in waves. Despite this I feel OK, better than a bad bout of gastro
 
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