Gastric Balloon; general anaesthetic

[Muttley69]

Hi there,

I'm looking for a little advice. I have been referred for a gastric sleeve on the NHS. However, my surgeon is refusing to do the procedure until I have lost quite a bit of weight. To facilitate this he would like me to have a balloon. I've now found out that he wants me to have a general anaesthetic for this.

I'm confused - i didn't know that people are ever required to have a general for a balloon? Does anyone else know of this? I'm also confused because one of the reasons he wouldn't give me the sleeve was that a general at my weight would be dangerous. So what's going on? I would really like some advice from anyone who has been through something similar or who can explain the thinking behind his decision, if at all possible!

Yours hopefully,

Alan

 

[bubbly1506]

hi im in the same boat! was booked in for a sleeve, but someone died and as my bmi was 70 i have been told i have to have a balloon first for 6 months and then a sleeve!

 

[Butterfly_lady]

It maybe (I'm assuming) that as the balloon insertion will only be a few minutes of anaesthetic rather than the several hours needed for the full operation?

 

[bubbly_blonde]

I've had the balloon in for a couple of weeks now but only had a throat spray rather than sedation.