Gastric balloon experience: Any thoughts?

You’ve got to hunt down the right doctors—starting with your GP and then finding a specialist who agrees 😉

Just having an opinion on it rarely gets you anywhere 😬

So, I called today and they said everyone’s paying.
Not sure if there are some super vulnerable groups getting free installs or rebates, though... who knows.

So you pay the hospital bill upfront, then you carefully gather all your paperwork, fill out the claim form, and send everything off to Blue Cross

A friend of mine did this back in Cleveland last year, and if I recall correctly, she shelled out about $6667 for the whole thing. She was constantly feeling miserable and nauseous—I guess you just can't eat like you used to anymore, so your body needs time to catch up. Anyway, the balloon actually ruptured while they were deflating her stomach at the hospital (it's a long story), and then, because she’s such an idiot, she refused to go back in to have the balloon removed because she hadn't even lost enough weight yet. She was terrified of how the doctors would react. Eventually, she finally bit the bullet once she realized how dangerous it was to leave it in there. Honestly, it felt like she just threw all that money straight down the drain...

Might scrape some cash together by late summer, but man, who can deal with this until then... hoping I can just power through on my own at least until mid-September🙄

Hmm... I don't know how you guys view this, or what you think a balloon could actually do for you, but here’s my take...

Look, after spending basically my entire life struggling with weight, hating everything I see in the mirror, and just dealing with all the awkward crap that comes with it... I'm exhausted. I'm done.

And honestly? I've realized I'm totally powerless against the monster known as "massive portions." Why? Because I eat my feelings. Every single emotion—the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the absolute worst—gets met with food. I want to stop. I want to learn how to just eat normally and make that stick as a lifestyle.
I think I'm finally ready for this.
But I need help.

What I'm looking for from the balloon is a way to reset my system—to train my body to recognize what a decent portion looks like and to fix my whole head-space regarding food and exercise so I can actually sustain it.

I've seen people online saying six months isn't nearly enough time to "reprogram" yourself. But honestly? I think I can pull it off because I'm willing to put in the work and help the balloon do its job just as much as it helps me.
"Teamwork makes the dream work!" 🙂

I mean, why not? But the whole point is you have to overhaul how you eat for good. Tons of veggies, fruit, some meat (fish is best), maybe some dairy, and that’s basically it. Staying active means actually changing your lifestyle habits.
Forget soda—just drink water.
Say goodbye to bread, pastries, pizza, chocolate, fried stuff, or deli meats.
MOSTLY, WE SHOULD ALL JUST EAT LIKE DIABETICS—THAT'S THE VIBE.
Every single day I just ask myself... can I actually pull this off?
Because if this extra weight lands me a diagnosis, then I won't have a choice. I'll HAVE to.

If that balloon is actually playing some part in this whole brainwashing thing, then welcome aboard!

cosmicskipper222 said:If that balloon is actually playing some part in this whole brainwashing thing, then welcome aboard!

Look, my head is all over the place when I'm crashing from too much sugar or whatever, but things feel totally different when I actually eat right... obviously I'm more level-headed then... but man, I can never stay on track for long. I'm counting on the balloon to help me learn how to stick to it and make it a permanent habit.

Sarah James7 said:A friend of mine did this back in Cleveland last year, and if I recall correctly, she shelled out about $6667 for the whole thing. She was constantly feeling miserable and nauseous—I guess you just can't eat like you used to anymore, so your body needs time to catch up. Anyway, the balloon actually ruptured while they were deflating her stomach at the hospital (it's a long story), and then, because she’s such an idiot, she refused to go back in to have the balloon removed because she hadn't even lost enough weight yet. She was terrified of how the doctors would react. Eventually, she finally bit the bullet once she realized how dangerous it was to leave it in there. Honestly, it felt like she just threw all that money straight down the drain...

Sounds like she totally ignored the instructions... you can't mess around when you've got a foreign object sitting inside your body.

The great thing about the gastric balloon is that you actually can’t just gorge yourself on whatever you want. My friend learned that the hard way; she kept trying to force food down when her body was clearly saying "no thanks," and it was a miserable experience. She honestly thought she didn't need to change a single habit because the balloon would do all the heavy lifting for her. But let's be real—there are no magic bullets or easy ways out of anything in this life.
I wish you all the best of luck with your weight loss journeys, and I really hope you don't fall into the same trap she did, either with her diet or her general outlook on life.

Timothy Reed8 said:Look, my head is all over the place when I'm crashing from too much sugar or whatever, but things feel totally different when I actually eat right... obviously I'm more level-headed then... but man, I can never stay on track for long. I'm counting on the balloon to help me learn how to stick to it and make it a permanent habit.

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...😂

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!☕

Timothy Reed8 said: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!☕

Timothy Reed8 👍

I totally saw myself in what you said. I think we’re both finally ready for a change, and honestly, that’s all that matters. 😁😁 I mean, I didn't really wrap my head around it until almost ten years after you did... but hey, better late than never, right?

I’m going to share my experience so far, though it’s pretty modest. 😁 So, I gave Dr. Obama a call on his cell today, and honestly? I was fully prepared for him to just brush me off and tell me everything was under control. But he was actually incredibly polite—and can we talk about how sexy his voice is? 😁 If I had just made a decision right away (I only called them to get some info, lol). Anyway, the doctor already scheduled my consultation for two weeks from now and told me to bring five referrals so we can start the processing immediately—plus, I’m seeing an endocrinologist that same afternoon. I’m just crossing my fingers that they don't try to rush me straight into getting a gastric balloon implanted. 😁 That's moving a little too fast for me. 👍👍
I'm just messing with you, obviously! This whole thing is probably going to drag on for a long, long time.

I'm curious about what exactly the search process entails and how things might be handled differently elsewhere. I’ve heard that some companies aren't interested in outsourcing or bringing in outside solutions—they really want to keep everything strictly in-house, which honestly makes total sense to me.

What are the actual requirements to get a balloon for free? I’m looking for verified facts only—please, no guesswork. I’ve been dealing with high urate levels, and I also have an LH/FSH inversion issue. Would either of those be a dealbreaker for getting the procedure? I’m really hoping they aren't. 😢

So, what happens once the balloon is out? Does the stomach just stay the exact same size, or does it actually shrink a bit? And if the balloon is still sitting inside there, how is it even supposed to tighten up?

Hey, what’s the vibe for that first date? Do I seriously need to strip down to my underwear just to make sure my bra matches my outfit? 😁😁😁

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.🙄

Everyone in Cleveland pays up regardless of their health insurance status.
Better go ask them yourself...

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. 😉

So, I think I called it right over the phone 🙄—the guy is totally hot 🙂

Anyone want me to try my hand at some psychic readings on a total stranger? 😁😁😁😁

Ugh, and those five different permits... when am I even supposed to get through them all? Seriously, I can already see myself waiting until next year just to get to the front of the line :-)

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.🙂