Weight Loss Injection check-in 2024

[Jalapeñomel]

Mar 22, 2024 22:54:31 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

I have been waiting to start since the end of December. I just got word that insurance won’t cover it without explanation. Is there anything I can do to get coverage? My endocrinologist assured me I would benefit medically by taking it due to bmi over 30 and other digestive/gi issues. I’m willing to pay OOP because I do think it would help with digestive issues I have but would prefer at least a portion to be covered.

Mine won’t pay despite any urging from my doc. My only option is OOP, and I can’t afford $500+ a month.

[klassygoosey]

So I mentioned before being on the ozempic I've had a few horrible episodes of hours of vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes I can trace it back to something I ate or an increase in my dose, sometimes not.

My doctor dismissed my concerns last month because my blood work is so great and it's the first progress I've made on my A1c in over a decade.

The episodes are getting worse. I'm taking all kinds of OTC meds to get through work then taking zofran and dicyclomine at home until they fail and I'm sobbing on the bathroom floor for 6 hours. I lose 5-6 lbs in these episodes.

Urgent care prescribed me something for acid to help but the pharmacist told me at pick up to not take it due to a heart related conflict with my antidepressants.

My spouse is at their wits end (I don't always make the bucket) and really this is unsustainable. Bizarelly, my blood sugar is tracking higher again and my doc who I can't see for a physical till April 2025 really wants me to stay on it.

What realistically are my options here? I did medformin for years with no real improvement and having to take constant immodium for its side effects.

Outside of the getting sick every few weeks horrifically I feel great, less joint pain, no food noise, and even a calmer stomach. But the bad days are bad bad. My spouse is threatening to throw the injector pens in the fire pit.

I've tried adding protein, adding fiber, adding electrolytes and hydration, less gluten, less dairy, injecting in thigh, compounded pharmacy version of ozempic at a noncommercial dose 1.5 or 1.75.

Help is appreciated.

[mcmel]

klassygoosey I’m so sorry, that sounds horrible and I wouldn’t stay on the medicine with that severe of a side effect. I would ask about switching to Mounjaro.

[callmekd]

Mar 24, 2024 7:48:58 GMT -5 klassygoosey said:

So I mentioned before being on the ozempic I've had a few horrible episodes of hours of vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes I can trace it back to something I ate or an increase in my dose, sometimes not.

My doctor dismissed my concerns last month because my blood work is so great and it's the first progress I've made on my A1c in over a decade.

The episodes are getting worse. I'm taking all kinds of OTC meds to get through work then taking zofran and dicyclomine at home until they fail and I'm sobbing on the bathroom floor for 6 hours. I lose 5-6 lbs in these episodes.

Urgent care prescribed me something for acid to help but the pharmacist told me at pick up to not take it due to a heart related conflict with my antidepressants.

My spouse is at their wits end (I don't always make the bucket) and really this is unsustainable. Bizarelly, my blood sugar is tracking higher again and my doc who I can't see for a physical till April 2025 really wants me to stay on it.

What realistically are my options here? I did medformin for years with no real improvement and having to take constant immodium for its side effects.

Outside of the getting sick every few weeks horrifically I feel great, less joint pain, no food noise, and even a calmer stomach. But the bad days are bad bad. My spouse is threatening to throw the injector pens in the fire pit.

I've tried adding protein, adding fiber, adding electrolytes and hydration, less gluten, less dairy, injecting in thigh, compounded pharmacy version of ozempic at a noncommercial dose 1.5 or 1.75.

Help is appreciated.

This sounds awful. I’ve had a few times over the last 9 months where I’ve vomited but I can always trace to bad eating - ie way too many sweet or fried food.

Can you get a 2nd opinion ie new doctor?

[followyourarrow]

klassygoosey, that sounds awful! I wouldn't be able to stay on it either. I'd ask to switch to mounjaro. Are you watching carbs and sugar?

[fluffycookie]

klassygoosey , I had a friend who had similar issues and had to come off because she couldn't live like that. I have occasional vomiting episodes, but I can trace it back to eating too much. I am so sorry you are going thru this. I would push to see the doctor much sooner.

[fluffycookie]

My glucose dropped 18 points since December. The last time it was this low was 2013. In November it was 109 and my AC1 was just at the pre-diabetic range. After meeting with the doctor today I am down 18 lbs on 5mg with never minimal side effects so I am going to stay there until I plateaus. My blood pressure wasn’t great, but the ride there sucked so I am going to monitor at home for the next month. I can’t believe how great I feel.

[EvieEthelGarland]

Mar 22, 2024 22:54:31 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

I have been waiting to start since the end of December. I just got word that insurance won’t cover it without explanation. Is there anything I can do to get coverage? My endocrinologist assured me I would benefit medically by taking it due to bmi over 30 and other digestive/gi issues. I’m willing to pay OOP because I do think it would help with digestive issues I have but would prefer at least a portion to be covered.

Is your A1C in a prediabetic range at all?  I had to do a trial of metformin before they would cover it.  By trial I mean I had a 3 months filled but only took it for a week or so because I am the worst at remembering to take pills. 

[majesty318]

Mar 23, 2024 6:30:00 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Mar 22, 2024 22:54:31 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

I have been waiting to start since the end of December. I just got word that insurance won’t cover it without explanation. Is there anything I can do to get coverage? My endocrinologist assured me I would benefit medically by taking it due to bmi over 30 and other digestive/gi issues. I’m willing to pay OOP because I do think it would help with digestive issues I have but would prefer at least a portion to be covered.

Mine won’t pay despite any urging from my doc. My only option is OOP, and I can’t afford $500+ a month.

Same - my insurance (and my husband's, I looked into switching) both cover ZERO.

My doctor sent the Rx to the manufacturer of Zepbound to go on their discount plan... which was still $550/month!

I am getting Saxenda from out of the country. If it starts getting toodifficult, I am going to join Mochi (Facebook ads) - friend of a friend is using it with no complaints, and another friend just signed up. She will be on Mounjaro (equivalent) for $325 per month but was told Zepbound (equivalent) would be only $175/ month.

[egishere]

klassygoosey, I would also look at trying Mounjaro to see if you do better on that. That sounds awful and not worth being on the medicine! What body area do you inject in? If doing stomach, try your thigh instead.

Speaking on injection sites... Last week I injected my mounjaro in my arm for the first time and wow! I did not have much of an appetite at all for several days. It was crazy how much more effective it was. We were in NYC on spring break and I only had a couple bites of my kids pizza.

[thegan]

Mar 22, 2024 8:25:43 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

I haven't been able to get my Mounjaro 15 refilled for at least a month now. I wasn't too worried at first because I've been extending the doses but I'm close to running out and freaking out a bit. Has anyone else been seeing supply issues?

I haven’t commented in here yet, but I have been on Mounjaro for 13 months now and lost 74 lbs. I was also extending the doses but have been out for 2 weeks now. My pharmacy says the shortage should end in April, but they’ve been saying “next week” for the last month, so I’m not holding my breath. Hoping this shortage really does end soon because I had made such good progress, but I’m slowly starting to regress-despite being more active, the cravings are coming back with a vengeance.

[bcv513]

I took my first dose of Wegovy on Friday. I’m already down almost 10 pounds. I think it actually is better for me than Mounjaro was. And my insurance covers it which is the best part.

[SusanBAnthony]

countthestars a page behind but what are lead times on wedding dresses like these days? I had a formal event in Jan and just waited to but until two weeks before but obviously that's not an option for weddings. Still, I think I would wait to buy until as late as possible because you could be looking at multiple sizes smaller. A hem is fast and easy but making the bodice 2 sizes smaller is not! And you could do anything from keeping losing at that rate to plateauing.

Another way to approach could be to calculate your expected end wait based on clinical trials. I think people lost an average of 15-20% of their starting weight. How many more pounds is that? Let's say it's 20%- how many more pounds is that? Can you estimate how many sizes you would drop with that many pounds based on the first 17 pounds, or estimating 1 size every 20 pounds?

[shauni27]

Mar 27, 2024 16:15:36 GMT -5 egishere said:

Speaking on injection sites... Last week I injected my mounjaro in my arm for the first time and wow! I did not have much of an appetite at all for several days. It was crazy how much more effective it was. We were in NYC on spring break and I only had a couple bites of my kids pizza.

I did not know that arm was an option? When I started Mounjaro it was leg or stomach and since then I have not looked at the directions again to see if that changed! 

[egishere]

shauni27, yep! I think anywhere you have some fat to inject into its fine! I did the tricep area of my arm. I'll be doing it again this next shot. I was talking to my facial lady about it last night and she's been on Mounjaro for over a year and said she does her arm when she wants to have a big loss week because it really does seem more effective there.

[shauni27]

Mar 28, 2024 9:44:06 GMT -5 egishere said:

shauni27 , yep! I think anywhere you have some fat to inject into its fine! I did the tricep area of my arm. I'll be doing it again this next shot. I was talking to my facial lady about it last night and she's been on Mounjaro for over a year and said she does her arm when she wants to have a big loss week because it really does seem more effective there.

I did also see that they said to rotate location each week, too. Which I have also never done, lol.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I thought I read if you were doing your arm you were supposed to have someone else administer the shot, but I could be remembering incorrectly. I just thought that was why I never chose that spot. I'm a direction follower so even if I felt like I could reach my arm fat myself, I'd feel wrong doing it myself if the directions said to have someone else do it!

[fluffycookie]

Mar 28, 2024 15:16:21 GMT -5 expectantsteelerfan said:

I thought I read if you were doing your arm you were supposed to have someone else administer the shot, but I could be remembering incorrectly. I just thought that was why I never chose that spot. I'm a direction follower so even if I felt like I could reach my arm fat myself, I'd feel wrong doing it myself if the directions said to have someone else do it!

Zepbound says if injecting in the arm to have someone do it for you. I have never done my arm since both MH and DS refuse to do it for me😆

[mellymel]

Is anyone having difficulty getting their Zepbound Rx filled?

[zarapipe]

Mar 29, 2024 21:59:46 GMT -5 mellymel said:

Is anyone having difficulty getting their Zepbound Rx filled?

I’ve been seeing it getting harder to find. I only found it at one pharmacy locally to me and it was their last box.

[mellymel]

Mar 30, 2024 10:49:09 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Mar 29, 2024 21:59:46 GMT -5 mellymel said:

Is anyone having difficulty getting their Zepbound Rx filled?

I’ve been seeing it getting harder to find. I only found it at one pharmacy locally to me and it was their last box.

Glad you found it! I have my last injection Monday and I’m really worried about finding my next refill. What dosage are you on?

[zarapipe]

Mar 30, 2024 10:51:44 GMT -5 mellymel said:

Mar 30, 2024 10:49:09 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

I’ve been seeing it getting harder to find. I only found it at one pharmacy locally to me and it was their last box.

Glad you found it! I have my last injection Monday and I’m really worried about finding my next refill. What dosage are you on?

2.5. My fourth shot will be this week.

[vmars]

Mar 20, 2024 11:29:02 GMT -5 bookqueen15 said:

Was wondering what side effects were experienced when moving up a from .5 to 1.0 on We Govy? I am due to start 1.0 this Friday and we're flying out for vacation the next day. I plan to take it in the morning so hopefully will be feeling fine the next day.

Also, any issues if you take a dose several days late? We will be on a cruise next week and the logistics of bringing a We Govy pen with me (since it needs to be kept refrigerated) seems complicated and I was considering not bringing it and just taking it a few days late after we get back home? I normally would inject on a Friday and we don't return until the following Monday. We are flying to Florida, then staying at a hotel for two nights, then the cruise for 5 nights and I wouldn't take the dose until our last cruise day next Friday.

How are you doing on 1.0? I just started on Saturday and my heart burn is worse, but my appetite suppression is a little better.

[majesty318]

Mar 27, 2024 16:15:36 GMT -5 egishere said:

klassygoosey , I would also look at trying Mounjaro to see if you do better on that. That sounds awful and not worth being on the medicine! What body area do you inject in? If doing stomach, try your thigh instead.

Speaking on injection sites... Last week I injected my mounjaro in my arm for the first time and wow! I did not have much of an appetite at all for several days. It was crazy how much more effective it was. We were in NYC on spring break and I only had a couple bites of my kids pizza.

I want to try my Saxenda in my arm - where exactly do you do it? I am thinking my flabby underside but I can't find any actual pictures or videos to explain!

[Aloe Vera]

Anybody has been approved with no Type 2 diabetes diagnosis?

I started the process through the WW Clinic. My insurance only covers Mounjaro but only if you have a type 2 diagnosis. The care team is going to work on getting me the max coverage.
Ozempic, Zepbound and Wegovy aren't covered. Mounjaro would cost $105/month.

[picksthemusic]

Apr 3, 2024 12:22:57 GMT -5 Aloe Vera said:

Anybody has been approved with no Type 2 diabetes diagnosis?

I started the process through the WW Clinic. My insurance only covers Mounjaro but only if you have a type 2 diagnosis. The care team is going to work on getting me the max coverage.
Ozempic, Zepbound and Wegovy aren't covered. Mounjaro would cost $105/month.

I have Regence and am not a T2D. I was approved from July-December with a $25 copay for 3 months at a time. Then in November, I got the letter saying I was not going to be covered without a PA or a T2D diagnosis. I ended up having my provider write me a script for a higher dose to get that covered before time ran out, and that gave me a cushion of stock so I could continue.

Then in January, I held my breath and requested a refill from my pharmacy. Lo and behold, I got a notification that my script was ready and only owed $25. I was shocked - I asked my PCP if she'd done a PA or something, but she didn't say anything. So I have no idea what happened, or if coverage changed or what. I am scared to ask, so I haven't. LOL

In your case, do you know if they give you a discount for getting 3 months at a time? Can you work with other pharmacies like Amazon or Walmart? I hear those two are really good at getting people their meds for lower prices or just easier in general.

I hope this helped a bit.

[bcv513]

I’m almost two weeks in on Wegovy and I’m down 16 pounds! I’m actually having a hard time eating especially protein. I bought some premier protein shakes but when I opened it the smell made me gag. Anyone have recommendations for protein sources?

[sproctopus]

Apr 3, 2024 16:58:04 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

I’m almost two weeks in on Wegovy and I’m down 16 pounds! I’m actually having a hard time eating especially protein. I bought some premier protein shakes but when I opened it the smell made me gag. Anyone have recommendations for protein sources?

Oikos Triple Zero Greek Yogurt (15g)
Perfect Bars (15g)

[sofamonkey]

I am not doing well. Push health switched pharmacies, and I hate them, and I think the meds are crap. I haven’t changed anything except that, and I’ve put on 10 pounds. So that doc wanted to add performing as well.

I spoke with my regular doc, and I think I’m switching to a daily oral sublingual through a local pharmacy under her supervision instead. She is more comfortable with this now that she’s had a chance to get up to speed on everything. She says it’s about $100 per month for the oral meds.

[expectantsteelerfan]

I'm sorry sofamonkey. My Dr. switched me from Wegovy to Zepbound because my weight loss had stalled on Wegovy, and going from the highest dose of Wegovy to the lowest dose of Zepbound had me gain about 5 lbs in the 4 weeks I was on that first dose. Seeing the scale moving up and up instead of down is such a mind fuck at this point. I messaged my doctor in a panic asking if we could increase my dosage before my next appt. since I'm only going every 4ish months at this point, and luckily she was like sure, and I moved up a dose and she said after 4 weeks I could move up again. I haven't lost the 5 lbs I gained, but I haven't gained any more. But now my 4 weeks on the 2nd dose is up, and I messaged my Dr. asking to move up again, and I haven't heard back (that was Monday). I called the office to follow up today and left a message since I'm supposed to take my next dose Friday, but looks like at this point I'm not going to have anything to take. Her office is usually quickly responsive so I thought messaging Monday would have been fine, but I guess I waited too long, but we were out of town last week.