Gastric balloon before & after

“I have lost 4.5 stone. I feel healthier, fitter and happier.”

I have always struggled with my weight since puberty. Food was always a reward and I always thought food was the remedy to make me feel better. Since my mid 20’s, I have been a typical ‘yo-yo’ dieter, however, as I reached midlife this seemed harder. I faced the onset of the menopause and I felt utterly miserable. I then decided to research gastric surgery. My weight was 16.7 stone and a BMI of 34. My blood pressure was high, and I had lots of aches and pains.

I met Mr Toumi and I decided the Orbera 365 gastric balloon was the tool to get me back on the right path for a healthier life. My balloon was inserted on May 22. I was very apprehensive as I had read lots of negativity, but Mr Toumi was very clear in his advice. 

The balloon is only there as a tool to help with weight loss. Experience shows that approximately 70-80% of your total weight loss with be lost in the first 3 months. After that, the weight loss slows down, and the gastric balloon plays a more supportive role in helping you maintain your weight whilst you continue to adapt to new nutrition and exercise habits.

Insertion was painless and I did not need any sedation. I was back home in 2 hours with some medication to help with the sickness and pain. The next three days were pretty uncomfortable, and I focused on taking my medication and keeping hydrated. After one week, I was 10lbs lighter. Over the next few weeks my weight stayed exactly the same and I was struggling to eat more than 700 calories. I felt a little deflated but once I received advise from the dietitian and increased my calories by having little snacks, the scales began to display a loss.

Two weeks after insertion I decided to join a gym. I started a routine of going straight from work for 30 minutes. I then started C25K (Couch to 5K) which is a fantastic programme that’s been designed to get you from the couch to running 5km in 9 weeks.

The next few months I stuck to simple routine of eating three small meals on a 7-inch plate equalling a total of 1200 calories and doing 30 minutes of exercise a day. Christmas, birthdays and holidays my routine did not falter. I ran every morning in the heat in Italy and ran in the freezing winter in the Czech Republic. I tracked my calories, and I was losing weight. From consultation to removal, I have lost 4 and a half stone. It’s six weeks since I had my balloon removed and I feel healthier, fitter, and most importantly happier. Does the balloon work? Yes, if you treat it as a tool.