Gastric balloon experience: Any thoughts?

Thanks, jadesailor14. Pretty sure it’s Zabin 😁 Just gotta figure out which admin building... probably the one with the front desk 🙂

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Absolutely nobody says anything on here, boo... 👎

So, I’m still mentally prepping, even though I have zero clue what I’m actually bracing for. Decided to eat pretty healthy these last three days to make the shock a little less intense—not that anything feels "less intense" to me. Zez, since I have to be back at work this Thursday, I have no idea how that’s going to go, but I guess I’ll survive. If I really have to, I won’t eat or drink a thing just to make it to the weekend.

Today was soup, peaches, tomatoes, goat cheese (yum), and popcorn (okay, that wasn't exactly healthy), but tomorrow and the day after I’m gonna try to be way more disciplined. Veggie soup is actually good for my stomach; it's hydrating and warm... basically, I just hope my stomach handles the balloon okay, because if not, I don't know what I'll do. Can't be puking at work. 😁😁😁

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... 👍

👍Timothy Reed8, you nailed it, thanks so much! 👍

Hopefully I'll make it through. It’s just like 3 or 4 rough days, then things smooth out and you don't even notice... so it's worth it!!! Plus, it'll actually help with the weight loss!

Did they tell you to drink a glass of water before and after eating to avoid bad breath? Not sure if they mentioned it, so just a heads up...

I'm gonna grab some Ortoloc from my primary doctor. Do I really need both Tramal and that other stuff, or will they just give it to me there? Honestly, this sounds terrifying... I've seen people in hospice using Tramal for pain... in drops? UFFFF, you've got me a little spooked😲

Got some weird questions popping up in my head🙂🙂 I know you can't eat or drink anything for those first few days. But what about after that?

Maybe the Mayo Clinic has some answers? Like, am I allowed to have vinegar, lemon, mustard, coffee, spices... probably not, right?

Do I seriously have to wear pajamas? Can I just rock some sweats and a cotton polo instead?

Alright, I've decided to just go for it, even though I'm still having second thoughts 😁 Heading to the hospital tomorrow morning... keep your fingers crossed that I don't lose my lunch the second I see the entrance 😉

Benjamin Sanchez51 said:Alright, I've decided to just go for it, even though I'm still having second thoughts 😁 Heading to the hospital tomorrow morning... keep your fingers crossed that I don't lose my lunch the second I see the entrance 😉

👍 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍

Hey, anyone around? Reach out.😉

....baby's here 😁😁

Nikolić is actually a decent guy, really puts in the work, efficient, and he genuinely cares. He plays up this tough guy act, but honestly, he’s just a sweetheart 😁

The procedure went by fast and totally according to plan. Thank God they kept me sedated, because otherwise.... I just remember the anesthesiologist waking me up and being like—no more sleeping (just to wake me back up), and my only response was—BUT WHY 😁
Good thing I didn't tell him—ugh, leave me alone and let me sleep 😂 I can't stand people messing with me when I'm sleeping 😁

Anyway, things started getting painful and miserable in the afternoon, after 5 PM. They gave me some shots so I managed to power through and even slept through the night. Nausea was hitting hard. In the morning, they gave me another round and sent me home 😁 Basically, the whole thing feels surreal.

I realized you definitely need to chug water, otherwise the nausea kicks in. Guessing the water helps neutralize the acid or something...

So, yeah. That's all from me.
I ended up paying for one hospital day $20, like Timothy Reed8 said. Didn't see an ATM, not that I was looking for one. The crew is great, the nurses, Nikolić, everyone... though you end up in the gastro ICU, and that's always where you get the best staff and the best nurses... anyway, gotta get back to work tomorrow, ugh

Congrats🙏
So, you checked into the hospital on July 22nd and were out by the 23rd? Just one day? I guess we really have to pull an all-nighter at the clinic just to make it official, huh? And then you were already back at work on the 24th? That’s impressive. Seriously, give me the lowdown—how was being back on the clock? Also, what do you think about my plan: should I get all my tests finished first, then just sort of "drop" the results on Dr. Nick's desk during our appointment? 😲

Ladies,
is it just me, or is it awkward in here? I’m starting to wonder if everyone gets why I showed up like: look at these absolute gluttons 🙂 🙂 I mean, did I really just walk in here saying I need to shove a bucket in my stomach just so I don't overeat... 😳
UFFFF

Hey ladies! Just one former lap band survivor checking in here... honestly, don't even sweat it. We see so many people going through weight loss procedures at clinics like this every single day, so you’re gonna fly right under the radar. You won't be getting any weird looks, I promise. We're all in the same boat anyway, so if you can, just find someone else hanging out in the waiting room who's there for the same reason—having a buddy makes the whole thing way less intimidating.

Good luck to everyone out there! Sending good vibes!

Hey everyone!

Looks like this thread isn't going anywhere unless I jump in... 😁😁😁 Just figured I'd drop a few thoughts so there's actually something useful here for anyone following in my footsteps.

@Lisa Rodriguez13, yeah, you hit the nail on the head. I showed up that morning, had the procedure, slept through it, and was headed home the next day. Back at work by day three.

And no, I didn't feel awkward. Nobody’s looking at you like that. You're stuck in the GI ICU where everything is high-stakes, and trust me, those patients aren't thinking about you—they can barely think about themselves. Neither was I thinking about them. Plus, you usually have a curtain between beds, so you get that illusion of privacy.

Honestly, the whole thing crossed my mind because you end up feeling kind of guilty. I even told the doctor I could just head home right away to free up the bed, but he wouldn't have it. Glad he didn't, either. You need to sleep through that first night, period.

Lisa Rodriguez13, if I remember correctly from your other posts, you aren't even a candidate for the balloon since you aren't actually overweight, right? 🙄

The actual procedure was smooth sailing—they just knock you out and everything goes dark. I was hurting pretty bad that day, so they gave me a shot for the pain and nausea, which was all I asked for. Then on day two, I got some IV fluids. Spent most of it dealing with some burping and nasty cramps, so I wasn't exactly thrilled... honestly thought I'd never eat again for the rest of my life. You can imagine 🙂 My appetite came back lightning fast :-) Anyway, they discharged me on the second day, and I was back at work by the third. Thank God it was a Thursday so I could coast through to the weekend. After the weekend, things started looking up...

The first week is the struggle, the second week gets tricky if you aren't careful, but now I'm hitting week three and feeling better every single day. Didn't lose much weight, though, mostly because I've been pigging out these last two weeks.
I have this crazy urge to see how much my stomach can actually hold. Well, ladies, let me tell you... IT HOLDS A LOT. Like, it's bottomless :-)))

Honestly, in two weeks I’m going to go file a complaint with Nikolić. I'm starting to think he scammed me and is just talking about the implant when he didn't even do it :-)

As of today, I've decided to get "serious" about this, meaning I'll start eating "healthy," stop ordering those mushroom gravy pork chops with rice from the local diner 🙂 and quit stuffing my face with candy bars (yeah, I did, guilty).

Just experimenting right now to see what sticks. Fruit doesn't seem to sit right with me, and then I read somewhere that you shouldn't even bother unless it's cooked down into a compote....

Timothy Reed8, how are you doing? Is your stomach behaving? What are you eating? Are you still alive?

Decided to get back into fitness, finally got my bike ready, now I just need to actually get out there and ride 🙂

Just had some apple compote today. Later on, I’m thinking about doing a salad with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, and whole wheat pasta... curious to see how that turns out. Any suggestions? 🙂

Why is everyone being so quiet here? Seriously... uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu :eek :😲😲😲
It’s actually wild that Timothy Reed8 and I are the only ones with a bubble in America 🤷

ugh... finally found you guys. I scrolled through the whole forum but somehow this thread just vanished on me.
So, my doctor is pushing the balloon procedure on me. But honestly, after reading everything here, I think I’m actually more of a candidate for a gastric bypass or a sleeve. Anyway, great job on this thread, ladies. You've put in some serious work.
I haven't actually pulled the trigger on anything yet. I'm still just thinking about it. I mean, I guess the first step is always the hardest 😢. The decision is there, I just need to figure out a game plan.
I'll be checking back in here regularly.
One thing though—I couldn't find an answer anywhere: is the surgery covered by Medicare or do you have to pay out of pocket?
Please, let me know.
Also... is this done at other hospitals in Chicago or just at Vineyard? Maybe it's less crowded over there 😕

How much did I miss? Apparently, you get to the front of the line sooner if you show up early 🙂

The unemployment benefits from the state office stay the same even if you have a "sufficient" BMI—at least, that’s what my doctor told me while she was trying to nudge me toward a diet.

Karen Young17 said:How much did I miss? Apparently, you get to the front of the line sooner if you show up early 🙂

The unemployment benefits from the state office stay the same even if you have a "sufficient" BMI—at least, that’s what my doctor told me while she was trying to nudge me toward a diet.

hehehe.. "enough," huh? 🙂 I mean, I bet it’d be enough for more than just one person 😂
it's somewhere between 35 and 40, I guess. Not even totally sure myself🤷