Watch me shrink, Diary of a Ballooner

Hi Shrinker,

Hope ur still doing well with ur balloon. Thanks for the tips - the diet sounds pretty much wot I had imagined it would. I used to work in a private hospital that did alot of lap banding and tube gastrectomies and bypasses and thats similar to wot those patients had the first few days. Not sure if that nursing knowledge is gonna help me or not - im thinking mayb only on the drugs side of things, just coz will know wot to ask for if something isnt working for me, who knows!
Am interested to see how u got on with the dietician, personal trainer & psychologist - wonder if all that will b available to me too. Im getting excited - my first consultation is next fri, Im just wondering if the Dr will put the balloon in b4 christmas or not.
I dont really go to Maccas but might have to go & buy something so I can steal some of their straws and get a stockpile happening :)
 
29 Days in and 5.6kg's down

Just a quick check in, am delighted to add that I am now nearly 6kg's down after 29 days!

I've started to use the Calorie King which I am finding very helpful, I was also very surprised to see how quickly and easily you can go over your daily calorie allowance (even with the ballon) and it doesn't take much food to go over, just one or 2 bad choices can do it!

I had a bit of a blow out yesterday, had an uncontrollable urge to attack some chocolate so had some (more than I should have) and I am seriously paying for it today, I have a terrible upset tummy and nauseous too - eeww. I also noticed that once I had the chocolate old habits rear their ugly heads, chocolate used to lead onto other things like crackers or whatever else I could find. I only had salad after my chocolate last night but really didn't need it, I wasn't hungry. This is definitely a learning curve for me, I'll get there eventually :)

The clinic has been very supportive, I have now had a few sessions with the dietician, the psychologist and my lovely nurse phones me weekly.

Hope you are all having a lovely day, it's a gorgeous day in Sydney today, the kids and I are off to swimming lessons soon and will most likely hit the beach this afternoon.
 
I am now (today actually) 4 months post balloon insertion and have lost 21kgs. I absolutely agree that the first five days after insertion you would have to think you had a death wish to do this to yourself! On one hand I am very happy that I have done this but on the other hand I am sick of feeling sick! Every single day I feel naseauous and every single day (either morning or night) I vomit. I am afraid I am either aneroxic and/or bulmic. I have returned to the clinic and they don't seem to be too worried by it. I have lost all interest in food and in fact eating very little. It would be wonderful if only I didn't feel nauseous all the time. Has anyone else felt like this?

I am glad I have found this forum, and would love to hear from others about their ongoing weight loss
 
Hi MaryS - I am waiting to have my balloon inserted on Jan 4th. You've lost a fantastic amount of weight in just a few months:hurray: - but the side effects you describe sound pretty grim - I really hope things improve for you.

Has the clinic given you any possible reasons as to why you're suffering so much or suggested any medication that might help? Have you had any other problems over the last few months? Have you felt very hungry or weak with this constant nausea or have you managed to carry on with your normal life? And I suppose my last two questions (apologies for asking so many of them!) are: do you think you've managed to change your attitude to food and would you do it again, given your experience?

I suppose what all this boils down to is: any tips or advice for someone who has all this to come?!

Apologies again for all the questions! And if anyone else has any words of wisom - I'm all ears:bigear:

Best wishes:seeya:
Harriet
 
Am I glad I have done this? on one hand yes because I would never have been able to acheive this weight loss without it. Have I learnt new eating habits? I don't really think so. I do know that I won't go back to eating the ton of junk and crap that I used to. I am coming up to five months and still don't have the exercise portion under any sort of control. I am looking forward to being balloon free in February.
 
It's been a while

Im not even sure where to start :(

In a nutshell the past few weeks have not been great for me. I gained 2 kilos back over the Christmas break so was not happy about that at all. I cut myself some slack and started the new year with some great focus and careful calorie counting and much to my horror the scales did not budge, in fact they went up!

Now since having the balloon inserted my cycle has gone all haywire so I wasn't paying close attention to dates etc. I had started to feel the normal signs of of the dreaded cycle day one arriving but it never came so I took a pregnancy and was so SHOCKED to find out I was in fact 6 weeks pregnant. Now I know this would be a very happy occasion for many people but this was the last thing I wanted right now. My 2 precious children I already have were meticulously planned and are still very young. To add to my worry I had the balloon in so was worried about how that would all work out, I hadnt had any pre-natal vitamins, was on meds for the balloon etc. After a week of thinking and talking it out with my husband I had a miscarriage and am currently sitting with very mixed emotions about what has happened. I feel that the Balloon, the meds I am on, the stress etc may have contributed. So although I am relieved on one hand I am guilt ridden too. I haven't told anyone apart from my husband about it as I was worried I'd be thought of as silly or careless by my family and friends if I told them I had fallen by accident, it's quite ironic actually as I would normally be the LAST person that this would normally happen too.

Now for a weight loss and Balloon update, I went and met with the Clinic that inserted my balloon and told them about the pregnancy, I wanted to make sure they tell woman to be really careful as it really changes your cycle quite a lot. I also explained to them that the balloon does not even feel like it's there, I can eat the same portion sizes I used to and feel as hungry as often. Im really confused about the whole food thing now as Im not sure if it's the hormones that were/are causing the intense chocolate and junk food cravings or if it was just me falling off the band wagon spectacularly.....again. The nurse explained to me that they think the balloon has slipped down (ie, it should be sitting in the top part of the stomach or fundus) which was a surprise to me as I can easily move the balloon around myself when I am lying down and for the most part it's not at the top of my stomach.

The nurse has suggested we fast track the program and pretend that the balloon is already out and she will coach me that way. The dietician has sent me a pile of reading and paperwork I need to fill out before I see her on Thursday for what she calls a "Balloon Intervention" uurgh, I feel like such a failure, 12 weeks in, only 3.4 kg's down AND require an Intervention for goodness sake:(. I paid so much money for this balloon which feels like money I wasted on another crazy weight loss plan of mine. Im so over this roller coaster ride, I just want to be able to eat like normal people do and not be so fat, why is this so hard :angelsad2:


Wow, that was a big rant and if you made it this far I apologise, I realise whingeing isn't very becoming, I just needed to get it off my chest.

Shrinker
 
Re :Watch me shrink, Diary of a Ballooner

Hi, i am new in this forum and i read your thoughts its very beautiful like you and its all about shrinker.

Thanks for your information,
Janet
 
A new day

Thanks you Janet for your kind words, they were well received :grouphug:

Well I am certainly feeling a lot better than what I was last night, for now anyway :)

I was down a bit again on the sales this morning so I am now only 1.6 up from my lowest weight recorded since getting the balloon.

I had an interesting chat with one my best friends today about this whole balloon story. She is one of the few people that know I had the procedure and she actually feels that I should ask for a refund or even see a lawyer about it not working. Well, at first I laughed and said thats crazy, they make you sign all these documents etc, now I cant remember exactly what they said but I am pretty sure they would cover themselves in the event that the procedure didn't have the "desired outcome" as planned. Surely this has to be my fault that I don't have enough willpower or whatever the "bleep" it takes to eat normally like the majority of the rest of the human population does??? :banghead:

Her argument is that the balloon is marketed as making you feel fuller, quicker and that you don't feel as hungry. None of these have been true for me past week two of having the balloon. The other problem in my case is that the balloon is not sitting where it should be, ie the top part of the stomach, surely this isn't my fault that is keeps slipping down, but on the other hand how can it be their fault? The appointments I have had at the clinic have all been very informative and the ladies there are really lovely, thing is (and not intending to sound like a complete smarty pants) I haven't really been told anything I haven't been told at Weight Watchers or similar, over and over and over again.

Im certainly not trying to find someone to blame as I know we are all ultimately responsible for what we put in our mouths just curious to see what other peoples opinion would be.

I am starting to think that I may have been better off spending the $6000.00 on some intensive ongoing food counseling and a personal trainer!

Shrinker
 
Hi Shrinker,

I am really sorry to hear about all the ruff things that have happened to you.

I was told today by my doctor that you can actually move the ballon back into place by placing your hand under neath you left rib cage and pushing it back into place.

I know that it is hard and you must be very upset and emotional with every things that has happened to you.

But you paid so much money and you were so positive in the beginning.

You have so many weeks ahead of you - just start again go back to the beginning.

There is no point in even thinking about suing them as they made us sign all these papers and i know that before signing them they did warn me that it does not work for some people at all.

It would be such a shame if you did not give it one more Try .. You can do it i know you can....

I wish you all the best of luck and i am so sorry to hear of the bad luck that you have been having .. Hold your head up high .. You can do it xxxx

:grouphug:
 
madharri123 said:
Hi MaryS - I am waiting to have my balloon inserted on Jan 4th. You've lost a fantastic amount of weight in just a few months:hurray: - but the side effects you describe sound pretty grim - I really hope things improve for you.

Has the clinic given you any possible reasons as to why you're suffering so much or suggested any medication that might help? Have you had any other problems over the last few months? Have you felt very hungry or weak with this constant nausea or have you managed to carry on with your normal life? And I suppose my last two questions (apologies for asking so many of them!) are: do you think you've managed to change your attitude to food and would you do it again, given your experience?

I suppose what all this boils down to is: any tips or advice for someone who has all this to come?!

Apologies again for all the questions! And if anyone else has any words of wisom - I'm all ears:bigear:

Best wishes:seeya:
Harriet
Click to expand...


Madharri123

How is your ballon going ? i am only a week in and am feeling better than expected ...
 
I've got a plan Stan :)

Ok, so I am feeling MUCH better today, the scales were kinder to me this morning too, I'm down to 78.2kg's so Im 4.8 down from my starting date and only .8 up from my lowest recorded weight.

Live to Laugh, that so much for your words of encouragement, I really appreciate it. Regarding moving the balloon around..yes, I move the little critter around on a daily basis, so it should stay stuck at the top but mine slides down. Can feel a little weird moving it around and sometimes it disappears under my ribs :smilielol5: As for suing them it would never be an option for me, I hate confrontation that much that Im the kind of person (martyr) that would eat around a cockroach in a restaurant meal to avoid confrontation :nopity: I am guessing we might have gone to the same place for our balloons as not many places do it here in Aus yet, I went to Circle of Care in Baulkham Hills, the staff there have been absolutely amazing!

I met with the dietician there today and she has been incredibly supportive and loaded me up with some very helpful ideas, handouts etc. I spent about an hour and a half with her and she said I could meet with her weekly if I need it, really happy about that. It may have to be phone consults as it;s such a long drive to get out there:driving: She has also told me to discuss my balloon with the surgeon so that at the very least he can report back to the manufacturers that it does not always work as marketed for everyone.

I am most certainly not giving up on myself, I will succeed at this. I just need to learn to be gentle, patient and persistent with myself. I am super critical (of myself) and Im working on changing that because it's obviously not working for me.

Hope you are all having a lovely day

Shrinker, starting to shrink again...slowly
 
Shrinker,

I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better today :seeya:

You have to look at all the positives - we are alot lighter that all the other people that have the ballon so that is a plus most people are around 100-120 plus when they start this journey so you are already 20 -40 kilos lighter.

i got my ballon does and the gastic ballon center in bondi junction - i did not know that there was another option in sydney .

From reading other forums i believe that the level of support we get in sydney is far greater than what they get over in the uk ......

how long have you had your ballon in for and what is your goal weight?

Remember nothing tastes as good as thin feels .....

Good luck my friend i am sure that you will do great ....
 
Biggest Loser 2010

Well it's that time of year again here in Australia, the ad's for the biggest loser tv series have started up again, and I look forward to watching it every year. I am wondering though if like me, you decide each year that they will join these "losers" in their weight loss. My intentions are always good and I start off well but then fall back into patterns that keep me fat and then starting making excuses for the show and why they CAN and I cant :nopity: My list goes something like this each year, "This is unrealistic, who trains that hard that long EVERY day", "who has the time to sit and work out each calorie, exercise, etc, etc"

I have decided.... again :) that this year I WILL join these losers in their quest for a better life, I have made a promise to myself that I wont make any excuses, I CAN and WILL do this ;)

Live to Laugh - Hope your balloon is behaving for you. Yes, as far as I know there is currently only 2 places in Sydney, the after care we receive is fantastic, we are very lucky. I chose COC as they have offices in the city and it's easier for me to get here for appointments than Bondi. As it turns out I keep having to back to Baulkham Hills though :( I got my balloon done on 29 October last year and I was in the first "batch" of ballooners for the clinic (I didn't know this when I got it) So I think it was pretty much trial and error for them! I think the clinic you went to only does balloons whereas this one does a few like banding, balloons, gastric sleeves etc.

Hope you are all having a good start to your week!

Shrinker
 
I am now over the 5 months mark and having changed from Somac to Nexium I am feeling so much better. I visited the clinic last Wed and the Dr is very pleased with me. I have so far lost a total of 26kgs! I am beginning to feel proud of myself. I wasn't to begin with because I thought having a balloon inserted was "cheating" but I have done the work by not eating and drinking huge amounts and doing some exercise. On reflection I am happy that I have done this. The test will be when it comes out in March have I learnt enough to keep the weight off? I hope so.
 
Six Months up

Hi girls! well I have lived the six months! Yeh! I feel fantasticI am just so happy with the outcome. My Dr wants me to have it remain insitu for another month just to get me to the 30kg loss mark. He says 30kgs is "life changing" and I really want to beleive him. As I posted earlier for the first four months I was neauseaous (sorry about the spelling) and bulmic but once I was changed to Nexium (from Somac) that seemed to settle. I have gone from 96kg to 70kg. Now every morning I get on the scales and don't want to see 71! Exercise: not too good! walk for an hour maybe three times a week and swim (very slowly) maybe twice a week. Would like to do heaps more but basically I am lazy and beleive it or not still unmotivoated.

Tell you what I am the most sick of? I am sick to death of having to "lie" to people about my weight loss. In some ways I feel a fraud. Saw relos on Sunday who I have not seen for 12 months and it was all they wanted to talk about so I just went you know the diet exercise routine what I ate etc which was all true I just left out the part about the balloon. Still I don't like lying but I don't want to tell everyone every detail. Yesterday at work I told the girls that I did not want to talk about it anymore at all and now just accept me the way I am now and forget the past. They accepted that and hopefuly now I can just do my job without the never ending Q & A session. I am really happy and hope and pray I manage to keep this weight off. This is the person I should be. I accept that I will put on some kilos, but if I can keep it to five then it has all been worth it. Not today but another day I will put up some photos for you.

This balloon procedure is not for everyone, I was just fortunate that I was in a position that (a) I could afford it and (b) I only have myself to look after, it would be so difficult for you Mums with children to do. Have to go, have a good day
 
Any News?

Been quiet around here for a few days, how is every one going? I have had a few hairy days due to a "big" day on Saturday! I enjoyed myself though so it was my own doing. The nausea has returned again and so I am taking the Nexium morning and night to try and help. I am having my balloon out on the 1st April which means I am about seven weeks over the 6 month deadline but the docotor wanted me to continue to hit the 30kg mark. I am not fussed now really as I don't want to be any thinner (never thought I would say that!) if I keep going my face will be too thin and my skin too saggy. God we are never happy are we? I attended the EOC at Bondi Junction and happy with the service although I would have liked to have seen the psychologist they talked about (never offered to me) and I did not get on particularly well with the dietitican she seemed to have her own agenda and did not really listen to my likes or dislikes of foods. Have a good day
 
Hi Shrinker,
I have just read through your experiences, I think by now you have had the balloon removed. How are things now? Its been awhile since you or anyone has posted anything,. Its early days for me. I had the balloon inserted 4 days now and still feel quite sickly and have the gastric pain...constantly, luckily I have only vomitted the once..that was day one, however, i feel too sickly and in too much pain to go to work, so have taken a week off.

Thanks for your blog, it will help me a great deal, you werent kidding about it changing your cycle, i hadnt had a period in 8 months only to start having them again the day my balloon was inserted.

Take Care.
Michelle
 
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