Countdown to Balloon Launch

[Yvessa]

Not preachy at all hun.... Sorry I didn't answer right away as I fell asleep lol.

Knowing what meds can do to our system (hence why I fell asleep) i truly hope you do feel better soon & what you said was perfectly correct. When we attain our targets we desperately replace it with another and more ... It keeps us on our toes I suppose lol

Thanks hon. I just think for now I need a more organic approach to my journey.

 

[treacles1977]

Oh dear I'm not well for the last 18 hours can't keep anything down or in. Knew there was something hanging around me ! Terrified I'm going to be ill and then the say they won't do balloon!!

On the plus sided lots of water to flush me out !

 

[cb4]

Oh dear I'm not well for the last 18 hours can't keep anything down or in. Knew there was something hanging around me ! Terrified I'm going to be ill and then the say they won't do balloon!!

On the plus sided lots of water to flush me out !

Poor u xx
Hope u feel better soon.
When's the balloon going in?

carol b

 

[cb4]

Thanks hon. I just think for now I need a more organic approach to my journey.

What do u mean more holostic approach?

carol b

 

[femfrankie]

When's balloon going in hun... If its in a few weeks time and only a bug you have then I'm sure all will be fine x

 

[tiili]

Hi all... Since you guys have experience of the balloon, would you mind if I ask two questions? Sorry for hijacking the thread!

I am scheduled to have a balloon inserted at the end of July. This will possibly be followed by surgery depending on how effective it is. I am terrified of surgery and would really like to avoid it if I can, but I do have a LOT of weight to shift and I am starting to wonder whether I am kidding myself thinking it can be done with just a balloon (I have been offered three 6 months balloons, so would be a total of 1 and a half years worth of treatment).

I lost about 50kgs a couple of years back with the help of Reductil and did manage to keep it off for a while, but then a depression plunged the weight back on. Since I've managed to lose that much with just medication before my hope is that I can do it again with the help of a balloon. The thought of surgery really scares me.

So my questions are:

1. Do you think it is realistic to lose a significant amount of weight (60kgs+) by just the balloon alone? Can it be done?
2. What was the insertion procedure like? They say you are not supposed to remember anything because of the sedation - is this true? Or was it really unpleasant?

Many thanks and nice to meet you all! xxx

 

[cb4]

Hi all... Since you guys have experience of the balloon, would you mind if I ask two questions? Sorry for hijacking the thread!

I am scheduled to have a balloon inserted at the end of July. This will possibly be followed by surgery depending on how effective it is. I am terrified of surgery and would really like to avoid it if I can, but I do have a LOT of weight to shift and I am starting to wonder whether I am kidding myself thinking it can be done with just a balloon (I have been offered three 6 months balloons, so would be a total of 1 and a half years worth of treatment).

I lost about 50kgs a couple of years back with the help of Reductil and did manage to keep it off for a while, but then a depression plunged the weight back on. Since I've managed to lose that much with just medication before my hope is that I can do it again with the help of a balloon. The thought of surgery really scares me.

So my questions are:

1. Do you think it is realistic to lose a significant amount of weight (60kgs+) by just the balloon alone? Can it be done?
2. What was the insertion procedure like? They say you are not supposed to remember anything because of the sedation - is this true? Or was it really unpleasant?

Many thanks and nice to meet you all! xxx

Hi ya
Lovely to have u on here
I'm down 7 stone so far! Two with the help from the balloon and one of them was just out of determination per balloon-4 weeks before it!!!!!
I have another 2 stone to get to a healthy bmi
I don't believe putting in three balloons will do anything!!!!!
Femfrankie has a refillable balloon and I think that's a better option coz mine has no effect except for when I drink water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mine is just a 6 month balloon.
I was fooled a bit.

Do remember getting it in but it was worth it at the time! The thoughts of loosing another three stone!!!! It was not bad at all getting it in.
I got mine in Dublin. But I think there are better ones out there. Don't jump into it!
Hope that helps xx

carol b

 

[tiili]

Thanks Carol. My consultant told me about patients who had lost like 70kgs with it so I was hoping I could be one of them. I am really scared of surgery..but everything I read online is about people being disappointed with the balloon.

I know I should feel excited about finally getting help (and my consultant is really lovely) but right now everything just feels so dark. How did I end up here again?

 

[Yvessa]

What do u mean more holostic approach?

carol b

I mean something that's not so numbers driven. That's just good healthy food that tastes nice.

 

[treacles1977]

Tiili, I'm getting mine in on the 27th July, and I too am scared of surgery , so I opted for th 12 months bAlloon, or by default it chose me !! I'm a relative newbie here too ! The people I've spoken with on this site are open and honest about their successes and challenges, what ever procedure they've had.

This is a great place with very supportive people and I'm very lucky to have found them !!

You'll be great here with lovely supportive people

Good to meet you here x

 

[cb4]

Thanks Carol. My consultant told me about patients who had lost like 70kgs with it so I was hoping I could be one of them. I am really scared of surgery..but everything I read online is about people being disappointed with the balloon.

I know I should feel excited about finally getting help (and my consultant is really lovely) but right now everything just feels so dark. How did I end up here again?

The most important thing is ur willing to change!!!
But I recommend u look into the one u could get filled up after a few months and it stays in for a year. But I have had a break through this past two weeks and it has clicked with me! So I'm doing well at the minute! Lets hope it stays that way.
Also one of the ladies was having cognitive behaviour therapy I think that's what it's called!!!!
But that sounds like a great think to get coz I was addicted to food!!!!! Not completely over it but I'm getting there!
I don't believe getting a balloon after my 6 months would with this one, will make me loose another 2 stone!!! Don't let them pull the wool over ur eyes!
But also listen to ur gut!

carol b

 

[tiili]

Nice to meet you too Treacles. I'm having mine just a couple of days after you so looks like we'll be starting the journey at the same time! My consultant suggested the balloon as he noticed how scared I was, and thought it could be a softer start.

 

[tiili]

The most important thing is ur willing to change!!!
But I recommend u look into the one u could get filled up after a few months and it stays in for a year. But I have had a break through this past two weeks and it has clicked with me! So I'm doing well at the minute! Lets hope it stays that way.
Also one of the ladies was having cognitive behaviour therapy I think that's what it's called!!!!
But that sounds like a great think to get coz I was addicted to food!!!!! Not completely over it but I'm getting there!
I don't believe getting a balloon after my 6 months would with this one, will make me loose another 2 stone!!! Don't let them pull the wool over ur eyes!
But also listen to ur gut!

carol b

I'm doing it via NHS and they only do the 6 month balloons, so the 12 month one is not an option (but I can instead have several 6 month balloons).

I could probably use some therapy, yes...

 

[cb4]

I mean something that's not so numbers driven. That's just good healthy food that tastes nice.

I've joined Unislim and its no counting at all. I actually couldn't believe u we're counting calories at all!
Might be a good idea to look up Unislim online???
It is a low gi diet and works fantastic! No weighing at all!!!!
They use a 1/4 plate rule. Only put carbs on the 1/4 plate and they must be brown!!!! Low gi.
The rest of the plate is fruit, veg and protein, including steak, chicken fish.
It's fantastic!!!!! I'm not messing.
I feel that strongly about it!!! If u want to mail me ur address I will send u a book and tracker. All the info you would get if u joined a class.
It's way better than weight watchers or slimming world!
Xx

carol b

 

[cb4]

I'm doing it via NHS and they only do the 6 month balloons, so the 12 month one is not an option (but I can instead have several 6 month balloons).

I could probably use some therapy, yes...

Even now I wouldn't say no to it myself!!!!!
I'm 2ish stone off goal but that doesn't mean I'm cured!!!!!
Well then take it and and plow yourself into it!!! Use everything u possibly can as inspiration!!!!!
Xx

carol b

 

[Yvessa]

I've joined Unislim and its no counting at all. I actually couldn't believe u we're counting calories at all!
Might be a good idea to look up Unislim online???
It is a low gi diet and works fantastic! No weighing at all!!!!
They use a 1/4 plate rule. Only put carbs on the 1/4 plate and they must be brown!!!! Low gi.
The rest of the plate is fruit, veg and protein, including steak, chicken fish.
It's fantastic!!!!! I'm not messing.
I feel that strongly about it!!! If u want to mail me ur address I will send u a book and tracker. All the info you would get if u joined a class.
It's way better than weight watchers or slimming world!
Xx

carol b

I will read it thanks hon, but I don't know if I want to follow anything right now. But will pm you

 

[cb4]

I will read it thanks hon, but I don't know if I want to follow anything right now. But will pm you

Believe me it's so easy!!!!!!!!!
Any questions just ask me!!!!!
I've become so opionated!! In the past two weeks ? have just finished two weeks training on diet and neutrition. Sorry my spelling is crap!!!!!

carol b

 

[femfrankie]

Hi all... Since you guys have experience of the balloon, would you mind if I ask two questions? Sorry for hijacking the thread!

not hi-jacking at all hun ... Welcome to the thread

I am scheduled to have a balloon inserted at the end of July. This will possibly be followed by surgery depending on how effective it is. I am terrified of surgery and would really like to avoid it if I can, but I do have a LOT of weight to shift and I am starting to wonder whether I am kidding myself thinking it can be done with just a balloon (I have been offered three 6 months balloons, so would be a total of 1 and a half years worth of treatment).

I also have the balloon via the NHS with the prospect of getting a gastric bypass in about 8wks ish time. Given that i have "died" under anaesthesia before means I am petrified of surgery too but given that my life was going to be remarkably shortened with all the co-morbidities I had as well as facing life in a wheelchair if i continued the way i was was even scarier. Having just become a granny aged 52 I'm not ready to go quite just yet

I lost about 50kgs a couple of years back with the help of Reductil and did manage to keep it off for a while, but then a depression plunged the weight back on. Since I've managed to lose that much with just medication before my hope is that I can do it again with the help of a balloon. The thought of surgery really scares me.

most of us who have WLS are yoyo dieters and your story is a very familiar one ... I have yoyoed all my life losing many many stones in weight over my life time, 7st at one point, only for bad habits to creep back in at some point later on . It's healthy to be scared hun and I bet everyone of us here had/have the same dread. i know i do! All surgery carries a risk but being super obese probably carries the greatest

So my questions are:

1. Do you think it is realistic to lose a significant amount of weight (60kgs+) by just the balloon alone? Can it be done?

I honestly don't think it is achievable with the balloon to be fair..prior to the balloon I had lost 21kg(46lb). After a further 24 kg (53lb) loss I have been told by my team that i am the top loser with the balloon since it was inserted just over 4 months ago. Even my combined loss of 45kg(99lb) doesn't even come close to your providers prospected weight loss of and believe you me I have worked very hard to get to my target! Sorry if I sound negative on its prospects hun ...this is just my opinion.

2. What was the insertion procedure like? They say you are not supposed to remember anything because of the sedation - is this true? Or was it really unpleasant?

can't remember a darn thing about insertion. I was out like a light lol

Many thanks and nice to meet you all! xxx

Nice to meet you too tilli ..if there is any thing else you need to know then ask away x

....Femfrankie has a refillable balloon......

carol b

sorry CB4 you have got that one wrong and have to correct you there as I dont have the refillable type ..but Rose does

Thanks Carol. My consultant told me about patients who had lost like 70kgs with it so I was hoping I could be one of them. I am really scared of surgery..but everything I read online is about people being disappointed with the balloon.

I know I should feel excited about finally getting help (and my consultant is really lovely) but right now everything just feels so dark. How did I end up here again?

your in the right place hun I think most of us have felt that despair prior to our WLS Journey. As for 70kg losses I would ask for evidential proof of that .. I know I asked a lot of similar questions from the surgeon before I had mine in... Failure rates, success rates, even death rates. I was told that 3-4st (about 25kg) was doable with the balloon but most of the work would have to come from me. The remaining weight I have to lose will be with a bypass and I am expected to lose a further 50kg (8st) with that ... Is it possible that you maybe misheard what your provider told you and that the 70kg was total weight loss with both procedures? As this seems much more realistic . Good luck hun xxx

I will read it thanks hon, but I don't know if I want to follow anything right now. But will pm you

I agree Yve. My dietician has never given me a calorie controlled diet to work from as they would prefer that I just eat healthily... Ie a small side plate filled 50% lean protein about 35% veg and the rest carb if I have room for any. Advised to avoid being overfull at all costs also to drink lots. She feels that once we start throwing numbers and targets in there we get lost in it all and it becomes a chore where as eating a healthy balanced meal is a much more relaxed approach... That doesn't mean we throw caution to the wind. It's teaching us to retrain ourselves to eat healthily without number crunching .

 

[Yvessa]

I agree Yve. My dietician has never given me a calorie controlled diet to work from as they would prefer that I just eat healthily... Ie a small side plate filled 50% lean protein about 35% veg and the rest carb if I have room for any. Advised to avoid being overfull at all costs also to drink lots. She feels that once we start throwing numbers and targets in there we get lost in it all and it becomes a chore where as eating a healthy balanced meal is a much more relaxed approach... That doesn't mean we throw caution to the wind. It's teaching us to retrain ourselves to eat healthily without number crunching .[/QUOTE]

My dietician would be pretty cross with me of she knew how strict I was being. But for a while I needed it to move the losses. And if its what it takes then I will probably go back to it in all honesty. Because ultimately I need to know I did everything in my power to hit a healthier weight. That said I don't envision calorie counting for the rest of my life. So I need to start thinking about something a bit more future proof anyway. But I know that moderation and me are not good friends. And that's what I really need to work on. But yes I have gone back to basics and my half quarter quarter approach.

 

[femfrankie]

My dietician got real antsy when I mentioned that i used my fitness pal to her, whoops.. Took a lot to persuade her that it was just so I could keep track of my protein levels....cough cough Hehehe. Once I get the bypass I will look at her way a lot more seriously though. She did say at the time that the target of 50BMI is what is messing with my head at the moment and that as difficult as it was I was to try not think about it..... Yeah right lol