Gastric balloon experience: Any thoughts?

granitecyclist77 said:Hey there, my fellow balloon enthusiasts, sending some love your way. Honestly, I just pop in here on my laptop whenever the mood strikes because that’s basically how this whole thing started for me. This thread was looking pretty much dead, but since I see a few of you ladies are still hanging around, let’s try to breathe some life back into it. Just to give you a bit of background, I had my 7.4 balloon installed back in July 2009 over at a shop near Trump’s place. Since then, I’ve lost about 20 pounds, and honestly, I’m feeling great about it. It could have been more, sure, but I’m not out here killing myself over it. If any of you have questions or just want to pick my brain about anything, just ask—I’m happy to share everything I know. ZZZ

I'm actually wondering what the whole process is like. I've been scheduled for a 9.6 balloon at an endocrinology department in a major city, and honestly, the panic is starting to set in.

I don't know if you've finished all your digging regarding that procedure yet, but I’m betting you have. Honestly, the actual installation process is a breeze—you just roll into the hospital, get knocked out with anesthesia, and twenty minutes later you're waking up with that little balloon sitting in your stomach. As for how it actually feels? Man, that's anyone's guess. It's totally different for everyone. Some people don't feel a thing—no pain, no nausea, no cramping at all. For me, though, I was dealing with some serious misery for four straight days, and I swear I wouldn't put myself through that again if I could. But look, every single minute of that struggle was worth it because in just two months, I've finally learned how to actually control my cravings and eat healthy. lonemarlin12, sweetie, if you have any other questions, just ask. I'm here for all of you!!!

hey lonemarlin12, just one more thing... once you finally come to after the anesthesia wears off, they’re gonna keep you on the gastro ward at the hospital for about 24 hours. honestly, the staff there is top-tier, everyone is super sweet and they actually want to help you out. when I was going through this, the pain was pretty brutal, so they were hitting me with pain meds every couple of hours—but you seriously have to be your own advocate and ask for them, don't hold back, because those nurses are genuinely kind people. plus, you'll probably find it easier to drift off to sleep since the place is constantly buzzing with activity, just people being moved in and out all day long. wishing you nothing but the best, hang in there!!!

granitecyclist77 said:I don't know if you've finished all your digging regarding that procedure yet, but I’m betting you have. Honestly, the actual installation process is a breeze—you just roll into the hospital, get knocked out with anesthesia, and twenty minutes later you're waking up with that little balloon sitting in your stomach. As for how it actually feels? Man, that's anyone's guess. It's totally different for everyone. Some people don't feel a thing—no pain, no nausea, no cramping at all. For me, though, I was dealing with some serious misery for four straight days, and I swear I wouldn't put myself through that again if I could. But look, every single minute of that struggle was worth it because in just two months, I've finally learned how to actually control my cravings and eat healthy. lonemarlin12, sweetie, if you have any other questions, just ask. I'm here for all of you!!!

I didn't get my appointment for the balloon placement until January, so I haven't done any follow-up testing since then. They'll probably just run everything at the hospital—they did send me to the endocrinology department. Which department were you admitted to? Also, were you allowed to have any liquids on that first day right after the procedure?

Alright, I guess it's my turn to chime in and vent... It’s been about six months since I had the balloon removed, and honestly, the whole situation is just a total disaster—I’ve already gained back every single one of those 16 pounds I worked so hard to lose. I’ve got my final follow-up appointment coming up in a few days and I am feeling absolutely miserable about it. I know Trump isn't going to yell at me or anything, but man, I feel like such a failure...

Now I’m starting to seriously consider getting the gastric band, but I have zero clue what the actual process looks like. Has anyone here actually gone from the balloon straight to the band? And honestly, part of me is terrified they’re just going to write me off as a lost cause or some hopeless case! Do I really have to redo every single medical test from scratch? Is there anyone left among you guys who’s actually seeing results...

This thread is clearly dead, though I guess I can't blame anyone since this balloon thing isn't exactly designed for us heavyweights. So, listen, Ronald Ramos5, I actually went to see Trump just today. It’s been three months since I had the balloon put in, and I’ve only dropped 9 pounds, which honestly isn't much of a result at all. He didn't say anything about it, not that he really needed to, he just told me I need to shift into fifth gear over the next three months. For me personally, the balloon only helps by limiting my volume; basically, I can still eat whatever I want—literally everything—just in much smaller portions than before. I’m hoping to lose at least another 10 pounds by the end, and I’m going to put in the work, but honestly, I have no idea how this ends. I’m terrified I’ll end up in the exact same boat as you. I was reading what you posted on the laptop, and I’m fully backing you if you decide to go for the gastric band; I truly think that’s our only way out. I know our biggest hurdle is always mental, but damn, I've been battling my own head for ten years now and I just can't seem to get my mind and body on the same page, so surgery feels like the only move left. I’m heading to the beach tomorrow, and I am praying to God this will be my LAST FAT SUMMER!!!! ZZZ

Hey, thanks for the comment, I guess we’ll see... I still need to sit with this decision and let it sink in.

About those results of yours, I honestly think you're doing pretty great. The typical six-month average—which is something Trump won't tell you—is about 25 or 30 pounds, so you're actually ahead of the curve. He tries to use that kind of talk to "motivate" people, but personally, it just totally killed my vibe. He was never outright rude or anything, but he said the exact same stuff to me, and it just felt super patronizing. You can't judge a person by their weight, even if his intentions are good and he's actually grown on me quite a bit lately... though I'll admit, I wasn't exactly a fan at first. :-)

So, bottom line: your progress is awesome, so just keep grinding and DON'T GET OBSESSED WITH THE SCALE. I realized I was spiraling because I was so terrified of what he'd say when he weighed me at the start of August, and that pressure just sent me into a tailspin over the last few weeks... instead of losing 15 pounds, I ended up gaining all 16 back. I don't know about you, but my advice is to just tune him out completely and stick to your own pace. Even if you only lose a pound a month, it's better than nothing or, even worse, going backward! You feel me? 🙂

Anyway, tell me, did he actually lose any weight? I heard from the nurses that he's on that UN diet, and the last time I saw him, I'm pretty sure he'd dropped at least 30 pounds, because his gut was way smaller. How does he look now?

I'm not so sure about the waist trainer thing. I have a friend who used one and she lost a ton of weight, but then a hundred other health issues popped up. I mean, nothing is ever perfect, right? Plus, I already feel like I'd be the type of person who stays fat even while wearing a trainer. Just look at Walton. I've got a feeling she actually gained weight!

And yeah, I really hope this ends up being the last summer you spend feeling this bloated... 🙂

Greetings to my fellow balloon users 👋

I noticed this thread has gone a bit stale, so I decided to revive it for some discussion.
On the advice of my doctor, I’m currently weighing the decision to go with an intragastric balloon. Having read through your posts, I’ve noticed there seem to be very few satisfied people in the balloon community, which makes me wonder what the underlying issue is 😕.
I would really appreciate it if you could share your personal experiences, any practical advice, or specific recommendations.
It can't be that there's absolutely no benefit to the procedure, right? Personally, I was aiming for gastric bypass—specifically via LB—but I was turned down because my BMI was considered "too low." That leaves the balloon as my primary option, but now I’m dealing with a fair amount of anxiety and second-guessing. Please, weigh in; I could really use your insight 🙂

Jeremy Cruz, you got my PM?

Hey there!

So, I’ve actually had that balloon procedure recommended to me too, and I’m seriously weighing my options... I honestly thought the logic behind it was just super straightforward... like, you get the balloon, eat a little bit less, and boom—the weight just melts away on its own... but clearly, it’s not that simple, is it? So, I guess what I'm wondering is, does the balloon even do much at all, or do you still basically have to stick to a strict diet regardless? I mean, what's the actual point if you still have to watch everything? We can all choose to eat healthy and go on a diet without needing a balloon... it's just that, for instance, I'm such a huge foodie. I've tried pretty much every diet under the sun and tried eating healthy, but of course, everything just comes right back after a few months....

Though, I do know this one girl who actually went through with it, and she managed to drop about 65 pounds in just six months.... I don't know, is she totally exaggerating, or is a massive weight loss like that actually realistic?

Walter Hall8 said:Hey there!

So, I’ve actually had that balloon procedure recommended to me too, and I’m seriously weighing my options... I honestly thought the logic behind it was just super straightforward... like, you get the balloon, eat a little bit less, and boom—the weight just melts away on its own... but clearly, it’s not that simple, is it? So, I guess what I'm wondering is, does the balloon even do much at all, or do you still basically have to stick to a strict diet regardless? I mean, what's the actual point if you still have to watch everything? We can all choose to eat healthy and go on a diet without needing a balloon... it's just that, for instance, I'm such a huge foodie. I've tried pretty much every diet under the sun and tried eating healthy, but of course, everything just comes right back after a few months....

Though, I do know this one girl who actually went through with it, and she managed to drop about 65 pounds in just six months.... I don't know, is she totally exaggerating, or is a massive weight loss like that actually realistic?

I had my balloon removed back on October 7th, 2009. I lost 14 kg with it, and look, I know there are people out there who drop nearly 90 lbs, but the reality is that yo-yo effect hits hard, and basically only about 30 percent of people actually manage to keep the weight off. For me, it made things easier without much struggle and it finally helped clear up my issues with being overweight, but now I’m just sitting here waiting for a call from the hospital regarding a bypass. If you have any questions at all, just hit me up—I'm here for whatever you need to ask.

Thanks for getting back to me... I was also wondering about those pills you have to take while the balloon is actually in there?? And I guess it's worth asking if it's covered for free if I have supplemental insurance, since I wouldn't say I'm super sick or anything (aside from being overweight, obviously, haha)? Also, do they have any nasty side effects and stuff? Like, generally speaking, are they pretty harmless or are they kind of intense? (I really can't stand heavy medications)... oh, and one more thing, is it okay to play contact sports while you have the balloon in? Just so it doesn't pop and send me flying across the gym, haha... I'm talking about handball...
thanks in advance... 🙂

Walter Hall8 said:Thanks for getting back to me... I was also wondering about those pills you have to take while the balloon is actually in there?? And I guess it's worth asking if it's covered for free if I have supplemental insurance, since I wouldn't say I'm super sick or anything (aside from being overweight, obviously, haha)? Also, do they have any nasty side effects and stuff? Like, generally speaking, are they pretty harmless or are they kind of intense? (I really can't stand heavy medications)... oh, and one more thing, is it okay to play contact sports while you have the balloon in? Just so it doesn't pop and send me flying across the gym, haha... I'm talking about handball...
thanks in advance... 🙂

Alright, look, for the entire six months that the balloon is sitting in your stomach, you’re taking CONTROLOC—it's basically a proton pump inhibitor that helps rebuild your stomach lining and protects the balloon itself. There aren't any real side effects, they aren't intense at all; honestly, I wasn't even consistent with them, I’d skip a day here and there or just totally forget. As for the sports thing, I don't think it's an issue at all, though you probably shouldn't push yourself too hard during those first couple of days. After that, everything is normal—just maybe don't go trying to bench press 225 lbs, ha, ha! Look, if you have any other questions, just ask. Where were you planning on going to get the procedure done? Oh, and yeah, those pills are covered by insurance with a prescription. Cheers. By the way, I'm actually posting on my gastric bypass thread too, so swing by that topic if you're interested. One more thing, what's your BMI currently?

Dr. Miller over at Mayo Clinic actually recommended the gastric balloon to me, so I’m thinking about heading there to get it done... where did you end up going? My BMI is sitting at 36.5, and if I remember right, the cutoff for getting the procedure covered by insurance is like 30 or 35.

So, the pills aren't exactly a nightmare... I mean, I've never been someone who struggles super hard with meds, haha... I was on some acid reflux stuff for a bit and I almost passed out from it, plus while I was taking those, I actually gained like 5 pounds when most people are dropping 20 pounds a month (ugh)... now I'm paying out of pocket for fen-phen $83 and I've lost 11 pounds in two months... it really just comes down to this... I can't quite decide if I should stick with the pills and maybe lose the same amount of weight as I would with the balloon, or maybe I won't... it's such a huge dilemma, honestly....🤷

As for the bypass, I'm not really feeling it... that involves actual surgery, right?? I've never been a big fan of invasive stuff, even though I guess I have heard mostly good things about it...

Hey everyone! Since I’m jumping into this conversation—I did my homework on the gastric balloon thing, but after talking it over, Dr. Nikolić suggested I try Reductil instead. And honestly? It worked. I've dropped 57 pounds in just six months. You’re probably wondering how. It’s actually pretty simple—I only eat bread at breakfast, skip all juices, and don't touch dinner unless it’s just some fruit like an apple or something. In the beginning, I would eat dinner, but I made sure to finish by 6 PM at the latest, paired with one 10 mg Reductil. I tried the 15 mg dose once, but my blood pressure went through the roof. If I really crave something sweet, I'll have a little treat just to kill the craving, but that's about it. I’ve cycled through a ton of different diets before where I lost weight only to gain it all back—it’s frustrating. But this approach? I think it's actually the healthiest way to go because it doesn't feel like a "diet" and you aren't constantly fighting hunger pangs.

lonemarlin12 said:Hey everyone! Since I’m jumping into this conversation—I did my homework on the gastric balloon thing, but after talking it over, Dr. Nikolić suggested I try Reductil instead. And honestly? It worked. I've dropped 57 pounds in just six months. You’re probably wondering how. It’s actually pretty simple—I only eat bread at breakfast, skip all juices, and don't touch dinner unless it’s just some fruit like an apple or something. In the beginning, I would eat dinner, but I made sure to finish by 6 PM at the latest, paired with one 10 mg Reductil. I tried the 15 mg dose once, but my blood pressure went through the roof. If I really crave something sweet, I'll have a little treat just to kill the craving, but that's about it. I’ve cycled through a ton of different diets before where I lost weight only to gain it all back—it’s frustrating. But this approach? I think it's actually the healthiest way to go because it doesn't feel like a "diet" and you aren't constantly fighting hunger pangs.

Honestly, major props to you for hitting those numbers—that’s seriously impressive. I tried playing the game myself using Reductil for about six months, and I managed to drop about 30 pounds while sticking to a strict diet, but man, it was all for nothing because a year later I gained every single pound back, plus interest. Look, I’m just not built like one of those people who can actually maintain their weight without constantly obsessing over food; I’ve been overweight my entire life and I am perpetually hungry. At this point, I’m basically just sitting around waiting for my call from the hospital for bypass surgery so I can finally fix this weight issue once and for all. It’s been an exhausting seven-year cycle of endless dieting, pills, and that brutal yo-yo effect, and I am just completely wiped out by the whole thing. Seriously though, huge respect for what you’ve achieved, and I really hope you manage to stick with it all the way to the finish line!👍

Hi,
I figured I’d jump into this conversation since I’m also getting my ducks in a row for the big weight loss journey! To be honest, I’m actually looking for some guidance here; when I was chatting with my nurse about potential side effects, she mentioned the possibility of a gastric perforation—and even though she noted it’s a tiny 0.19% statistical chance, it absolutely terrified me. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I’d really appreciate it if those of you with actual experience could weigh in and tell me if this is something I should truly be losing sleep over.

How am I supposed to ask my doctor for a referral? I just can't bring myself to do it... 😢

Hey everyone,
I'm also thinking about getting the balloon procedure, so I was wondering if anyone else here follows this forum? I'm trying to figure out where it can actually be done—I know there's an ophthalmology and gastro clinic in Seattle, but does anyone know if it's available in Indianapolis or maybe somewhere else in Washington, D.C.? I read somewhere that the total cost is around $10,000 including all the tests and exams, but I think that might be old info, so I'm curious if prices have changed. Also, once everything is finished, are you guys actually happy with the results?
I guess I'm also wondering about the wait times... like, how long does it usually take from that first consultation until the actual procedure?