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[Woody76]

Hi
I am relatively new to the forum but I have had my seminar at Darlington hospital last week. I was told my next appointment would be in January on 21st but out of the blue I have received an appointment for next week. All the appointments line can tell me is mr Samier has asked to see me to discuss options. I have left a voicemail with the bariatric nurse to ask what this means as I am now panicking they won't do the surgery. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this good news or bad? I have lost 6 lbs this week since seminar but worrying that won't be enough. Any help would be appreciated

Thanks for reading
Woody xx

 

[sarahrob]

Good luck Woody, I hope the nurse can put your mind at ease.

 

[Woody76]

Thank you sarahrob
She said its probably to discuss having a balloon before surgery
Back to the research lol xx

 

[tealovingsleever]

What's your BMI?

 

[princess4d4]

hi and welcome im sure its just to meet the surgeon to discuss what surgery you might want i wouldnt worry to much prob just a formality

 

[mad midwife]

Welcome and good luck, I'm sure it will be nothing to worry about, x

 

[WeightlossDreamer]

Hello, welcome to the group. I'm sure youll be fine, probs like the others have said to discuss surgery options x

 

[Flickalicious]

What's a balloon?

 

[WeightlossDreamer]

A ballon is a procedure to help weightliss. They put a saline balloon inside your tummy and then inflate it. The lack of space creates restriction helping you lose weight x

 

[Flickalicious]

Ahh I see, thank you I've not heard of a balloon being used for bariatric reasons!

 

[Danielle <3]

hi woody and welcome, if your BMI is quite high they will want to offer the balloon to aid ur weightloss until you are at a weight they feel comfortable to give your your long term weight loss surgery. It is actually a positive, its a way of getting you ready for ur surgery. They will want u to have lost a certain amount of weight before he see's you again for ur next part of the journey. Good luck x

 

[Woody76]

Thank you everyone. I have done some research on the balloon so not so freaked about it. I will take the advice of the surgeon after all he is the expert and I am literally putting my life in his hands

 

[Neisie]

Hi Woody,

I'm 9 days into my balloon and have started a thread under Other WLS Procedures. If you do get a balloon I would love a buddy. It seems as I'm the only one on here currently ballooning and I'm not finding any support. Good luck with your appm't.

 

[Woody76]

Hi Neisie I will let u know how I get on. I was getting worried about the lack of people having it done. How r u getting on with it? R u having it done prior to other surgery? R u private or nhs?
Sorry about all the questions lol just wanting more info xxx

 

[Neisie]

Hi Neisie I will let u know how I get on. I was getting worried about the lack of people having it done. How r u getting on with it? R u having it done prior to other surgery? R u private or nhs? Sorry about all the questions lol just wanting more info xxx

Hi Woody,

I think it's a popular procedure but it doesn't have the same amount of support groups... As far as I understand through my research and my time with my balloon so far, it's simply a tool to help you eat less - you must still diet and exercise to achieve weight loss.

As to your questions: I'm doing great so far. Day two sucked as I was barfing like a champ but that was pretty much it for being sick. It's uncomfortable to lay/sleep on my right side for a long time. The only other thing is sometimes I get filled with gas and look 7 months preggo but I eventually burp it all up. I've already been swimming a few times and am starting back with my personal trainer on Wed - I'm running (hopefully without walking) a 5K race this coming Saturday.

I live in the Middle East so I paid privately. I had a choice of Doctors, hospitals, and balloons and chose my hospital bc it was the only one offering the 12 month Spatz balloon; plus the Doc did an extended surgical residency at Harvard University which is home for me so I felt more comfortable with him. Ooh - and he ballooned his wife which set a lot of my fears aside.

My balloon isn't a prep for anything else - starting with a BMI of 32/33 so only need to lose about 40-50 lbs to be at goal weight. I've just been struggling for a few years and hoped that 12 months on the balloon will reprogram me back into a healthy runner instead of a fatty TV watcher.