Wayward Traveler

Good grief. Sorry to hear that. :-( Hope it passes soon!!

Too old to make new friends?!? There's no such thing!! In fact, since I turned 40 I've made new friends who are both older and younger than I am ... some of those friends are in their 70s, and they're clearly still making new friends. :-) It's all about finding new things that you enjoy, to take the place of the food. In those places you can make new friends. You can also make new friends in a WLS support group. If you check around, I bet there are some in your area. But as @@KristenLe said, maybe your current friends just don't want to intrude? I bet if you invited them over, or asked them to meet you someone to go for a walk, they would. But if you reach out and they don't respond, well then they were never real friends in the first place, and it's time to find better ones in healthier places. But I bet you will be surprised at how they respond. :-) Best wishes!

I'm getting the Orbera balloon and I live in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks for the feedback. I'll be sure to check in the next couple of days.That's what I have too. It's seems that people struggle with Re-Shape more, but that's an unscientific opinion - I don't know that for a fact. I'm on the opposite coast so it's safe to say that we don't have the same Doctor. Best of luck - can't wait to hear how it goes!!

Wow ... sore throat ... that's surprising. I did not have a sore throat at all after it was put in - did you? Congrats on your loss and glad that you feel better. :-) Good luck on maintaining - you can do it!!

How exciting!! Sounds like you're doing all of the right things. I was only in the hospital for a couple of hours and needed a ride home (but I felt pretty good!). I was drinking Water right away but couldn't stomach Protein Drinks the first three days (just the thought made me queasy). I actually preferred ice chips and Popsicles at first. I then added jello. Bone/sipping broth is a great option too (it's clear but has protein), however I couldn't stomach it either. After a few days I was good with yogurt and clear Soups. The hospital called me the day after and my doctor called the day after that, but that's it. Sounds like you're getting great support! I was able to drive myself to a doctor's appointment (unrelated to the procedure) two days later and to my post-op appointment a week later, but I'm sure everyone is different and I was not on narcotics. I had my procedure on a Wednesday and went back to work on Monday. I was fine but, again, everyone is different. Which type of balloon are you getting? What part of the country are you in? Just remember, while you may feel crummy for a few days after, it will probably pass sooner than later. Rest up and slowly introduce new foods. Hydrate and get protein in as soon as you can. A lot of the protein drinks are too thick and sweet for me. My endocrinologist recommends Orgain, which is nutritionally complete and tastes good (thin like milk and lightly flavored), but it does not have as much protein as I would like. I discovered Organic Fuel by Organic Valley which I also like - not as many Vitamins but more protein. My endocrinologist gave it a thumbs up as long as it is not the only form of nutrition that I'm getting (i.e. I need more vitamins). The two don't have as much "stuff" in them as some of the other options, but at least I can get them down (and they're organic without a lot of garbage in them) ... so they're certainly better than nothing. :-) One more thing - I bought barf bags on Amazon - lol! I didn't need them like I thought I would, but they gave me great peace of mind. I kept them in my purse, car and office. The thought of being in a public place and having to run to the bathroom freaked me out. Fortunately that never happened (although I got sick at home at midnight the first day and twice in the morning of the second day), but I was still glad I bought them. And seeing as some people get sicker than others, I would still recommend them, just in case. Good luck - please keep us posted and let me know if you need any more tips or tricks. If so I'm happy to help. :-) Cheers!

My best advice would be, take all of this advice with a grain of salt. I intentionally don't tell people to do this and not to do that - I just share my experiences. It's such a personal decision. What works for one person may not work for another. I am very happy with my decision to get a balloon, but I realize it's not for everyone (just like the sleeve, band, etc. is not for me). All of this advice is just data points that you have to process and keep in perspective. Again, the studies are less biased (good or bad) and are probably more reliable. Regardless, you have to do what's best for you ... no matter what anyone else says. Cheers!

P.S. Regarding exercise, I was able to start walking (more than just around the house :-)) after a few days. I probably could have done more a week in, but didn't want to push it - I wanted to let everything settle and give my body time to adjust. I think two weeks is probably enough time before doing anything more rigorous, but that would be a good question for your doctor. A month later I feel like I could do just about anything without discomfort (I've felt that way for awhile now).

After the first few days with the balloon, my major side effects went away. A month in, I'm not feeling miserable at all (in fact, sometimes I forget that it's there) ... and I've never been dehydrated. If you read the clinical trial reports, most people only had major side effects for few days. Yes, some are miserable the entire time, but some are never miserable. I personally have spoken with people in both camps. I think I seem to be the more typical experience, some where in between. My sense is (note - I don't have data to back this up - just what I believe) that most people who bring their experience to online communities are those who are struggling and need support. It seems like the people who are doing fine don't tend to reach out. I could be wrong but when I compare with I read directly from people online versus the clinical trial reports (which have feedback from all users in the study group), they are not aligned. I had to believe that otherwise I would not have moved forward with the procedure. :-) And I'm glad I did - so far it's been a positive experience for me. But again, as I've said elsewhere, it's a very personal decision. You have to do what's best for you. I felt strongly that I did not want to permanently alter my anatomy (I felt like I was much more likely to regret that than a temporary balloon). However others feel strongly that they cannot be successful without permanently altering their anatomy. So weigh the options carefully, trust your gut and do what's best for you. Good luck!

It's a very personal decision. I have the balloon and am cautiously optimistic that six months of forced behavior modification will have lasting results (what does it take - 21 days to establish a new habit?). After a month I've lost almost 20 pounds and seem to feel better than many people here have reported. I didn't want to permanently alter my body - just my mindset. I am feeling good about my decision but, again, that's just me ... everyone has to decide what's best for them. Good luck!

You certainly could not drive the day of ... you might be able to drive in a day or two, it just depends on how you react to it and whether or not you are taking narcotics (I think they recommend that you stay over for at least two nights if you are traveling for the procedure). I had the procedure first thing on a Wednesday morning and drove myself about 25 minutes away for an (unrelated) doctor's appointment that Friday. I felt OK to do that, although I am not sure I would have wanted to drive a lot farther (mostly because I was still a bit queasy and the bumpiness of the drive made that a little worse). I like it so far. From what I've read and people I've talked to, I think I've had kind of an average experience (i.e. after three days I felt pretty good, but some people were not sick at all and others seem to be sick a lot more / a lot longer). I also seem to be losing somewhere in the middle - after about a month I've lost almost 20 pounds, and I've heard of people losing more and less in that amount of time. To sum it up, I am satisfied with how I am feeling and how things are progressing. Having said that, please note that it's neither magic nor effortless. I am tracking calories and Protein, taking meds, making smart choices, etc.. The balloon is just a tool to help with the process. Please feel free to reach out if you'd like to be pointed to any additional resources or if you need any tips. I had a hard time finding a lot of information in advance so if I can make it easier for others, I am happy to do so. :-) Good luck!

Congratulations on your weight loss! I'm sorry you have not been feeling well, but hopefully you will be back to yourself soon, and with a new lease on life! :-)

I got mine on the east coast. Have you tried looking at the Orbera or ReShape websites? Or have you considered traveling for it? Good luck!

Julie - I have not had that problem (I actually feel pretty good) ... are you taking PPIs? If not, that might help. Good luck!

I have not had mine removed yet but am curious to hear what other people say. May I ask why you're removing it early and what your experience has been? Thank you and best wishes!

Just curious, and please don't be offended, by why was the balloon recommended to you when you are only 208 lbs to start? It's usually used a short term procedure for the very morbidly obese before regular bariatric surgery. The balloon is not used as a short-term/pre-surgery procedure in the US. In fact, it is only approved for people with BMIs of 30-40 here, so it is basically targeted to people who are not heavy enough to qualify for surgery ... or who would prefer a less invasive option.

@@ophelia150 and @@dedegold - yes - my doc would not have inserted it if I had a significant hiatal hernia (I knew I had a mild one; he checked it first to make sure I was OK before inserting the balloon). If he did not complete the procedure, the fee would have been substantially reduced. But apparently everything looked fine, and I've been doing OK. Also, someone else had her balloon removed early after no weight loss (I don't recall her name); she apparently received a partial refund. @@dedegold - sorry your experience was problematic. :-(

@@michelleg46 - here are some things that I previously posted on the subject: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/349876-gastric-balloon-procedure-booked/page-6#entry4120318 (post #56) http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/353935-orbera-success-strategies/page-13 (post #124) http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/365226-orbera-or-reshape-balloon-why-did-you-pick-one-over-the-other/ (Since you started this one, I'm guessing that you already read my responses ... :-)) Be sure to get anti-nausea meds (even ask for the patch just before the procedure) and take them for the first couple of days, even if you feel OK ... it's best to stay ahead of it. Have pain meds in case you need them. It sounds like most people need PPIs until the balloon is removed. My doctor (and most others) seem to give anti-anxiety meds, too. I didn't need mine but apparently it's pretty common to need them until your body adjusts. I didn't need IV fluids. I had Isopure Zero Carb RTD but could not stomach it at first. Water, ice, popsicles and Jello made up my diet for the first 2-3 days. Then I focused on getting Protein in, and made sure that I had Protein drinks on hand that I liked (as well as yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.). I also used a wedge pillow the first few days, and ordered barf bags from Amazon - lol! I did use a couple but, more importantly, just appreciated the peace of mind that they provided. Hope that helps - please feel free to reach out with any other questions. :-)

Hi - I just got my balloon a few weeks ago. Do you still have yours? How has it gone for you?

Apparently @@islesdriveforfive got it in NY: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/349876-gastric-balloon-procedure-booked/ :-)

My goal weight is higher than recommended on the BMI charts. I've been at that weight before - it's a healthy, comfortable, attractive weight for me. I can't imagine being at my recommended BMI weight - I think I would look unhealthy. But I have had my body mass tested - I am taller and have more muscle and bone mass than the typical female. Every body is different. Do what's best for you.

Wow. Such a personal decision ... so much at play, so many factors to take into consideration. I've thought about it before but never wanted to permanently alter my anatomy. I was just too scared to do that. Plus I know too many people who have not made the lifestyle changes required to be successful with surgery, and then regretted getting it (unfortunately some people think it's a magic bullet, and I'm sure everyone here will tell you that it is not). I've had success losing and maintaining, but have never gotten all the way to my goal. I wanted help, but I didn't want to do anything too drastic. So I got a gastric balloon. So far so good! It's not for everyone, but it's working for me. Like I said - it's a very personal decision and only you can determine what's best for you. Good luck! :-)

Hi - all good questions. :-) While some people struggle with the balloon, most do not for the "first few weeks" ... it's more like the first few days. I did not feel great for the first few days, but I was not horribly miserable, either (and after a week - maybe less - I was fine). I ended up throwing up three times in first two days, but that's it. If you are properly prepared (with meds, nutrition, etc.), it's not that bad ... certainly not as bad as I expected. Having said that, different people react differently. I know three people who had it within a week of me - two did better than I did (not throwing up in those first few days at all, although one did later) and one did worse (she was really miserable). Just like with surgery, you don't know how your body will respond. In terms of why the balloon rather than surgery, the balloon is much less invasive, has fewer risks and, despite those first few yucky days, has a faster recovery time. I was always too chicken to permanently alter my anatomy, so this was a good option for me, despite not being covered by insurance (it is ~ $5000-$8500 for the insertion, removal and a year of doctor/dietitian support ... some places even offer exercise physiologist and therapy support). Having said that, I would not be surprised if insurance starts to cover it soon (it's so new that I just don't think the insurance companies have had a chance to process it yet). I talked to the gentleman who lost 77 pounds after he had his balloon removed and he was doing well. He was VERY motivated to lose more, so I would be surprised if he's gained anything back (he only had it removed a few weeks ago). Please note that 77 pounds is not typical. Most people report 25-50 pounds in the six months. Please also note that you cannot get the balloon in the US if your BMI is over 40 ... so most people who get it have less to lose than people who have surgery. Do people gain the weight back ... some do and some don't, and some just gain some of it back. It all depends on whether or not they treat the six months as an opportunity to change their habits and commit to a lifestyle change. It also depends on whether or not they take advantage of the additional six months of support that are included in the package. In other words, the balloon is just a tool than can be used to kick-start weight loss ... it's not a magic bullet. (However, I would say the same thing about surgery - unfortunately most of the people I know who have had surgery have not lost as much as they had hoped [some not at all!] and/or gained some weight back after an initial loss because they had not made necessary lifestyle changes.) Having said all of that, in balloon studies, people who had had balloons did a better job of maintaining than people who did not. In summary, the decision to get a balloon or to have surgery is a big one - no one should take it lightly. I highly recommend doing a lot of research, reading the studies and meeting with more than one doctor. But at the end of the day, whatever someone decides, it is just a tool - it's not the answer. As my doctor said, his job was the easy part - the hard work was mine to do. No matter how you approach weight loss (even if you just do a diet) it requires planning, commitment and diligence ... forever. And if you do it with the balloon, that six months should be used to not only drop the pounds, but also to get counseling and support to work through the issues that caused the weight gain in the first place. I hope that helps. Please feel free to reach out with any other questions. Regardless, best of luck to you and your friend!

Hi Jeff - what's the latest? :-) Are you about to have the balloon removed? What was your overall experience? Hope it all turned out well! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Spac - are you doing any better? Hope things have improved ... best wishes! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi there - how's it going since you had your balloon removed? I hope the meds are working! :-) Best wishes to you. Cheers! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App