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  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member Alison0720's Avatar
    I have not had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Alison
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    Mar 2017
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    03-01-2018 02:21 PM
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    St. Augustine Florida
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    Red face Gastic balloon patient failure

    Hello new friends,
    I currently have the gastric balloons in and have not lost any weight. I wasted $7,000. I am now considering Gastic sleeve or maybe bypass for a more permanent solution. I have read several success stories from people who traveled to Mexico for surgery. I have also read a few scary stories. I would like to learn from the you all. I am hoping to get recommendations on a good doctor and also good, hospital, hotel, and everything that goes with traveling to Mexico for surgery. I want this to be my final bariatric surgery.
    Thank you for any and all input you can give me!

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  3. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  4. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    01/11/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Forrester
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Last Activity
    03-24-2018 12:38 PM
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    NJ
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    When did you get the balloon? Are you following a diet and exercise plan too?
    My surgeons office was the first to do it in NJ. They have a good support system and plan in place.
    I wouldn't convert so quickly. I would try to work with the balloon. Like the sleeve, the balloon is only a tool. You can still eat bad foods that "slide" through and make you gain or not lose.



    Surgery Day Weight 1/11: 300
    Month 1: -34 pounds, -25 inches

  5. #3
    Gastric Sleeve Member Alison0720's Avatar
    I have not had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Alison
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Last Activity
    03-01-2018 02:21 PM
    Location
    St. Augustine Florida
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    I got the balloon placed October 19, 2016. The first week was pretty terrible. For the first 2 mo the I threw up once or twice a week. I am always hungry. I am trying to stick to a high protein diet. It's hard with kids. We try to eat healthy as a family but we do eat out a lot too. There are some things I can't eat, such as lettuce, because it sticks to the balloons and they I burp really bad smelly burps. Any fruit with a skin sticks to the balloon. So I have to drink a Coke everyday to clean the balloons.I was shocked to hear drink Coke from the surgeon. Before balloon removal they put you in a Coke drinking schedule to be sure the balloon is clean when they are removed. The doctors office gave me a fit but and a fit but scale. It keeps track of my weight and my activity and automatically send it to the doctor. It's been very frustrating.

  6. #4
    Gastric Sleeve Member Kindle's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    12/20/2013
    Surgeon
    Ariel Ortiz & Arturo Martinez
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    1,659
    Said "Thanks" 699 Times
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    You will still have to eat a high protein diet with the sleeve. If you are having a hard time sticking to the diet plan with the balloon, you will likely have the same problems with the sleeve. There will be a lot of things you CAN eat that you shouldn't eat. In fact, the "bad" stuff goes down easier with a sleeve than the "good" stuff..... Just an FYI. If you do go with another type of WLS, it may be very beneficial to invest the time and money into professional psychiatric support. Finding out the reasons behind why you became obese in the first place and learning how to change those behaviors is the key to being successful with any WLS.

    As for a Mexico recommendation, I had my VSG with Dr. Ariel Ortiz. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, certified Bariatric Surgeon of Excellence and has proctored dozens of US and Canadian surgeons. Has performed over 16,000 bariatric surgeries with a complication rate far less than the US average. He actually performed many of the initial gastric balloon procedures while the manufacturer was going through FDA approval, so he may be a good resource to talk with about balloon vs VSG. His facility, Obesity Control Center, is an International Center of Excellence with a staff dedicated specifically to WLS. They do no more than 5 surgeries/day so you aren't just a cog in a cheap WLS assembly line operation. They have an in house dietician, cardiologist, followup Doctor, critical care specialist, anesthesiologists and several surgeons that were all readily available via phone or email postop. No third party medical tourism middleman to deal with.



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  8. #5
    Gastric Sleeve Member
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    01/11/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Forrester
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Last Activity
    03-24-2018 12:38 PM
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    495
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    Was Thanked 333 Times in 251 Posts
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    Quote Originally Posted by Alison0720 View Post
    I am trying to stick to a high protein diet. It's hard with kids. We try to eat healthy as a family but we do eat out a lot too.
    .
    I have a 9 year old and we used to eat out a lot too. We decided last year that we going to eat out less this year and cook at home on weekends.
    Since surgery in January I have been out to eat once. For one it's not worth it for me to go out and order something. The one time I did I had a couple of bites of my husbands dinner. It's not really fun to go out, try to figure out what to eat, and then sit there while everyone else is eating.

    As kindle said, with the sleeve, you can still eat bad food. It will slide right through.
    What kind of support are you getting from your dr's office? What does nutritionist say?



    Surgery Day Weight 1/11: 300
    Month 1: -34 pounds, -25 inches

  9. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  10. #6
    Gastric Sleeve Member Alison0720's Avatar
    I have not had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Alison
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Last Activity
    03-01-2018 02:21 PM
    Location
    St. Augustine Florida
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    Thank you for your response. I agree that I should figure out the bigger cause of my appetite and failure at losing weight. It's so difficult. I am an emotional eater, for sure!

  11. #7
    Gastric Sleeve Member Christie13's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Christie
    Surgery date
    11/03/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr. Wright
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
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    09-12-2019 04:13 PM
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    You definitely need to research this surgery and bypass if that is what you are considering. I like www.obesitycoverage.com for learning about the procedure. It gives you the rules, lists of complications, and all sorts of other good information. You have to follow the rules. You have to learn to eat healthy. Protein first and then veggies. Exercise should be a part of your new life. I looked at the balloon and knew it wasn't for me. Especially since it is temporary and you don't really lose that much. I then weighed the pros and cons of sleeve versus bypass and made my decision to be sleeved. I had also researched lap band and felt it was way more follow up care then I wanted. I did my surgery through insurance. They required a psych evaluation to ensure we were ready to make the lifestyle changes required to be successful. I did not spend the time or money and go through this procedure to fail. If I fail, I have only myself to blame. Good luck with your decision and finding the motivation you need to be committed to the lifestyle of whichever surgery you choose.



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  13. #8
    Gastric Sleeve Member Alison0720's Avatar
    I have not had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Alison
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Last Activity
    03-01-2018 02:21 PM
    Location
    St. Augustine Florida
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    I see the nutritionists once a month. Some of the protein bars I was eating had a higher carb count than recommended. And for snacks I was eating granola bars. It's just so easy to grab a granola bar on the way out the door. I did find out that I am also going through menopause. I didn't find that out from my WLS but my PCP. I have started on hormones and they are gradually increasing them. I will say that I feel less hungry now that I've started hormones.

  14. #9
    Gastric Sleeve Member Shirl's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Shirl
    Surgery date
    05/17/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr. Sergey Lyass
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    SoCal and Central Texas
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    There are some of us sleevers that even with 70-80% of our stomach gone along with the hunger hormone called ghrelin experience some form of mental hunger. For me emotional eating it has been a coping mechanism that I still have had to battle, most times I can work through it, but other times it is difficult.

    If you decide to keep the balloons, your doctor should prescribe you some type of appetite suppressant,but again that's not going to solve your emotional eating.

    Sounds like you need support in stress and time management, that can really help you in prioritizing self care to sustain your lifestyle.
    HW: 245lbs (11/15); SW: 226lbs (5/17/16) - Height: 5'6"

    Post-Op Weight:
    M1: 211.3 (-14.7)
    M2: 203 (-8.3)
    M3: 196.5 (-6.5)
    M4: 191.5 (-5)
    M5: 186.3 (-5.2)
    M6: (?)
    M7: (?)
    M8: 179.4 (-6.9)
    M9: 177.1 (-2.3)
    M10: 174 (-3.1)
    M11: 171.5 (-2.5)
    M12: 171 (-.5)
    Y1.1: 170 (-1)

    "Today is another day to get it right!"






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  16. #10
    Gastric Sleeve Member Shirl's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Shirl
    Surgery date
    05/17/2016
    Surgeon
    Dr. Sergey Lyass
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    SoCal and Central Texas
    Posts
    1,310
    Said "Thanks" 976 Times
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    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    Quote Originally Posted by Alison0720 View Post
    Thank you for your response. I agree that I should figure out the bigger cause of my appetite and failure at losing weight. It's so difficult. I am an emotional eater, for sure!
    Ps... please note, you are not a failure!

    As mentioned in my earlier post... It just sounds like you need to find the right support/program in stress and time management to help you with your emotional eating disorder.
    HW: 245lbs (11/15); SW: 226lbs (5/17/16) - Height: 5'6"

    Post-Op Weight:
    M1: 211.3 (-14.7)
    M2: 203 (-8.3)
    M3: 196.5 (-6.5)
    M4: 191.5 (-5)
    M5: 186.3 (-5.2)
    M6: (?)
    M7: (?)
    M8: 179.4 (-6.9)
    M9: 177.1 (-2.3)
    M10: 174 (-3.1)
    M11: 171.5 (-2.5)
    M12: 171 (-.5)
    Y1.1: 170 (-1)

    "Today is another day to get it right!"






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  18. #11
    Gastric Sleeve Member bigdogluver's Avatar
    Name
    Laura
    Surgery date
    03/22/2017
    Surgeon
    Dr. Alex Gandsas
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Last Activity
    12-24-2018 07:57 AM
    Location
    Annapolis, MD
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    355
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    Blog Entries
    3

    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    Hi Alison,
    I was very curious about the balloon and had considered it but my insurance didn't cover it. After reading your entry, I'm kind of glad that I didn't go in the at direction. I am 2 weeks out from my surgery and I'm filled with all kinds of emotions and feelings. At this time, my thoughts are that I shouldn't let anyone or anything get in the way of my goal to get healthy. I wish you the best with your decision and goals, we all deserve to be happy and healthy.


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  20. #12
    Gastric Sleeve Member Alison0720's Avatar
    I have not had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Alison
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Last Activity
    03-01-2018 02:21 PM
    Location
    St. Augustine Florida
    Posts
    16
    Said "Thanks" 15 Times
    Was Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
    Said "Welcome to Gastric Sleeve" 0 Times

    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    Be glad you went with something more permanent than the balloons. They cost me $7,000 and I've gotten no where but a possible ulcer... I hope you are doing well recovering from surgery! I think I have decided on Dr. Ariel Ortiz and surgery in July.

  21. #13
    Gastric Sleeve Member Ann2's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Name
    Ann2
    Surgery date
    08/18/2014
    Surgeon
    n.a.
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Missouri
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    3

    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    Please keep reading at this site to gain a greater understanding of the mental, emotional, dietary, exercise, and other significant changes you'll need to make to be successful long-term after being sleeved. There's a very common truism in this community: "They operate on your stomach, not on your brain."

    Also, please know that if you have a stomach ulcer you probably will not be able to be sleeved until the ulcer is fully healed. A lot of the requirements about how sleeved patients must eat post-op have to do with avoiding ulcers. The reason is obvious, since post-op you have only 20-25% of your original stomach left -- and you really don't want to mess up that remaining small stomach!



    Consult: 235 lbs
    My and doc's preop diet: 216 -19 lbs
    M1 postop 205 -30
    M2 193 -42
    M3 184 -51
    M4 174 -61
    M5 167 -68
    M6 162 -73
    M7 156 -79
    M8 151 -84
    M9 148 -87
    M10 146 -89
    M11 144 -91
    M12 143 -92
    M13 142 -93
    M14 140 -95
    M15 139 -96
    M16 137 -98
    M17 135 -100

    First Surgiversary post

    Second Surgiversary post

    Third Surgiversary post

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  23. #14
    Gastric Sleeve Member Kindle's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
    Surgery date
    12/20/2013
    Surgeon
    Ariel Ortiz & Arturo Martinez
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    1,659
    Said "Thanks" 699 Times
    Was Thanked 1,627 Times in 805 Posts
    Said "Welcome to Gastric Sleeve" 2 Times
    Blog Entries
    43

    Default Re: Gastic balloon patient failure

    Yes, definitely get the balloon removed and start whatever medications required to heal your ulcer(s). You want nice healthy stomach tissue in there that will heal, not ulcerated, scarred tissue that could turn into a leak. I'd consider a skype consult with Dr Ortiz to address this issue and what tests/procedures you should have done before heading down there. He can scope you once you are there, but no sense traveling all the way to Mexico just to come back home without surgery in case your ulcers haven't healed.



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