Intra Gastric Balloon for Weight Loss?

To the person that just had this done in Vancouver - who is the doctor as I am looking for one. Thanks.

ive had the gastric balloon fitted with the surgical weight loss centre in mississauga ontario and paid $7800. have lost just over 16 pounds in 2 months.

Hi there;
Does anyone know if the gastric balloon procedure is being done in the US?
If so, please tell me where and the costs, I am very interested on doing it but I could not find any clinic in the USA
Thanks

The gastric balloon is a great way to lose weight but a little extreme as a measure in my opinion. If you want to keep the weight off you still have to change your lifestyle to a much more healthy one.
I don't know were you could get the procedure done in the US but you should do some checking around because some prices can be inflated way too much.
This discussion intrigued me and I searched youtube for a video of the procedure. Here are two animated videos for those wandering how it all goes down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLwztLRuKes&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXLx6fQHCYs&feature=related

Where can I find a list if those 15 facilities. I am very interested in participating in the study.

I had the Gastric Balloon done on the first week of October 2009. So far I have lost a total of 15 lbs. It's not very invasive, after the procedure you wake up with a sore throat and can't have fluids for thefirst 24 hrs. The common symptoms are vomiting, nausea, and gas for the first 3 days. You constantly feel full! I havent gotten used to that yet. It's uncomfortable to sleep for the first 2 weeks, specially if you are a stomach sleeper like me. It's almost like being pregnant. You have to take medications like nexium for the period you have it in because you can develop ulcers. I'm working together with a nutritionist, so I have a menu I must follow. The first week its all fluids to help your body adjust. So if you do not like soups, start loving them! XD You do have to keep hydrated constantly if you vomit alot. I was lucky enough to only vomit once in a week and didnt feel that horrible nausea. I experience the nausea when I haveto take my regular meds. You can only eat and drink small onces at a time or you will throw up. The balloon is the size of a grape fruit. Until now, 3 weeks later am I starting to feel more comfortable with this thing in my stomach. But I criedday and night because I wasnt able to sleep comfortably.

I had it done in Central America at a private hospital. I'm from there so I trusted this hospital because it has the best doctors in the country. It cost me about $3000 with one day of hospital stay. It is not available in the US and wont be for a few years. This procedure is mostly done in Europe and Canada, Latin America is now adopting it. My personal decision to have it done was because I couldn't get a kick start on my weight loss and was gaining weight to rapidly because of my depression and hormone shots I took for hair loss. I am 5'3" medium frame and was weighing 189 before I got it done! My family wasnt to thrilled about the idea but now that they are seeing the results they feel more comfortable with it.

I hope my information helps someone looking to loss weight.

It's about half the price of lap-band. I went for a consultation in Toronto and it is $7800 (canadian) including everything, even the followup and removal.

I'm an American citizen who was determined to get a gastric balloon. It's not FDA approved here so it's not available in the US yet. Canadian doctors will not knowlingly insert a balloon for an American citizen. So, I went to Mexicalli, Mexico. I told the doctor to fill it up and he did. I kind of expected that the doctor would let me know that filling it up would result in my portion sizes being about the size of two oreos once every 5 hours. But he didn't tell me that and I've been vomiting almost every day since it was inserted on November 5th, 2009. Today is March 2, 2010. I'm delighted that I've lost 45+ pounds since it was inserted but am bummed that I now have esophageal ulcers and have to have it removed two months early or risk developing cancer as a result of the ulcers.

But... then again....maybe this is just my experience.

Agree with everything that guest said on 14 October. I had my balloon put in last Wed & its now Sat afternoon. I'm not enjoying the weakness, fatigue or nausea & i'm also finding it difficult to get comfortable, be it sitting or sleeping - kind of reminds of being pregnant. After having the balloon inserted on Wed, all i wanted was for it to be removed. I keep telling myself in another day or so, the side-effects will be gone - trying desparately to keep my spirits up as know i have to made a major change to my life-style once and for all; both for my little boy & for myself, so i can experience all those precious moments with my son that so quickly pass by (& that includes going to the beach & the other things that i usually avoid because i feel soooooo big).

Hello, I really really really need support. I looked everywhere online and since its still not FDA approved I guess its hard to find a lot of information that is helpful regarding this procedure.

I had it done March 6th 2010 and until this day (a month later) I am still throwing up everyday 1-2 times. It gets bad because I feel nauseated constantly whether I eat or not. It makes me feel VERY lazy and tired since I am not really eating anything or keeping anything down for the matter.

I want to know if there is anyone out there with a similar response? After reading some responses it came to my attention that maybe I am eating too much at meals but then sometimes on an empty stomach I feel nauseated and throw up.

It feels much better than the first week but still I feel like I am not able to do things regularly. I am a teacher and I can barely make myself go to work everyday and half the time I feel like I'm running to the bathroom to make sure I don't throw up all over the students.

I would really appreciate if someone were to reply to this and let me know if they had a similar experience and if it actually goes away. I am concerned that throwing up everyday will cause other problems? I don't want to turn bulimic for example, because sometimes it gets to the point where the nausea is TOO much and I half induce the throw up so I can relieve myself =/

winteryrose1984 @ aol

I was not able to find the gastric balloon procedure in Vancouver. Can I have some details?

I just read up that there is going to be a clinic set up in Windsor, Ontario. windsor is right on the border with Detroit so Americans can fly into Detroit to come to Windsor. This doctor presently does it in Sarnia Ontario.

I read it was about $8,000 which includes consultations with a dietician for a year and removal. The article said the procedure just got approved in Canada recently. Patients lose 30-50 lbs in six months then it is removed. The doctor explained the deflated silicone balloon is inserted orally once the patient is sedated and then filled with water. It's removal is done the same way. He went on to say you can have it done then go back to work. He also has a financial plan for about $200 monthly payments.

I has a balloon fitted 2 weeks ago in Australia ($3600 with health insurance, $6000 with out). I found the first 24 hours were hell and wanted it removed. Since then I have had the occassional day when I feel OK, but mostly i have cramps and a bit of nausea. Eating even small quantities makes me feel sick so I often throw up to relieve the discomfort. I take a supradyn and sports drinks to keep me energized. I find the balllon shifts regularly and if I can feel it in my midline, I push it up and to the left which helps relieve the discomfort. I get horrible backache, but that may be related to sitting in front of a computer with a now very full stomach all day. I sure hope things get better soon.

How much it cost the gastric balloon procedure in Canada?

and how much for removal?

Thanks

hello I also had a ballon fitted the same time as you in telford north wales GB like you felt awfull for first day still get cramps and feel sick most of the time i dont feel there is much after care to help with the diet plan or the psycological side