I lost 30Kg with a Gastric Balloon AMA

[IHadAGastricBalloon]

Starting weight in Jan 2023 106kg size 18

Finishing weight in Jan 2024 75kg size 12

I'm tall. (5'9")

Paid privately in the UK for the 12 month balloon.

Happy to give insights and experiences if anyone is interested or considering having same procedure done.

Ask away.

I wasn't aware of a '12 month balloon'. Is it now removed then, and how long was the surgery/recovery?

Yes, the balloon is inserted into the stomach and removed a year later. It's filled with liquid and prevents or restricts overeating. It's done under sedation and takes a couple of hours all in all.

How much did it cost?

Recovery for me was minimal tbh. I was in a little discomfort on the night of the insertion but ok the next day.

Other people report copious vomiting etc but I was lucky and experienced minimal side effects

£200 initial consultation and £4500 procedure including insertion, removal, a couple of check ups with the surgeon mid year and regular dietician appointments.

Obviously could've been done cheaper in Turkey which I did consider but decided against.

Do you have loose skin?

How much were you able to eat in a day ?

I have been thinking about doing this. What would you say your symptoms are like ? I've heard stories of being nauseous and sick and I really can't handle that. I am a size 16/18 with PCOS and I've found it quite hard tbh. When you lost your weight, did you have loose skin from weight dropping too quickly ?

What are the risks ?

Congratulations on the weightloss. Do you feel better?

What can you do now that you couldn't with the weight on?

What actual difference did it make in how you felt, ate, etc? How is it different to dieting?

Basically I’ve heard a lot about people who find it easy to “cheat” after gastric surgery and I worry I would just be one of them.

Do you worry about regain?

Hello! This sounds interesting. Especially as it’s for 12 months: what’s your appetite like now? Have you had blood tests? Are your vitamin levels ok?

I have loose skin in my stomach but I'm in my 50s and have had 3 DCs so yeah, I can live with it.

For the first few weeks, I couldn't eat much, just a few spoonfuls at each meal. You have to take vitamins to ensure you don't become vitamin deficient. But as time goes on, your stomach gets used to it and you can eat more normally. But you become full very quickly and you don't feel hungry as much.

Pre balloon I was constantly eating or thinking about eating, during the balloon not at all. Now, my balloon is out and I suppose it's psychological; I'm out the habit of snacking all the time so I don't.

Oh wow, I would really consider this.

where did you have it done at?

I was lucky and had minimal side effects and wasn't sick even once. I had some cramping and sometimes it felt uncomfortable. The sensation was like being about 6 months pregnant when the baby moves.

But some people have awful sickness and struggle to tolerate the ballon. I suppose it's a risk you take. They do give you anti-nausea meds and stuff to stop cramps though IIRC. But I never took them.

How do you keep the weight off now it's out?

The doctor said there is a risk of dehydration from vomiting too much and some people can't tolerate it and have to have it removed quickly.

Have you regained any weight since removal? Do you think your eating habits changed now for good?

This sounds much healthier than the usual surgeries. My ExMIL died after a gastric band. She just kept losing and losing and eventually became so weak that she died of an infection that a normal person would have overcome. My DSSis had a bypass in Turkey and she seems to be going the same way. I think a temporary solution is much safer.

Thank you. I feel a million times better. I'm at my fighting weight presently where I feel comfortable and fit. I've yo yo dieted over the years and hated being fat. Plus I'm in my 50s and I was getting health issues; my knees were fucked and my joints ached. I was a size 18 before so not a debilitating weight or size but I feel so much better at a 12, so much healthier and I can wear nice clothes again.

Basically for a few months you barely eat so the weight drops off. You don't even want to eat. Even the thought of eating isn't that great as the balloon makes you feel like you've just eaten a massive meal.

So you adjust your habits and it becomes part of your life. Before the balloon, I was WFH and was spending my days snacking and drinking milky coffees and the weight went on and I just couldn't change the bad habits. The balloon stopped that.

It isn't different to dieting in that you are dieting during the year but you don't feel the urge to break the diet or at least as much as you would do without the balloon. so it's easier. I will freely admit it's a cheater's diet.

Yes 100% absolutely. I've been balloon free for over 2 months now and haven't gained but I've yo-yo dieted all my life and so of course it worries me a lot.

No idea about blood tests and vitamin levels but I'm fit and well so I assume all ok.

My appetite is bigger with the balloon out but I'm not now in the habit of overeating or snacking and hope to keep it that way. I just eat 3 normal meals and lots of veg and salad etc, don't eat puddings or snacks.

Nuffield. But loads of places do it and they are all priced similarly. It was my nearest hospital.

Not overeating and I've joined a gym. I try and walk a lot as well.

The main thing for me which I've said upthread is the change of habits. I'm in a routine of healthy eating and walking rather than driving where I can so stick to it.

But it will be a battle that's with me for life. I acknowledge that.

I haven't regained but I weigh myself every week. So sometimes I'm 500g heavier sometimes a bit lighter but I'm hovering at the 75kg mark. But it is early days so I'm not smug about it. I know the chance is that I could regain but will do my best not to. Yes, I'm aware I might fail.

I wasn't heavy enough to have more permanent weight loss surgery so the balloon was my only option.