Anyone ever had a gastric balloon?

[puttingitalloutandabout]

I've thought about this a lot over the years and tonight it came into my head.

Has anyone had a gastric balloon?
Would you recommend it?
How much weight did you lose and more importantly did it stay off?

TIA

[puttingitalloutandabout]

No one at all?!

I'm trying to find some info on if they actually work I'm looking at the one year one but all the info seems to be for marketing online!

[Londonlady53]

I’ve has one in for nearly 3 months now. I have lost one and three quarter stone so far and have another stone to go. BMI was 32 and I had tried various diets for several years. Also very unfit and was seriously concerned re my health. BP high and breathless going up stairs etc. I never used to be overweight but in the last 6 years the weight has slowly crept up.

I am now weighing myself every day and doing Gillian Michaels 30 day shred several times a week. I am feeling much better in myself and I know I simply could not have persevered with a diet on my own. The thought of the £3.5 K I have paid for the procedure has motivated me big time and I also have weigh ins and advice from a nutritionist as well.

[Londonlady53]

Once I have got to my target weight I am planning on keeping it in for the whole year to really get the good habits entrenched.

[puttingitalloutandabout]

@Londonlady53 thank you so so much for your reply! I really appreciate it!

Well done on the weight loss! That's great going in under 3 months!

Can I ask did you have any nasty side effects like stomach cramping and nausea which I've read about?

Can I also ask have you got the orbera balloon or Spatz? I see my local clinic does these and I think I may prefer the longer lasting one.

[Londonlady53]

Hi I have the orbera balloon. They give you anti acids and anti emetics to take before procedure and you have to take the anti acid tablets throughout the whole time the balloon is in. If you forget you will get bad reflux.
I didn’t feel as bad as I thought I would actually but you do have a liquid diet for 2 weeks and then introduce soft food gradually. There were 3 of us having the balloon and 1 lady was retching in a cubicle but me and the other lady were fine. I was quite constipated around day 7/8 which was unpleasant but it did clear up. Eating any pasta or rice is a real no no. I had some filled pasta and had very bad cramping for 36 hours so won’t be doing that again! It is not a magic wand and I have found things hard going at times particularly when it came to starting exercising again. It has taken me a lot longer than 30 days to get a modicum of fitness.
I am feeling the benefits now and so pleased to get into some size 12 trousers (just about) the other day. Also was able to climb up to 8th floor without feeling I was about to die!
I would recommend the procedure as it is an investment in my health. A word of warning - some people have a very negative attitude to bariatric surgery which I was surprised by so I would be careful who you tell. Most people just think I am on a diet/exercise plan. Good luck!

[mrselizabethdarcy]

I had to have one to help me get to a safe weight for gastric bypass surgery. I lost about 2 stone in 4 months. I was VERY sick at first and couldn't keep anything down. The putting it in and taking it out were awful for me too. It did what it was supposed to but i found the whole thing very unpleasant.

[puttingitalloutandabout]

Oh no @mrselizabethdarcy but thank you for your honest opinion.

I really want one but I'm terrified of paying all that money and feel awful the whole time!

How long can it stay in for?

I have tried everything under the sun was always successful on the shakes diets but I simply can't drink them anymore

Recently tried saxenda the injection was working fabulous! Quite costly at £80 per week but I did lose a stone in 6 weeks. I had to stop taking it though as it was causing really bad anger and depression

Tried all the usual SW and weight watchers but the loses only happen for a couple of weeks and then it plateaus for weeks on end I get so disheartened I give up!

[madcatladyforever]

I have a gastric band. Paid half and the rest on interest free credit.
I literally cannot overeat or I vomit. The weight is really coming off.
I'm on the surgeons facebook forum and balloons have mixed reviews. Pain, irritation, ability to still over eat. If you can manage it go for a band instead.

[welshweasel]

I’ve removed lots of balloons due to patients being unable to stop vomiting. Have also had to perform major surgery on 3 people due to complications. There is limited evidence for their efficacy. Save your money and put it towards a proper weight loss operation, if you really think you need one.

[Londonlady53]

The consultant did warn me that 10% of people can’t tolerate the balloon and have to have it removed. The actual insertion was painless as I had sedation.
For me it has been a good thing as I needed something drastic to help me lose weight. You can over eat but the idea is that you feel full more quickly and you relearn healthy habits. As a young woman I looked after myself, exercising and generally avoiding sweets, crisps, cakes etc. It fell apart as I got older due to a combination of stressful job, caring responsibilities and a sedentary lifestyle. The balloon is helping me return to a healthy lifestyle- I only wish I had done it earlier.

[puttingitalloutandabout]

Can anyone advise the average cost of a gastric balloon?

I phoned a local clinic today they quoted £4,400 and no requirement for consultation but if I did want a consultation it would be a further £100

[Nanamilly]

I had one many years ago and it was horrific. The procedure scarred me so badly that when I had to have an endoscope examination recently I had it done with sedation. The balloon also caused me to have terrible gas and I sounded like a brass band when I walked what with the noises from my tummy and the trumping I was doing. I could also hear it swishing around inside me,

Gastic Bands? They're very much falling out of favour and many surgeons just won't use them anymore due to side effects and the high failure rate. Many people have to go on and have it converted to other kinds of WLS.

Personally I had a MGB almost 4 months ago and I couldn't be happier. Ive had no side effects and I can eat really well. Its not true that you live on a few teaspoons of mush the rest of your life. As my surgeon said - it was the perfect procedure for both of us.