case study - herman reede

19-09-01
Name: Herman Reede
Treatment: Stomach balloon
Weight before: 116 kg
Weight after removal: 82.8kg

In the middle of March I went to see a BodyServices consultant (Mrs Polderman) in the Boerhave clinic in Amsterdam, to get information about the stomach balloon. This conversation really cleared things up for me, giving me all the pro's and con's of the B.I.B. system. I was put on a weighing scale that stopped at a shocking 116,5 kilograms. In other words: much too much for someone of my age and with a length of 1.77 metres.

Over the past several years I have tried more than once to get down to a normal weight. I never succeeded. I have spent a fortune on powders and pills and finally I went to see my doctor. But he couldn't do very much for me either, so he sent me to a dietician. But she couldn't help me either. There comes a point in your life when you learn to ignore the comments of other people that you just have to take some things in life for granted. But not me!

After my talk at the Boerhave clinic I went home to think it all through again. The day after that, I went back to make an appointment to have the balloon placed. My work involves a lot of flying and I wanted to be sure that the differences in pressure would not be a problem. This proved not to be the case and I have learned now that this is true.

On the first of April I went to a party, but I checked myself pretty well. On the second of April, in the morning, the balloon was supposed to be placed. There was a medical examination before that and the doctor who would later on place the balloon gave me the chance to ask the last questions I might have. After that I was brought to the room where the treatment would take place and got a small "rush" to put me down. After only fifteen minutes I was awake again and got the chance to slowly come to my senses. After another fifteen minutes I was out of the clinic and in a taxi, taking me home.

After getting there I lay down on the couch and slept until about three o'clock. After that, I sucked on a Fisherman's Friend. At 18.00 hours I took my first meal of the day: two matze crackers and half a glass of water with a Supradyn tablet. At 18.40 I took another pair of crackers and a cup of bouillon. At 20.30 I took two matze crackers again and half a glass of water and at 22.15 I did the same again.

After this came the cramp in my stomach. I managed to bring this down to a reasonable size by taking some of the tablets I had gotten earlier in the day from the pharmacist's. I slept well that night and in the morning I took things easy with a matze cracker and some bouillon and water. In the evening I took a small portion of salmon with pepper and salt and tzatiki with two rice waffles and of course more water.

On the second day and later on during the third day I got those stomach cramps back again, but after that they were gone. During my whole B.I.B. period I didn't have to throw up once, although I had read much about this phenomenon. Not even straight after it was placed. The only discomfort I experienced was the cramp in my stomach during the first few days and a sour feeling after eating too fat or too much, like after a barbecue in summer.

I haven't felt any hunger at all and thanks to the guidance of the dietician I have learned to eat healthy and tasteful at the same time. I no longer feel the need to really overstuff myself like I used to. My knees and ankles don't bother me anymore and I look a lot better than I used to - even in the eyes of others.

I haven't been sporting all this time, just taking a brisk walk every day for half an hour. And of course I'm also physically active when I'm working. It was a great kick to lose the first five kilograms after a couple of weeks, then ten, then fifteen, and then breaking down through the 100 kilogram barrier to 95, 90, 85 and eventually 84, though I would like to lose another few kilograms. Having had to use a Levi's size 42 (with the button open) I can now wear a Levi's size 36 with ease (and I'll probably have to swap it for a 34 shortly). I can even wear my old wedding costume from 1986. I feel much fitter and I get a lot of remarks and questions about my weight reduction.

With regards to eating my daily pattern is usually as follows. In the morning I begin with a hundred grams of fresh pineapple and two glasses of water. Two hours later I take a slice of bread with chicken filet and sambal. Around noon I take a slice of bread with cheese and for instance a kiwi or an apple and sometimes a cup of soup or a salad without mayonnaise. In the early hours of the afternoon I take a piece of fruit. In the evening I take a hundred grams of spiced up chicken fillet, an average sized potato, 200 grams of salad with a light dressing. After eight I take four glasses of red wine and a few handsful of salty sticks. I take a couple of glasses of water with each meal.

I can recommend the balloon to everyone who wants seriously to fight his or her overweight. For myself I've learned that it's not necessary to overstuff myself with food each day and to mind what I eat (count calories), but to be able to eat well at the same time. Much or fat food gives me stomach cramps. I am quite sure that I would not have been successful at loosing weight without the balloon.

Thank you Body Services.

Herman Reede

case study - herman reede

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