A woman who underwent a gastric balloon procedure in hopes of jumpstarting her weight loss journey found herself in a harrowing situation when the balloon became stuck in her intestines. Alaina Shaw, 33, paid £4,500 for the procedure, which involves swallowing a capsule that inflates in the stomach to reduce appetite. However, instead of passing through her gastrointestinal tract naturally, the balloon moved to her intestine, leaving her in intense pain and fearing for her life.
Alaina, from Uxbridge, West London, weighing 21 stone, described the ordeal as feeling like she was going to die. She had the surgery in November 2023 after a consultation at a clinic in north London the month before. Despite being told she could lose up to 20% of her body weight within four months, the procedure led to complications. Alaina woke up in immediate pain post-surgery and experienced no weight loss or decrease in appetite in the following weeks.
Feeling ignored by the clinic when she raised concerns, Alaina eventually ended up in Hillingdon Hospital where doctors discovered the balloon had become lodged in her intestines. The situation was life-threatening, and there was a possibility of having to remove part of her bowel to extract the balloon. Fortunately, surgeons were able to remove it without such drastic measures, but it left Alaina with a five-inch incision on her belly button.
Following the ordeal, Alaina spent two days in ICU and faced financial hardship due to being unable to work for eight weeks. She is now seeking a full reimbursement from the clinic. Despite her experience, the manufacturers of the balloon maintained its safety and effectiveness, stating their commitment to investigating any issues related to patient safety.
The NHS notes that complications from gastric balloons are rare but can include issues such as leakage, ulcers, or gastric problems. While the overall safety of the procedure is considered high by the NHS, the long-term effects remain unknown. Alaina’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the potential risks associated with weight loss procedures.