Ozbird

Hi,
I'm new to this site but feel compelled to give my review of the Adjsutable Gastric Orbera Balloon procedure and weight loss afterwards.
I started at 51 years old 103 kg. I lost 17 kg in a year with the balloon. That was Nov 2014. Now all the weight is back on.
After researching all weight loss surgeries and procedures I really wanted a kick start but not an invasive, risky and permanent surgery which I thought was a bit drastic for my particular circumstances. I have been overweight all my life really. I think I was looking pretty good at age 17 in a bikini but even then I was 70kg.
FIrst child born at age 23 and from then on till age 50 I have fluctuated between 85 and 100 kilos. Kept a bit extra weight on after each of 3 children.
Like most people I have tried all the diets and programs, been regularly walking and to gym, spin class etc and then fallen off the program.
I usually managed a weight loss of 7 - 10 kgs only to put it back on after a plateau or falling off the diet for various reasons. Personal tragedies and medical surgeries can throw anyone off their motivation for weight loss. I never judge anyone who battles the weight issue because you never know what any person has been through. Sometimes your own health and diet is the last thing on your mind because youre doing well getting through the day.
In Nov 2014 I decided to have the Orbera Gastric balloon inserted. Of course you expect to feel a bit nauseous and that was the cases. You have to adhere to a strict Optifast diet then clear Fluid diet before the procedure. This is so there is no risk of food going into your lungs. Its a fast and simple procedure.
Initially I thought this is fantastic!! Drastically reduced appetite. Couldnt manage very fibrous things, cant eat steak or hard meat but I was getting by without feeling faint or weak on so little food I was completely amazed. Like many overweight people I thought I'd be passing out on so few calories. I still managed to eat most things just very small servings.
After a few months you get used to this new reduced stomach size and without CONSCIOUS WILLPOWER you can start to eat more and more. I was NOT eating chocolate cake and rubbish but once again found my servings growing. (One negative i found was that for the entire year I had it in me I had to sleep on my left side as the balloon seemed to slide to my right if I lay on my right side. This caused muscular problems now and then but was just inconvenient and annoying more than anything).
Every few months you go back for a quick anaesthetic (after the usual Optifast then clear Fluid diet) for a top up of the liquid in your balloon. For me this process went like this
Initially - 500ml....After 4 months...700ml.....After 7 months...800ml... After 9 and half months ..900ml. (I was told the Balloon is only guaranteed for a year)
By 11 months I couldnt stand the sick feeling constantly and lack of sleep and had it removed. I was on Nexium for the reflux and nausea for the entire year.
Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night mid-vomit. It was easier to sleep on your back but I often needed a pillow under my knees.
Summary - I can see that the balloon is a really good kick start tool for somebody who has put on weight but who doesn't eat for emotional reasons, is disciplined, perhaps not a full on foodie, is prepared to really follow a strict Portion Control permanently even after the balloon is removed.
It was my fault and I now realise I MUST be disciplined or nothing will work.
I now feel I really do need a reduced appetite. I am going to a lecture this week about the gastric sleeve surgery. My GP says she has several patients who have had the Gastric Band and the balloon and have later decided to get the sleeve done. I personally dont like the idea of the band for the catching of food around it, nausea etc. Some people I know who have had the sleeve are really pleased. It's my last dash.
I wish you all luck. Just thought my review might help some decide eve though this is just my experience.
Over to sleeve issues now ...

Hi,
I'm new to this site but feel compelled to give my review of the Adjsutable Gastric Orbera Balloon procedure and weight loss afterwards.
I started at 51 years old 103 kg. I lost 17 kg in a year with the balloon. That was Nov 2014. Now all the weight is back on.
After researching all weight loss surgeries and procedures I really wanted a kick start but not an invasive, risky and permanent surgery which I thought was a bit drastic for my particular circumstances. I have been overweight all my life really. I think I was looking pretty good at age 17 in a bikini but even then I was 70kg.
FIrst child born at age 23 and from then on till age 50 I have fluctuated between 85 and 100 kilos. Kept a bit extra weight on after each of 3 children.
Like most people I have tried all the diets and programs, been regularly walking and to gym, spin class etc and then fallen off the program.
I usually managed a weight loss of 7 - 10 kgs only to put it back on after a plateau or falling off the diet for various reasons. Personal tragedies and medical surgeries can throw anyone off their motivation for weight loss. I never judge anyone who battles the weight issue because you never know what any person has been through. Sometimes your own health and diet is the last thing on your mind because youre doing well getting through the day.
In Nov 2014 I decided to have the Orbera Gastric balloon inserted. Of course you expect to feel a bit nauseous and that was the cases. You have to adhere to a strict Optifast diet then clear Fluid diet before the procedure. This is so there is no risk of food going into your lungs. Its a fast and simple procedure.
Initially I thought this is fantastic!! Drastically reduced appetite. Couldnt manage very fibrous things, cant eat steak or hard meat but I was getting by without feeling faint or weak on so little food I was completely amazed. Like many overweight people I thought I'd be passing out on so few calories. I still managed to eat most things just very small servings.
After a few months you get used to this new reduced stomach size and without CONSCIOUS WILLPOWER you can start to eat more and more. I was NOT eating chocolate cake and rubbish but once again found my servings growing. (One negative i found was that for the entire year I had it in me I had to sleep on my left side as the balloon seemed to slide to my right if I lay on my right side. This caused muscular problems now and then but was just inconvenient and annoying more than anything).
Every few months you go back for a quick anaesthetic (after the usual Optifast then clear Fluid diet) for a top up of the liquid in your balloon. For me this process went like this
Initially - 500ml....After 4 months...700ml.....After 7 months...800ml... After 9 and half months ..900ml. (I was told the Balloon is only guaranteed for a year)
By 11 months I couldnt stand the sick feeling constantly and lack of sleep and had it removed. I was on Nexium for the reflux and nausea for the entire year.
Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night mid-vomit. It was easier to sleep on your back but I often needed a pillow under my knees.
Summary - I can see that the balloon is a really good kick start tool for somebody who has put on weight but who doesn't eat for emotional reasons, is disciplined, perhaps not a full on foodie, is prepared to really follow a strict Portion Control permanently even after the balloon is removed.
It was my fault and I now realise I MUST be disciplined or nothing will work.
I now feel I really do need a reduced appetite. I am going to a lecture this week about the gastric sleeve surgery. My GP says she has several patients who have had the Gastric Band and the balloon and have later decided to get the sleeve done. I personally dont like the idea of the band for the catching of food around it, nausea etc. Some people I know who have had the sleeve are really pleased. It's my last dash.
I wish you all luck. Just thought my review might help some decide eve though this is just my experience.
Over to sleeve issues now ...

I'm afraid every day that going to do the same, and I've found myself falling into some routines.

I'm trying to hit the reset button. I've gone back to Protein Shakes over bars, pay a lot more attention to keeping my carb count low, upped my total Protein to at least 100g a day.

I made a list of things that, sleeve or no sleeve, I've proven to myself I cannot resist and hence do not bring into my home. I made another list of things that I do not eat anywhere. I made rules for when I workout, how many times a day I eat, and a hard number of max calories per day.

And I told my surgeon that I felt I was slipping into old habits. She looked so upset you'd have thought I told her I punched her puppy. She sent me back to the nutritionist.

What I've learned is that it really is all us. The sleeve can keep you from gorging all at once, but it can't keep you from gorging over a few hours. I had to make new rules for how I live and eat in addition to following the ones my medical team gave me. Now it's on me to follow them.

See your doctor, your nutritionist, a therapist. Think hard about your problems (I know you've probably already done this) and make the necessary rules, and follow them.

I think you can do it, and I'm rooting for you.

Hi,
I'm new to this site but feel compelled to give my review of the Adjsutable Gastric Orbera Balloon procedure and weight loss afterwards.
I started at 51 years old 103 kg. I lost 17 kg in a year with the balloon. That was Nov 2014. Now all the weight is back on.
After researching all weight loss surgeries and procedures I really wanted a kick start but not an invasive, risky and permanent surgery which I thought was a bit drastic for my particular circumstances. I have been overweight all my life really. I think I was looking pretty good at age 17 in a bikini but even then I was 70kg.
FIrst child born at age 23 and from then on till age 50 I have fluctuated between 85 and 100 kilos. Kept a bit extra weight on after each of 3 children.
Like most people I have tried all the diets and programs, been regularly walking and to gym, spin class etc and then fallen off the program.
I usually managed a weight loss of 7 - 10 kgs only to put it back on after a plateau or falling off the diet for various reasons. Personal tragedies and medical surgeries can throw anyone off their motivation for weight loss. I never judge anyone who battles the weight issue because you never know what any person has been through. Sometimes your own health and diet is the last thing on your mind because youre doing well getting through the day.
In Nov 2014 I decided to have the Orbera Gastric balloon inserted. Of course you expect to feel a bit nauseous and that was the cases. You have to adhere to a strict Optifast diet then clear Fluid diet before the procedure. This is so there is no risk of food going into your lungs. Its a fast and simple procedure.
Initially I thought this is fantastic!! Drastically reduced appetite. Couldnt manage very fibrous things, cant eat steak or hard meat but I was getting by without feeling faint or weak on so little food I was completely amazed. Like many overweight people I thought I'd be passing out on so few calories. I still managed to eat most things just very small servings.
After a few months you get used to this new reduced stomach size and without CONSCIOUS WILLPOWER you can start to eat more and more. I was NOT eating chocolate cake and rubbish but once again found my servings growing. (One negative i found was that for the entire year I had it in me I had to sleep on my left side as the balloon seemed to slide to my right if I lay on my right side. This caused muscular problems now and then but was just inconvenient and annoying more than anything).
Every few months you go back for a quick anaesthetic (after the usual Optifast then clear Fluid diet) for a top up of the liquid in your balloon. For me this process went like this
Initially - 500ml....After 4 months...700ml.....After 7 months...800ml... After 9 and half months ..900ml. (I was told the Balloon is only guaranteed for a year)
By 11 months I couldnt stand the sick feeling constantly and lack of sleep and had it removed. I was on Nexium for the reflux and nausea for the entire year.
Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night mid-vomit. It was easier to sleep on your back but I often needed a pillow under my knees.
Summary - I can see that the balloon is a really good kick start tool for somebody who has put on weight but who doesn't eat for emotional reasons, is disciplined, perhaps not a full on foodie, is prepared to really follow a strict Portion Control permanently even after the balloon is removed.
It was my fault and I now realise I MUST be disciplined or nothing will work.
I now feel I really do need a reduced appetite. I am going to a lecture this week about the gastric sleeve surgery. My GP says she has several patients who have had the Gastric Band and the balloon and have later decided to get the sleeve done. I personally dont like the idea of the band for the catching of food around it, nausea etc. Some people I know who have had the sleeve are really pleased. It's my last dash.
I wish you all luck. Just thought my review might help some decide eve though this is just my experience.
Over to sleeve issues now ...

So I don't always track what I eat in fact I rarely do. In the beginning ( nearly 14 weeks ago) I was so in tune with what I was having. Gradually that has worn off. The weight was coming off slowly so tracking didn't seem to matter. Then started the bit n pieces of "slider" foods. I had read about this in others stories and would think "oh never would I let myself be like that".... how wrong I was.
The potato chips and small biscuits seem to go down with no issues. I wasn't sick and it didn't fill me up so what was the problem. Peanut paste then started to become a favourite snack straight off the spoon. It's ok it's protein!!.. Icecream was another easy food to go down and it seemed to help my sweet cravings as I was only having a little so what did it matter?..
A bit here and there soon became more and more!!..
Today i decided to track what I had eaten as best I could.. to own what I was doing.. the damage I was doing.
You see like most of us here that decided to get this procedure I have a food addiction. Something that is NOT fixed by having a sleeve. They take some of your stomach not the part of your brain that controls this. I have really no clue how to fix it but maybe the best I can do is to some how control it. That's hard!!..
Nope I didn't have counselling before my sleeve to help me. I honestly thought I could do it alone.
I feel now I am more consumed with "food" then I ever was. What a shit position to be in.
So today I was so over my Carb intake it was terrible. My Protein intake low... and my fats should of been more. If I was counting calories I'd say at 1400 Cals was too much for me.
But from now and into tomorrow and beyond I shall be accountable for what I put into my mouth. Yeah I'll stuff up a little but mostly I shall be on track.
Food addiction is a hard one as we need it to survive and can't get away from it..

People who are food addicts, don't know what contentment is when it comes to eating. That is why they need to eat measured portions only.
People who are fresh from surgery without reconnected nerves (the nerves are severed in surgery) will not know contentment.
Long term, capacity and contentment will change.
Measured portions only for long term success. Guessing or going on feeling is a recipe for failure.

Your sign should be that you had your measured/weighed portion. You can't really depend on your body to tell you. Once your body signals you, you aren't full you have over ate.
There are a lot of threads about this if you use search, but...
It varies by person. Some people get a running nose, some hiccups, burping.
Early on the nerves are not reconnected (your Dr should talk to you about this but a lot of them aren't that good and don't), so you can't depend on feelings from your stomach. Also like I said before, by the time you get the signal to your brain you have over eaten.
You do not want to depend on feeling full long term.
It is a recipe for overeating and regain. You need to learn to eat proper measured/weighed portions and being satisfied with those, so long term when you can eat more, you don't.
Example I can eat 6 ounces of steak before I get stuffed, but a proper portion is 3-4 ounces (not just for sleevers but for everyone, people are not eating proper portions). 3-4 ounces will satisfy me for hours, and provides enough Protein. If I just relied on my feeling of fullness I could over eat a proper portion at every meal.
Creating good habits in the very beginning makes it easier to follow them later on. Right after surgery your tool is working the hardest to support your good choices. As time goes on and you heal and have more capacity and less fear of food, you will have less support from your tool, and will have to depend on the good habits that you have built over time.

Thanks so much for posting this update. I am going to a lecture this week about the gastric sleeve and am hoping to get the surgery soon. I have already had the gastric balloon which worked temporarily but as soon as it was removed I slowly gained what I had lost (15kg in year on then off in a year).
I am really interested in peoples experiences 4 or 5 years post surgery. Do you mind me asking how much can you now eat at each meal? Has the surgery still permanently reduced your appetite? Do you have concerns about restretching the new stomach? How did you find the excess skin issue? (depending on your age of course). I am 53 and just curious as to others experiences of these things.
Thanks very much for any help, info you can give me. Im excited but scared as well. I am currently 104kg, BMI 36 .

Hi,
I'm new to this site but feel compelled to give my review of the Adjsutable Gastric Orbera Balloon procedure and weight loss afterwards.
I started at 51 years old 103 kg. I lost 17 kg in a year with the balloon. That was Nov 2014. Now all the weight is back on.
After researching all weight loss surgeries and procedures I really wanted a kick start but not an invasive, risky and permanent surgery which I thought was a bit drastic for my particular circumstances. I have been overweight all my life really. I think I was looking pretty good at age 17 in a bikini but even then I was 70kg.
FIrst child born at age 23 and from then on till age 50 I have fluctuated between 85 and 100 kilos. Kept a bit extra weight on after each of 3 children.
Like most people I have tried all the diets and programs, been regularly walking and to gym, spin class etc and then fallen off the program.
I usually managed a weight loss of 7 - 10 kgs only to put it back on after a plateau or falling off the diet for various reasons. Personal tragedies and medical surgeries can throw anyone off their motivation for weight loss. I never judge anyone who battles the weight issue because you never know what any person has been through. Sometimes your own health and diet is the last thing on your mind because youre doing well getting through the day.
In Nov 2014 I decided to have the Orbera Gastric balloon inserted. Of course you expect to feel a bit nauseous and that was the cases. You have to adhere to a strict Optifast diet then clear Fluid diet before the procedure. This is so there is no risk of food going into your lungs. Its a fast and simple procedure.
Initially I thought this is fantastic!! Drastically reduced appetite. Couldnt manage very fibrous things, cant eat steak or hard meat but I was getting by without feeling faint or weak on so little food I was completely amazed. Like many overweight people I thought I'd be passing out on so few calories. I still managed to eat most things just very small servings.
After a few months you get used to this new reduced stomach size and without CONSCIOUS WILLPOWER you can start to eat more and more. I was NOT eating chocolate cake and rubbish but once again found my servings growing. (One negative i found was that for the entire year I had it in me I had to sleep on my left side as the balloon seemed to slide to my right if I lay on my right side. This caused muscular problems now and then but was just inconvenient and annoying more than anything).
Every few months you go back for a quick anaesthetic (after the usual Optifast then clear Fluid diet) for a top up of the liquid in your balloon. For me this process went like this
Initially - 500ml....After 4 months...700ml.....After 7 months...800ml... After 9 and half months ..900ml. (I was told the Balloon is only guaranteed for a year)
By 11 months I couldnt stand the sick feeling constantly and lack of sleep and had it removed. I was on Nexium for the reflux and nausea for the entire year.
Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night mid-vomit. It was easier to sleep on your back but I often needed a pillow under my knees.
Summary - I can see that the balloon is a really good kick start tool for somebody who has put on weight but who doesn't eat for emotional reasons, is disciplined, perhaps not a full on foodie, is prepared to really follow a strict Portion Control permanently even after the balloon is removed.
It was my fault and I now realise I MUST be disciplined or nothing will work.
I now feel I really do need a reduced appetite. I am going to a lecture this week about the gastric sleeve surgery. My GP says she has several patients who have had the Gastric Band and the balloon and have later decided to get the sleeve done. I personally dont like the idea of the band for the catching of food around it, nausea etc. Some people I know who have had the sleeve are really pleased. It's my last dash.
I wish you all luck. Just thought my review might help some decide eve though this is just my experience.
Over to sleeve issues now ...

Hi,
I'm new to this site but feel compelled to give my review of the Adjsutable Gastric Orbera Balloon procedure and weight loss afterwards.
I started at 51 years old 103 kg. I lost 17 kg in a year with the balloon. That was Nov 2014. Now all the weight is back on.
After researching all weight loss surgeries and procedures I really wanted a kick start but not an invasive, risky and permanent surgery which I thought was a bit drastic for my particular circumstances. I have been overweight all my life really. I think I was looking pretty good at age 17 in a bikini but even then I was 70kg.
FIrst child born at age 23 and from then on till age 50 I have fluctuated between 85 and 100 kilos. Kept a bit extra weight on after each of 3 children.
Like most people I have tried all the diets and programs, been regularly walking and to gym, spin class etc and then fallen off the program.
I usually managed a weight loss of 7 - 10 kgs only to put it back on after a plateau or falling off the diet for various reasons. Personal tragedies and medical surgeries can throw anyone off their motivation for weight loss. I never judge anyone who battles the weight issue because you never know what any person has been through. Sometimes your own health and diet is the last thing on your mind because youre doing well getting through the day.
In Nov 2014 I decided to have the Orbera Gastric balloon inserted. Of course you expect to feel a bit nauseous and that was the cases. You have to adhere to a strict Optifast diet then clear Fluid diet before the procedure. This is so there is no risk of food going into your lungs. Its a fast and simple procedure.
Initially I thought this is fantastic!! Drastically reduced appetite. Couldnt manage very fibrous things, cant eat steak or hard meat but I was getting by without feeling faint or weak on so little food I was completely amazed. Like many overweight people I thought I'd be passing out on so few calories. I still managed to eat most things just very small servings.
After a few months you get used to this new reduced stomach size and without CONSCIOUS WILLPOWER you can start to eat more and more. I was NOT eating chocolate cake and rubbish but once again found my servings growing. (One negative i found was that for the entire year I had it in me I had to sleep on my left side as the balloon seemed to slide to my right if I lay on my right side. This caused muscular problems now and then but was just inconvenient and annoying more than anything).
Every few months you go back for a quick anaesthetic (after the usual Optifast then clear Fluid diet) for a top up of the liquid in your balloon. For me this process went like this
Initially - 500ml....After 4 months...700ml.....After 7 months...800ml... After 9 and half months ..900ml. (I was told the Balloon is only guaranteed for a year)
By 11 months I couldnt stand the sick feeling constantly and lack of sleep and had it removed. I was on Nexium for the reflux and nausea for the entire year.
Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night mid-vomit. It was easier to sleep on your back but I often needed a pillow under my knees.
Summary - I can see that the balloon is a really good kick start tool for somebody who has put on weight but who doesn't eat for emotional reasons, is disciplined, perhaps not a full on foodie, is prepared to really follow a strict Portion Control permanently even after the balloon is removed.
It was my fault and I now realise I MUST be disciplined or nothing will work.
I now feel I really do need a reduced appetite. I am going to a lecture this week about the gastric sleeve surgery. My GP says she has several patients who have had the Gastric Band and the balloon and have later decided to get the sleeve done. I personally dont like the idea of the band for the catching of food around it, nausea etc. Some people I know who have had the sleeve are really pleased. It's my last dash.
I wish you all luck. Just thought my review might help some decide eve though this is just my experience.
Over to sleeve issues now ...

Hello all, it's time to get my head back in the game.... In a nutshell, almost 5 years out of my Sleeve surgery.
My highest weight loss was 108 Lbs down (scale @134 lbs), and at current time it's 82 down (scale @160 lbs.). It's time for me to get serious, again, before I blow this good thing.
I've gone through all the highs and lows of the weight loss which comes with sleeve surgery.
The highs were watching the scale every day as it plummeted and recording it with my iPhone. Being able to purchase and wear clothes that I thought were only for skinny, younger girls. Feeling more attractive, and working out like a fiend to keep my new shape. Loving the attention, loving looking in the mirror and seeing myself in a picture and thinking, "hmmm, not bad!".
The lows were almost a marriage break up as I gained confidence and didn't settle for my life the way that it was before weight loss surgery. Almost losing my entire family due to the (bad)choices that I made. The IBS symptoms that I continue to experience to this day. The headaches I get because I don't have the room to drink enough liquids (and eat) , the continual creeping up of the scale weight, a bigger appetite to deal with.
That said, I'm 100% happy that I made this choice to have the surgery, no regrets ever!
I can pretty much eat anything, even the 'dredded' no-list-zone foods like corn, celery, popcorn and nuts (in moderation, of course!). I have about 3-4 glasses of wine per week.
My observation is that the weight kept way down when I was actively exercising. My body was also more toned. My favorite part was that my legs now looked good, and no longer was I thunder thighs with 'cankles'!
My past job allowed me to work out in the gym the company had for employees (which I did on the cold days), and take long, brisk walks during the day on the warmer days. Since coming into a new job with no gym, and my house just blocks away, I find myself going home for lunch and sitting in front of the TV eating my lunch. Then back to my sedentary job. This is racking up the LBS.
Last night I turned the corner. I stepped on the dusty elliptical machine I paid $1700 for, worked out for 35 minutes. Then I started lifting weights and popped in a DVD to start working out with Billy Banks and TaiBo!
I also researched on the internet why my digestive system seemed so out of whack (I had IBS prior to the sleeve), and it appears that I need to adjust my intake of a Probiotic blend of nutrients. I am going to try this, and I'll let you all know how it works for me.
In any case, it's good to be back, and back in touch with the entire reason I started this journey in the first place.... to be healthier, happier, and in a better place.
I'm looking forward to making new friends and seeing how everyone else is doing in their respective journeys too.
Thanks for reading