[SUSPECTED SPAM] Re: Gastric BALLOON?

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Malignant Obesity? Wow, there's an insulting term, Super-Obese wasn't degrading enough?How about us fluffy and former fluffies have our own nomenclature scale for non-supportive medical staff and insurance companies. NaiveCluelessStupidMorbidly Stupid..and lastlyMalignantly Stupid Ok, I have vented, thanks!!Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®From: Bipley <Bipley@...>Sender: Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:58:15 -0700< >Reply Subject: Re: Gastric BALLOON? The balloon is really designed for someone that is malignantly obese (50+ BMI) so they can lose weight before WLS and make the surgery a bit safer.  It's not really used for weight loss as a stand alone procedure.  Most people can take off the pounds but they can't keep it off.  If you were banded, for example, let's say that you lose all your excess weight and then your band erodes or slips... for some reason you lose your band statistically speaking, you stand a 3-5% chance of keeping the weight off.  Same thing with the balloon, as soon as you remove it you'll very likely regain.  The balloon has it's own issues, lots of nausea and also a risk that the balloon ruptures and causes a bowel obstruction.Really, the safest effective surgery is the sleeve speaking long term.  The balloon is kind of a band aid on a gun shot wound.On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 12:06 PM, S. Rowan <srwsearch@...> wrote: Research continues - I've found Allergan makes a balloon which can be inserted into the stomach via the mouth, stays in the stomach 6-8 months max then comes out through the mouth deflated. It's made of silicon and holds blue saline. The complications are nowhere near the band, it's not permanent but for someone w/ a BMI of just over 30 and seeking a tool along w/ seeking to have children and in her mid-30's, i'm finding this is probably my 'best bet' and can always go to a sleeve later if the tool of the balloon doesn't work.Does anyone on the board know, have experience with the balloon, know someone who's had it? I'm finding the US doctors are staying away from it and it's only being done overseas or south of the border so far.Facts, experience appreciated more than just general thoughts - you know who you are... ;-0thanks,srw