My balloon journey -7 day blog

M

malyasa

New member
Hello Everyone,

I will be blogging my balloon insertion and the effects, experiences, pros, cons, etc. for the next seven days. I see a few of you on this message board have a lot of unanswered questions about the procedure so here is my step-by-step experience. Hope this will help and answer some questions.

My journey to weight loss and being healthy..... Enjoy!


Day 1 DECEMBER 10, 2010 INSERTION OF BALLOON 87kg
This morning I took an Emend 80mg 3 hours prior to surgery, this is medication is to help stop vomiting. It is often given to cancer patients before their chemotherapy.

Felt a big odd when I woke up from the general anaesthesia, I immediately felt my body is talking to me... my stomach was contracting trying to expel the foreign object inside. Felt dizzy some nausea but not too bad.

I just arrived at home. Thus far no vomiting, I took a Gaviscon for the acid.

Tried to drink a cup of tea but could only manage three sips. Off to bed to rest.

I took one pain killer in the afternoon (suppository), and 3 ice cubes. (I froze some Vitamin Water before surgery today). It hydrates and provides vitamins, electrolytes to the body.


It’s time for a relaxing camomile and lavender bath to relax my body from all the shock today and to welcome the “balloon aka new tenant” for the next six months.


Off to bed
- Plastic bucket next to bed - check
- Telephone - check
- Medications - check
- Body pillow - check
- Water - check
- Entire season of Cougar Town on DVD - check :hurray:


CONCLUSION: not as bad as I thought it would be, did not vomit but had a few false alarms, I definitely feel the balloon inside me and biggest problem lots of acid reflux (burping). I rested in bed most of the day.

Let’s see what the night will bring?

Until tomorrow......:seeya:
 
malyasa said:
Hello Everyone,

I will be blogging my balloon insertion and the effects, experiences, pros, cons, etc. for the next seven days. I see a few of you on this message board have a lot of unanswered questions about the procedure so here is my step-by-step experience. Hope this will help and answer some questions.

My journey to weight loss and being healthy..... Enjoy!


Day 1 DECEMBER 10, 2010 INSERTION OF BALLOON 87kg
This morning I took an Emend 80mg 3 hours prior to surgery, this is medication is to help stop vomiting. It is often given to cancer patients before their chemotherapy.

Felt a big odd when I woke up from the general anaesthesia, I immediately felt my body is talking to me... my stomach was contracting trying to expel the foreign object inside. Felt dizzy some nausea but not too bad.

I just arrived at home. Thus far no vomiting, I took a Gaviscon for the acid.

Tried to drink a cup of tea but could only manage three sips. Off to bed to rest.

I took one pain killer in the afternoon (suppository), and 3 ice cubes. (I froze some Vitamin Water before surgery today). It hydrates and provides vitamins, electrolytes to the body.


It’s time for a relaxing camomile and lavender bath to relax my body from all the shock today and to welcome the “balloon aka new tenant” for the next six months.


Off to bed
- Plastic bucket next to bed - check
- Telephone - check
- Medications - check
- Body pillow - check
- Water - check
- Entire season of Cougar Town on DVD - check :hurray:


CONCLUSION: not as bad as I thought it would be, did not vomit but had a few false alarms, I definitely feel the balloon inside me and biggest problem lots of acid reflux (burping). I rested in bed most of the day.

Let’s see what the night will bring?

Until tomorrow......:seeya:
Click to expand...

Hello,
Thank you for your sharing, I too had the balloon inserted this am.
slight nausea, no vomiting, no need for pain medication as yet but I have taken medication for nausea and cramps. I am sitting up and have vvatched some tv.
I like your idea of a bath.
I agree, a bucket beside the bed, medications, and a body pillovv.
All the best, I look forvvard to hearing your story. Hope you don't mind me piping in my experience.
All the best,
Louise
 
Hello Louise,

Looks like we got our balloons on the same day. I would love to hear from you and how you are doing.

M
 
Day 2 DECEMBER 11, 2010 ONE DAY AFTER INSERTION


The night was quite rough. I thought I would be one of the lucky ones and not get sick. WRONG !


Before falling asleep (on the left side only) I vomited about 5 times and had some bad cramps. (keep that bucket next to the bed it really helped not to have to run into the bathroom each time)


This morning I tried to drink an Actimel and take my meds but that is not staying down so well either. Luckily it is Saturday and I can just take it easy again today.


I asked myself today why did I do this insertion before Christmas? I guess the answers were very clear. I didn’t want to go up another size and have to buy bigger clothes and I could not stand to have my family saying to me “you have such as pretty face if only you lost a few kilos” or “what happened you were once thin?”


Side note: I went through a difficult divorce and comforted myself with food and gained about 20kg


In the early afternoon I decided to “test walk” my body. I took a slow walk to the pharmacy as there was no point in going to the grocery store. I came back home and felt fine.


I had 2 more Vitamin Water ice cubes and went to the gym. I swam in the pool very slowly for 30 minutes and sat in the steam room to hydrate.


And now I am going to attempt to have my gourmet dinner consisting of: Plain Yogurt


Good night my fellow ballooners and see you tomorrow!!


CONCLUSION: if you really want to do the balloon there are two things that you must have otherwise it will not work: Patience and tolerance
 
Day 3 DECEMBER 12, 2010 SECOND DAY AFTER INSERTION


Woo Hoo! I managed to keep down half of a boiled carrot. :party:



I think for the next few days I will just stick to drinking the bouillon, Vitamin water and Actimel before switching to solid food.


Today for the first time I felt that I am finally settling in and accepting the balloon as a part of me. I managed to get in a slow 30 minute walk on the treadmill and a 30 minute slow swim at the gym. And for the first time in a long time I feel like I am back in control of myself.


I am off to the movies, it is going to be so weird to sit there and watch a movie and not eat a whole bucket of pop corn.


I also hope that soon I will be able to take a photo of myself as it has been 9 months since I allowed anyone to take a photo of me. The last one brought me to tears. So please watch this space.



CONCLUSION: With the balloon you have to keep testing yourself. And make sure you do everything S-L-O-W-L-Y
 
Day 4 DECEMBER 13, 2010 THIRD DAY AFTER INSERTION


Life seems to be returning back to normal. Kids, school, work, etc.


The only difference is, is that I am not stuffing my face every 5 minutes. I have to admit that I did feel some hunger pains today. I attempted to take a bite of solid food but it just wouldn’t go past my lips.


But, when I saw my kids eating dinner I so wished for just a few bites of their pasta.


I have not stepped on the scale, I want to weigh myself weekly so I can see the progress (if there is any)


Until tomorrow......


CONCLUSION: “nothing taste as good as skinny feels”
 
Day 5 DECEMBER 14, 2010 FOURTH DAY AFTER INSERTION

I am soooo loving the balloon right now. I just took my jeans off without having to unzip them....



However, this morning I was really hating that thing. I managed to eat some boiled and smashed vegetables last night before going to bed and at 5am they all came up. Painfully!




I am doing much better with the acid reflux thanks to my stash of Maalox. The burps are awful (take mints everywhere you go). I was getting a manicure and I was so embarrassed having the belch so much. My poor manicurist.



Two days to weight in and on my last day of this blog I will give you advise about the balloon that is priceless.

Night everyone !



CONCLUSION: at night try not to eat past 7pm. With the balloon you will need more time to digest otherwise it will be a very unpleasant night.
 
malyasa said:
Day 2 DECEMBER 11, 2010 ONE DAY AFTER INSERTION



I had 2 more Vitamin Water ice cubes and went to the gym. I swam in the pool very slowly for 30 minutes and sat in the steam room to hydrate.
Click to expand...

Does the steam really hydrate? Your skin maybe? I would have thought that the steam room would cause you to sweat, and lose hydration?

Thanks for sharing, this is very interesting.
 
Dear This,

Yes, I personally found that sitting in the steam room hydrates the body (skin) and relaxes you. Hence why I did not go into the sauna because that is where you really sweat.


With the balloon you want to do everything possible to keep liquid in your body. I have researched and studied this procedure as well as talked to many people that have had it and this is extremely important.


A human being can survive an average of three to five days without the intake of water, assuming sea-level altitude, room temperature and favorable relative humidity, etc.


A lack of water causes dehydration, which may result in lethargy, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and eventually death. Even mild dehydration reduces endurance and impairs concentration, which is dangerous. Dark yellow or brown urine is a diagnostic indicator of dehydration. :cheers2:
 
Day 6 DECEMBER 15, 2010 FIFTH DAY AFTER INSERTION


The transition into solid foods seems to be going pretty smoothly. I am kind of surprised. I thought that feeling of fullness and lack of hunger would last much longer.


I have 2 more days until I weight myself and I cannot wait. I am just afraid that now that I can eat solid foods I might slip back into my bad eating habits.


My doctor told me that I need to get a nutritionist. She said this is vital and a percentage of my weight loss regimen.


So...... to break it down:


25% balloon
25% exercise
25% diet (with nutritionist)
25% the “will” to lose weight


Now..... I am a mother of three small kids, I work and travel a lot. I don’t have the time to go visit a nutritionist every week so I discovered the Dukan Diet. This is amazing!! The website is like a personal nutritionist that is custom designed for your individual needs. I signed up today and each day they email you a menu of what you should eat (along with simple recipes for cooking challenged people like me) and they follow your progress every day. There is a fee and the website address is: [removed]


Off to bed....Good night! :sleeping:


CONCLUSION: do not be too shocked if all of the sudden you can eat normally again. I think the stomach gets used to the balloon and it can be easy to slip up if you are not careful.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Day 7 DECEMBER 16, 2010 SIXTH DAY AFTER INSERTION


Today was a good and bad day. I am thrilled that my close fit so well. But I am getting so comfortable with the balloon. I just had dinner (very healthy) and I ate normal portions and I felt that I can just go on and on and continue to eat.


I feel a bit disappointed as I really thought the balloon would do much more. So off to the gym tomorrow and I will stay on the Dukan Diet.


Also, I am going to weight myself tomorrow, (please God, Please God, Please God) I hope I dropped some kilos.

Night all!!!


CONCLUSION: If you are considering the balloon, do as much research and get as much info as possible.
 
Continue balloon blogging Please

Hi Malyasa,
I love your blogging and sense of humour. Please don´t stop. I´m due to get my balloon inserted on Jan. 8th 2011. Would love to share experiences. Have a happy and slim New Year. Anthea
 
Hi Everyone,
I have found this forum while searching for more information about the Intragastric Balloon procedure.
I have done the procedure 4 days ago, the first 3 days were a bit rough and now I am slowly getting back to normal again.
I have seen several comments from those who have had the procedure about how the Dairy products and fruits are not the ideal food and I was curious about the reason behind that as this?
Can anyone help…
 
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