Gastric Balloon - Advice PLEASE!!

[hayley1983]

Ahh hun I feel for you. I have had a camera down and I still have nightmares about it even now.

Why do they not put people to sleep for the Balloon I wonder?

xxx

 

[J-Mo]

Its supposed to be a less 'invasive' procedure. I'm told majority of people who have balloon do so in order to lose weight before they have anaesthetic to undergo the band or bypass. This isn't the case with me though so I'm not sure how true that is.

 

[Rebirth]

I'm sorry to hear that the GB wasn't sorted out today. I was told that the majority of people who have it have it to lose weight prior to further wls.

 

[gaelic girl]

Hi Sorry things didn't go right for you today hopefully in 2 weeks time there will be better news for you. Can you ask for sedation if they try again instead of the spray. When i had the camera i took the sedation which apparently affects your short term memory and to this day over 4 years later i could.nt tell you what happened when they did it. I hope everything works out for you x

 

[J-Mo]

I did have sedation but it must have been very mild 'cos I was totally aware of everything & can remember evry detail. Even now I'm having difficulty swallowing & feel I have a lump stuck in the back of my throat. I'm having to keep sipping water!

Hopefully I'll get sorted soon

 

[Roch]

Hun i have been reading your posts the past few days and wanted to tell you that i had a gastric balloon 11 yrs ago when the procedure first came out in the UK, think i might of been one of my surgeons private guinea pigs lol. I had the tube put down my throat under anaesthetic and i was a lot bigger than you i think i was about 24 stone.
I did not want to post b4 about my experience as you were so scared so i decided to wait. For me it was not successful but i think that had a lot to do with that my after care was terrible,and i had probs with my hernia that were not diagnosed at the time, i travelled from London to liverpool as it was the only hospital doing the procedure and discharged myself 3 hrs post opp and came home on the train on my own lmao not very sensible.
I felt exactly how you feel now difficulty swallowing and like a lump in my throat but that will ease in a few days.
For me i think if i had had proper after care and a doc who cared about his patients, and took some time to see if i had other health probs ie thorough pre op tests, which all hospitals do now days and not just thinking bout the £`s then i think it would of been successful for me, as it is meant to work similar to a band but less invasive as the balloon is meant to make u feel full as it def does, but as i did not have any after care at all which is shameful and also i had probs with an enlarged hiatus hernia so the 2 do did not work well at all.

Pls dont feel ur a failure as that is not the case at all, i was totally knocked out for the procedure so maybe that is something to speak to ur consultant about as that way you will be able to have the procedure done and then its full steam ahead for you.
Take care hun xxx
Hun a

 

[J-Mo]

Thanks 'The-new-Roch' for ur post. I'm trying to stay positive but I'm not doing it well, ha, ha!!!!

I just disappointed & blame myself for not being able to do it, for not sticking up for myself when people in the hospital made the negative comments & for not telling people the truth as to why I was going into hospital. As its such a personal thing I just told people I was having the camera down & as I suffer badly from IBS everyone swallowed it (pardon the pun - ha, ha!!!!!!!!!)

Now I'm left with egg on my face 'cos I couldn't even have the camera down. My dad & kids would be disgusted with me if they knew the truth 'cos although they know I desperately want to lose weight they think "there's nowt wrong with you"!!

Anyway, good luck to everyone who's due to go in for surgery & to those who've undergone it!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish you all the best & take care

 

[Roch]

Thanks 'The-new-Roch' for ur post. I'm trying to stay positive but I'm not doing it well, ha, ha!!!!

I just disappointed & blame myself for not being able to do it, for not sticking up for myself when people in the hospital made the negative comments & for not telling people the truth as to why I was going into hospital. As its such a personal thing I just told people I was having the camera down & as I suffer badly from IBS everyone swallowed it (pardon the pun - ha, ha!!!!!!!!!)

Now I'm left with egg on my face 'cos I couldn't even have the camera down. My dad & kids would be disgusted with me if they knew the truth 'cos although they know I desperately want to lose weight they think "there's nowt wrong with you"!!

Anyway, good luck to everyone who's due to go in for surgery & to those who've undergone it!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish you all the best & take care

Hun no one will be disgusted with you at all, having a tube put down your throat is very hard especially if u have probs with gag re flex is not a nice thing and is not easy at all.
3 yrs ago i had a camera put down my nose and down my throat it took them 3 attempts as i just could not manage it and i had to have a sedative and i was barely awake when they finally manage it, so ur not alone.
You will have ur surgery soon hun they just need to find an alternative way and then u will take ur first steps on the losers bench and i look forward to reading about the next steps of ur journey.
Pls dont be so hard on urself its not ur fault and u will get ur surgery and soon the pounds will be dropping off you.
Hun i 2 find it hard to stick up for myself when people make comments or say things that are hurtful but am sure when u lose some weight and start feeling good and positive that will change.
If u dont want to tell people what u r having done then that is ur prerogative and pls dont feel no way about it at all.
Only a about 5 people out of all my family and friends know i am hoping to have wls the rest will if need be told that i am having probs with my hernia hence going into hospital and that will be after my surgery, there are many of us who have only told a few people about our surgeries so again hun ur not alone there.
Take care hun and pls remember u r not alone we r here to hold ur hand through ur journey and to support you xxxx

 

[gaelic girl]

J-Mo
Keep posting with us so we can support you. I had a lot of sedation too i can't even get impressions at the dentist but i'm in trouble so you are not a failure and you will get there x

 

[J-Mo]

Thanks everone for ur support its just I'm on a downer at mo!!!! Hopefully I'll be okay in day or two, like I usually am when I had a knock.

My O/H keeps telling me I'm not a failure too, but thats how I feel. I was offered a 'lifeline' but couldn't do it.

I probably be okay in day or two & be on to Dr's wanting explanation's for my treatment, or lack of it.

Again I'd like to sincerely thank every single one of you for your support 'cos I truely appreciate it.

Take care

 

[Roch]

Thanks everone for ur support its just I'm on a downer at mo!!!! Hopefully I'll be okay in day or two, like I usually am when I had a knock.

My O/H keeps telling me I'm not a failure too, but thats how I feel. I was offered a 'lifeline' but couldn't do it.

I probably be okay in day or two & be on to Dr's wanting explanation's for my treatment, or lack of it.

Again I'd like to sincerely thank every single one of you for your support 'cos I truely appreciate it.

Take care

Hun thats wat MM is all about we are all here for each other to support each other through the good times and the hard times.
Hun ur lifeline is still there but has just been delayed a few weeks till a suitable way to perform the procedure is sorted out.
Pls listen to ur husband and pls dont be so hard on urslef this is just a temp blip and will be sorted out.
Take care hun and have a good night xxx

 

[32bme]

Hi Jo , I can understand what it felt like as i had the ballon inserted some time ago the fear i felt whilst in the treatment room was terrible .
I talked myself calm before i went and made a decision to have the anasetic,first i had the throat spray, Banana yuk then a quick acting jab in the front of hand and i was very woozzy and like some one else said the deed was done. I can remember being very very relaxed and i just kept swallowing the ballon was in before i knew it .

The nurse was in the room and spoke reassuring to me all the time it took about 15 mins.
It was not painful at all just a little discomfort as the folded up ballon pasted into my stomach seconds........... really.

Did you have same thing or just the spray which is really just a bacterial relaxant ,.?

 

[J-Mo]

32bme

My experience was nothing like that. He gave me the spray which felt like I was being choked then I lay down & they gave me the so-called anaesthetic to sedate me.

Maybe its cos I got the constitution (or maybe the arse of) an ox, it made no difference at all.

I feel like I'm on an emotional see-saw at the moment. One minute I feel positive, I'll be sorted in few weks then the next I just wanna curl up in a ball & cry or die or even both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[32bme]

Is the person doing it a specialist at this type of procedure, as mine was done by someone who had lots of experience and talked me through it directely before procedure and all the way through it.

As you said it sounded nothing like mine which worked in seconds and i went home by taxi 1 hour later when i had sipped 50mls of water and it stayed down .

i do hope you can have it done as the weight loss is very rapid........

 

[32bme]

Just been thinking you must be able to have a G.A.
and spend the night recovering
Blonde Moment stayed in for a couple of days because of medical issues i think.
get up to 50 posts and p.m us about it in more detail if you like as we cant pass emails etc over the forum for obvious reasons.

Try to be positive i know you must feel desperate as i was too.

 

[BlondeMoment]

Hi J-Mo

Just catching up on your post as it was the day before you were due the proceedure and it was a little late to wish you luck.
Sorry to hear it didnt go as planned but please dont get disheartened ,i went for a bypass about a year ago and i was stapled up and sent home due to a fatty liver,and i thought sod it,why am i bothering and called for a macdonalds on the way home,but when i got home i looked up on the internet about the gastric balloon and made a phone call to Mr Ackroyds secretary saying i wanted it asap.So like i say please dont let it get to you.
When i had the balloon inserted i had a local anesthetic and a spray to the back of my throat,i laid on my left side on a bed and before i knew it,it was all done,but i was awake and i didnt feel a thing.
I was in hospital from Weds-Saturday as they wouldnt let me out until i stopped being sick,and i could keep water down,which then progressed to slimfast ,the hospital was really good i know it sounds disgusting but they monitored the about of fluids coming up and the amount i wee`d,and the amount i was drinking to make sure the balance was right.
I had read on the internet i would be out the same day but this wasnt the case,i was told after the proceedure i would be in for a few days.
I lost 3st 3lbs in the 6 months i had it,which i didnt think was alot as i had read on the forum some ppl had lost upto 5st,but the surgeon told me that some ppl dont loose anything and he was really pleased with me.
I used the balloon as a stepping stone to get the bypass i originally wanted but then changed my mind and had the gastric sleeve.

Personally i would be asking why you werent offered a local anesthetic and could you try the proceedure again with it,thats if you feel you could go through it again.
Please dont feel like a failure ,i always say things happen for a reason and my failed bypass was a wake up call for me to change my life style ,i was a binge drinker and i ate all the wrong foods so it probably saved my life.
Dont give up,if you want the balloon and you were given the funding for it,then you are meant to have it,go for it again ask the relevant questions ,good luck.

My email addy is as follows if you need advice and i can help please use it,i work shifts and i dont always get on here.
Expose Email

Good Luck

xx

 

[Snowcrystal]

Hi J-Mo

Just catching up on your post as it was the day before you were due the proceedure and it was a little late to wish you luck.
Sorry to hear it didnt go as planned but please dont get disheartened ,i went for a bypass about a year ago and i was stapled up and sent home due to a fatty liver,and i thought sod it,why am i bothering and called for a macdonalds on the way home,but when i got home i looked up on the internet about the gastric balloon and made a phone call to Mr Ackroyds secretary saying i wanted it asap.So like i say please dont let it get to you.
When i had the balloon inserted i had a local anesthetic and a spray to the back of my throat,i laid on my left side on a bed and before i knew it,it was all done,but i was awake and i didnt feel a thing.
I was in hospital from Weds-Saturday as they wouldnt let me out until i stopped being sick,and i could keep water down,which then progressed to slimfast ,the hospital was really good i know it sounds disgusting but they monitored the about of fluids coming up and the amount i wee`d,and the amount i was drinking to make sure the balance was right.
I had read on the internet i would be out the same day but this wasnt the case,i was told after the proceedure i would be in for a few days.
I lost 3st 3lbs in the 6 months i had it,which i didnt think was alot as i had read on the forum some ppl had lost upto 5st,but the surgeon told me that some ppl dont loose anything and he was really pleased with me.
I used the balloon as a stepping stone to get the bypass i originally wanted but then changed my mind and had the gastric sleeve.

Personally i would be asking why you werent offered a local anesthetic and could you try the proceedure again with it,thats if you feel you could go through it again.
Please dont feel like a failure ,i always say things happen for a reason and my failed bypass was a wake up call for me to change my life style ,i was a binge drinker and i ate all the wrong foods so it probably saved my life.
Dont give up,if you want the balloon and you were given the funding for it,then you are meant to have it,go for it again ask the relevant questions ,good luck.

My email addy is as follows if you need advice and i can help please use it,i work shifts and i dont always get on here.
Expose Email

Good Luck

xx

Sorry to hijack but just wanted to say well done Blondemoment on your fantastic weight loss.

(((hugs)))

 

[Boblatina]

Thanks everone for ur support its just I'm on a downer at mo!!!! Hopefully I'll be okay in day or two, like I usually am when I had a knock.

My O/H keeps telling me I'm not a failure too, but thats how I feel. I was offered a 'lifeline' but couldn't do it.

I probably be okay in day or two & be on to Dr's wanting explanation's for my treatment, or lack of it.

Again I'd like to sincerely thank every single one of you for your support 'cos I truely appreciate it.

Take care

J-Mo you are certainly NOT a failure - you have been let down by the NHS.

I am not the kind of person who screams "complain!" or "sue!" as soon as I hear a story of someone who hasn't had things go entirely their way but, in your case, I really hope you complain. You should not have been treated with such contempt by the medical staff and I hope that you name names.

What I have learned with my job (not medical but often dealing with people who are under a lot of stress) is that you often have to bite your tongue - you might think that what you are saying is friendly or funny but it can be very hurtful. When I was last at the hospital I was weighed and I was found to have put on quite a bit of weight:cry:My shame was made far worse by the nurse tying to crack a funny "Have you actually been to the toilet at all since you were weighed last??") and although I wasn't angry I was definitely a bit miffed.

IMHO your treatment went far beyond this kind of thing and you really should complain. (I have complained once myself after I joined a new GP's practice and the practice nurse started evangalising to me and telling me that all my problems came from my lack of faith )

May I ask - what is the thinking (for want of a better word) behind you having the balloon? I thought that it was a pretty unusual procedure that was only normally used for people who weren't really able to take a general anaesthetic. (This looks like it is not the case with you so I am interested in finding out where I am wrong and learning something new)

Good luck

TillyBob

 

[BlondeMoment]

Sorry to hijack but just wanted to say well done Blondemoment on your fantastic weight loss.

(((hugs)))

Thankyou SnowCrystal,my journey hasnt been a easy one but i am really happy with my weight loss so far.
Just want to add good luck to all those seeking funding and to those who are now on the loosing side.


xxx

 

[J-Mo]

Thank-you every1 for ur kind words, advice & support, I really do appreciate it.

To Boblatina, I've no idea why they decided to give me the balloon instead of the band or bypass, it was not explained to me. Obviously I big but not too big for a general anaesthetic.

Thanks again everyone