Gastric balloon experience: Any thoughts?

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?

Hey ladies, I just stumbled upon the ultimate cheat sheet for calorie counts. Seriously, this is hands down the best resource I’ve found yet!!

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. 😉

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!

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...😉

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! 😍

I actually have a friend who went through this too. For her, the balloon placement was a breeze—no nausea, no pain, nothing. It took about two weeks to transition back to liquids, and then she moved on to soft foods, but she didn't run into any major issues. It’s pretty clear that everyone reacts differently!

I’m also a big supporter of the balloon approach because it’s the least invasive option. Think of it as a tool to help us jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. Honestly, if I had to do it again, I would! To me, cutting half the stomach away seems way more intense, whereas the balloon feels much gentler on the body. One thing people don't really talk about is that things like gastric resection can lead to osteoporosis in the long run (it's been documented right here in the USA, so look it up), and you might still face certain nutrient deficiencies despite taking vitamins.

Hey Scott Perez57, I'm curious—what kind of medications or vitamins are necessary for people with the balloon? And does Nikolić require you to drop 10 pounds before the procedure to prove you're "serious," similar to how Bešlin handles the band? Or is it different?

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?

Anonymous said:I actually have a friend who went through this too. For her, the balloon placement was a breeze—no nausea, no pain, nothing. It took about two weeks to transition back to liquids, and then she moved on to soft foods, but she didn't run into any major issues. It’s pretty clear that everyone reacts differently!

I’m also a big supporter of the balloon approach because it’s the least invasive option. Think of it as a tool to help us jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. Honestly, if I had to do it again, I would! To me, cutting half the stomach away seems way more intense, whereas the balloon feels much gentler on the body. One thing people don't really talk about is that things like gastric resection can lead to osteoporosis in the long run (it's been documented right here in the USA, so look it up), and you might still face certain nutrient deficiencies despite taking vitamins.

Hey Scott Perez57, I'm curious—what kind of medications or vitamins are necessary for people with the balloon? And does Nikolić require you to drop 10 pounds before the procedure to prove you're "serious," similar to how Bešlin handles the band? Or is it different?

As for me, I didn't bother with any extra vitamins—there was no need. I just had my bloodwork monitored every single month.

Timothy Reed8 said: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! 😍

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.

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: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.

A friend of mine grabbed coffee with me just two days ago and she felt totally fine—no nausea at all! It doesn't mean you're definitely going to have the same experience; everyone reacts differently!

Hey everyone, I'm back!

Since there isn't much info on this forum about the intragastric balloon, I decided to share my experience here. Hopefully, this helps someone out, because I struggled to find any decent details myself!

I saw Dr. Nikolić, who is actually a great guy. The office is absolutely slammed, but he works incredibly hard and gets things done. I waited over two hours past my appointment time, but honestly, I didn't mind too much since it clearly wasn't his fault.

The initial consultation was just a chat (medical history, weight, blah blah) and some measurements to calculate my BMI. Then they sent me to see the endocrinologist, whose clinic is only open on Wednesday afternoons. She basically turned me away, even though he marked my case as URGENT. She just snapped at me, saying he can't just send patients her way whenever he feels like it, etc. I’ve heard she’s supposed to be sweet and quiet, but personally, I don't buy it. I didn't push back, so she just brushed me off. If I had stood my ground, I probably would have gotten somewhere, so my advice to everyone is: STAND YOUR GROUND WITH HER. I’ve heard rumors that her whole vibe is pushing away the polite people and catering to the rude ones, so keep that in mind. She wouldn't even talk to me properly. She promised to call me next week, but she made that same promise to others I know and never called. We'll see. From what I understand, hormone tests need to be done on day 7 of your cycle. Based on my timing, that's another month and a half away, plus three weeks waiting for results. So, that "URGENT" note from Nikolić turns into a 2.5 to 3-month wait. GREAT. 😢

Then I tried calling the psychologist, but they're on vacation and told me to call back after the 20th. Hebao, what a joke. And all of this is supposedly "urgent." I wonder what would happen if it wasn't.

p.s.
Nikolić is awesome. However, there's a nurse on his floor who is totally unprofessional and refuses to provide the paperwork needed for insurance reimbursement (I didn't argue because I was completely drained after being there for 2.5 hours). As for their refusal to even take appointments for the fall—I won't even go there. They told me, "Call us in August." By August, they'll probably tell me they have an opening in 2030. Don't they have a calendar for September or something?

Bottom line: I'm not exactly thrilled, aside from Nikolić, who is fine. As for everything else... I know how the American healthcare system can be, but man, they really exceeded my lowest expectations today. 😁

copy_xerox — I am truly sorry you had such a rough experience. Personally, I haven’t run into any issues with my endocrinologist; if anything, the only real headache is the constant waiting list. But honestly, once you factor that into the equation, it’s manageable. Mind you, I always schedule via phone and make sure to show up exactly when appointed, and she has been nothing but kind—always willing to walk me through things and explain the "why" behind it all. It’s been a solid five-star experience so far.

Regarding my sister’s encounter with Dr. Nikolić—I know exactly who you mean. I remember her quite clearly; she was completely unhelpful and refused to take any initiative at all. On the flip side, there is another practitioner there who was perfectly polite and more than professional. I suspect she might remember me from my gastroscopy—which, frankly, was an absolute nightmare—though I can't quite recall if she remembered me specifically, or if it was just the doctor and the nurse who were haunted by the whole ordeal.

Hey vividorca45, I can tell you know exactly which sister I’m talking about 😁😁

Thanks for the sympathy, though it wasn't quite that dramatic 😁 Regarding Miroševićka, she usually seems fine, but it feels like she just hit her breaking point today. I didn't call earlier because Dr. Nikolić told me there was no need to reach out and that he would handle sending me over. Then today, he tells me—tell them I sent you! It's pretty obvious the communication between them has totally fallen apart. Honestly, she didn't seem to be having a great day herself, so I get it... if someone had told me to call and schedule an appointment, I obviously would have. The issue is just that they tell you one thing, and then the reality is completely different. But whatever.

I've been stressing out a bit, so I think I'm going to give her another call. I need to explain that if I don't get my hormone bloodwork done next week, we probably won't be able to move forward for another two months—which definitely isn't the "urgent" situation my medical records claim it is! I'm calling her tomorrow, so wish me luck 😁 If I catch her at a good time, I'm hoping she'll squeeze me in 😁

Step by step. But if I'm forced to wait until the end of September, I'm honestly just going to give up and try doing this on my own for the hundredth time.

Anonymous said:Hey vividorca45, I can tell you know exactly which sister I’m talking about 😁😁

Thanks for the sympathy, though it wasn't quite that dramatic 😁 Regarding Miroševićka, she usually seems fine, but it feels like she just hit her breaking point today. I didn't call earlier because Dr. Nikolić told me there was no need to reach out and that he would handle sending me over. Then today, he tells me—tell them I sent you! It's pretty obvious the communication between them has totally fallen apart. Honestly, she didn't seem to be having a great day herself, so I get it... if someone had told me to call and schedule an appointment, I obviously would have. The issue is just that they tell you one thing, and then the reality is completely different. But whatever.

I've been stressing out a bit, so I think I'm going to give her another call. I need to explain that if I don't get my hormone bloodwork done next week, we probably won't be able to move forward for another two months—which definitely isn't the "urgent" situation my medical records claim it is! I'm calling her tomorrow, so wish me luck 😁 If I catch her at a good time, I'm hoping she'll squeeze me in 😁

Step by step. But if I'm forced to wait until the end of September, I'm honestly just going to give up and try doing this on my own for the hundredth time.

Look, you can get those hormone tests done without waiting for her permission. You have the list right there on the first page of your lab orders—check the banding—so just have your primary care physician write the script and you're good to go. Once you have the results in hand, head back to see her for the consultation whenever she finally fits you in.
As for the cycle timing, I can tell you they don't really stick to the schedule; they just slot you in whenever a gap opens up. The most important thing is that you keep track of which day you are in your cycle, counting from the first day of your last period, because that's how the lab interprets the results.

And please, do not give up. I started my process on November 21st and I'm only just getting to my turn now. Everything became such a complication, but giving up isn't an option. For what purpose? All this time is sitting right in front of you; you can either use it to your advantage or let it work against you.

Be selfish, and do what is best for you. 😁

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! 😉

Ladies, thank you so much for the support 👍 Honestly, yesterday was just one of those absolute trash days, and I basically had a total meltdown the second I walked through my front door. Things are already looking up a bit today though 😁
There’s really no point in throwing in the towel now—I mean, what else am I supposed to do? As if there were some magical, smarter alternative out there!

Anyway, Dr. Nikolić is scheduled to run an ultrasound and a gastroscopy tomorrow (yay!), and hopefully by next week, I'll at least have my blood work and psychological testing on the books. Fingers crossed I can get all of that wrapped up by the start of June 🙄

Honestly, I don't even know what to say—everything is moving so fast! I just got ahold of the guy last week, and I’m already set to get everything finished up with him this week. :-)