Hi everyone,
I'm new here, I've been looking around at different wt loss forums and this one seemed fun the title really caught my attention!! My name is Sarah
Height 5'7
weight 215
Goal 140

Im from southwestern ontario, right on the border of Michigan. I've been hearing alot about intragastric ballooning on the radio, as there is a place in Sarnia right near where i'm from that does it ( i would post the link but i can't google blue water surgery). I was wondering if anyone has heard any thing about it? or had tried it.
I guess its pretty new to Canada, I'm really considering it apparently you can lose 20-60lbs by a quick procedure they basically place a balloon in your stomach so you feel full all the time. I'm thinking I'll book a free consult amd see what its all about. I'll let everyone know how it goes :s

Hi Sarah and

Yes, I've heard of it, actually I saw the procedure being done on the discovery channel. They do the procedure while your a sleep and its done with in 15 minutes (no cutting). And if I'm not mistaken they remove it in 6 months. The only thing that scares me with that is the balloon popping lol... I'm sure it doesn't but

Cool, let us know how things work out for you.

Leenie

Well a little update I went in for a quick consult at the office that does the procedure and I'm thinking about booking!

Leenie your right, The balloon is in for 6 months and a nutrionist follows you for 1 year to make sure you stay on track even after the balloon is removed. The balloon is filled with a normal saline solution which naturally occurs in the body and then they add a blue dye to that incase the balloon were to ever pop then you would have a blue stool or vomit and you would know to come in and have a check up. The balloon is inserted by a doctor who specialized in gastroscopy, the nutrisionst is involved in the process and an anesthestiologist is present too. Best case senerio you have no symptoms after the balloon is inserted, middle of the road is a few days of nausea and vomitting but they give you some medication to take home, and worse case senerio is being pretty nauseated and vomitting for a week with some heartburn or indegestion. Avg weight loss for ppl has been about 50lbs basically the more you have to lose the more you actually lose. The place im planning to have it done at also has a spot on their website where u can check in daily with a nurse to let them know your daily weight, carb count, etc. So they can help you stay on track.

Has anyone had this done since last time I checked in??
I had a chance to talk to a girl at the clinic who had hers in for 3 months she lost 38lbs and looks great, shes really coming along and working in excersize with her plan she's still got 3 months to go!

Hoping to have the procedure done in a month or so once i get the finances together, its kind of expensive but adding some extra years onto my life is priceless!

Hi missbw! I'm in exactly the same place as you right now. I've booked my procedure for 4th January. I've just joined the forum and have posted a couple of messages in the thread "intragastric balloon." Please keep us informed of your journey - it sounds as if we might be getting this done at similar times - would be so good to be in touch with someone who's going through the same thing! x

not sure if im doin this right as not filled in a forum b4- hows the balloon gone- i had one last july

I've heard of the scalpel-free WLS... I guess this is it. This isn't available in the US, is it? I like the sound of it, in theory. I wonder what sort of safety studies have been done. And long-term success really rides on the patient (as is always the case, but in this situation there is no benefit of a permanent procedure to help keep things on track.)

I'd love to hear posts from anyone that's had this done.

That makes sense - thanks! The only thought that creeps me out about this procedure... what if the balloon breaks or leaks and deflates, you throw up, and the balloon gets "stuck" on the way out? That may not even be a rational fear since I don't know much (er...anything) about this procedure... but that thought is enough for me to want to cross it off my list for now.

Plus, if there aren't a lot of doctors doing it... I'd rather stick with the tried and true, and procedures where docs have a LOT of practice. (I wish I could find an DS doc like that...)