Weight Loss Injection check-in 2024

[weightlossae]

Had a follow up with my endo this morning. He took me off my low dose slow release insulin and upped my mounjaro to 5. I’m excited but also nervous about lows (the majority of my reads have been in the 80s and 90s on 2.5) - and also having issues with highs and lows traveling (we leave in 5 weeks for a 10 day international trip). He did send in the script for 3 months and I haven’t had issue getting the 2.5 at my local grocery store so I’m hoping I still have luck but I’m not getting excited.

[followyourarrow]

weightlossae, I struggle with lows at times too. I've found upping my protein intake significantly helps. I'm going on a 10 day international trip in a few weeks as well, and I'm nervous about the lows, especially because I'll be more active. I'm bringing protein bars with me and I think I'll pack some skittles and m&ms just in case. Maybe some trail mix. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them!

[weightlossae]

Apr 26, 2024 15:30:19 GMT -5 followyourarrow said:

weightlossae, I struggle with lows at times too. I've found upping my protein intake significantly helps. I'm going on a 10 day international trip in a few weeks as well, and I'm nervous about the lows, especially because I'll be more active. I'm bringing protein bars with me and I think I'll pack some skittles and m&ms just in case. Maybe some trail mix. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them!

I am always trying to get more in but don’t track and I’m a lazy eater some days because I’m at home. I eat a lot of cubed chicken with various bbq seasonings (we have a plethora bc DH smokes meat), Kodiak pancakes, Seeq strawberry lemonade protein drink, and pistachios. The salt and vinegar and chili mostly bc they satisfy the snacky flavor. I love Barebells for protein bars and I also like keto bars when I’m trying to get the protein without a lot of carb. Sadly the keto bars are super heat sensitive so you can’t travel with them at all which is what I’m worried about for our trip since even the barebells probably won’t fare well. I guess I need to look for a different type. I don’t like jerky at all. I do love the mini skittles to keep in my purse for low. Much more enjoyable to eat than glucose tabs.

[followyourarrow]

I think I read in this tread, or it may have been a TikTok, to do the shot in your arm for a more effective week. I tried it last night and feel very rough this morning. We'll see how the week goes.

[shauni27]

Apr 29, 2024 9:42:47 GMT -5 followyourarrow said:

I think I read in this tread, or it may have been a TikTok, to do the shot in your arm for a more effective week. I tried it last night and feel very rough this morning. We'll see how the week goes.

I have done it twice now and did not notice any difference :/

[expectantsteelerfan]

I was at my pharmacy today for other stuff, and asked if they had any update on Zepbound (no, lol), and if they happened to have any Wegovy in stock. She said she did have 2 boxes of the 2.4mg in stock, so if my Dr. sent the rx for that she could fill it. So I messaged my Dr. asking to switch back to that again (esp. since the news is saying Zepbound is going to be out of stock through June). In my last message with my Dr. my Dr. said it was a pain to have to re-do my prior auth. to switch back to Wegovy, along with it being out of stock now too, but that seems like a cop-out to me. But I'm guessing if my Dr. will re-send my prior auth for Wegovy and then send an rx for that, it'll take a few days, and who knows if it'll still be in stock at that point.

[mcmel]

Apr 29, 2024 11:14:14 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

Apr 29, 2024 9:42:47 GMT -5 followyourarrow said:

I think I read in this tread, or it may have been a TikTok, to do the shot in your arm for a more effective week. I tried it last night and feel very rough this morning. We'll see how the week goes.

I have done it twice now and did not notice any difference :/

I agree. I’ve now done it twice in my arm and no difference except I felt like the needle was almost completely painless in the arm.

[shauni27]

expectantsteelerfan, Somewhat related, I was listening to NPR and there was a story about a different medication (primarily for kids if I recall?) that was also in various strengths and doses and was also having major shortages. They had to get a prior auth for every dose/strength and then by the time it was approved that dose was unavailable, so they were looking at laws and regulations allowing providers to submit PA requests proactively for various doses. Some insurances were allowing it and others were not.

it was very relatable for what we are going through with this. It was interesting.

mcmel, I am so hit or miss with my shots; sometimes I do not feel it AT ALL and other times it stings, and then occasionally I hit a nerve and as soon as the injection goes in, my cheek right next to my nose and eye starts tingling. so odd.

[SusanBAnthony]

shauni27 it may have been ADHD meds. We have so.rhow been freakishly lucky with DS's but I have heard horror stories. An employee at work couldn't get it at all for about a year (just started being able to again). People with ADHD are about the least equipped to chase down meds like that!

The most frustrating part of med shortages IMO is that they keep saying next month will be better. It's a year + later! How about some honesty of when it's actually likely to be better given more and more people are being prescribed the med (which is a good thing).

[shauni27]

SusanBAnthony, that was my assumption but I did not hear the start of the story so I missed the drug name/type. H was diagnosed with ADHD in 2022 and has still not even been able to try a medication because of the shortages.

[Saudade]

Apr 30, 2024 7:56:44 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

SusanBAnthony, that was my assumption but I did not hear the start of the story so I missed the drug name/type. H was diagnosed with ADHD in 2022 and has still not even been able to try a medication because of the shortages.

Growth hormone? This one is an injectable that is in shortage

[shauni27]

Saudade, could be; I will see if I can find the story on NPR now!

[EvieEthelGarland]

I had received a letter from Cigna that they would not cover ozempic because I do not have T2 diabetes, despite covering it for the past 18mo for my T1 and the tightest control I have ever had in my 38years of dealing with this disease.

A 3 month supply is out for delivery today at my standard copay!!!

My weight loss has stalled, but my A1C is my bigger priority.

[bcv513]

I hit 25 pounds lost in six weeks! I am struggling to eat though. Yesterday I had a bowl of cheerios, a banana, and half a burger with some sweet potato. I know that's not enough but I just can't force myself to eat. It's so weird.

[doggielover]

I know I'm only a few days in from my first injection but I haven't noticed any side effects that a lot of people talk about. I also know it's way to soon to see any weight loss.

[penguingrrl]

Apr 30, 2024 15:54:11 GMT -5 doggielover said:

I know I'm only a few days in from my first injection but I haven't noticed any side effects that a lot of people talk about. I also know it's way to soon to see any weight loss.

I've had few to no side effects, which had me nervous in the beginning that it wouldn't work. I started in September and am down almost 40 lbs, so it's definitely working. 

[majesty318]

Apr 30, 2024 16:08:15 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

Apr 30, 2024 15:54:11 GMT -5 doggielover said:

I know I'm only a few days in from my first injection but I haven't noticed any side effects that a lot of people talk about. I also know it's way to soon to see any weight loss.

I've had few to no side effects, which had me nervous in the beginning that it wouldn't work. I started in September and am down almost 40 lbs, so it's definitely working. 

I haven't had a single side effect on Saxenda - started in December and have been at the max dose for a while now. This one is not as "strong" as some of the other meds but I have lost 18 lbs so far.

[vmars]

If you are on Wegovy when did you move from 1 to 1.7? I had my doctors apt on Monday and she said I can move up whenever I want. I have a few more doses of 1.0 so no big rush to decide. Was there a big difference? Right now I get some nausea and my appetite is suppressed so I don’t feel like I need to go up yet. So far I am losing about 1 pound per week.

[followyourarrow]

I saw my endocrinologist yesterday and my A1c is down to a 5.3 from a 7.3 in January! He told me to keep doing what I'm doing an he'll see me in 6 months.

[expectantsteelerfan]

vmars, I started Wegovy so long ago it's hard to remember. I might have been on each dose until my next Dr. appt, which I think were 2 months apart at the beginning? Or maybe only 1 month? But I moved pretty quickly to the 2.4mg dosage because my weight lose was super slow throughout (like 1 lb a month).

followyourarrow, that's great! My A1C was 5.2 at my recent blood work, down from 5.7 last year, which is down from 6.5 the year before.

I was able to get Wegovy 2.4 filled today, so I'm happy about that (to refresh, weight loss stalled on Wegovy so Dr. switched me to Zepbound, I took the 2.5 and the 5 mg doses, but then couldn't get the 7.5, haven't been on anything for the past few weeks, but Dr. was giving me some pushback about switching back to Wegovy, but I am up 6 lbs from my lowest weight, so hopefully starting the Wegovy again will help!)

[pugz]

May 1, 2024 20:41:49 GMT -5 vmars said:

If you are on Wegovy when did you move from 1 to 1.7? I had my doctors apt on Monday and she said I can move up whenever I want. I have a few more doses of 1.0 so no big rush to decide. Was there a big difference? Right now I get some nausea and my appetite is suppressed so I don’t feel like I need to go up yet. So far I am losing about 1 pound per week.

Due to the shortage I had to jump from .5 to 1.7 but once on 1.7 I stayed on til I stopped losing weight, which was like 7 months. 

[weightlossae]

Anyone who is T2 start an injectable and have to come off it because of shortages? Did you just flip back to your original medicine? I was on Fiasp and Levemir (long and fast acting insulin) and my doctor took me off Fiasp when I started Mounjaro. I did have to call 20 places to find somewhere that had it in stock initially but haven’t had any issues getting the last two refills. He wanted to move me up to 5 but now neither that or the 2.5 is available. I do still have one Fiasp pen but it’s been so nice having less injections, not worrying about eating right away in the morning (since I wasn’t using the fast acting) and not worrying about keeping it warm/cool when we are out during the day. Wondering if he’ll flip back to what I was doing or something else and how your body reacted to the switch and if you were on a lower dose if you had to start over.

[vmars]

I am officially at 20.7 lbs lost. I am already feeling a lot better. I think it really works at taking away inflammation so even though I am still overweight, I feel a lot better at this weight than I did in the past.

[konapoppy]

Is anyone taking these medications at the same time as their partner?

My husband is on ozempic for diabetes. He is the poster child according to his doctor - it is managing the diabetes perfectly without him having to take anything else. We are both thrilled.

Selfishly I would love to take one of the medications to lose weight, but I am worried about the longterm effects, especially if both of us have been on it. It seems unnecessarily risky.

Thoughts?

[zarapipe]

After 10 weeks I finally was able to go up to 5 Zepbound. The hunger is so well controlled so far with no extra side effects from increasing the dose.

[Accountingcat]

I’m not sure if this really the right place to post this, but does anyone have experience with extra skin post-weight loss? What is life like with it, assuming you don’t have corrective surgery? Or any kind of guidance on this topic?

My (elderly) mother wants to start a WL injection and it sounds like her doctor is onboard with it. I’m very worried she’s going to be left with a lot of extra skin and it’ll make life harder for her. I highly doubt she’d be a candidate for removal because of her age/health. She’s about 200 pounds overweight if that matters. Everything I’ve read online says your skin elasticity is dependent on age, genetics, and how fast you lose the weight.

Edit: yes, I know it’s weird to not want her to lose weight but I worry about more pain, bathing issues, skin infections, & whatever else may come.

[sproctopus]

violet I think the studies show that most people lose somewhere between 10-20% of their weight with continued use of these injectable. I say this with kindness-- but if her doctor thinks it's a good option for her, then your worries have to stay inside your head for her health. Don't borrow trouble for her.

[fluffycookie]

I have been on 2.5 for the last two months because of the shortage. I just emailed my doctor and asked to put in for the 5mg and hoping I will be able to find. I have still lost weight on the 2.5, but it's been very slow. I am really hoping that I can find it. My PA expires next month and I need to be on at least 5mg and lost 5% of my body weight for it to be extended. I have lost almost 10% of my starting body weight so I am good there, it's just that I can't get my hands on the 5mg,

[vmars]

May 30, 2024 12:30:09 GMT -5 fluffycookie said:

I have been on 2.5 for the last two months because of the shortage. I just emailed my doctor and asked to put in for the 5mg and hoping I will be able to find. I have still lost weight on the 2.5, but it's been very slow. I am really hoping that I can find it. My PA expires next month and I need to be on at least 5mg and lost 5% of my body weight for it to be extended. I have lost almost 10% of my starting body weight so I am good there, it's just that I can't get my hands on the 5mg,

In my experience I try and get my script sent to a chain like Walgreens and then when they can’t fill it see if they can do a statewide search of where it may be in stock. Any time I have had troubles, this saved me. I can then just call the pharmacy who has it in stock and they transfer the script and fill it for me. My doc also has given me leads based on where she is sending the script for other patients. Good luck!

[fluffycookie]

May 30, 2024 13:19:40 GMT -5 vmars said:

May 30, 2024 12:30:09 GMT -5 fluffycookie said:

I have been on 2.5 for the last two months because of the shortage. I just emailed my doctor and asked to put in for the 5mg and hoping I will be able to find. I have still lost weight on the 2.5, but it's been very slow. I am really hoping that I can find it. My PA expires next month and I need to be on at least 5mg and lost 5% of my body weight for it to be extended. I have lost almost 10% of my starting body weight so I am good there, it's just that I can't get my hands on the 5mg,

In my experience I try and get my script sent to a chain like Walgreens and then when they can’t fill it see if they can do a statewide search of where it may be in stock. Any time I have had troubles, this saved me. I can then just call the pharmacy who has it in stock and they transfer the script and fill it for me. My doc also has given me leads based on where she is sending the script for other patients. Good luck!

I am having it sent to Walmart. They used to be able to check stock in other stores.  Fingers crossed!!