Please follow the instructions below before and after your gastric balloon!
Orbera Intragastric Balloon
Pre-op and Post-op Instructions
JourneyLite Physicians
Please watch this video and read the instructions to prepare for your Orbera gastric balloon!
IMPORTANT: You will need a driver, you cannot drive yourself home from the procedure and you cannot take an Uber/Lyft, or taxi!
The intragastric balloon is ideal for patients who are moderately overweight and want to begin with a less invasive weight loss procedure. Patients who are ready to start a healthy, new lifestyle that incorporates regular exercise and dietary modifications will benefit greatly from a managed weight loss program. Sustained weight loss is achievable with the assistance of our support team, and we are committed to your long-term weight loss success!
Medications to be prescribed for this procedure:
- Zofran (generic ondansetron
- Dissolve one tablet under your tongue every 6 hours as needed for nausea.
- 2 refills available on prescription.
- Levsin (generic hyoscamine)
- Dissolve one or two tablets under your tongue every 6 hours as needed for spasm, pain, or cramping.
- Emend (generic aprepitant)
- Swallow pill by mouth on arrival for your procedure.
- Take one the morning after the procedure as well.
- Prilosec (generic omeprazole)
- 40mg daily (not the over-the-counter 20mg dosage) must be taken during the entire duration of your balloon therapy!
- Nexium 40mg, Protonix 40mg, or Prevacid 30mg also acceptable alternatives
- If you have not received notification that your prescriptions have been sent by 72 hours prior to your procedure, please call or text (513) 540-1207!
Prior to Your Procedure
You will need to be on Prilosec OTC 40mg (or the generic omeprazole) which should be once daily beginning 2 weeks prior to the procedure. You should stay on this until your balloon is removed.
Before your intragastric balloon placement, you should be on a puree/soft solid diet for 24 hours before your procedure date, and should avoid all food and liquid for at least 8 hours prior, as you will be sedated during the procedure. Typically this will mean nothing to eat or drink after midnight.
The puree/soft solid phase is to ensure that there is no solid food left in your stomach that might cause us to have to cancel your procedure.
The Day of Your Intragastric Balloon Procedure
Your procedure will be at JourneyLite of Cincinnati, 10475 Reading Road, Cincinnati OH 45241. If you have any questions for the center, they can be reached at 513-259-2488. Maps/directions can be found at JourneyLite.com. You will need to pre-register prior to your procedure on the site so please do that as soon as possible.
First, a scope will be inserted through your mouth and advanced down into your esophagus and stomach. As long as there are no major abnormalities in your anatomy, the deflated balloon will be inserted into your stomach through the mouth, and then filled with sterile saline. The procedure is generally uncomplicated and lasts 20-30 minutes. You will regain awareness quickly and be monitored until your doctor discharges you (usually a an hour or so). Someone will need to be available to drive you home (not an Uber, Lyft, or Taxi). You will be given detailed instructions on your aftercare.
After Your Intragastric Balloon Procedure
After the placement of the intragastric balloon, almost ALL patients experience some gastric discomfort, nausea, and vomiting for the first week after the procedure.
This is normal, as your digestive system is adjusting to the presence of the intragastric balloon. You will be given medications to help you manage these symptoms. Please use these medications liberally for the first few days to minimize nausea issues. Please call us if you feel like you are not able to control your symptoms, do not go to the ER unless you feel like there is a life-threatening condition.
Nausea and vomiting is to be expected, especially in the first week after surgery. You will be provided the following medications:
- Zofran (ondansetron):
- dissolve one tablet under tongue every 4-6 hours for nausea for 7 days
- Levsin (hyoscamine):
- dissolve one to two tablets under tongue every 4 hours as needed for spasm/cramping
- Emend (aprepitant):
- If you originally received 2 of these tablets, take the second one the morning after your procedure.
There may be other medications prescribed as well. If vomiting persists despite the use of these medications, please contact us for further instructions.
As soon as you feel well enough (usually about 2 weeks), you may start an exercise program. We recommend getting an activity tracker, such as a FitBit, and aiming for 10,000 steps per day.
You will meet regularly with your support team to receive nutritional training and to monitor your progress. Over the next 6 months, this will be an important part of your successful lifestyle change. For patients following the program, our goal weight loss during the first 6 months is 30-50 pounds. Higher-BMI patients will typically be on the high end of this range, and lower-BMI patients on the lower end. Please note that weight loss is not a guarantee with this procedure; there are some patients who do not follow the program and do not lose weight at all.
Removing Your Intragastric Balloon
Removing the intragastric balloon is a similar process to when it was inserted. The main difference is that we need to take some steps to make sure there is no solid food present in your stomach that could lead to aspiration into your lungs at the time of removal. If you do not follow these steps, we may be unable to remove your balloon which means we would have to do another removal procedure after your stomach is emptied.
You need to begin a medication called Reglan 48 hours prior to your balloon removal. Usually this prescription is sent at the time of your balloon placement, if not please contact us with your pharmacy info so that we can arrange this.
You should also refrain from eating ANY solid foods for 48 hours before the procedure. During this time it is helpful to take frequent sips of Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke or Coke Zero. This is to prevent any food from being present in the stomach on the day of your balloon removal, which could lead to aspiration into your lungs. The carbonation in the diet soda helps to clean the balloon and also move solid food out of the stomach. You should also having nothing at all to eat or drink starting at midnight the night before the procedure as you will be sedated.
First your doctor will remove the sterile saline from the balloon, then remove the deflated balloon. The process should take 20-30 minutes and you will be observed for a time afterward to ensure that you are able to be released. Someone will need to be available to drive you home.
After the Intragastric Balloon is Removed
After your balloon is removed it is critical to continue the habits that you have learned during the past 6 months. If you feel you need additional support, we highly recommend enrolling in one of our medical weight loss programs utilizing an appetite suppressant to enhance your success.
Download these instructions in a PDF:
