To ask GP for Wegovy weight loss injections

[FattyGonzalez]

Ok im a busy single mum, working full time along with running a business. Also have suspected ADHD. Ive tried every diet going but truth is, when i get stressed, eating healthy is the last thing on my mind. Sometimes eating is but then when i eat, its like eating the entire supermarket, i binge. Ive put myself to the back and i do anything for my children. Lifes just full on.

so currently 40 years old, 5ft 8, 17 stone and dress size 18. Bmi is 36 according to the nhs online calculator. Bloody obese.

am i being unreasonable to think the doctor would prescribe this for me?

Where did you get it? It's only out this week!!

I mean Ozempic, which is just a smaller dose of Wegovy.

Are you seeking a referral for an ADHD assessment as binge eating is linked so medicating that may help as often seeking stimulation and boosts dopamine rewards. The ADHD stimulant Vyvanse/Elvanse is also licensed for binge eating disorder.
The psychiatrist explained the connection during my diagnosis as I've always over eaten/binge and struggled with weight I told them I thought it was exacerbated by an anti-depressant as I just don't feel satisfaction/full and crave certain textures or sweet things so hard to stop eating. Yet when I did meal replacement low carb diet to lose weight i discovered that I felt full & cravings went and only time in life it didn't control me The problem was at some point I'd get slack low carbing and think my favourites from the bakery would be fine but then the cycle would restart.
Its been quite a revelation as now I'm on elvanse I've a reduced appetite in day till wears off in evening (but some people it's issue as feel they can't eat) which was my prime binge time and while sometimes I still want to snack i eat way less and i'm not even that bothered about sweet treats, there's a bar of chocolate that's been sat in cupboard ages. Also cutback on the all the tea I used to drink. Mainly I'm just glad to not feel exhausted everyday and find some tasks easier.

Just collected my Wegovy and injected first dose!

How have you managed to get it? What makes you eligible if you dont mind me asking? Did you go to the gp?

I'm a current customer. Was buying saxenda through them

Wegovy only available for existing customers atm

How much is it? Im assuming youve gone private?

Yes but even private prescriptions are now limited to existing customers

Mine cost £179

Wegovy only available for existing customers atm

You can buy it from Quick Meds or Rightangled without being an existing customer. When they have stock.

Is that for a months supply? How often is it taken? Sorry for all the questions.

also, how did you find Saxenda? I see you can get that from boots

@FattyGonzalez if you head over to Weight Loss Chat there are existing threads with loads of info about ozempic, wegovy, saxenda etc.

You’re looking for a quick fix by your own admission. It is so hard to make long lasting changes but this is the route you need to go down. I have recently lost weight after 6 years of pretending I was trying but in reality falling into bad habits after 3 days of trying.

Don’t go in all guns blazing as you’ll fail. Each week or few weeks make a small change. I did the following over a number of months until my life style had shifted:

Move more - even just a walk or a 20 min low impact exercise video from YouTube. Try to do some more movement as regularly as you can.

Have a list of easy healthy meals that are quick to cook and look at this when you’re pushed for time. Omelettes are good. I keep frozen salmon and roasted veg in the freezer so I can quickly have a healthy meal.

Find ways of stopping snacking - I chew gum or have a square or 85% dark chocolate then brush my teeth and use mouthwash, this stops me craving snacks.

Gradually shift to more protein, again build this over time. Do homemade bolognaise but have it with salad. Have tacos without the shells, use lettuce leaves. Get protein powder and use it to make shakes.

Have healthy or better snacks at hand, I have 10 almonds. Don’t be afraid of good fats, these are much better for you than sugary snacks.

Build in drinking more water, add sugar free squash if you need to.

If you have a day where you feel you’ve been unhealthy don’t let that turn into the rest of the week.

I work on a 10 day cycle as this is easiest for me to stick to the 80/20 rule. In every 10 day period I have 2 days where I eat more freely such as if I’m going out for a meal I’ll order what I want and have dessert etc or it’s pizza and ice cream one evening. This way you don’t feel deprived.

Try intermittent fasting, I eat my evening meal early at 6pm and have breakfast at 9am. 15 hours of fasting. Find a pattern that works for you.

Rely on better ready meals if you need to. I buy M&S Balanced for You, yes, they’re ready meals but are not full of ultra processed rubbish. They’re handy for busy days when you know you don’t have time to cook.

You will remain unhealthy if you opt for an injection, focus on one small change and keep building on, you’ll be surprised how quickly you notice all of these things building up.

There is a shortage, so diabetics who actually need this are having their dosages cut due to people wanting it for a quick fix. I say this as someone who needs to lose 3 stones.

It's a BMI OF 30+ AND a commorbidity. I have a BMI of 50+ but no commorbidity so don't qualify.

Since when has Wegovy been for diabetics??

This is brilliant advice and I will be taking some of it. Thanks (and good luck OP!)

You're thinking about Ozempic which is licensed for diabetics. The op is asking about Wegovy which is licensed for weight loss, not diabetics.

My DP has a BMI over 50 and is 30 stone. He has failed all the other interventions and they won't give it to him. So no hope for you I would say. Sorry

What are they classing a comorbidity though, are you saying with that BMI you have normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol and normal blood sugars? You're very lucky if so

Its the same drug though, different doseage I believe

The vast majority of type 2 diabetics overwhelmingly developed the illness due to being overweight/poor diet and lifestyle so its vital that people who are overweight and are seeking to prevent diabetes have access to the medication. Obesity is a medical condition as much as diabetes is.

To get it prescribed, you need either

a BMI of over 40;

or

a BMI of over 35 AND a comorbidity caused by the obesity, such as hypertension, heart disease etc. If you have asthma you might stand a chance.

The GP does hand it out either. You need to see a specialist in a hospital setting who will talk to you, put you on a diet plan and monitor your weight. You won't be prescribed it forever - you need to be prepared to change your lifestyle and keep it up.

I think the idea is for it to be prescribed to the sort of people who are morbidly obese who literally can't get around and won't survive for long unless they make a change - not the average overweight person who just wants to lose weight without a diet.

Thank you that is really helpful! I know i should do it properly vs a quick fix. I just thought it might help to kickstart me

I have an eating disorder, BED. Have tried countless things from my own pocket to lose weight, Inc bariatric surgery.
My GP said there was absolutely no way they could prescribe me Saxenda or anything to lose weight so I think you may be unsuccessful in asking your GP.

However I absolutely recommend paying for it privately.

The daily injection I was taking was amazing. It made me feel like food was just not as enjoyable, I wasn't always after the next thing to eat. I have a slim friend, and I've seen her eat, and always wondered what it would be to see food like she does. She eats, but has no problem leaving food on her plate. I was just like her whilst I was on it.
Lost 12lb in the first 4 weeks (slower than many, but I have PCOS so weight loss is slower for me)
And it's acted as a bit of a pouch reset, my portions are much smaller than before the weight loss jab, but only because I'd become accustomed to eating less and less frequently.
But I will also say, within a few days of stopping, I was hungry like a bear.
Definitely worth the £200ish a month.

Boots is a good service to get it from.

Honestly I tried it for four months. I had the most horrific diarrhoea all the time. I mean like I’d be woken in the middle of the night and be sweating on the toilet with the force of it. I only lost about 4lb as well. It doesn’t work for everyone and the side effects can be terrible

Wegivy is specifically developed to treat obesity, which is a complex chronic neurometabolic disorder, so it's not denying diabetics in any way (and BTW severe hypertension for example is every bit as 'worthy' to treat as diabetes, and weightloss is far more effective than antihypertensives)
Not all areas have a prescribing capability in their weight management service - in the East Midlands it's easier to get a gastric sleeve on the NHS than saxenda/wegovy.
If you can make sacrifices to afford it privately you may think it's worth it, I appreciate this is not achievable for everyone.