Gastric balloon

Dazzledee · 2023-08-15T19:37:51+00:00

Looking for anyone who has experience of a gastric balloon? Since covid I've put approx 4 stone on and as much as I've tried to lose it, I just can't. This seems like a drastic expensive way to kick start the weight loss, but currently at the stage when I think it's the only way! I've read loads online but would love some personal experiences of it!

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 15/08/2023 20:42

I had it, was violently ill for 72 hours, hospitalised, and begged for them to remove it. £4k wasted.

Have had slower success with ozempic injections, 2 stone in 4 months:

I wouldn’t recommend, but maybe it was just me, I’m terrible with sickness.

Thewallsof · 15/08/2023 21:02

I've had a sleeve on the nhs. They don't really offer a balloon anymore due to the complications and weight gain on removal. So to me that's all I'd need to know about it. I know it seems like a less permanent and invasive solution. But I don't think it's viewed as a very modern option.

Original poster

Dazzledee · 15/08/2023 21:59

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 15/08/2023 20:42

I had it, was violently ill for 72 hours, hospitalised, and begged for them to remove it. £4k wasted.

Have had slower success with ozempic injections, 2 stone in 4 months:

I wouldn’t recommend, but maybe it was just me, I’m terrible with sickness.

Thanks! I have read sickness for up to the first week is a common symptom!

I had considered ozempic but it seems you can't get a supply of it at present!

OP posts:

Nightsku · 31/08/2023 08:11

I’m currently looking into having this. I’m also the same! Iv put on 5 stone in the last 2 years and can’t seem to get it off!

and going abroad for it.

Iv read cramps and sickness are really common for the first 1-5 days so to expect to feel terrible but after that it should ease up.

Where are you looking to go for yours?

bellac11 · 31/08/2023 08:13

Someone I know had it and yes was sick for about a week but after that its been effective

Any physical intervention will have physical side effects. Ive had a sleeve and dont have time to set out all the physical side effects!!

But you only have 4 stone to lose so a balloon would meet your needs

The person I know has lost 2.5 stone but over quite a long period of time so its very slow and steady

Nightsku · 31/08/2023 08:29

bellac11 · 31/08/2023 08:13

Someone I know had it and yes was sick for about a week but after that its been effective

Any physical intervention will have physical side effects. Ive had a sleeve and dont have time to set out all the physical side effects!!

But you only have 4 stone to lose so a balloon would meet your needs

The person I know has lost 2.5 stone but over quite a long period of time so its very slow and steady

That sounds brilliant!

I think 2.5 stone is a good boost to help you lose the rest too (if they needed any)

LilacLemur · 31/08/2023 08:52

Don't rule out a sleeve or bypass.

I had a bypass earlier in the year and have had no real negatives.

Speak to a weight loss surgeon who also does balloons.

I saw this man. Travelled a long way for my surgery as I really wanted him to do it.

www.simonmonkhouse.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9MCnBhCYARIsAB1WQVW95mKKlYEPqiFitwQRGNLxJNqaUmEVOMkNvxAKB9gE-wfiM3iF-eQaAozuEALw_wcB

Graceunderstands · 02/09/2023 21:29

Hey all.

I currently have the baloon. Place 3rd of December gone. I have it for 12 months so due out in December.

I'm currently down 4stone1lb or 57lbs.

Its not an easy option. I’ve not felt myself at all. My gastric reflux is awful. I was so sick for a good few weeks.

Would I have lost this weight any other way? Absolutely not.

I'm looking forward to getting it removed to get finished with the reflux and to feel normal again. I still vomit often.

Overall as shitty as I feel for the last 8 months I’d do it all again as I have been a yo-yo dieter for years with no success.

ask me any questions and I’d be happy to answer if it helps in any way.

Nightsku · 02/09/2023 23:24

Graceunderstands · 02/09/2023 21:29

Hey all.

I currently have the baloon. Place 3rd of December gone. I have it for 12 months so due out in December.

I'm currently down 4stone1lb or 57lbs.

Its not an easy option. I’ve not felt myself at all. My gastric reflux is awful. I was so sick for a good few weeks.

Would I have lost this weight any other way? Absolutely not.

I'm looking forward to getting it removed to get finished with the reflux and to feel normal again. I still vomit often.

Overall as shitty as I feel for the last 8 months I’d do it all again as I have been a yo-yo dieter for years with no success.

ask me any questions and I’d be happy to answer if it helps in any way.

Did you have it done in the UK or abroad?

What brand of the balloon did you get?

Im looking at getting the spatz3 which is adjustable.

are you still losing fast now you are so far into your journey? Are you restricting what you eat still? How many calories do you have a day?

Im looking at having mine done in a few weeks time.

Graceunderstands · 02/09/2023 23:53

Hey I’m in Ireland and had it done here.

I can’t really answer how many calories I eat as I’ve never tracked them but I’d say it’s very low to be fair.

if I over eat I vomit. A lot of foods I can’t eat, pasta for example or mince.

I suffer badly from reflux since getting it in so probably because of this too I eat less.

yeah I’m still loosing every week. I’d imagine another stone and a half before December or there abouts !

I know everyone is different, I’m not enjoying it at all and feel like crap most days but I also accept it as there’s no way on the planet I would have achieved this without feeling so sick.

I really do recommend it but it’s deffo. It an easy option.

Graceunderstands · 02/09/2023 23:54

Sorry should have read, it’s defo not an easy option.

Nightsku · 03/09/2023 09:38

Graceunderstands · 02/09/2023 23:53

Hey I’m in Ireland and had it done here.

I can’t really answer how many calories I eat as I’ve never tracked them but I’d say it’s very low to be fair.

if I over eat I vomit. A lot of foods I can’t eat, pasta for example or mince.

I suffer badly from reflux since getting it in so probably because of this too I eat less.

yeah I’m still loosing every week. I’d imagine another stone and a half before December or there abouts !

I know everyone is different, I’m not enjoying it at all and feel like crap most days but I also accept it as there’s no way on the planet I would have achieved this without feeling so sick.

I really do recommend it but it’s deffo. It an easy option.

Can I ask how much you started at weight wise?

Im looking to lose about what you have now in roughly the same time scale.

Iv never had acid reflux, even in pregnancy so unsure what that feels like.

Im looking at getting the Spatz3 which is the adjustable one (12 month) or just getting one for the 6 months but I can’t decide.

Nightsku · 03/09/2023 09:39

Thanks for answering my questions too 🙂

Graceunderstands · 03/09/2023 10:02

So mine isn’t adjustable. On the day I went I met another girl who was getting it in the same day. We exchange numbers and I’m so glad we did because it was a great support to have someone going through it with me.

She had hers for 6 months, I have mine for the year. She suffered with reflux too. I never had it during pregnancy but it’s awful.

My starting weight was 208.5 lbs. I’m 5ft2

This morning I’m 151 lbs. My app tells me that’s roughly 1.5 lbs each week. Obviously sometimes it’s faster and sometimes it’s slower.

when my friend got hers removed I was so sick at the time I would have gladly went. She lost 4 stone too but was much sicker than me. I’m glad I have mine for another few months. It should bring me to about 9 and a half stone. This gives me room to put a little bit on after I settle back into real eating.

it’s deffo thought me about portion size etc though so I’m hoping I won’t put a whole lot on when I get it out.

Ds16dv · 03/09/2023 10:15

Thewallsof · 15/08/2023 21:02

I've had a sleeve on the nhs. They don't really offer a balloon anymore due to the complications and weight gain on removal. So to me that's all I'd need to know about it. I know it seems like a less permanent and invasive solution. But I don't think it's viewed as a very modern option.

I was thinking about the balloon . I wondered about after . So you have the balloon whilst it's in its makes you feel more full /eat less. Because the balloon has blocked part of the stomach. But it does not actually make it smaller. So as soon as the balloon is removed the stomach is back to its original size and your super hungry all over again Because your now filling s bigger stomach where the balloon is mo longer there ?

Nightsku · 03/09/2023 10:28

Graceunderstands · 03/09/2023 10:02

So mine isn’t adjustable. On the day I went I met another girl who was getting it in the same day. We exchange numbers and I’m so glad we did because it was a great support to have someone going through it with me.

She had hers for 6 months, I have mine for the year. She suffered with reflux too. I never had it during pregnancy but it’s awful.

My starting weight was 208.5 lbs. I’m 5ft2

This morning I’m 151 lbs. My app tells me that’s roughly 1.5 lbs each week. Obviously sometimes it’s faster and sometimes it’s slower.

when my friend got hers removed I was so sick at the time I would have gladly went. She lost 4 stone too but was much sicker than me. I’m glad I have mine for another few months. It should bring me to about 9 and a half stone. This gives me room to put a little bit on after I settle back into real eating.

it’s deffo thought me about portion size etc though so I’m hoping I won’t put a whole lot on when I get it out.

Has your friend managed to keep the weight off ?

my start weight is 221 and I’m 5’7. I want to be 10 stone so have a huge chunk to lose and I’m getting married next year so want to lose it for that.

I have about 10 months to go til my wedding and although I don’t think il make goal weight, I’m hoping to be close.

penguinkisses · 03/09/2023 11:14

I toyed with the balloon and had I have gone for it I'd have gone with Simon Monkhouse. His Instagram page is brilliant and he explains the procedure really well.

Eventually I had a sleeve abroad for less than the cost of the balloon. Much more of an invasive surgery but I wanted something that would be long lasting.

Good luck whatever you decide x

Graceunderstands · 03/09/2023 11:52

Yeah she had kept it off. She put on 3 lbs initially but of course I’m wondering too about how hungry you are after.

she basically said that she’s stuck to similar portions since she’s had it out but has a few more snacks throughout the day.

whilst it’s in that’s when all the learnings take place about portion control etc. I know now what my body can handle and what it can’t so I’m hoping it all goes well once it’s out.

Again, it’s really not nice in but I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this weight loss without it.

Now I have way more energy and motivation so walking isn’t a problem. I reckon if I maintain this once it’s out there’s no reason for me to pile any weight back on.

Also I’m finished with having babies and I think this plays a big part in weight gain. I suppose everyone is different in the long run, but if you can cope with not feeling well, then I do recommend it so far.

it’s definitely the best decision I have ever made when it comes to weight loss.

Nightsku · 04/09/2023 07:12

Graceunderstands · 03/09/2023 11:52

Yeah she had kept it off. She put on 3 lbs initially but of course I’m wondering too about how hungry you are after.

she basically said that she’s stuck to similar portions since she’s had it out but has a few more snacks throughout the day.

whilst it’s in that’s when all the learnings take place about portion control etc. I know now what my body can handle and what it can’t so I’m hoping it all goes well once it’s out.

Again, it’s really not nice in but I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this weight loss without it.

Now I have way more energy and motivation so walking isn’t a problem. I reckon if I maintain this once it’s out there’s no reason for me to pile any weight back on.

Also I’m finished with having babies and I think this plays a big part in weight gain. I suppose everyone is different in the long run, but if you can cope with not feeling well, then I do recommend it so far.

it’s definitely the best decision I have ever made when it comes to weight loss.

Thanks. I’m also finished having babies.

What do you take for the acid reflux?

Graceunderstands · 04/09/2023 09:19

Hey I was prescribed a tablet by the clinic but it’s not great to be honest.

You’re giving medication prior to having the procedure for about 10 days and then for a little while after. I can’t remember the time frame to be honest.

Once the prescription had run out I just called the clinic because I couldn’t cope at all. I’m taking Zofran at the minute every morning. It does help but doesn’t rid it totally.

RosiePosiePuddin · 04/09/2023 09:20

I went to Turkey for a sleeve. There were 3 ladies in at same time as me having balloons removed and having sleeve done instead.

All 3 had terrible issues and hadn't lost any weight.

Trevorton · 04/09/2023 09:33

There are two types of Balloon, you can have a swallowable one that last for 4mths then disperses naturally. I had one done by Simon Monkhouse. Personally for me I would not do it again but I know people have a lot of success with them. I knew I would feel ill the first few days but nothing can prepare you for how ill you can feel. Still, it is over in a few days. I only lost about a stone.

Ds16dv · 04/09/2023 09:39

Trevorton · 04/09/2023 09:33

There are two types of Balloon, you can have a swallowable one that last for 4mths then disperses naturally. I had one done by Simon Monkhouse. Personally for me I would not do it again but I know people have a lot of success with them. I knew I would feel ill the first few days but nothing can prepare you for how ill you can feel. Still, it is over in a few days. I only lost about a stone.

I wanted to get a gastric band. But my bmi /weight is not heigh enough. Even though I'm glassed as obese, I'm not obese enough. The only thing I could get is the balloon and they seem pointless.

Nightsku · 04/09/2023 10:30

Trevorton · 04/09/2023 09:33

There are two types of Balloon, you can have a swallowable one that last for 4mths then disperses naturally. I had one done by Simon Monkhouse. Personally for me I would not do it again but I know people have a lot of success with them. I knew I would feel ill the first few days but nothing can prepare you for how ill you can feel. Still, it is over in a few days. I only lost about a stone.

Can I ask why you wouldn’t do it again?

Im looking at the 12 month one.

Nightsku · 18/09/2023 14:22

I had the balloon fitted last week.
I opted for a 6 month one.

God Iv felt sick ever since.