Weight Loss Balloon ~ interesting !

[Kevin1708]

Weight Loss Balloon

Spire Hull are offering a weight loss balloon to those with a BMI of 27 or more (by my calculation a woman of 5’ 6” weighing 12st.lb).

http://www.spirehealthcare.com/Hull/Orbera-Weight-Loss-Balloon/How-Obera-Works/

 

[msunique]

Like a 12st woman needs a sleeve, complete madness!!

 

[Roch]

Lol a Gastric balloon is nothing like a sleeve, it is a temp thing something along the same as a Gastric band but u dont have to have refills. Tbh in my opinion i think they r a total waste of money, i had one when they first came out in the Uk about 12 yrs ago and apart from being violently sick for 2 weeks it did sod all the only thing it did do was anytime i ate anything i had horrendous belching that smelt like rotten drains it was sooo nasty and i paid about 5 grand for the op, very few pct`s offer this as it is not a good wls op xx

 

[Tandydadder]

There's a new adjustable balloon called Spatz and it stays in for a year. I'm currently looking unto it. I think it's only worthwhile if u have lots of support for at least a year after it's removed. Xo

 

[Majella]

My first choice was a balloon but at my consultation I was told by my Surgeon that they are a waste of money, they do not work long term for keeping the weight off and he would not do one, I went for the band. x

 

[The Chopster]

It worked for me when it was in but as soon as they took it out I put the weight back on and more.

 

[Majella]

Chopster, so my consultant was right, a lot of money for a short term fix - which is what we don't want x

 

[novamay]

I'm a bit concerned now - my psychologist thinks a balloon will help me get used to restriction before I go ahead with a bypass later on so I'm happy to do that. However, as I'd met the WL target and now know that I don't have sleep apnea, the surgeon has said he's happy to offer me a bypass following my appointment with the psychologist's and his report.... so I'm a bit confused now as to who has the final say? I'm happy to try the balloon but not looking forward to the side affects. bleergggh.... will have to get some mouth spray and some air freshener!

 

[Kevin1708]

I'm a bit concerned now - my psychologist thinks a balloon will help me get used to restriction before I go ahead with a bypass later on so I'm happy to do that. However, as I'd met the WL target and now know that I don't have sleep apnea, the surgeon has said he's happy to offer me a bypass following my appointment with the psychologist's and his report.... so I'm a bit confused now as to who has the final say? I'm happy to try the balloon but not looking forward to the side affects. bleergggh.... will have to get some mouth spray and some air freshener!

I am guessing it will be a panel decision but don't forget you too have a say ! From what I have read the balloon works well in the short term but that is about that - it is a short term fix which does not truly address the problem. If you have the balloon and then have a loss which makes you fall outside the PCT criteria . . . if the weight does come back then you might have funding issues . . . I have no doubt things will be getting harder as far as funding is concerned . . . good luck with you Journey xxx

 

[novamay]

Thanks Kevin. I'm in a tricky situation. The Mult-Disciplinary Panel have already discussed my case and they support the bypass (pending referral to sleep apnea test and psychologist). I saw the surgical registrar two days before my psych appointment and he said that if the psych goes ok then they would be happy to offer the bypass. At that time I'd not heard anything back from the sleep apnea test even though I had phoned them several times to chase... I now have confirmation that I don't have s/a and the Bariatric team are being informed of this - I think I'll send a copy of the letter to Sunderland just incase...

Well, the psych appointment got me upset as I didn't know what to expect or what he would ask - in the end he recommended that I have further sessions and a balloon. I'm a bit in limbo at the moment - not sure what happens next apart from another psych session on the 14th.

My BMI is around 50, so even if I lost up to three stones with the balloon its unlikely to come down far enough to get me under the criteria - I also have diabetes, HBP and cholestrol which are unlikely to change unless I lost a considerable amount of weight!

 

[gibb100503]

i had the balloon in for 6 months, so i could lose weight to have my sleeve operation, it worked for me, but it was uncomfortable , but effective

 

[novamay]

Im not looking forward to it.... I do like my food but with all the cutting back on portion sizes I now hate feeling bloated and full (very strange I know!) urgh....

 

[gibb100503]

hi novamay , u will find it a bit uncofortable and weird for a few days but you will get used to it, the first few days are worst,

you may feel and be sick and it will feel like you have a golf ball in your tummy, but trust me, it will settle down, and after a while you wont notice it, just make sure after you eat to drink , so it washes the balloon, otherwise food that stays on the balloon will make your breath stinky,

hope it goes ok, if you need any more help or advice please email me

stew

 

[manda1983]

hiya novamay, i had a balloon last year it was done at sunderland by mr.small it was a bit uncomforable at first, i was quite sick for the first few days, but when it settleed down it was fine, i had it taken out in december then had my bad fitted in april, i hope all goes well for you xxx

 

[goofy07]

At the dietician last month she recommended the balloon prior to my bypass surgery. So it would be the balloon for 6 months then 2 months later for the bypass. So a little unsure about how this will work but will hopefully find out more in 6 months

Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

 

[gibb100503]

what they probably mean is they will put in the balloon, and then at the end of 6 months you will have your bypass, and they will remove balloon at same time, cos the balloon can only be in for 6-7 months max.

thats what happened to me.

stew

 

[novamay]

Thanks guys, very helpful to have some positive feedback on the balloon. I've looked on other sites and mostly comments have been negative (possibly they were only using balloon and not having band or bypass afterwards???).

Sorry to be a pain in the butt but I have a couple of questions, if you don't mind:

Manda - did you have a general or local anaesthetic at Sunderland for insertion/removal? I've seen some videos on u-tube and it didn't look very comfortable to have it done while awake? How long did it take?

Stew - would they really do both at once - balloon removal and bypass? Hopefully the 6-7 months would give me chance to work on my emotional issues around food and improve food choices; I'd hate to risk going from not being able to eat much to then knowing that I could eat large portions for a couple of months (I don't think I trust myself - yet!) Definitely something to work on with the psychologist....

I wondered also if anyone noticed any physical change to their stomaches once the balloon is removed - does the stomach 'shrink' at all, or do you just get in the habit of eating less?

What was the restriction like - did it ease off over the months? I've read elsewhere that some could eat basically what they were eating before; whilst some couldn't eat much at all.

ta.

 

[gibb100503]

hi,
firstly it depends on how much anathestic they give u, i had it done twice, the first time i was knocked out and didnt feel a thing, but they couldnt put in the balloon cos of ulcers, and the econd time a few weeks later i was awake, i had a local spray on my throat etc. but i was awake and it wasnt nice, but it didnt take long.

secondly - they would take out the ballon and do bypass at same time, in my case they took away the gastric band, i had, removed the balloon and did a gastric sleeve on me, i was in theatre nearly 5 hours, but everything was fine, i was home after 3 days, and i weighed well over 32 stone. at the time

so please try not to worry about it, in a couple of months after it youll wonder what the fuss was, but just remember - when u have had bypass or balloon, listen to your stomach, when u feel full stop eating , but try and drink as much as poss. cos dehydration is what causes loads of problems. also and finally the bypass, balloon, sleeve etc. is only a tool to help you, they can stretch over time if u over fill them- stomach that is, i have abused mine in the past and got nowhere because of it, just felt ill, but now i feel on the right path.
golden rules (in my book anyway) - drink lots, exercise, watch your portion size and main one listen to your stomach when it says im full - dont eat nothing else.

hope that all helps

take care
stew

 

[manda1983]

hi novamay, are you on facebook? i had it fitted under concious sedation and throat numbing spray, the worst part was the gagging as they were putting it in and the sickness, it didnt take long from start to finish and i was quite lucky as i only needed one night in hospital to be honest i thought the worst part was having it removed, it wasnt a pleasnt experience, but again was over in a few minutes, i also found after a cpl of months of it being in that my portion sizes needed to be bigger as i wasnt feeling full as quick, i also regained most of the weight lost, then 12 weeks after having it removed i had a band fitted, when are you getting your balloon?

 

[novamay]

Thanks guys - I really appreciate your responses.

Manda - I'm not sure yet - this year I hope!!! Still waiting to see what the psychologist report is to the panel. I know that he said they would probably do it at the same time as an endoscopy - double whoopie! I think its 6-8 weeks for endoscopy at Sunderland, but not sure what the waiting list is for the balloon. But all depends on when the psych thinks I'm ready I guess.

ha, I do have a fb account but have only been on it once or twice and I have forgot the password!!! sad.... :character00148:

Stew - thanks for the advice. I guess that its a small price to pay if it ultimately helps me. I'm an emotional eater and hopefully over the next couple of months I can work on this and rather than turning to food I will be able to face situations and tell people when they upset me or p-me off, and also to celebrate without food being the main focus, etc.