I noticed there’s basically zero info online about the gastric balloon, so I figured I’d jump in and share my experience.
Last week, I hopped on a call with Dr. Nikolić and he told me to come in right away (no connections here, just luck 😁 ). We did the consultation, an endoscopy, and an ultrasound immediately—honestly, the endoscopy caught me off guard 😂 since he forgot to mention we were doing that on the spot! He sent me over to Miroševićka for bloodwork, but she couldn't squeeze me in, so I just asked her for the list of tests I need.
I think it's pretty much the same requirements as the gastric sleeve, but they also want TPO (one of those thyroid hormones). I'll get everything done at Sun Health 👍. They do everything there, including checking cortisol levels at 8 AM and 4 PM. I'll let you guys know the cost and how the whole thing goes. You have to go in for testing in the morning and afternoon one day, and then the results are ready the next—super fast! I have insurance through work, so hopefully it covers some of it . 👍 Once that's wrapped up, I'll give Miroševićka a call to schedule my follow-up!
I also called a psychologist, and they scheduled me for the end of June 😢. Since my lab results showed I have a bacteria issue, Dr. Nikolić gave me some advice over the phone regarding meds, so I swung by my primary care doctor to get the prescription. She's a little annoyed because I basically show up and tell her what I need, so I'll probably grab her some flowers 😁 to smooth things over. Anyway, I didn't quite catch how long I need to be on these meds from Dr. Nikolić, other than the initial seven-day burst. I'll check back in with Dr. Mirošević 😁 once I'm done and try to squeeze the procedure in for late June or early July. Hopefully, I'll kill this bacteria by then :-)
By the way, a friend mentioned that for Medicare to cover the balloon, your BMI needs to be 35 or higher, not 40 like it is for the sleeve 👍 👍. And apparently, they have them in stock through Medicare for the foreseeable future 👍 .
Go see a gynecologist and bring all your test results along. They can probably sort you out with some pills. And seriously, stop going back to that moron.
I went to the Mayo Clinic once, and the OB-GYNs there are actually pretty solid.
Another reason why I don't trust Dr. Grujic—or anyone else at that clinic. My wife gave me a completely wrong diagnosis (honestly, even for me, folks, it was sketchy!) and then had the nerve to charge me an arm and a leg for it!!!
Thank God I went to get a second opinion, because I am definitely not interested in seeing what happens if I actually let her "treatment" play out!!!
Regarding Dr. Grujic-Koracin—who’s gone private now and has an office over on Star Street—honestly? It's a complete train wreck.
When she first opened, she was super sweet, but then the whole vibe just went south. She’s constantly having these low-key blowouts with her nurse (total power struggle drama), and the atmosphere is just GROSS. The nurse acts like she runs the joint, jumping in with diagnoses before the doctor even speaks, and then the doctor gets all insulted and talks down to her... like she’s some kind of dim-witted heifer who doesn't know anything.
I went there last, and I am never going back.
And don't even get me started on this: I show up, explain everything that's bothering me, lay out the facts, conclude I probably have a hormonal imbalance, list all my symptoms, my routine, my diet, everything... and I tell her, "Look, please just run an ultrasound so we can be sure." And what does she do? She starts a literal war with me. Claims I'm making it up, says I need to lose weight, says I should move more... blah, blah, blah. Then, after all that nonsense, she finally does the ultrasound and finds out I'm not even ovulating and actually *do* have a hormonal disorder and need deep testing.
I mean, seriously, you absolute moron. Could you not have just checked first instead of picking a fight when you had no clue? I'm totally done with that cow. I can't even describe how much she disgusted me—the way she looked at me like I was something gross until she finished the exam... just pure "ugh, you're so dramatic, now I actually have to deal with you" energy. And guess what? I PAID FULL PRICE for all that, only to get treated like trash.
Never again, even if I were dying! That woman is repulsive; they should honestly just revoke her medical license. To top it off, she pushed contraceptives on me without even suggesting blood work or basic tests, even though I'm overweight and considered high-risk. Total idiot!
But hey, as long as she speaks French, she thinks we're all just uneducated hillbillies while she plays the genius. Absolute nightmare. 👎 👎 👎
Word on the street is that Dr. Tarle is actually pretty solid. He’s an old pro, you know? I haven’t sat in his exam room myself, but I picked him because he’s eyeing retirement. Apparently, he’s handing the reins over to some supposedly "super talented" young gynecologist...
Tried Red Bull once and the taste was straight up nasty. Didn't feel a single thing, even if I tried to force it. What a joke.
So neonsailor12 claims he drinks Nescafé sometimes because it’s "milder" than regular coffee?!? Look, Nescafé just doesn't have the grit of a strong drip coffee, but calling it milder? No way. A heavy cup of black coffee hits me harder than liters of that stuff ever could.
Maybe it’s the acidity, since dark roast can be a real gut-punch. But thinking Nescafé is weaker—don't think so...
If you’re leaning too hard on the pressure and assuming you're the only one unhappy, you better watch your step...
Also... manipulation isn't a winning strategy. It'll wreck your mental health and just stress everyone out... before you know it, you'll be turning into one of them.
Personally, I'm all about being direct—just don't overplay your hand. That approach worked for me, and it still does... especially since I work at a place where everyone’s always busy whispering behind each other's backs.
One option? Just quit if you can find a better gig somewhere else.
This isn't just about college; it applies to any job or even social circles. It’s basically "ride the wave or get wiped out."
Trying to force things—aka slamming your head against a brick wall—is useless. You won't win, and you'll just end up with a headache. The point is to actually move the needle, right? Get some progress, make a change.
Revolutions are rare. Evolution is way better. Go slow, take it step by step, but don't quit.
Maybe Sandra Moore won't be able to flip the whole script at once, but if she pulls off even a fraction of her plan, that's a massive win. I know it feels small and underwhelming right now, but one shift triggers the next. People start seeing that what you're doing actually works, then you get allies, and suddenly everything starts moving. So, stop whining and just start implementing changes. NO MATTER HOW TINY they seem right now.
Let me give you an example. Back when I was a student, I wanted to overhaul some stuff at my university. There was a mountain of things to fix. I started junior year. I joined a student union to actually have some leverage and got to work. Most people in the union were just messing around, and I was one of the few who actually gave a damn. I started with something trivial—the office hours for the admin staff (I won't even go there...). Basically, after countless emails back and forth with the Dean, running surveys almost by myself all over campus, and nerding out over university bylaws and regulations, we actually changed those hours! And man, the students were stoked.
That was step one. Things picked up speed. More people started noticing, helping out, jumping in—we hit critical mass. One day, this guy from another college comes up to me and goes, "Hey, I hear you guys are becoming absolute powerhouses on your campus. How'd you pull that off? Nobody cares about anything at our school."
The late Vlado gotovac once told a reporter something similar:
There are always going to be only a handful of people willing to fight. That's just how it is. Accept it and keep pushing.
So... build that critical mass at your school and you've made magic happen... or... even if you just kickstart the process (even if it takes ten years for the momentum to catch), you've done a hell of a lot. Based on what you said, there are plenty of people who feel the same way, so it should move fast...
A few days back, I was debating whether or not to drop this exact same topic here. I bailed because I couldn't figure out how to word it without sounding totally out of place for a forum like this. But honestly? It’s been stuck in my head ever since.
Group classes or solo sessions? How many times a week are we talking?
Just gotta brag for a sec—I actually tried a Yoga class once, and honestly? It was pretty sweet. Super chill, and the instructor was cool too. Didn't spend the whole time yapping. Only downside was realizing just how out of shape I am; I was sore for five days straight. You’d think I’d run a marathon or something instead of just lying on a mat. 🙂 Anyway, the instructor moved away, so now I'm on the hunt for a new one. And yeah, I lowkey got attached. 😁 😁 Anyone know a solid Yoga spot over in Brooklyn? Thanks.
ps Hitting the pool todayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Doing some aqua aerobics too (looked totally ridiculous, but man, it works—instant lift for the girls 😁 😁
Just a heads-up: Xenical is gonna have you running to the bathroom constantly, so maybe don't take your first dose on a workday. Plan it for the weekend so you can see exactly how frequent this madness is and how it actually works. 🙂
I totally messed things up yesterday and the day before—not even my fault, just bad luck. 🙂 But honestly? The main thing is staying consistent. CONSISTENT. Even when you screw up, you gotta keep pushing instead of just throwing in the towel.
Anyway, the grind continues. I’ve actually decided to kick things into high gear. The only catch is I'm currently busy fixing up my apartment, so I can't get to everything. It's all about priorities, right? Is the priority me, or is it my place? ;(
Did you actually get blood work done after using those supplements?
I know a woman whose blood panels were a total disaster after using Herbalife. It was so bad her doctor straight up asked if she was on drugs. That tells you everything you need to know. Go ahead, get some labs done and let us know what happens. Word is they’ve got some nasty stuff in them that forces the weight off.
Man, I am starving. Seriously, I’m famished. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa yum yum.
But hey, I’m sticking to the healthy stuff (well, except for that leftover pizza and some Little Debbie 😁 ) I've decided one day a week is for cheating, and that's going to be Monday. Seems fair enough to me.
Taylor Swift (ugh, what's with the handle 😁 how do you even figure that, you got some massive ego or something? Is it just because you’re constantly flirting with your own reflection? 🙂 I need some of that energy too 🙂
Hey, if your husband is dieting too, is that actually helpful or just extra baggage? Like, who’s dragging who along here? 🙂
Honestly, the main thing for me was just making the call in my own head. I'm done arguing about it with anyone. I realized this isn't some temporary fad; it's a total lifestyle shift.
I haven't gone full extremist yet. I haven't touched any junk food or sweets since Wednesday, which feels like a massive win to me. Sure, things will get even better once I switch to strictly clean eating, but god... there's one thing I just can't quit: coffee. Anyone got tips for that?
Milk is actually pretty calorie-heavy if you think about it. One deciliter is about 60 calories, so a whole liter is 600. And for me, a liter of milk is basically nothing. Especially when you factor everything else in...
How are you guys prepping veggies? Any good combos? I've been doing green salad—gotta have balsamic vinaigrette or else I'm just eating grass—with bits of chicken or cheese. But never both at once, otherwise it's way too many calories and the flavors clash, so it doesn't even taste that great.
silentpuma25, how old are you? I've never tried rolling, but I really want to... I'm worried I might be too old... is that just a stupid excuse?
Killing it, Taylor Swift! Seriously, props to you!
You ever feel like everything before this was just talk? Like, "Yeah, I'll do it," but nothing actually happened? It wasn't a real move until you finally pulled the trigger. Right?
In my book, success boils down to two things:
1. MAKING THE CALL 2. Being organized—like, actually keeping decent food in the fridge instead of just cheap booze.
Oh, and one more: dodging traps. I mean all those lunches, parties, and whatever else where everyone just eats junk. When I hit the movies, I decide ahead of time: no popcorn, no Coca-Cola. It feels a little awkward sometimes, like I’m being a cheapskate because everyone else is snacking and I’m just sitting there. But honestly? It’s my call. I don't care what anyone thinks or how they judge me. My friends get it, but I had to get it myself first.
Also, I started chugging water. How? Simple. I put a half-liter bottle right on my desk so I can't ignore it. If I didn't, I'd probably only drink one glass all day. That was trashed. Now I'm constantly sipping, and it actually keeps me from feeling hungry. Sounds stupid, I know—but try it, it actually works!!!
p.s. Looking at food pics would literally kill me. For me, that's a huge trigger, not a help. We're all wired differently, I guess.