Gastric sleeve or Gatric Balloon?!
Hello I'm new here and was hoping I could get some help.
i have a BMI of 32 and weigh 75kg. I need to lose 15 kg and was considering gastric balloon since its least invasive and will help me achieve a weight loss of around 15 kg. After the removal of the balloon I was thinking maybe it will be easier to maintain the weight and change my lifestyle and will keep a close monitor on my weight and even if I gain 1-2 kgs it will be easier to drop them than dropping 15 kgs obviously. I also wanted to mention that I have PCOS and insulin resistance.
So I went to see a bariatric surgeon near where I live And he said to just try with diet and excercise.. Obviously that is something I have tried many many times and failed. And can never lose more than 5kg.
So I travelled to a near by country and went to see a doctor who is well experienced and had many good reviews and is considered to be one of the top bariatric surgeons in the region. He said if I insisted on gastric balloon was to choose between the normal saline filled ballon and the Obalon (gas filled) then he suggests the normal saline filled balloon. But if I was to go with his suggestion then he would really suggest gastric sleeve since its a permanent solution. I'm a bit worried about having to go under the knife and was hoping for a less invasive procedure .. But if the balloon is really a bad idea then I will chose the gastric sleeve since I need to lose weight to help prevent me developing type 2 diabetes and also to help me conceive since I am also suffering from infertility. But then again a lot of people around me tell me that tha sleeve is too extreme for my case and a balloon will be just enough for me. I would like to hear from someone who experienced either one of them please
As I understand it the balloon is for temporary weight loss like someone who wants to be thin for her wedding. Once it is removed the weight will come back.
A sleeve is a permanent solution. With a sleeve and a healthy lifestyle you will have an opportunity to get on a level playing field with people who are not obese. Then you can work on maintaining your goal weight by catching regain quickly.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
Less than 5 percent of people who lose a significant amount of weight keep it off for at least five years. The balloon does nothing to address regain. You will still have over 95 percent chance of gaining the weight back once the balloon is removed. The balloon is not worth the risks in my opinion.
Height: 5'5" HW: 290 Consultation Weight: 276 SW: 257 CW: 132
Most people with longstanding weight issues require a permanent solution. I lost excess weight many times but always regained it - and more - until I had VSG.
LINDA
Ht: 5'2" | HW 225, BMI 41.2 | CW 115, BMI 21.0
On average, people lose about 75% of their excess weight. How many kgs that amounts to depends on how much excess weight you have.
I'm a bit surprised that anyone will do WLS on you at your current BMI, unless you have medical problems that mean you REALLY need to lose weight.
Well as I said before I have PCOS and insulin resistance. Not sure if. That is considered as a medical problem that needs WLS. Not diabetic but taking metformin to control my PCOS and help me ovulate on my own
What is your BMI - unless you are very short, 75(kgs) 165 lbs will not qualify you for surgery, without major comorbiditites. 165 is more of an ending weight for surgery, not a beginning weight.
Sharon
on 3/1/16 9:37 am
Like others have said it's unlikely you will become underweight. I started with a BMI of 34, and I had a gastric sleeve July 30th of this year. I'm now down in the 150's which is still a little overweight for me (I'm 5'5"). The weight loss slows the closer you get to goal. I checked into the gastric balloon and everything I read said it's a waste of money and doesn't work. So, I opted for the sleeve. I'm glad I did it. I also worried that my body was going to drop massive amounts of weight because I would read about people who lost 100 pounds, and I didn't have 100 pounds to lose. But, people who start at 200 aren't going to lose 100 pounds. It just doesn't work that way. The less you weigh to start with, the less you're going to lose.
I'm not sure what your referral process is for specialists in your country but can you ask your Dr to send you to a medical weight management center... so somewhere that offers evidence based treatment plans... methods are backed by solid clinical research. In the US many might suggest a liquid low calorie diet for a time... optifast, etc. but paired with behavioral stuff... "just try it with diet and exercise" is an unfinished answer IMHO... he needed to give you a plan (or send you somewhere that will), with support, follow-up.
From what I have read about the balloon options 10% is the average weight loss... stays in 6 months. I can see it as an option for some who for whatever reason can't have WLS. It wouldn't be my choice but it maybe an option for others and has been used in Europe for quite awhile.
Best wishes in your research and your quest for a kiddo :)