Ross L. McMahon, MD

I got the Orbera Intragastric Balloon in June (2 months ago) at Athenix and the whole experience has been amazing! Everyone at Athenix is incredibly kind, patient, and thorough. The procedure itself was easy and painless, and I felt back to normal in a couple of days. I've lost 16 pounds to date and I feel great. I'm excited to see how much more I can lose in the next 4 months while I have the balloon in (and after that too?!) thanks to the support of the Athenix team. Would recommend this procedure and Athenix to anyone looking to make a positive change.

I am scheduled for my balloon insert in 3 days. I am afraid and excited. I have lost weight in the past on vlc diets. I have had difficulty maintaining the losses. Due to severe family stressors and careless eating habits, I have returned and exceeded my highest weight ever. I am on blood pressure meds and metformin. I am hoping to see a 50 lb weight loss, but 20 lbs would probably still be satisfactory.
I am unsure about whether to tell my 15 yr old daughter, as she is already bombarded by society's expectation of a skinny body with a "thigh gap", etc. My main motive is health, but I'm not sure that she will see it that way. Anyone else have doubts about explaining the balloon to friends and family?

Sooo nervous.....

I lose some weight but it comes right back on. I don't have any medical issues, other than some occasional knee pain caused by my weight. I decided to go through the Orbera procedure. I was very confident that this process would work, I did a lot of research and found it to be less evasive than the other weight loss options. I was lucky with the process, I had very little side effect. I'm down 21 pounds in exactly two months since the procedure. This by no means is a magic weight loss process, like anything you have to do the work. The balloon is a tool that helped me know the appropriate portion, I learned to make more healthier choices. I'm more confident about how I look, I feel healthier. The procedure was done by Dr. McMahon at Athenix in Bellevue. The cost was worth it to me. I think about the money I spent over the years with different products without getting the desired result. For me, this was the best decision.

The results are great! The treatment only took 25 minutes and it felt warm to hot at times. I went right back to work after. Optimal results take about 10-12 weeks to see and the area should be treated twice. Dr. McMahon's office at Seattle Weight Loss in Bellevue is having a special event tomorrow night, Thursday 3/30 at 5:30 with special pricing!!!!

The price was actually 8500 but after buying the protein shakes, prescriptions, and supplements it was more like 8800. I wish they would do a deal with care credit for a no interest rate period.

Anyway, I Went in for Reshape, which is very similar to Obera but is a dual balloon system rather than one balloon, at 10am Tuesday. Immediately threw up after coming to. a bloody bile substance. The nurse admitted that they had scraped the esophageal lining while trying to place the balloon but that it should heal on its own in no time.

Dressed and out the door by 11:15

Threw up again on car ride home and didn't stop since. Couldn't keep anything down all week. Feels like super extreme food poisoning or the flu. I don't think I've ever been so ill. I went in for two liters of IVFs the day after the procedure (day 2) and again on Friday. (Day 4) On Friday they told me patients rarely react for so long but I should try doubling omeprazol and continue phenergat suppositories.

Day 5: threw up in the morning and had very severe dhiareah but felt a lot better toward the evening and was able to keep a couple glasses of water/g2 Gatorade down taking just a couple ounces at a time. I found taking larger amounts make me feel sick.

Day 6: Still a bit queasy but I haven't thrown up at all today. I have finally been able to drink water and I've managed a protein shake. I even went on a walk. I don't feel hungry and hey, I've lost 4 pounds ????

I'll keep updating as I progress.