Countdown to Balloon Launch

I love this forum. It's full of advice, tips and experiences but in comparison to other procedures there is not a lot about the gastric balloon. So I thought I would start this thread, not just for me but for other future ballooners.
So although my experiences have been documented on previous threads I will still give a quick summary.
I have always been big and have had a constant struggle with my weight. Yoyo should be my middlename as diets have came and went only for them to fail after massive losses when bad habits crept back in.
I was a whacking 27st plus with so many health issues it was almost laughable. thankfully though i never showed any diabetic signs. When my knees gave out at the beginning of 2012 I was facing life in a wheelchair and I had hit rock bottom. Thankfully my very understanding astute orthopaedic consultant could see this and initiated me on my WLS journey
Ok so 9 months later I find myself under the care of Dr R Stuart at Ross Hall in Paisley. As I have said I come with a lot of health issues and at the time I had a BMI of 66. So it was deemed to risky for me to get the gastric bypass until I reached a much safer BMI of 50. To achieve this I will be fitted with the gastric balloon for a max of 6 months to aid me with the strict diet I must follow to achieve that loss. The balloon achieves this by filling the stomach void therefore making you feel full therefore there is less room for food intake.
I did worry initially about going down this line as it does not come without issues and for some it causes no problems at all. I can only hope I am the later.
So a month after that initial consultation with Mr Stuart and because i have been following their guidelines with a more than respectable weight-loss I have now got my date for the ballon to be inserted. The 7th of February. How do I feel?... I am excited, motivated, scared witless, but sooo thankful that I have been given this opportunity.
I see the dietician again next week to discuss diet with the balloon so I better pay attention & report back here . x

Woohoo! Delighted for you! Well, you know my story pretty well but just a bit of back ground. I have never been overweight, my weight fluctuated but nothing major. Then I got pregnant. I had a prenancy from hell. I didn't take care of myself, or my little girl. I could not accept being pregnant. I have never wanted children. Its so hard to describe your world being turned upside down but the hormones making you bond with your baby and the guilt that comes with that. it was a very dark time. I gained 7 stone. I severely damaged my back, I couldn't move from 4 months into the pregnancy. I had pre eclampsia, SPD, high blood pressure. So, my little girl was born, perfect in every way. She basically took what nutrients she needed from me regardless of if I had them to spare or not! Clever girl.

So now I find myself with a active gorgeous 4 year old and I am pretty much immobile. My drs were not understanding, they just said go to weight watchers with I fully accept is great and works for some, but not for me. So, I started talking to NOSC. I had my spatz balloon fitted on Saturday. So far so good. I am happy with my decision. I am excited about having my life back. and being able to share that with my little girl. If anyone wants to ask any questions about the experience of getting it fitted, please do, I am more than happy to share.

Thank you Rose
Since I was 18 I have had back problems so I know where you are coming from there. All my discs are crumbling. Tramadol is my poison but I have to be in complete agony before I will put one in my system... I know the damage and grief they can cause. Today my left leg literally went from under me with no warning when I coughed. luckily for me this time I was beside the bed and landed on that ... My fear is the same happening on the stairs one day . This morning was a stark reminder as to why I need this op. I don't want my granddaughters only memory of me is of me sitting in a wheelchair.
I am lucky in that I have rarely been "got at" either by professionals or joe public. Probably because I can give as good as i get. The various doctors involved in my care have only recently openly declared that the countless courses of steroids that have been prescribed over those years have had a lot to do with my weight gains and the inability to shift it.. I can not however let them take all the blame since at the end of the day I am the one who put the food in my mouth. I was never force fed. I just gorged myself on anything whenever I was on them and maybe if I reached for healthier options rather than the crisps, bread and cheese then things may have been a lot different. I could gain a stone easily on a two week course of the little blighters. I would get half of it off but the other half would be immovable and I would be left disheartened after weeks of trying. I have been told lately that steroidal fat is harder to shift so I am in for a long haul but I know I will get there.... We will both get there hun x

thanks Femfrankie, we will indeed get there. Just to say also, I am feeling great - nausea pretty much gone, sleeping well, bloatedness gone from my face (just fat remains !!) I am really positive about this at the moment. My back pain is so reduced! I don't know why? I am wondering if the balloon has adjusted my posture a little and that has helped. Still have pain in my hips but I am actually going to attempt a short walk today with the dog.

Oh and have dropped now to 98.6 kg today.

Hang in there,

Hope Claire1966 is gettin on ok.

xxx

Thats fantastic! on all countsarty0011:.
For the first time i had someone who hasnt seen me for a while today ask me if i had been losing weight and it felt soooo good
Enjoy the walk with the dog :chores016: x

Hey "femfrankie

Good luck today!!! Hope all goes well for ye!!!! Let me know how u get on.
Don't stress too much!!!!
Xx

Thankyou cb it's 5.30am and have been awake for 2 hours now ... Through stress NO!! ... I am being kept awake by the dose of man flu that's lying next to me shivering! Just hope he keeps it to himself lol

Good luck femfrankie, first day of the rest of your life.

Thinking of you and hang on to the fact that it will get easier, you can do it!

Femfrankie

Poor u!!! Lol!
I had a dash to the hospital last night with my 5 yr old, thought it was meningitis!!! Just a viral infection thank god!!! Plenty of icecream and calpol. Hope I won't catch anything by sat!!!!
Can't wait to hear from you xx

Balloon in place

Ok I am now officially a space hopper .

Feb7 2012 .. Didn't have to wait too long after admission before I was wheeled down to theatre the cannula insertion was quick and easy. I hate needles and I'm the type of person whose veins run a mile at the mere mention of a needle but the anaesthetist was good ..phew ...scary part 1 over..
Taken into theatre where I could see everyone getting prepared for the procedure . The anaesthetist started pushing the sedative in and I was ware that things where becoming hazy then next thing I knew I was in recovery!!... Scary part 2 now over too.. I was told I would be vaguely aware of things happening in the background but I can honestly say I didn't remember a thing and was well out of it. I remained woozy and sickly for the remainder of the day as expected but happy in the knowledge I had come through what for me was the scariest part of my wls journey.

Feb 8....scary part 3 .. The Unknown..
Didn't sleep well at all. Not helped by hubby who has hijacked my time to be sick by his man flu.. i feel guilty for hating him at this moment as he really isnt well
I feel so nauseous and suffering terribly with what I can only describe as stuck wind. The positions I have found myself in to try and get it free. I think yes!! finally got that away only to find there's more immediately behind it . I cannot face eating or drinking at all but have managed about a litre of fluid over the day and a small NAS jelly. No great shakes I know but I promise myself that I will do better tomorrow.

Hi femfrankie

Well done you!!!! Good going.
You also just put my mind at rest a bit
I'm on the countdown now!!!! 2 hours 15 mins till I arrive into the clinic!!!!!
Can't wait but I hate procedures/operations!!! Had far too many!
I'm still not sure if I'm going to loose enough weight with this balloon but I'm praying I do!!!! Praying alone won't make me skinny! The gym, good positive attitude and a lack of food should get me going on it!
The thoughts of how it's going to feel!!!!! Sitting in there! A lump of plastic/latex/foreign object lol
Well wish me luck!!!!!!!!!

Good luck CB!! You will be fine I know it. My stress levels prior to it where totally unnecessary. Will be thinking of you and can't wait to hear how you got on once you feel ok to come back onto the forum :hug99: xx

Hang in there femfrankie, I felt terrible the first few days after. It gets better, much better. I barely notice mine now. Keep up with the fluids and keep the end goal insight. Get in to the spare room if you have one. I stayed in a hotel after mine and kicked hubbie out to stay in his parents.

Cb4, good luck pet, your new life starts today!

Am thinking of both of you and sending good balloon vibes. Xxxx

RoseMcnose said:

Good luck femfrankie, first day of the rest of your life.

Thinking of you and hang on to the fact that it will get easier, you can do it!

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Thanks Rose
Drinking my first peppermint tea. I had very big doubts about the therapeutic effect of this tea but at second sip those doubts melted away along with the major discomfort I was suffering this morning. Thanks for putting that on your must get list. xx

In a way that discomfort is a good learning tool. That's what's going to happen if you over eat with the balloon so remember that feeling. I now understand what folk were saying about working with the balloon and not against it. I still get really hungry, I have been getting cravings but the key is not to give in, have a healthy alternative and you will be satisfied.

Thanks ladies

On the way now!!!! Excited!!!!
Dublin won't know what hit it when I slim down lol
Will be back intouch soon xx

Thanks again Rose. As long as the hunger is easy satisfied then I will be okay. Cravings I can deal with its hunger that I find difficult lol. Diet before the balloon was easy but there were days that there was no satisfying the hunger. Drinking loads helped but that "growl" was there in the background. I relented to a craving only once but it had plagued me for days so I gave in . I surprised myself though by stopping at only 2 celebrations and my craving sated. Felt guilty as hell though. Hunger on the other hand sees me cramming anything calorie freeish into my mouth in order to satisfy so I am truly hoping the balloon will help put a halt to that behaviour. Quite frankly though if this is what full feels like I have no wish to revisit it!!
CB there is no doubt you will wake up after the procedure thinking why why why did i go through with this? but I'm nealy two days in and starting to feel a little better.. I have stopped being sick but have also learnt that lying on my left side is a nono and when you are told little sips and allow the last one to settle before attempting another they mean it!
You will be in my thoughts and Dublin better be prepared for when you hit the town xx

Well done n all!!! Feeling a bit abused!!! But it's the beginning of a new life now!!!!
Fingers crossed I will be back to normal in a few hours
Will be much better by lunch time I think no complications anyway thank god!!!
Onwards and upwards

Well done hun! Your a space hopper now too. Take it easy for today and tomorrow Dublin's not ready for you just yet xx

Thanks femfrankie

Can't believe I'm so good!!!!
At home with a cuppa peppermint tea.
Hubby is quite shocked I'm so good after it!
Mams even shown a bit of support!!!! Strange!
I have to say, knowing there is a few people on here to help me through its so much easier
I will deffo take it easy today and see what happins tomorrow
Hope your much better today femfrankie