tiili
Member
So - I am going to start my own thread rather than using the others, simply because I'd like to be able to easily go back and track progress further down the line.
A quick recap on my journey so far for those who do not already know:
I was referred to the bariatric team at St Thomas by my lovely gp back in April, and had my first appointment six weeks ago (mid June 213). Due to my fear of surgery and slight phobia of doctors and hospitals in general, my consultant suggested trying a longer treatment with gastric balloons instead. I have therefore been offered three six-month balloons (ie a treatment covering a year and a half). Should the balloon turn out to not work for me, he will instead refer me for surgery.
I would love to be able to do this with just the balloons as I really, really do not like the idea of surgery. I also believe that if I were to manage to reach my goal weight, I would be able to maintain it going forward because coming so close to the knife has really scared me. This is it.
But can I do it? In my mind there is still that little voice saying "you're making a mistake...insist on a gastric sleeve instead". I almost feel pressured into going down that route when reading other people's success stories and some of the negative experiences with the balloon. But I really do want to do this using a less invasive procedure if I can.
I came on here hoping to find someone else who had managed to lose as much as I need to with just a balloon treatment, but I have not found anyone - primarily because most people will only have it in for six months, or 12 months tops. So maybe this is a mistake. But I hope not. I hope I can shift it all, and that when the next person comes along who is in a similar position to mine, they will find my story useful.
So wish me luck. Tomorrow my journey starts. Regardless of whether it is through balloons or surgery in the end, the weight is coming off. Period.
A quick recap on my journey so far for those who do not already know:
I was referred to the bariatric team at St Thomas by my lovely gp back in April, and had my first appointment six weeks ago (mid June 213). Due to my fear of surgery and slight phobia of doctors and hospitals in general, my consultant suggested trying a longer treatment with gastric balloons instead. I have therefore been offered three six-month balloons (ie a treatment covering a year and a half). Should the balloon turn out to not work for me, he will instead refer me for surgery.
I would love to be able to do this with just the balloons as I really, really do not like the idea of surgery. I also believe that if I were to manage to reach my goal weight, I would be able to maintain it going forward because coming so close to the knife has really scared me. This is it.
But can I do it? In my mind there is still that little voice saying "you're making a mistake...insist on a gastric sleeve instead". I almost feel pressured into going down that route when reading other people's success stories and some of the negative experiences with the balloon. But I really do want to do this using a less invasive procedure if I can.
I came on here hoping to find someone else who had managed to lose as much as I need to with just a balloon treatment, but I have not found anyone - primarily because most people will only have it in for six months, or 12 months tops. So maybe this is a mistake. But I hope not. I hope I can shift it all, and that when the next person comes along who is in a similar position to mine, they will find my story useful.
So wish me luck. Tomorrow my journey starts. Regardless of whether it is through balloons or surgery in the end, the weight is coming off. Period.