John, age 56, BMI 47

I've had a big weight problem all my life. Over the last ten years since I left the merchant navy, I've had really terrible trouble with my hips and knees. In 2005, I saw an orthopaedic specialist in the NHS who said that I needed my right hip replacing, but that he wouldn't do it because of my weight. At that time I was about 22 stones. He also said that he would do my knees too after my hip was done.

I tried one of the liquid diets, which worked OK, but the weight did not stay off for long. I decided that i just have to do something more drastic about it. I contacted the National Gastric Balloon Centre. They told me that it was actually quite common for patients to come to them to lose weight so that they could then have their hips replaced. Or even have heart surgery apparently.

I had my balloon in 2006, and immediately noticed a massive difference in my appetite and how I thought about food. Within the six months, I had lost more than 5 stones. I felt so much better and more mobile, that I was able to climb up on my house roof to put up Christmas decorations for the first time in years!!

My orthopaedic surgeon is delighted, and has said that my hips are now so much better that he is going to do my knee replacements first. I'm absolutely thrilled. My stomach balloon has changed everything - literally given me a new lease of life!

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