Should I get a second job in order to afford Mounjaro?

[AppleJuiceAvid]

Currently work 9am to 6.30pm during the week and weigh over 25 stone. I'm not eligible for weight loss medication on the NHS, but cannot afford Mounjaro or Wegovy privately. What second jobs could I apply for in order to pay for Mounjaro? Currently work in an office environment and lead a completely sedentary lifestyle. My weight is so high that I struggle to walk and have left hip/pelvic pain that gets worse when walking.

You aren’t being unreasonable but not sure what you could do. Presumably bar work is out of the question? If you keep changing providers and try to stay on a low dose it could be about £150 a month. Could you save that?

Good luck OP. I wonder if the GP could help in the first instance?

GP referred me for an ultrasound due to high testosterone after bloods were taken and extremely irregular periods. I'm also on an antipsychotic called Aripiprazole and the antidepressant Fluoxetine.

🙄.

Look on Compass/Medirest website, if you have a hospital near you and see if there's weekend admin jobs available. There all sorts of customer service jobs, acrois all the sectors and weekend staff is usually wanted, even if temporary. The Christmas jobs start to be advertised now. You must be very tall to not qualify for WLI?

You’d be looking at evening and weekend work - is that possible around any other responsibilities that you have? Would you be able to pick up more work in your current job or look for a better paid role? I appreciate that getting a new job is hard at the best of times and may be harder for you if you have mobility issues.

The Wegovy tablet is a bit cheaper than the injections, would that be more affordable?

No offense but your writing sounds very AI.

Hello x
Have a look at monj.co.uk it has a list of providers and their special offers.
You can also join FB groups where people will share their referral codes with you to save a bit.
I would say if you can manage to buy one to try, do that for the first month and see how you get on.
Can you cut back on any other bills to help pay for the jabs? Things like tv packages, mobile bill etc perhaps?

@Ponoka7 it’s not just BMI that’s relevant for the NHS criteria. You need several weight related health conditions to qualify for Mounjaro which the OP doesn’t have.

You might be able to self refer to Oviva, @AppleJuiceAvid depending on your NHS area. They offer tier 3 weight loss services which can include Wegovy for some people, if you have a one weight related health condition. The high testosterone might be PCOS related and so may qualify you. Have you had your blood pressure checked recently, or your cholesterol? Might be worth searching online for Oviva plus the name of your local NHS area and see if that’s available to you.

I actually saved money on Mounjaro with the reduction of my food bill. If you get a 2-3 takeaways a month then stopping them will pay for the injection.

Have a look at your monthly spending on food and see if there are savings to be made. You won't regret it.

Oviva is available in my area, but I was told by the GP recently that I am not eligible for weight loss medication through Oviva and that even if I was the wait list is over two years long.

Have u tried Orlistat, that the gp can prescribe? Some hate it and some get on well. I lost 2 stone while on it. X

@AppleJuiceAvid I’d try for an Oviva referral regardless of the GPs negativity. You may as well be on the waiting list and you may well develop a qualifying medical condition during the waiting time anyway. You might find the other support they offer to be helpful.

You’ll save a lot of money from your food bill, particularly if you eat snacks, buy food when you’re out or have takeaways. The cost of my mj is more than covered by the savings on my food bill.

You are already working full time. Adding in the pressure of another job feels like a bad move personally.

What is it that means you can’t afford it? Low income? Or high outgoings? Because if it’s the latter then you can often offset the savings you make on food.

Also at that weight I’m surprised you don’t have at lest some of the qualifying conditions - Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease. Do you have 3? If so the criteria will be reduced to 3 conditions plus qualifying BMI in April for GP prescriptions.

I am close to someone who is 25 stone and late 40s and has always been that weight as an adult. It frustates her that she is in good health with zero issues as she doesn’t qualify! I honestly don’t know how she is

My BMI was 50 before I started Mounjaro and I didn’t have any of the necessary conditions apart from high BP which I have had since I was a young adult and remains regardless of my weight. No diabetes or even pre-diabetes, no high cholesterol, no cardiovascular issues. Nothing weight related at all, somehow. Overall I am grateful not to have any of those conditions even though it meant I could only access WLI privately.

Can you look at your food bill and see if it can be cut, eg are you getting take aways. Is there anything else to cut back on. Could you do evening babysitting for someone locally?

Can you look at your finances and outgoings op and trim something from that?

Could you have a look at your outgoings and see what will change should you be on monjaro and reallocate that money?

For example, take aways that you’ll no longer be having. Add up the amount they cost in a month. Quick food out and about which you may not pick up when you’re on monjaro and your food shopping should hopefully be a tad cheaper as you’ll be eating less so saving money that way too.

I originally thought it was unaffordable but when I looked at the above I realised I could afford it and some more. Now 5 and a half stone down and maintaining!

If you're eating regular takeaways, that will fund it. That, and a reduction in alcohol, going out and your food bill. It will change your life. Changing mine - 5 1/2 stone down, 4 to go. I am an average earner and single so not much money sloshing around - the overall food bill reduction has paid for it.