Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

One month into Obalon and very pleased



Recommended Posts

I just wanted to share my experience in case it is helpful to someone else considering using the Obalon balloon.

I had the first balloon placed on 4/1, and the second balloon placed three weeks later. I've lost 17 pounds this first month and have very little appetite. Unfortunately, if I'm not careful I find that I have stomach upset/vomiting. While unpleasant, it has definitely led to me eating slowing (so I am sure to stop when I am full) and choosing my foods carefully (things like Beans and chopped veggies don't seem to always agree now with my stomach). I am thrilled at how things are going so far. Because I'm not able to eat more than 700-900 calories, I'm trying to figure out if it makes sense to have the third balloon placed. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I would most welcome them.

I am hoping to lose 25 more pounds while the balloons are in place and practice how I'd like to eat and exercise afterward. I am really hopeful that this tool will really be able to help me make a significant and lasting change.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The nausea is definitely caused by eating too fast, and that should calm down in a little more time, and there are some veggies that you probably won't ever adjust to until the balloons come out (for me, it was kale).

That said, eating slowly is an excellent habit that will help on your longer term journey, so if eating slowly helps prevent the nausea, that's a great way to build that habit.

As for the ongoing calorie levels, do you have access to a doctor or nutritionist/dietitian that can help answer that? My husband and I were told to aim for 800-900 calories/day but not to go under 800 too often, as it becomes hard to get enough Protein below those levels. But everyone's a little different.

Edited by ItME

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just got my first balloon placed yesterday. First few hours I couldn’t even tell anything was done then I started to cramp and this morning the nausea is so bad. I’m taking my meds like prescribed. Do you have any extra tips to help and any indication how long it will last?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, JenMirf said:

I just got my first balloon placed yesterday. First few hours I couldn’t even tell anything was done then I started to cramp and this morning the nausea is so bad. I’m taking my meds like prescribed. Do you have any extra tips to help and any indication how long it will last?

I had the Reshape, so my experience might be a bit different, but I had bad cramps for about 5 days— around day 3 I was seriously wondering what I’d gotten myself into. I had hiccups and acid reflux for a week as well. The first week genuinely sucks. Try to drink some flat ginger ale today and work your way up to small sips of broth; your body needs the fluids. Take small small sips though because bigger sips will make you cramp even worse. By around Day 5 or 6 you should be able to have some small portions of very soft foods like a puréed potato (no butter or milk) and it will not feel good afterwards, but in about a week the worst really will be behind you.

It sucks. It really does. You’re already 15% or more through the worst part though, so just hunker down and you’ll make it through!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • New To This23

      Finally got my surgery date Oct 27th !!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      I weighed 199 pounds (90 kg) this morning! I felt accomplished and happy, and celebrated by going to the gym to lift some weights. Hoping everyone else out there is making progress, whether you are pre- or post-op 😊
      Today is 7 weeks and two days post-op for me. I've been through two stalls already, but I am sticking to the program. I want long-term success from all of the sacrifice and pain. You all know I mean!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BlSm12

      Okay so, as of yesterday my insurance company contacted me direction to say, that I was approved and have completed all the required items on the "To Do List". so, I should be getting my appointment next week for meeting with the Anesthesiologist. I'm very excited/nervous, but extremely happy too. 
      · 2 replies
      1. New To This23

        Congratulations!!! I see you live in Ashland, when I was in High School drama club we went to the Shakespeare Festival there. I hope to go back one day!

      2. NickelChip

        Congratulations!

    • BeanitoDiego

      Tomorrow will be 7 weeks since surgery. Yesterday i found that I was able to finally drink more than a sip at a time. I am SO grateful! I have always loved drinking water and it has been my primary beverage for most of my life; losing the ability to drink a lot of it was my first post-surgical regret. Being able to drink more than a tiny sip at a time makes me feel so much more normal.
      I'm eating around 500-700 calories a day, and have hit my second stall. I have begun to only weigh myself once a week. I've made to the gym twice since surgery, but I've been walking my pup and walking at work up to 3 miles a day on average.
      I've also been using resistance bands and stretching. I'm not quite ready for twisty yoga stuff yet. Or jogging. I did do a 10+ mile bicycle ride last weekend with a friend to a coffee shop where I had a cold decaf coffee with half and half. That was another activity that made me feel kinda normal.
      I'm still drinking one protein drink a day, trying to hit my goal of at least 60 grams a day. Today I got 72 in thanks to a cold G Zero with 10 grams.
      My abdomen is still a bit sore in general. The way I understand it, the inside is not fully healed until 3 months after surgery. That means sometime around November 1st. This is when I will go on the forever way of eating according to my provider's plan. I look forward to that day.
      Oh! And I should mention that I learned about a chain restaurant that is in about 30 or so states. It is called Clean Eatz, and they have a menu that is friendly to we bariatric patients. My support group last night talked about getting pizza and flatbreads from there. I checked it out and it looks like it's both eat-in and takeaway. This is the first place I'm going when I feel ready to eat out again
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BlSm12

      Does anyone know, how long it takes for Medicare to approve surgery?
      · 3 replies
      1. aravenclawrebel

        I think it depends entirely on what guidelines you're being referred under. I had that kind of insurance through the state as a low-income person for 10 years and even though I was over 400 lb for 10 years they denied me. All based on the fact that I did not have diabetes. I switched insurances once I was offered a different kind of coverage from work and was approved within two months

      2. New To This23

        Medicare or Medicaid?

        They both have a serious of hoops to jump through before you can meet the surgeon. After you meet the requirements and as long as you do not run into any gatekeepers, the surgery will be okayed by your insurance pretty quickly after the surgeon clears you. One other consideration is when the clinic will actually schedule you for surgery THAT can take awhile depending on how backed up they are.

      3. New To This23

        *series on serious

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×