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Sue, what a great story! thanks so much for sharing it ! this will be so helpful to other newbies like me, who just don't have enough folks to ask questions to.. glad there's more people showing up here on bp! tristan adair (i met you on fb)

hi elinor! its Tristan again! just jumped over hoping some of you made it over here for some good availability for questions and answers! so glad you did! you all have been very helpful over there on FB. Its sooooo GREAT to get so many questions answered! I am FULL of them, as you have seen!

Suggestion from me as a preop: STICKY near the top of each operation classification, for each TYPE of operation. Each person can write, delineating their complication, and individual story. Then, like this other lady did, keep track of totals: Leaks: 35 ulcers: 3

Hi again, I have researched about 3 gastric balloons, and will post the info I have gathered so far. I would love to hear from anyone that has had a gastric balloon placed. These are not a long term tool, but seem to me to be a possible great kick start into more weight loss along with diet and exercise. Do you know of other doctors placing gastric balloons? Do you have more info on gastric balloons? Please share your information here on this forum. Here's info on the Obalon. About a week ago Primetime did a show on the Obalon, which is not marketed yet in the USA. The show had two Americans take the trip to Mexico to see Dr. Ariel Ortiz to have the Obalon placed. The Obalon is a 'pill' you swallow while supervised, which has a thin cord attached. After swallowing, it is inflated with a gas and becomes a balloon in your stomach that makes you feel full and satiated. The gas makes it float to the top of your stomach. The feeling of feeling full (satiated) helps the patient know to stop eating. Up to two more balloons can be added. This is a short term procedure and the balloon is eventually deflated and removed through your mouth in an outpatient procedure. Dr Ortiz charges $4,000 for the balloon, which in my opinion, seems high, when other doctors are charging slightly more for a complex surgery like the sleeve. Do you Pros: Non surgical Outpatient procedure: in and out Cost? Are there other docs charging less? No long term change of stomach Safety Cons: Only performed outside USA now Short term Non-permanent device Cost. For now, only price quote I found, is from one doc Possible negative factors or complications: Obstruction if balloon deflates? Nausea Vomiting

Not having always been large in size, I now know what it feels like to be invisible. I even notice things like, not being called on in a class, even having raised my hand first; or not being heard in my family, or responded to, now that I'm obese. Perhaps it was always there, as the other sibling is a very successful male, but I sure notice it. I call my obesity my cloak of invisibility. It is sure an eye opener. And sad. I think it has been part of losing myself and just staying inside, both myself and my house. Being invisible to those around me has seemed to infect me and I've started to live that way and believe it myself.

Janice, you mention it was 4,200, here, then above 6,500. Which? How has it been going for you? Please tell me all about it. How many MGB has verboonen performed? Pros, Cons? thanks, tristan

Thanks you three for responding... it is really helpful to get your feedback. I am trying to see myself 5 years down the road with having done this operation, and hoping to look at all sides of it: good, bad, hard, wonderful. Thanks again. Keep posting, anyone else that would like to contribute.

GASTRIC BALLOON: ReShape Duo Clinical Trials and Report done by: Dr. Jaime Ponce, Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, GA Here's an article I just found about the Reshape Duo, and the FDA trials done here in the USA to test the Balloon. As we know, the balloon is not yet available in the states, but has been used in other countries for years, with success. In this course of trials there was apparently a 28.5% reduction in excess weight (ex: if I needed to lose 100 lbs, rounding up to 30%, I would have lost 30 lbs from that 100 excess, leaving me 70 lbs left to lose). There was of course a control group and the balloon group. The Duo Balloon is an interesting balloon; it is in 2 parts, to prevent one balloon from going down the intestines if it should happen to collapse. Balloons are filled with a blue liquid so patient can see in their urine, if one of the balloons does collapse and then can go in and have it removed through the mouth. Placement and removal is done through the mouth, and it is kept there for 6 months. Some patients reported nausea and discomfort the first week/s after placement, which went away; some patients' discomfort did not go away, so they had the balloon removed: most kept them in. Some did get gastric abrasions or ulcers from the balloon rubbing against the stomach, that were treated. Please read the article for all the details. http://consumer.healthday.com/vitamins-and-nutrition-information-27/obesity-health-news-505/balloons-in-the-stomach-may-spur-weight-loss-693511.html?related=true&utm_expid=38353063-2.r5ETjFV6SrG5_xobVbsyDw.1&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fplus.url.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dz%26n%3D1417042866979%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fow.ly%252FDZp9U%26usg%3DCu_VkUY4VjGyUGuEkRbxHMmV8aU.

Warrior, Thank you so much for sharing! I really appreciate your experience and hearing how it went for you. Triss

I appreciate this thread. It has been very informative for me. For those of you pre-surgery folks, reading this thread and wondering if there are other ideas out there, well there are. Here on Bariatric Pal there is a section on other, less invasive methods of weight loss that do not include surgery. OTHER less invasive ideas for Weight Loss: (NO SURGERY) Here's some info on bariatric weight loss medications: What I have found in reading the user reviews I have posted and also doing my own research, is that some folks can lose up to 40 or 50 pounds with medications. Why not try it and follow it up with another method of weight loss? This, for me, seems a real kick-start to my weight loss. Or try it, come off for a while, go back on for more weight loss. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1096-weight-loss-medications-new ---------------------------- Please feel free to go there and have a look around. There are various types of gastric balloons that have been successful and my favorite, alternative procedure, which is going through FDA Trials here, a surgery free procedure that imitates a by-pass and is very successfully being used in other countries. It is called the ENDO BARRIER and you can actually sign up to be in the USA trials of this method. I am NOT associated with any of these bariatric procedures, I am just like you, PRE SURGERY and seeking ideas before venturing into something that you can't 'undo' ... surgery. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1015-gastric-balloon-endolumenal-bariatric-procedures-forum-new/

Please tell us how you are doing... i'm kinda worried about you.

Hi there, Please make it clear which meds you are taking for the past year? This medication (CONTRAVE) has only been approved for usage for weight loss by the FDA since September 2014 (at this time, only available 2 months). Please post under the heading of the medications you are taking, so as not to confuse others that are coming here for research purposes. What are you taking and what strength? If you are, in fact, taking buproprien and naltrexone, separately, which ARE the two that make up this new medication, do let us know the strength, dosage and any side effects that you have had. Very interested to hear about your experience with these two drugs taken together. Thanks in advance, Tristan

Hi there B52, MANY people come to this website to look at the POSSIBILITY of surgery, to research questions and to look at complications as well as the positive results of wl surgery. This website is here to answer those questions, assist us in making decisions, help us bond with each other, and for me, after researching here and seeing here, the complications from the surgical methods of weight loss, this website also suggests other possibilities besides surgery. Haven't you seen many that are here on this website for information and questions about surgery, PRIOR to their surgery? I see many. I am one of them. With your completed surgery, you don't need BOTH surgery and other alternatives, but many people here, after reading complications, problems and issues others are having with their surgeries might want to consider alternative, less invasive bariatric methods of losing their weight. All the methods I have listed and others have listed, including medications, ARE A PART of and under the BARIATRIC HEADING of methods our bariatric doctors use for those wanting to consider weight loss. Some of these methods are experimental in the USA, and some of them are not, but personally, I think it important for everyone to look at what is out there as alternatives, before actually making that permanent surgical step of a major surgery. Not many places on the internet provide you a comprehensive place to look not only at the different bariatric surgeries available, but also the medications and other, less invasive methods of bariatric weight loss. One of the admired bariatric doctors said it himself quite succinctly, that in time, these surgical methods will be considered very primitive and the newer non-invasive medical procedures will be used instead.

THIS IS CALLED APPTRIM-D by Physician Therapeutics

great idea... more please

Just me, but please go see your doctor. Maybe others here can have more advice?

I have searched bariatric pal and have found no main forum for those of us considering bariatric procedures that are endolumenal. I am researching things like Endobarrier, Obalon, and ways of changing gut flora as means of weight loss. I would be sooooo excited to hear from the australians, europeans that are now doing these things and also hear from the folks on the endobarrier trials to see how they are doing. What say? I sure appreciate the new medications forum. I have been reading trial studies and doctors' clinical reports and really want to try to lose weight with some of these less err, "cutting" methods, before going to have a sleeve done. I guess the only sad thing I have noticed, is where these new methods are written of here in the forums, I find those that have had more complex surgery are kind of "downers" on these ideas. I understand, but I have an open mind and want to really explore these options now. A forum for these would be so helpful. After church i will post some links. but Alan I think you have seen them, you seem to be really well educated on different forms of WL. Thanks in advance. Tristan

This is why i started these topics here... Alternatives to changing your stomach through surgery. Read these topics and u will find the new ideas. Don't forget weight loss medications. If u live near a u.s. hospital or center doing the endobarrier trials u can have one probably for free. Let me know here what u find in your research. There are mexican docs that do the gastric balloon now, some overpriced for now. Please post here your discoveries.

Sending prayers and positive thots your way,dear. Others have had this happen.. And made it through.. U can 2. Please stay here with us and feel free to write your feelings and experiences. So glad they caught it early. I wish i could help u in person. Sending u hugs and moral support... Tristan

Just google endobarrier trials locations usa. They are in many cities.

It probably would be a very good idea to call your doctor or whoever is signing this off as a prescription, and explain you need this. my doc is very one on one and would sign this if i asked... but perhaps having it come at them in the mail without your input, they don't know and don't sign. Call your doc and explain it is coming, and please sign. Even tell them perhaps what you are spending and that this would really help. Even the ones that didn't sign, perhaps you can call the doc and explain. One on one really helps with things like this. Also remember, this may very likely be a tax deduction.. it is medically needed. Talk to your tax person.

So sorry for this. Prayers your way!!! As you and others have said, your wls may save your life! My 87yo mom had a fall, what we thought was minor, but she did hit her head, so I took her to ER and with a scan it was found she had a number of blood clots, in she went to the hospital, and she was immediately treated. So sometimes it works out! Radiation can KICK BUtt. sleep girl, sleep. Never was I so hit by a truck as when I had radiation. You can do this... Lots of prayers your way!!!!!!!!! I am so sorry this has happened... In support, triss

Summer, What a honest share! Thanks so much. Hang in there! I so completely identify with it. I remember being happy too.. but it is kind of like a cloud in the past. I have come to a point where I literally have to force myself to exit the house, and I often cannot do it. today my adorable furry boys need food, so I MUST get out for that. I know I isolate. I guess I just feel more comfortable in my own company. I know i am off the scale on the Meyers Briggs for introvert-ism, but I kinda don't think hiding under the blankets is quite what it means. Just know that I appreciated your share, because somehow it helps to know that we are both working on it together. Summer feel free to IM me here. So happy you have a supportive husband and kids. My boss just told me about a free counseling program that I can participate in, so there's that great news. Summer, maybe going back to counseling will be very helpful. Do you have any offered through your work/husband's work?? When I had my excellent medical coverage, mental health was NOT covered, which made me sad. Really pleased to hear about this free coverage that's just a perk I didn't know my company had (and I am part time)! I think counseling can help everyone. I know I am going to call about it on Monday. I appreciate also the helpful advice you were given, and I will read that over a few times. Great support here, guys! Hang in there, Summer!!! in support, triss

What a wonderful idea, thanks for sharing! I wonder if this is similar to pho? I know a lot of my friends are pho fanatics and it is so good on a cool or wintry day (hey, we have snow today in the upper mountains, whoa). Here at least in utah (where we are 5 years behind) you can get it on almost any street... its very popular. Often these restaurants are 'known' by the quality of their broth. They provide you various things to put in the broth, but you certainly don't have to. Maybe next time you are downtown and don't want to make your own, you can try pho and let us know how it works with the sleeve/bypass/band. I am pre op and benefitting by all the wisdom shared here.

oh hellfree i am feeling ya. if you feel a bit uncomfortable there, go to a few different gyms just to see how you feel. in my large city, we have a lot to choose from. I just remember going into a gym, wanting to put a bag over my head, overweight, and kinda crawling home. i felt best about planet fitness (10/month) as even their ads are geared toward normal folk that don't grunt as they lift weights or something. there's also curves. i also loved the idea of swimming to get in shape, so there's that. and if you have no other possibilities, take the advice of these other ladies and just DO IT. i DO want to start weight lifting, so I will be joining you at some future date. in support, triss