Gastric balloon experience: Any thoughts?

I actually have an even bigger 😂 (not that I’m exactly looking for a trophy 🙄), but personally, I’m all for the laptop 🙂

Karen Young17 said:I actually have an even bigger 😂 (not that I’m exactly looking for a trophy 🙄), but personally, I’m all for the laptop 🙂

Honestly, I'm kind of feeling the sleeve... I'm worried a gastric balloon might be too much for me. I get nauseous super easily and everything just makes my stomach turn, you know? 👎

Listen ladies, if your BMI is between 35 and 40, you're looking at the balloon... and even then, if you're under 40, you've gotta have some other underlying issue—high cholesterol, PCOS, blood pressure spikes—just to get Medicare to cover it. You'll find a million different stories on these forums, but this is the only thing that actually matters. If you aren't sure what your BMI is, just Google it and figure it out.

As for choosing between a sleeve or a balloon, I think people toss the term "sleeve" around way too casually. It’s not just some general procedure; it's major surgery that causes a permanent SHIFT in how your body works, which comes with its own set of headaches. Vitamin deficiencies, early-onset osteoporosis, stuff like that...

From what I've seen with people I know, it isn't even a fix if you aren't ready to deal with the actual root issue. Weight is the SYMPTOM, not the CAUSE. You can get the sleeve, but if the cause is still there, you're just asking for more trouble. Did you know it's actually POSSIBLE TO GAIN WEIGHT EVEN AFTER A SLEEVE? Not to mention risking stomach perforations, internal bleeding, or worse...

I'm not trying to scare anyone, I just want to give you the full picture so you can make an informed choice if you're seriously considering it.

Personally, I went with the balloon because I don't want to permanently alter my biology and face unknown consequences ten or twenty years down the line. I'm trying to learn how to control my habits instead of turning myself into someone with physical limitations. Believe it or not, the stomach is a vital organ, and I personally have no interest in wrecking mine.

Benjamin Sanchez51 said:Listen ladies, if your BMI is between 35 and 40, you're looking at the balloon... and even then, if you're under 40, you've gotta have some other underlying issue—high cholesterol, PCOS, blood pressure spikes—just to get Medicare to cover it. You'll find a million different stories on these forums, but this is the only thing that actually matters. If you aren't sure what your BMI is, just Google it and figure it out.

As for choosing between a sleeve or a balloon, I think people toss the term "sleeve" around way too casually. It’s not just some general procedure; it's major surgery that causes a permanent SHIFT in how your body works, which comes with its own set of headaches. Vitamin deficiencies, early-onset osteoporosis, stuff like that...

From what I've seen with people I know, it isn't even a fix if you aren't ready to deal with the actual root issue. Weight is the SYMPTOM, not the CAUSE. You can get the sleeve, but if the cause is still there, you're just asking for more trouble. Did you know it's actually POSSIBLE TO GAIN WEIGHT EVEN AFTER A SLEEVE? Not to mention risking stomach perforations, internal bleeding, or worse...

I'm not trying to scare anyone, I just want to give you the full picture so you can make an informed choice if you're seriously considering it.

Personally, I went with the balloon because I don't want to permanently alter my biology and face unknown consequences ten or twenty years down the line. I'm trying to learn how to control my habits instead of turning myself into someone with physical limitations. Believe it or not, the stomach is a vital organ, and I personally have no interest in wrecking mine.

As for me, I chose the band precisely because I want to make a permanent change to my lifestyle.🙂

I was talking about the sleeve, not the strip. And I meant changing your BODY, not your whole life. We clearly weren't on the same page...

Timothy Reed8 is gone, everyone's gone... seriously? Is this even possible?

Just checking in. Tuesday marks three weeks since my procedure. No clue what I weigh—not weighing myself anytime soon. As for food, I’m still basically in training mode :-) A few days ago, PMS hit me like a truck and I was inhaling everything in sight. Then I went through this phase where I wanted that balloon out of me RIGHT NOW. Thank God I can't just swing by Nikolica's office and demand they pull it, or just pop it myself, because it would probably be out already :-) My mental state is a mess. I don't know what happened, but all day long it was just: get it out, get it out, get it out. The next day I still felt like pulling it, then by the third day, I was back to normal. Definitely PMS or some kind of neurosis, who knows what to call it 🙂 Dealing with the reality that nothing happens on its own. Food just stops moving once it hits the balloon, so I realized this whole thing is going to be way harder than I thought... But! One optimistic "but!" I am changing my habits! Even if I just break even, I'll still consider it a win!

Anyone got meal ideas that aren't total garbage?

Ladies, where'd everyone go? How's the surgery scheduling coming along... is everything stalled out for the summer or what?

Timothy Reed8, where you at? Honestly, I hope you're on some remote island somewhere with a drink in hand and zero Wi-Fi... that would explain the silence. How are you holding up? Did the pain finally chill out? Give us the update...

Anyone else still here? We can't let this thread die... we aren't some low-rent forum from some tiny town in the Midwest...🙂

Benjamin Sanchez51 said:Timothy Reed8 is gone, everyone's gone... seriously? Is this even possible?

Just checking in. Tuesday marks three weeks since my procedure. No clue what I weigh—not weighing myself anytime soon. As for food, I’m still basically in training mode :-) A few days ago, PMS hit me like a truck and I was inhaling everything in sight. Then I went through this phase where I wanted that balloon out of me RIGHT NOW. Thank God I can't just swing by Nikolica's office and demand they pull it, or just pop it myself, because it would probably be out already :-) My mental state is a mess. I don't know what happened, but all day long it was just: get it out, get it out, get it out. The next day I still felt like pulling it, then by the third day, I was back to normal. Definitely PMS or some kind of neurosis, who knows what to call it 🙂 Dealing with the reality that nothing happens on its own. Food just stops moving once it hits the balloon, so I realized this whole thing is going to be way harder than I thought... But! One optimistic "but!" I am changing my habits! Even if I just break even, I'll still consider it a win!

Anyone got meal ideas that aren't total garbage?

What was making you want to get it removed? Were you having issues with nausea or something?

I really don't get why my post was deleted. 🙄

Nah, just felt like... 🙂 PMS 🙂

So disappointed that I'm basically talking to myself in this thread... 😢 Well, first weigh-in is done—down 4 lbs. Still haven't made it to Nikolica for the ultrasound, and honestly, I can't remember if I was supposed to check in with Miroševićka too. Or was I? No clue...

Ugh, I'm finally back after being MIA for forever. Life just got in the way 😢. Sadly.
So... sleeve gastrectomy is definitely the most intense option. I get that. But the balloon... then getting the balloon removed... ugh
Benjamin Sanchez51, you're like the "coolest" one here... please, DM me the whole procedure, pretty please? I'm such a mess... I have zero clue where to even start. All I know is I won't have any issues with my insurance coverage. pleaaaase (god, I'm being so desperate just to be 😁 )

If you're looking at Lap Banding, check the first post—it’s got everything you need.

If you're leaning toward the balloon, just grab three referrals: one for a GI specialist, one for a gastroscopy, and a third for bloodwork. Just call Nikolica on his cell to set up an appointment. He'll walk you through the rest, and honestly, you might as well book the psychologist now too, just to kill time while waiting to hear back from Nikolica. You'll probably need an endocrinologist as well, though maybe not if your levels aren't too crazy.

Anyway, get those three referrals, give him a call to schedule, and he'll handle all the details...

I've been feeling like a total wreck lately. I let my guard down way too much after seeing I dropped 9 pounds in a month—which, realistically, could've been more since I was cheating on my diet—and now I've been bingeing for two days straight. At this rate, I'll probably gain it all back before my next checkup, so I've decided I'm stopping tomorrow. Work is stressing me out, plus I'm terrible at meal prepping...

I'm not even drinking enough water—forgetting both before and after meals—so I'm basically a walking desert... 😢

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

Hey ladies, I’m so glad I stumbled upon this little corner of the internet. I had my gastric balloon procedure back on July 1st, and honestly, I’ve already dropped 9 pounds—which feels like a massive win for me. My stomach definitely has a mind of its own sometimes, and we have our little disagreements, but I’m not letting it win. During my vacation, I actually had to sit down and have a "heart-to-heart" with my digestive system about five different times. We’ve finally reached a truce, though: I eat, and it does its thing. How is everyone else doing? I’ve got a follow-up appointment scheduled for October 1st, so we’ll see what the doctor has to say.

bok aut! bok Ven!
Glad you guys checked in and that things are going smoothly for you. I can't say I'm feeling quite as stoked, though I'm hoping it picks up. Only dropped 4 lbs in the first month, which feels pretty underwhelming to me. My friend lost 7 lbs her first month, then totally let loose during the second and lost... zero.

What’s the diet looking like? Are you actually sticking to five meals? Do you pack lunches for work? And what kind of workouts are you doing?

I was all set to go for a bike ride today, only to realize my jerk neighbor bent my rim. Seriously, some people are just trash... 🤷🤷 so now I'm stuck, and biking is basically the only exercise I don't hate. Total disaster. 😢

I eat pretty much anything. Yesterday I went way too hard on food and felt like death all night. Bloating, gas, the whole deal... just felt sick. Everything seems fine while I'm eating, but 2 or 3 hours later? Disaster. Not exactly something to brag about, but yeah.

Gonna try to tighten up the discipline for the next three weeks until my next check-up so I can actually see some progress. Honestly, I'm terrified of gaining those 4 lbs back—that would be brutal. Work stress is also starting to ramp up again, which isn't helping. How do you guys deal with that?
Anyway, how are you both holding up? Hope to hear from you...

I’m feeling the exact same way as Timothy Reed8—like I’m finally eating like a normal person now that I have the balloon. Honestly, I don't even want to think about how much I used to shovel in before this, or what happens when it's gone... for the first time ever, I actually feel like my eating is normal... but let's be real, that alone isn't enough to actually LOSE WEIGHT. SMRTZ

Hey guys, what's up, how's everyone doing? 🙂 Give this thread some life, seriously! So, I saw Nikolica today, and honestly, he’s such a great guy. Every time I see him, he just gets more charming and better looking... definitely got a sense of humor too.

Anyway, he won't see me for a follow-up for another two months. Am I being punished or something? He basically told me what I already knew—that I should've put in a bit more effort... 😁 It was actually kind of awkward because he didn't even yell at me, he was just perfectly polite. I felt so embarrassed that I've decided to actually buckle down for the next two months. I went a little overboard today, but that's it. Starting tomorrow, it's strictly healthy eating only!!!

Anyone got any tips on staying motivated?

😉Bokić. I lost about 12 pounds in my first month. Honestly, if I manage to drop 7 or 8 pounds any given month, I consider it a win. Benjamin Sanchez51, you asked if I'm eating five meals a day? Not even close—I can barely squeeze three in. My schedule is pretty standard, working 8 to 4, so I grab breakfast around 9 or 10, try to have some fruit or yogurt around 1 because waiting until I get home at 5 is just too long, and then finish up with my last meal between 5 and 6. I'm not sure if it’s 🙂anxiety or just a lack of appetite, but after 6 PM, I wouldn't touch a crumb. I used to overeat in the evenings and end up pacing around the house like a crazy person at night. I told myself that wasn't happening again. My mom actually talked me into getting one of those Leg Magic things, and it's actually decent. I use it in the morning and evening and feel great. I’ve been planning to go swimming since there's a pool right near my place, but I just haven't made the move yet. Motivation? Believe me, the best motivation is pulling an old piece of clothing out of the closet and realizing it finally fits, or catching my reflection in the mirror and seeing that my clothes don't cling quite as much as they used to. Anyway, talk to you all later—good luck with whatever goals you're chasing.

Hey rowdywalker34 :-) (what else am I supposed to call you?)...thanks for the reply and all the input, you're the best! :-)
I totally balked when I saw you're only doing three meals a day, because there is zero chance I could cram five meals into me. No way. I actually have stuff to do!!! Can't just live to eat.

Tried that whole five-meal thing over the weekend, but honestly, you spend your entire life eating. You're snacking every three hours. At that rate, half a yogurt would count as a "meal," which might work, but—let's be real—I have a life! This whole plan needs to be sustainable even after the hype dies down, and five meals isn't doable now, later, or ever :-) at least not for me.

Plus, for me, five meals means five actual MEALS, and that doesn't include the soup they mention in those handouts they gave me... feels like they need to modernize their approach a bit. It's like everything is designed for "perfect conditions" where the patient (that's us, lol) does nothing but focus on being sick. AHA. RIGHT.

Women are working, cooking, cleaning, laundry, wrangling kids, driving them around, dealing with husbands, in-laws, and a million other things. So yeah, I think we're all doing just fine :-)

😍I wouldn't be mad if I were her. My cousin tells me all the time that nothing seems to rattle me, no matter how hard people try to push my buttons. Honestly, I just value my peace of mind too much. Even when I’m close to snapping, I prefer to just tuck my feelings away and move on. Anyway, this whole "five small meals a day" thing feels like a total impossible mission right now. Even Nikolić just nodded in agreement when I told him I stick to three meals. It’s ridiculous—first they tell you not to eat, then they say you have to graze five times a day. Look, I either ate or I didn't. Like you said, if I have to spend my entire day obsessing over breakfast, then a mid-morning snack, then a light lunch, then fruit, and finally a big dinner... well, I might as well just take unpaid leave or quit my job entirely and see everyone again next year. By the time I finish all those scheduled feedings, forget about having a social life. Since I don't have a husband or kids to worry about yet, I'm basically my own toughest critic (literally). I didn't mention this earlier, but I stepped on the scale this morning—and yes, I did threaten to throw it off a tenth-story balcony if it didn't cooperate—and it sweetly informed me that I've lost a full 22 pounds. It was such a huge win that I almost took the day off to celebrate, but I managed to pull myself together. Catch you in the next one; stay healthy and happy. 🙂