xingmaltese

Hi! Yay for you! That is awesome! I am doing and feeling great! Haven't lost any more pounds by I am definitely loosing inches! I am eating great, and getting about 800 calories Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

It's getting better by the hour. I'm still doing liquids which is Jello,chamomile tea,chicken broth, apple juice. I'm sticking to the 2 ounce limit. I'm hungry because all I see are food commercials but seriously, I would be very content with just one saltine cracker. My biggest concern is that I have regular medication that I need to take but I never take it on empty stomach. The fullness or whatever feeling is more on my left side, I have discovered that holding a pillow is comforting. I did feel much much better today. The first couple of days do make you question your decision but don't give up..as I'm sure I'll have more of those moments since December seems forever from now. But I just keep telling myself that this will pass and not having diabetes or heart issues from the weight is well worth months of discomfort. Do everything they tell you and others suggest...it is essential to getting over the first couple days!!!! Good luck and I'll keep you updated Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Thanks. That's really helpful. I'm pretty determined at times and I've made my mind up that I'm having it. I'm just going to do exactly what I'm told by orbera to eat and follow it to the t. I've booked in with a new surgeon for next week because quite honestly, the other guy gave me the sh**s.
I can deal with reflux as I had that badly when pregnant. I am scared of uncontrollable vomiting though. Fingers crossed it wont come to that though.
Yoghurt is good, I'm happy that's a good food as i do enjoy it.

I am having my balloon removed TODAY, after 6 3/4 months. It DID work for me. Not as great as I wanted. I lost 31 pounds, 2 pant sizes, brought my cholesterol and blood pressure down to normal and got my sleep apnea under control. My BMI went from 35 to 30. The balloon was challenging from Day 1. Lots of nausea, acid reflux, and gas the first 2-3 months. AND yes, the weight loss stalled, big time month 4-5 - no weight loss at all. But then I dropped 5 pounds in month 6 for some reason. Its not perfect. Its not the magic pill. But if you need a kick start and/or have medical issues that you need to get under control it does work...but you have to really want it, because you still have to work for the weight loss. I keep my calories under 1200 most days and worked out several times a week. But the balloon kept me feeling full the first few months, then just satisfied the rest of the time (my stomach adjusted, I think, to having the balloon in and I stopped having the full feeling after a few months, but I never really felt very hungry.) Could I have lost 30 pounds on my own? Yes, but I didn't have that motivation and my medical issues were building up. Now, I have the motivation, because I have had success. I am more than half way to my ultimate goal. I look good and feel great. So, hopefully, I can keep this momentum going on my own. Good luck with your decision.

Glad to hear you're both doing well - best wishes for continued success!! :-)
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi all, how are you all doing? I am currently overseas on business but I thought I would check-in with everyone. I am doing great and happy to report I have lost 9kgs (19 pounds!) in just under two weeks! With a low-ish BMI to start with I am completely stunned by the results! I've feeling fantastic and the only thing I can not eat is lettuce! For some reason it just kills my stomach. Discomfort is about a 2, no pain, no nausea, no smelly burps. I am vegetarian though so I think that helps as I don't have any meat sitting on the balloon. I am eating as normal but can not manage more that 600 calories a day. I am having Protein shakes which are helping. But generally I am very happy.
I also managed the 14 hour flight to Dubai no problem and am currently in 50 degree heat and managing just fine! Not lightheaded or anything. I have been so blessed and I hope all of you have as positive an experience.

I hear ya. Just be careful if you do a more extreme procedure. I unfortunately know more people who were unsuccessful with bypasses, bands, etc. than were successful, many of who gained some, all or even more of the weight back. :-( And yet I know some people who were wildly successful. I think any procedure is a crap shoot ... and it's never easy ... ugh.
I also had Orbera and am doing well. I have heard mixed reviews about Reshape. Some people say it's better because it takes up more space in your stomach, but others say it's less effective because it does not get as wide around, and it's the pressure on the stomach walls that actually tells your brain that you don't need to eat anything. Who knows! :-) But a whole new procedure with a different balloon would mean a whole new set of fees so you're right - that's probably too much to swallow (no pun intended).
Glad to hear that you're happy with the outcome nonetheless. Hopefully you can continue your success on your own and a new balloon will be a moot point. Please keep us posted on how the removal goes - we are all curious what we should expect!! :-) Best wishes to you ... cheers!

That's interesting ... and a good question. I have not had the exact same lessons. I do eat for hunger, but I also want to eat for comfort. I have to force myself to think of food a fuel and make eating decisions based on what's the best fuel for my body. It's not as fun but making it clinical like that somehow makes it easier. Also, I have not thrown up since the first 48 hours, so I have not learned the latter lesson either.
But I have learned (as I suspected) that losing weight is work no matter how you do it. I am very cognizant of what I put into my mouth. If I ate mindlessly, I think it would be easy to gain weight, despite the balloon. So while the balloon definitely helps, it's just a tool - not a solution. And what does that mean post-balloon? That the work will continue. Six months does not fix a battle that has lasted decades ... it just helps to keep you hyper-focused for a few months while you (hopefully) develop better habits.
Granted, I assumed this would all be the case going into the procedure, but now that's been confirmed. I'm still glad I did it - it was exactly what I needed, and was the best option for me.
Cheers! :-)

This will be only mildly amusing to some. It's been a while since I could feel my balloon 24/7, usually only when I've eaten, am running or doing some body mindfulness meditation (so insanely helpful when you're not sure that you are feeling full, I've been following a mindful eating philosophy and it is hugely helpful).
Anyway, today I was sitting on my sofa chatting with some friends, I was sitting with my left leg curled up against my chest and I got excited about the conversation and bounced a bit. So I am very amused to share that when my knee is bent up and I bounce I can hear a bouncy/sloshing noise coming from my balloon. The little guy is just saying 'hi'.
I can make it happen on demand, so I can now add 'expensive party trick' to the list of Orbera benefits
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

thanks everyone! i have free access to the gym at our hospital, so i plan to start off with some slow cardio tomorrow. it's been quite awhile since i have done any serious working out anyway. just the thought of working up to more aggressive cardio and weight lifting concerned me a little.. but i will just work my way up and see.
so glad to have found this community. like i said, i was the first for the dr i work with so this is new to all of us.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today was a good day. I passed the 38 pound mark since my procedure. But more importantly, I passed the 100 pound mark since my all time high. I couldn't be happier! :-) Furthermore, while I am pretty good at getting regular exercise in, I struggle to get in over 10,000 steps a day. But today I did it for the first time in I don't know how long! In fact, I am almost at 12,000 now, and I have not even had a pedometer on all day!! :-D Yup ... it's been a good day.
I've got about 2.5 months to go. Surely I can break 40 pounds, and maybe even 50, by then?!? So many people say that they stop losing after three months so I don't want to get my hopes up, but ... We shall see - fingers crossed. But even if I don't lose another pound, I would say that it's been a fruitful journey and time/money well spent.

i haven't been given a calorie or Protein intake at this point either. but i can barely manage what i am taking in at the moment.. it's a struggle. the fact that i don't want to eat but have to force myself.. never thought id have that problem!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

No he didn't! I think my Doctor is a hippie I have called and left a message.
60-80 grams of Protein seems doable.

Thank you! This really helps!! Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I did want to mention that I have found the bariatastic app to be great for charting my food, calories, Protein,Water, and it connects to your fitbit! It's really user friendly
Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

The nutritionist told me 60-80 grams of Protein. My endocrinologist said that was insane for someone of my height and only applicable to short/average height women. She said I should be closer to 100! That's still hard sometimes, but I shoot for at least 80-100.
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Ok, spoke to the Dr and he said that the first week or two the calories can be very low as long as you have some Protein and are keeping fluids down. After two weeks he suggests a 1000 calorie goal per day. I could normally finish that watching one show on Netflix....so this should be interesting!!

That's amazing! Ok, I better find out. I'm really short so I am sure it will be pretty low.

I did want to mention that I have found the bariatastic app to be great for charting my food, calories, Protein,Water, and it connects to your fitbit! It's really user friendly
Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I did want to mention that I have found the bariatastic app to be great for charting my food, calories, Protein,Water, and it connects to your fitbit! It's really user friendly
Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Thanks all will do that...
Hope you are doing well? I'm full of energy! Very exciting times!!

A lot of people have had that problem (that's why I recommend taking a stool softener before and right after the procedure until your body and diet get settled). My doc said you can take any meds with the balloon that you took without it, but you should consult with your doctor. If things are bad, Miralax and milk of magnesia for a few days has helped others. Even colace have been successful. Good luck!
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Other posters have done a great job offering tips and tricks so I just want to say I think you will thrilled with the results
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm glad you're doing well! I'm still doing great! I was able to have a cup of coffee for Breakfast and did great. I'm slowly getting closer to my calorie goal each day. I'm finding it difficult to get the Snacks between meals, but I'm trying to at least have a few apple slices or banana and still not up 64 oz of water- these are my most difficult issues but I'm getting there. I am just so full so quickly. I haven't weighted myself since Thursday bc I'm at our vacation house and no scale here. My dinner is still fish with vegetables and different starches. The burps are the worse but not constant. Lol Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

How are you feeling xingmaltese? I phoned my doctor and he said since I have not been sick he has moved me to soft food already. He wants me eating solids on Monday, if I feel like it of course. I managed a bit of Greek yoghurt with oat bran and it went down well with a few sips of coffee!