Posts by Timothy Reed8

Hey ladies!
I had my balloon removed on December 31st. It was almost two weeks ahead of schedule, but my doctor and I agreed it was the best move for practical reasons.

Bottom line? My results aren't amazing—the "yo-yo effect" totally caught up with me. I’m back to my old self, just adapting to life as usual, haha. 😛 I dropped 12 kg in the first two months, then gained four back.

Still, I'm happy with it. I know deep down I just had to do this because six months ago, I was right on the edge... of losing my mind. Honestly, I needed something drastic to pull me back from the brink. Maybe sounds pathetic, but that’s how it felt—just totally helpless. This surgery gave me the kickstart I needed, and things actually started looking up. I lost some weight, sure—way less than I hoped—but it counts. Plus, I finally found love. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, but I don't think it would've happened if I hadn't gone through this. Even landed a new job.

Long story short... these procedures help, more or less, if you're tough enough to handle them. But at the end of the day, you still have to face your own demons. You either fight them or keep burying them, but they always find a way to resurface eventually.

Heh... whenever I type stuff here, I can't help but feel like these posts belong in a psychology forum. 🙂

Catch ya later!

Good grief... looks like almost everyone vanished from here... hope it’s not for the same reasons I disappeared...

I messed up...
... everything was going great for two months... dropped 25 pounds and then, boom, back to square one... the gastric sleeve has officially moved in and made itself at home... and me? Well, my primal instinct kicked in and I started "healing" my stress and my crappy love life with good old-fashioned comfort food... you know how it is...
The truth is, I know I’d be eating way more if I didn't have this balloon in my gut, but even so, the bloat takes up all the space and I'm still gaining weight... just slower... but still gaining.

Real talk... I’ve got two months left... but I’m starting to wonder... what's the point of any of this anymore? I’m just spent... after this latest mess with the balloon... I'm terrified that whole "everything happens for a reason" cliché doesn't apply to me.

Hey everyone!
Life’s been a total circus lately, so I’m barely keeping my head above water.

About the balloon... honestly, it’s settled into my stomach so perfectly I don't even feel it. Like, zero sensation.
It takes up just enough space that I'm eating totally reasonable amounts without feeling like I'm starving myself. It actually feels like my stomach is back to its natural volume. I probably stretched it out way too much over the years anyway. I feel great—not obsessed with food because I get full when I should, eat a normal amount, and the cravings just aren't there.
Who knows what happens once they take it out, though.

I have no clue how many pounds I've actually dropped. I weighed myself a month after the procedure and I was down 6.5lbs. In two weeks, it'll be two months since then, so we'll see. I don't think I lost much during this second month. For me, weight loss depends heavily on how much I move around, because if I start being super restrictive with food, it drives me insane and always backfires in the end.
I'm gonna try to hit the gym more once things settle down a bit.

Man... if only I could keep this balloon in forever... for the first time in ages, I actually have a normal relationship with food.

Sending good vibes to you all—fingers crossed you all crush your goals.

Timothy Reed8

Benjamin Sanchez51 said:Hey ladies!
New here... Nikolić told me there were discussions online 🙂🙂 so I figured I'd pop in! Getting my gastric balloon this Tuesday.

Everything moved so fast... he’s going on vacation starting August 1st, and I guess I just got lucky since the waitlist isn't nearly as crazy as it is for the sleeve or bypass.

Honestly, I don't even know what to say, it all happened way too quick 😁😁😁 I thought I wouldn't be doing anything until fall, but hey, better sooner rather than later!

Timothy Reed8, I have a million questions for you 😁

I'm trying to gather all the info and stick to the rules like glue... feels like the only way to survive this.

If anyone can help, I'm wondering about post-op stuff:
- multivitamins
- pain meds
- what's MANDATORY to take with the balloon so it doesn't burst? (Lanzul, Ortoloc? Or something else?)

My immune system is kind of trashed, so I might need extra supplements, but I'm not sure if that's safe. What meds are you guys taking? What's the diet like? How many days am I stuck on just water? And after that? What should I stock up on now so I'm not running to the drugstore or the doctor's office later?

He mentioned I just need a referral for the hospital and gastroenterology, and that's basically it. Does anyone know how much the stay and the whole procedure costs? I don't have extra insurance coverage.

Anyway, I'm still reeling... gotta dig out my hospital gown and slippers this weekend, because by Tuesday, I'll have my little baby. 😁

Look, once you're at the hospital, they'll give you Controloc, Regnal (for nausea), and Trammal (for pain). You’ll be on Controloc for six months straight—make sure you grab some to have on hand—just to protect the balloon and your stomach. They'll probably tell you to take Regnal, Trammal, and Spasmex (for cramps) as needed during those first few days while your stomach adjusts to the balloon.

Prep-wise, the main thing is just eating something light the day before so you can actually handle the whole ordeal. And obviously, show up to the hospital fasting.

For the first three days after the placement, it's nothing but liquids... water, natural juices, milk. Man, I was puking everything. Seriously, everything. I couldn't keep a single thing down. It was wild—even water felt like too much sometimes. I think a tiny bit of apple juice managed to stay down, though. That was the only thing that didn't make me feel sick.

God knows how it'll go for you, hope it's better, but there was no way I was doing anything on day two, let alone going to work. I had zero energy, constant vomiting, cramping, non-stop pain. So, fingers crossed your stomach plays nicer than mine did... 😉 And brace yourself... there are moments where the whole thing just gets annoying. 🙂

If you have to head back to work on Thursday and you're feeling totally wiped, try sipping some low-fat milk... if you can manage it.

By day four or five, I could handle soft foods... cooked fruit, sugar-free compote, veggie broth.

Around day six, I started slowly getting back to real food—obviously avoiding anything fried or heavy, keeping portions small, and chewing like crazy.

Now, the balloon and I are basically one person. Half the time I don't even notice it's there. It only starts acting up when I'm dehydrated... it really demands that I keep drinking, which I actually don't mind. 🙂
Food-wise, I can eat pretty much anything; it doesn't complain, so it's all on me to choose. We're a team now... 🙂

A day in the hospital will run you about $20, maybe a little more depending on the place.

It’s gonna be fine, Benjamin Sanchez51, just take it slow and be patient... 👍

Fair point, I totally botched my wording regarding the IV. You’re getting it while you're actually stuck in the hospital bed.
Once you finally get discharged, you're basically just living off liquids at first. For me, the first three days were a nightmare; I couldn't keep anything down. Every single thing I swallowed came right back up. It was freaking exhausting... 😲 ...it was honestly a miracle because I wasn't even dizzy or dealing with a headache.

When they let you out of the hospital, they give you discharge instructions and they're pretty decent. Can't really compare them to the ones for a laptop, though, since I don't know anything about those.

Austin Lopez4 said:Timothy Reed8, walk me through the process. When did you get there, when did they hook you up, and when were you out of there?
What kind of side effects are we talking about—you still breathing? 🙂🙂🙂
Props to you! You finally made it happen, huh!

Yes N. 😉, finally got it done! 🙂

I have zero clue what the actual procedure felt like because I was totally passed out 😛 .

I spent one day at the hospital—showed up, they put it in after about an hour and a half, I just lay there and slept (well, "slept" is a stretch 🙄) and was discharged the next day.

The side effects for those first three days? Absolute hell... brutal nausea, pains, cramps, vomiting, and the worst part is you can't even throw up because you're hooked up to an IV. You can't sleep, you don't know how to get comfortable, whether to lie down, sit up, or just scream 😲 Honestly, you need nerves of steel for this...

The folks at the hospital told me I was a pretty average case regarding side effects; some people have it way worse, others barely feel a thing. Guess it just depends on how sensitive your stomach is.

By the fourth day, things started getting back to normal. I'm okay now, just feeling a bit weak since I haven't been eating much, but it'll be fine. Already dropped a few pounds too. Not complaining. 🙂

Lisa Rodriguez13 said:Timothy Reed8,
please reach out... I'm waiting on you☕

I tried sending you a DM, but it's giving me some error saying you either turned off your messages or you aren't allowed to get them🙂

Hey everyone!
Looks like nobody’s really feeling the balloon stuff as much as the Lap discussions, so I'll just drop a quick note that I put in a balloon last week. If anyone needs a hand or some info, hit me up. Happy to help.

😍

Casey Morgan26 said:Lucky you, working in a lab... I always dreamed of doing something like that. Not molecular biology specifically, mind you, but something in that vein...
The truth is, I didn't major in bio because there wasn't a program like that in my hometown, and honestly? I just didn't have the guts. I was this confused, overweight kid back when I was nineteen. I moved to a new district during high school and just never felt like I fit in. I stopped doing everything I actually loved. I ended up gaining over twenty pounds back then—just a cycle of binge eating and then trying to starve myself to lose it. That’s basically how my high school years went... just eating...
So, I ended up enrolling in what I did enroll in. I sat through classes and studied, even though my heart wasn't in it, mostly just because I wanted to get it over with as fast as possible...
If I had actually studied what I was passionate about, I probably would have been an incredible student. I would have finished without all this struggle...
In the end, I felt the most regret during my freshman year. Later on, I managed to push those feelings down, sort of bury them. But then, right as I was becoming a senior, the insomnia hit. And since I had no idea what to do with myself, I turned to meditation. That's when it all came flooding back—everything I had spent years trying to suppress. I suddenly felt like I was fifteen again. I thought I had left that version of myself in the past, thought I had buried it and put it to rest, but there I was, feeling like a teenager. This intense, overwhelming longing for the things I used to love... it was like a total split in my personality. Like the fifteen-year-old inside me was demanding to live a completely different life, somewhere else entirely from where I am now...
Instead, I've dragged myself to this point through pure misery, making endless sacrifices and struggling through mediocre grades—though, frankly, I couldn't care less about the grades...
Now, I'm just listless. I have zero motivation to study this garbage, yet at the same time, I'm frustrated with myself for dragging out this damn degree for so long...
And deep down, I know I don't see myself ever working in the field this degree is actually for...
I just don't know what to do with my life. I have no drive, no will, and nothing brings me any joy anymore...
When I look back at the last eight or nine years, it feels like a complete waste. Years of endurance and bitterness, followed by binge eating and weight gain, several depressive episodes, and now, finally, nine and a half months of brutal insomnia—which hasn't really let up, just softened slightly...
I'm just sick of everything. Honestly, it would have been better if I had never been born. If I were to drop dead tomorrow, I wouldn't have anything to mourn, nor would I feel any regret...
So much of my life has slipped away uselessly. My best years, gone forever, for nothing...
I used to have the strength and the energy to fight, to keep pushing forward, but toward what? In the end, all I get is this massive void, this profound hopelessness, dark circles under my eyes, and headaches from lack of sleep. Just heavy, agonizing moments and this crushing pressure in my head—it's psychological, I don't even know how to describe it...
And I'm just furious. I hate myself, I hate my family, I hate everything around me...
I've just realized that nothing is working out for me. It's just not meant to be. And if it isn't, then what's the point in fighting? It's futile...
It seems like my family and their constant drama and nonsense will follow me for the rest of my life. I thought moving out would fix it, that I could escape it all, but clearly, that was an illusion...

It won't stop... not as long as you let them poison your head.
I'm dealing with the exact same crap. It's a constant fight. Sometimes things get so heated with my mom we’re basically one argument away from a knife fight—I honestly think one of us is gonna snap... and then it's back to square one.

As for the big picture? Yeah, pretty much identical. Throwing myself into a new environment where I don't fit, a college degree I hate, which led to a job I hate, which forced me to move all over again to some random city, barely having any friends, family constantly draining my mental health, and to top it all off... I eat my feelings and gain weight.

In the last year, things have started shifting a bit. Nothing massive happened to knock me off my feet and bring me back to life, but I finally realized I gotta be just as kind, empathetic, and helpful to myself as I am to everyone else. Once you do that, the way people treat you starts changing too. Basically, you get what you put out there.
Changing stuff that was drilled into you since you were a kid is brutal, but thank Quentin we can actually make progress so we don't end up totally losing our minds.

Hang in there.
Try to stop stressing about what everyone expects from you, or what you "should" do, or what's considered normal... instead, focus on the fact that you're the only one living your life. No one else gets how hard it is to deal with this stuff every single day except for you.

Brandon Sullivan49 said:Timothy Reed8, where did you go for those blood tests?
When I went to the Mayo Clinic, everything came straight to my house by mail within two weeks.
If I were in your shoes, I’d definitely give them a call and see what the hold-up is...

p.s. wishing everyone the best of luck with the balloon 🙂

I had them done at the Vineyard hospital.
Dr. Mirošević told me it would take about three weeks for the results.
I figured I'd just wait out this week first, maybe they'll show up and then I'll call... probably the lab? 🙂 I'm already waiting on Miroković anyway, so I might as well try to line everything up at once...

Thanks... wishing you luck with the balloon too 😉

Hey Austin Lopez4!

Welcome to our little corner of the internet!🙂
The more people we have, the better... because honestly, there’s barely any info to go around here!

I’m still stuck in the exact same spot... just waiting... I had my hormone bloodwork done on May 2nd, and I still haven't seen the results. Ugh... at first, I thought the delay was actually helping me firm up my decision, but now I'm starting to freak out that maybe something went wrong somewhere... since it's been a full month already.

I had an appointment with a psychologist scheduled for today, but I had to force myself to reschedule, so the new date is June 13th. (And before you ask how that happened... as soon as I got the first date, I found out at work I couldn't make it... so I asked to move it immediately... but you know how it is with Mirković, the wait is endless... and they won't even recognize tests done elsewhere)

Austin Lopez4 ... (it feels so weird typing your name, like I'm constantly surprised by something 😛) ... I really hope things line up for you in June like you planned... it would be great if things worked out for me too, then we could go through this together...😉

Ladies, Miroševićka is totally losing her mind with work... looks like she had one of those days today.
Honestly, I never bought that innocent act she puts on, but who cares? As long as she does her job right, fine.
I’ve had my fair share of heated phone arguments with her too, followed by a lot of figuring things out on my own, but yeah... it’s always the same story... just pure, relentless stubbornness... 😉

For instance... nobody even bothered to ask me about my cycle...

Anyway, there's such an influx of overweight people over near the Vinogradski area lately that even their initial hype about installation projects and all that stuff has kinda fizzled out. Makes sense. 😛

Copy that... doesn't matter how long you have to wait, just wait... in the meantime, do whatever you want, but don't quit. Keep some backup in reserve... because maybe down the road you'll change your mind and decide on a balloon or a little ribbon instead... 🙂 ...you know how we thick-skinned types are... once we snap, we think we can just spitefully drop a massive amount of weight in a couple of months, but then reality hits us way too often... 🤷... so, let's stay tough, let's not give in 🙂

Mirković is on vacation, yeah... I got him right before he left and he scheduled me for June 3rd. We'll squeeze you in somewhere there too! 😉

Scott Perez57 said:Regarding the nausea, I think it’s purely individual. My stomach just didn't want to accept the balloon, which led to the vomiting and excessive acid reflux. Honestly, I don't think it'll be any different today or ever—it's just how everyone reacts differently. I met people in the waiting room who were recovering for up to a month on heavy medication, while others didn't even feel like they'd had it put in at all.

I'm pissed off! 😠 Looks like they were sugarcoating the recovery process for me! 😕 I’m gonna have to seriously map this out before I book the procedure, because there's zero room for me being sick at work.

Anonymous said:I’ve got a date with Nikolić on Wednesday, followed by an appointment with my endocrinologist later that day. YAY! So, when should I actually go in for the hormone blood work? Should I do it the next day, or just squeeze it in the same day?

I just had my appointment with Dr. Mirošević all in one go. As for when you’ll be doing blood work or the rest of the endocrine testing, that really just depends on what she tells you.

Scott Perez57 said:So, here’s my take—this is how I actually experienced the balloon...

Six months is a blink of an eye if you're trying to overhaul your lifestyle—things like eating smaller, more frequent meals and actually choosing quality ingredients over junk...
Ideally, you lose about 20 to 35 pounds with the balloon, which keeps the doctors happy. But honestly, the point isn't having the balloon inside you during those six months; it’s what happens after it's out—making sure the weight doesn't crawl back, but rather that the loss continues...
Recovery isn't exactly a walk in the park—at least not for most people. You basically have this watery, silicone ball sitting in your stomach that your body is constantly trying to reject, which leads to pain and acid reflux. Of course, they give you meds for the heartburn and burping... As for food, almost everything is eventually allowed, but you have to take it slow. It’s similar to the gastric band or sleeve procedures—you move from liquids to soft foods to solids. For me specifically, peppers were a nightmare, but I could handle everything else just fine, even though I was warned about fatty foods—which didn't end up being an issue for me.
My recovery after the procedure—which was done under local anesthesia—took about two weeks. I spent one of those weeks stuck in bed dealing with pain and vomiting.
With the balloon, I didn't really feel that sense of fullness, which might be why my "only" 10-kilogram loss felt underwhelming—though I put quotes around that because, according to the doctors, it's a solid result. But look, the real results are measured a year down the line. The whole goal of the balloon isn't just the initial drop; it's preventing the rebound and keeping the weight coming down after it's removed, which is exactly what happened for me (go me).
The balloon only stays in for six months because after that, the stomach acid can irritate it enough to cause a rupture, which leads to complications. The liquid used to fill it is blue, so if it pops, you'll know immediately.
All in all, my opinion? The balloon is a great tool for someone looking to drop maybe 40 or 50 pounds, but if you need to lose significantly more than that, it isn't the solution.

If you have more questions, feel free to ask!

Thanks for sharing, Scott Perez57!

This all sounds fine to me, except for the recovery and the vomiting part... I feel like things are a bit different now... maybe a week max until the nausea settles down.

I'll definitely reach out if I have more questions, but gotta run! 😍

Anonymous said:Timothy Reed8, thanks! :-) Do you usually live in the NYC area?

tamarix, regarding food—I honestly think it becomes a catch-all substitute for everything. It’s comfort, it's pain relief, it's how people deal with anxiety or fear. In your case, I suspect if you can just tackle those underlying emotions first, the weight will naturally start dropping. People dealing with depression or high anxiety tend to gain weight, but the pounds aren't the root issue; they actually need someone to talk to. Think about whether that's what's happening with you and if you might be focusing on the wrong thing.

Timothy Reed8, my BMI is 39, and my blood pressure spikes every now and then. My triglycerides have always been high, and now a few other things are off too. Do you think I'll qualify for the program for free?

Is that first appointment just for the consultation and measurements, or should I expect more than that on the same day? 🙂 I really don't want to be caught off guard 😁 by a gastroscopy. 😁 It feels a bit sketchy because they asked me to bring in all my medical referrals immediately, except for the one for the psychologist!

Is there a specific daily calorie goal recommended while you have the "balloon" in, and once it's out?

Don't sweat it... they asked me for all my paperwork upfront too, but it’s just so they can get everything ready. If they can bundle a few tests together to save time, why wouldn't they?🙂
My first visit was strictly just the consultation and everything else I mentioned before.
The rest happened step by step.
An endoscopy... ugh, nightmare!😲

There are certain rules you gotta follow when you have the balloon, and you seriously need to stick to those habits afterward. Otherwise, what's even the point of the balloon? I'm really hoping I can actually make it stick. 🙂
I haven't found the actual meal plan yet, but it'll turn up eventually...😉

Anonymous said:Timothy Reed8, thanks! :-) Do you usually live in the NYC area?

tamarix, regarding food—I honestly think it becomes a catch-all substitute for everything. It’s comfort, it's pain relief, it's how people deal with anxiety or fear. In your case, I suspect if you can just tackle those underlying emotions first, the weight will naturally start dropping. People dealing with depression or high anxiety tend to gain weight, but the pounds aren't the root issue; they actually need someone to talk to. Think about whether that's what's happening with you and if you might be focusing on the wrong thing.

Timothy Reed8, my BMI is 39, and my blood pressure spikes every now and then. My triglycerides have always been high, and now a few other things are off too. Do you think I'll qualify for the program for free?

Is that first appointment just for the consultation and measurements, or should I expect more than that on the same day? 🙂 I really don't want to be caught off guard 😁 by a gastroscopy. 😁 It feels a bit sketchy because they asked me to bring in all my medical referrals immediately, except for the one for the psychologist!

Is there a specific daily calorie goal recommended while you have the "balloon" in, and once it's out?

From what I know, I think they'll cover the balloon for you. Your BMI is over 35 and you've got high blood pressure. That alone should do it. As for the triglycerides and everything else, we'll have to dig deeper and ask Dr. Nikolić.

I'm not from Chicago, but I'm out your way all the time. 😉

cosmicskipper222 said:Honestly, I think I’m just terrified and that's why I need sugar.
It's like... I get cold and anxious and everything just feels heavy, unfortunately.
You have to find some way to fill the void with something else, but food is just right there, handheld, and it works instantly.🙄

Yeah... I totally agree that you gotta focus on stuff other than eating.
But you can't force it. God knows I've tried every trick in the book... 🙄
I feel like I need to actually get to know myself—to find the version of me I've been smothering with junk food for ages. Like someone once told me... I need to find the new Timothy Reed8 and actually look out for her.🙂

I can't believe I have to deal with this crap again. Seriously? Another day, another headache. Just when you think things are finally smoothing out, something else hits the fan. It’s like the universe is just waiting to trip me up. Honestly, I'm about two seconds away from losing it. This whole situation is such a joke. Absolute garbage. kaže:
So, what does that first date even look like? Do I seriously need to strip down to my underwear just so I can match my bra color to my outfit? 😁😁😁

You gotta match your bra with your panties... I mean, come on, we’re talking about the sexy Dr. Barack Obama here. 😉

They’re gonna grill you about your family history... diabetes, cancer, obesity, all that junk.
Alright, let's get into the medical history part... have you dealt with any actual illnesses, and how long has this weight gain been going on?
They’re gonna grill you on everything. How much you snack, if you're a sweet or salty person, how many meals you knock back a day, plus all that height and weight stuff. They even go as far as measuring your waist and hips—so make sure you're wearing decent underwear or things are gonna get awkward fast.😂Just check your blood pressure and call it a day. That's basically it. 😉

cosmicskipper222 said:I feel that too. Once I hit the sweets, I just spiral—my brain gets all fuzzy like I’ve had a few drinks. When I'm eating right, I'm way sharper and actually get stuff done.🙂
Guess I need a better way to ride those highs...😂

Spot on! Seriously... that whole "calming down" thing and what you called the "drift."
I tried swapping out the binge-eating for something else... it was a total bust. This sugar stuff works way too well. 🙄

I’m the exact same way. When I'm on it, I'm everywhere at once—super active, creative, feeling like I can conquer the world!🙂 But I can't sustain it. There's zero middle ground with me. It's either go-mode or I'm totally sober and measured. Just pure extremes. 😠

I'm done using junk food to cope. I just want to be myself and actually reach my potential instead of suppressing everything and running away from how I feel!☕