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Gastric Balloon Forum

The gastric balloon is an alternative to weight loss surgery for lower-BMI patients. It is an inflatable silicone balloon that helps fill the stomach so patients can eat less food and lose weight. This tool recently received FDA approval as a non-surgical tool to treat extreme obesity. Some examples of gastric balloons currently offered are Orbera, Easy Life, Duo by Reshape, Medsil, Allurion, Spatz, Endoball and Obalon.

A growing numbers of weight loss surgeons are now performing Endolumenal Bariatric Procedures without incisions. As an alternative to incision-based surgery, surgeons are using natural orifices (such as the throat) to insert the tools and equipment they need to help you win the battle against obesity. Some examples are the Stomaphy X, Endobarrier, TOGA and Rose procedures.

This is the forum where you can talk about the balloon and other Endolumenal Bariatric Procedures, their pros and cons, your special diet, and your experiences with the intragastric balloon or other Endolumenal Bariatric Procedures!

126 topics in this forum

  1. Getting Obera Gastric Balloon 5/8 - prepping and what to expect

    By May191966,   
    • 0 replies
    • 63 views

  3. Orbera Balloon Next Week!!!!!

    By chpstick2u,
    • 31 replies
    • 2,277 views

  4. DC or other who has a gastric balloon? How it going?

    By Julie J,   
    • 26 replies
    • 1,208 views

  5. Protein

    By khavard15,
    • 1 reply
    • 125 views

  6. Pouch stretch

    By khavard15,
    • 0 replies
    • 101 views

  7. Pouch reset

    By khavard15,
    • 4 replies
    • 182 views

  8. Experience with the ballon

    By srocks112,
    • 6 replies
    • 641 views

  9. Spitting dried blood

    By srocks112,
    • 7 replies
    • 370 views

  10. Has anyone gone to Mexico, Tijuana to get the gastric balloon?

    By NPR,   
    • 11 replies
    • 4,409 views

  11. Balloon scheduled for 8/31!

    By Joboken,   
    • 14 replies
    • 914 views

  12. FDA investigating balloon after deaths

    By greenlora,   
    • 3 replies
    • 854 views

  13. Orbera Placed on 5/8

    By RoxGrl,
    • 8 replies
    • 979 views

  14. 5 Weeks Out, is it normal to still be achy and distended?

    By Gracie0622,
    • 1 reply
    • 550 views

  15. 2nd balloon...

    By brezzytime678,
    • 10 replies
    • 1,236 views

  16. Still nauseous after four weeks with Orbera Balloon.

    By MJane,   
    • 5 replies
    • 898 views

  17. Advice re Gastric Balloon vs. LapBand Surgery

    By rosedagal,
    • 12 replies
    • 1,050 views

  18. ReShape scheduled in 4 days!

    By Jolly rancher,
    • 5 replies
    • 517 views

  19. Get your FREE copy of "Conquer Obesity: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Lasting Weight Loss with the Gastric Balloon" audiobook

    By Alex Brecher,
    • 0 replies
    • 570 views

  20. Gastric Balloon in Mexico?

    By sparklesinmyeyes,   
    • 0 replies
    • 470 views

  21. Reshape ballon inserted 5/10/17

    By Spb123,   
    • 4 replies
    • 656 views

  22. Read BEFORE Gastric Balloon for one persons review

    By Ozbird,
    • 3 replies
    • 1,321 views

  23. Baton Rouge Balloon?

    By AKAY,   
    • 2 replies
    • 463 views

  24. obalon ballon

    By peterfern@verizon.net,   
    • 4 replies
    • 1,239 views

  25. Baloon/ Spatz or Other

    By dallasreno,   
    • 3 replies
    • 589 views

  26. Baloon/ Spatz or Other

    By dallasreno,   
    • 0 replies
    • 575 views

  27. Orbera Balloon Cramps

    By BMia143,
    • 2 replies
    • 1,095 views

  28. gastric balloon with RNY

    By Rhonda Jones,   
    • 1 reply
    • 561 views

  29. New Gastric Balloon Book Published to Help Patients Lose More Weight

    By Alex Brecher,
    • 0 replies
    • 964 views

  30. holiday after gastric balloon

    By anewmee,
    • 5 replies
    • 1,200 views

  31. Weightloss Agents - BEWARE!

    By Cherlyn Robinson,   
    • 8 replies
    • 1,509 views

  32. New here, procedure set for Jan. 12, 2017!

    By missmarthak31,
    • 32 replies
    • 3,702 views

  33. Telling friends & family

    By Jennie1031,
    • 7 replies
    • 1,038 views

  34. Weight watchers w orbera?

    By Jennie1031,
    • 1 reply
    • 781 views

  35. Do you know anyone that got the Gastric Balloon even though BMI was over 40

    By timeless333,   
    • 7 replies
    • 1,732 views

  36. Flying with Gastric Balloon

    By Melissa Dawn,
    • 1 reply
    • 1,449 views

  37. Gastric Balloon medication costs

    By timeless333,   
    • 2 replies
    • 844 views

  38. Heavily considering balloon...but is it worth it? Why not just get a tummy tuck and/or lipo?

    By DHurd35,   
    • 10 replies
    • 2,571 views

  39. Balloon Removed and Feelin' Fine! :-)

    By Wayward Traveler,   
    • 11 replies
    • 2,381 views

  40. Balloon REGRET!

    By NPR,
    • 6 replies
    • 2,015 views

  41. 2 Months with balloon, weight loss really slow!

    By Shirleyd90,
    • 3 replies
    • 1,280 views

  42. 11 days w/ balloon and I feel horrible!

    By NPR,
    • 6 replies
    • 1,349 views

  43. Calling all former ballooners!

    By Wayward Traveler,
    • 4 replies
    • 1,314 views

  44. Balloon stuck?

    By brezzytime678,
    • 2 replies
    • 876 views

  45. Orbera insertion next week!

    By anewmee,
    • 18 replies
    • 1,946 views

  46. Blurred vision?

    By Glimmer120,
    • 9 replies
    • 854 views

  47. Getting my balloon on 8/29. Need some advice please!

    By NPR,   
    • 11 replies
    • 1,299 views

  48. Tummy Tuck?

    By Louie's mom,
    • 5 replies
    • 749 views

  49. "Interesting" Food Finds ...

    By Wayward Traveler,   
    • 3 replies
    • 808 views

  50. My experience

    By nina84,
    • 2 replies
    • 960 views

  51. Ballooners: what have you learned so far ?

    By buckleysmom,
    • 13 replies
    • 1,914 views

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  • Recent Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Little Green

      Little Green

      I ALMOST sneezed today - first time post-op. It was coming but as I flailed around to get a pillow to splint my belly, I lost it.  Usually I hate that feeling but in this case I'm okay with it. I'm not pain-free yet so I would love to avoid a sneeze until then if I can! 
      · 1 reply
      1. Little Green

        Little Green

        OMG I JUST FRIGGIN' SNEEZED ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!! I had nothing to splint my belly so I just held it as tight as I could :lol::lol::lol::lol: It was fine, there was no pain!

    • MSDionne

      MSDionne

      Hey all im 4days post op with full bypass, I came home fine getting all my liquids in no problem, but now seems like protein shakes are causing me alot of gas and excrutiating pain, and now my stomach is real sore, its terrible any ideals from anyone. Im trying to get my protein in.
      · 2 replies
      1. Matt Z

        Matt Z

        Did they send you home with the Incentive Spirometer? Are you using it every hour? Tip for after laparoscopic surgery is to do deep breathing exercises to help expel the gas from your abdomen. Take a long slow deep breath in, as long as you can then hold it, while holding press down into it slightly (like doing a small crunch) the object is to stretch a little and to slightly increase the pressure in your abdomen to force the gases into the bloodstream for processing. Helps out quite a bit.

      2. Karen Kenney

        Karen Kenney

        you may still have gas from surgery if you are not walking, please walk as much as you can even if it's just around the block. Walking, sweating. peeing, breathing, farting, all will expel the gas from your body. Use your spirometer too. Good luck home you feel better soon!

    • allwet

      allwet

       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • TxAlpha06

      TxAlpha06

      Want to lift weight so badly.....
      patience!!!!!
      Relax big fella....got a whole lifetime ahead of you....two more weeks....
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • TexanGal

      TexanGal

      Hello,
      I was preparing for the gastric sleeve when my pre-op EGD scope showed I have Barrett's esophagus, with dysplasia (pre-cancerous).  My WLS surgeon said I need to treat the Barrett's first and then strongly suggested I have the Gastric Bypass instead of the sleeve because of several reasons -- GERD is usually eliminated with bypass and worse with sleeve (acid is the cause of the Barrett's), and the stomach is left if needed for esophageal cancer surgery (worst case scenario, obviously). 
      My first priority is getting the Barrett's treated.  Then, in four to six weeks, having the WLS surgery, which is recommended to also treat Barrett's (from an obesity perspective).
      So, I'd like to hear if there are other WLS patients like me with Barrett's and what happened.  I'm anxious for info!
      I'm a bit in shock since I got the news today during my pre-op appointment with surgeon.  But I consider it a blessing because if I hadn't gotten the scope, I could have had a much worse diagnosis later.
      My May 30 surgery is now postponed, obviously. 
      · 1 reply
      1. Kevin M

        Kevin M

        Hello, I also found out I have barrett's esophagus during my pre op tests. It rocked my world to think I may have esophagus cancer but I was lucky and no pre cancer was found and my gastric bypass surgery proceeded. I am glad you are getting treated for the barretts before your surgery. I still have that worry because it may turn cancerous. My surgeon has told me that my esophagus should heal within the next year once my reflux is gone. I initially also wanted the gastric sleeve surgery but once they found the barrett's disease that was off the table and my insurance company would not approve sleeve surgery in any case after the barretts diagnosis. Good luck and hope all goes well for you.

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