Autoimmune conditions and weightloss injections

[Mrsredlipstick]

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, fibromialga and low thyroid. All medication is at high levels.
I have recently started Rituximab infusions every six months.
I have lost five stone over the last two years but still need to lose another four stone. Does anyone know if I can get these injections or is there a contraindication? My consultant wasn't keen but didn't give a reason other than just carry on eating less.

Morning all. Morning @Jabtastic , how do you feel today?

Well I slept very well anyway and feel completely normal so far but I tend not to eat until later in the day. That will be the real test!

@Mrsredlipstick , I responded to another thread to a person with hypothyroidism so just wanted to flag the importance of getting your thyroid optimised first. I suspect a lot of people are under medicated in the uk as GPs tend to prescribe only according to TSH and T4 and ignore T3, even though a lot of people struggle to convert T4 to T3 effectively. Gut issues and auto immune conditions often go hand in hand…have you heard of the auto immune protocol , it’s suggested that avoiding gluten/ dairy/ soy in particular can reduce body inflammation. If people were medicated adequately ,I suspect fewer people with hypothyroidism would struggle so much with their weight. I do always wonder how people with an RA/ thyroid diagnosis end up also with a fibro diagnosis seeing as the former 2 conditions can cause pain, muscle tenderness and fatigue themselves! Sometimes a misdiagnosis of fibro is basically undertreated hypothyroidism.

@Hencewy thank you for the post.

I have been food allergy tested. I'm allergic to soya. Not diary although my family are.
My meds for thyroid (diagnosis 1993) are the highest my new GP has ever seen. I have been a size 8 and a 24 on my Levothyroxine.
Regarding the fibromaylgia this is new for me. I meet every marker. I have had rheumatoid arthritis for twenty one years and have had experimental drugs in the past.
I am intetested in mounjaro for weight, inflammation and any alcohol management (although I no longer drink).
I not very good at being sick but I have already lost 30kgs and need sone help especially over the party season.

I had rituximab as part of my chemo routine for 6 months then 8 weekly for 2 years for non hodgkins lymphoma. I've tried and been refused the injections

Hiya, sorry I should have explained more clearly, by under medicated I mean that people may be much healthier on a medication that contains both T4 and T3 , not just levo which is what most of the uk is on via the nhs. My dose of levo was just getting higher and higher and it wasn’t until I tested my T3 privately and saw it was a conversion problem that I knew I had to go in a different direction with NDT! Good luck with it all, it’s never easy juggling multiple conditions x

@Flopsythebunny oh thank you for the post.
I hope you are doing OK now.

@Hencewy ah I understand you. A friend mentioned this. At one stage I was on 300mg per day of Levothyroxine.
I do intend to consult a private GP in the new year.

Well I've been allocated a clinician with VOY who deals with long term health issues outside of weight management. I had to give my GP details and confirm various medication.
I assume I've been accepted. My GP is American so perhaps she responded quickly?
We'll see if it arrives.

That's great! My coach seems lovely.

Well ladies I have been refused Mounjaro. VOY have offered Wegovy instead.
Apparently mounjaro stops the absorbsion of methotrexate.
I don't know what to do now.

I've said yes to Wegovy but I am worried about being sick. I might ask my consultant to switch my methotrexate to injections as apparently that is the issue.

No delivery yet and I think it will be next week now.
@Jabtastic how are you getting on?

Hi sorry I've been away over half-term! Back to work tomorrow. Did my second jab this week and zero side effects but also less suppression. In spite of that I've lost 8lbs in 10 days and we ate out lots and attended family events etc.

I'm very bad at remembering to drink water and I need to up my game there. I also find it helpful eating plenty of lentils, porridge, tomatoes etc to keep things moving through.

I'm still not sure whether I'll keep on with MJ I've read / watched some concerning things online about it mostly potential longterm effects. I'll use up my 2.5 pen though as it really had zero side effects in week 2. I think anyone signing up for it needs to understand it potentially is a lifelong commitment even at a low dose.

Did you get started with Wegovy yet @Mrsredlipstick ?

@Jabtastic i haven't started yet. I had a house full of people since it arrived on Thursday. Tomorrow is dday.

I'm not sure go beyond six months either. Unless i'm running like Usian Bolt.

@Jabtastic I've been nervous of the more serious side effects too and have kept to 5mg max over 3 months. I am around BMI 25 so will start titrating down soon. Don't want to take this for ever but the low food noise is such a huge benefit. I've definitely changed my eating habits for the better and have a very good idea of how much I can eat daily to maintain weight. It's whether will power can prevail once appetite returns 😑.

Watching with interest. Have been looking at Mounjaro recently. I’m early 60s and was diagnosed with PMR/GCa a couple of years ago and have been on steroids since. Although now on a low dose I’ve put on 2.5 stone and am absolutely fed up with it, the heaviest I’ve ever been. Prior to this I had lost a couple of stones due to menopause weight gain, fairly easily. and was feeling really up beat about things….then this autoimmune disease hit and bye, bye slimmer me!
im also taking levo thyroxine, Lisinopril and a low dose methotrexate. I’ve tried losing weight, lowering carbs etc, but feel like I’m swimming through treacle and really need a helping hand. Do you think it’s possible to be approved for MJ, happy to pay my way …..if, so do you have any recommendations for online suppliers etc.

@Waitfortheguinness I'm using Voy (referral code below). I used them because they offer coaching alongside the medication which I hope will help with new habits. They have a very good app with lots of pointers and a useful video step by step for taking the first jab.

You will need to list your medications when you sign up. Mine were fine but as you can see MrsRed wasn't approved because of her meds and was offered Wegovy. You won't know unless you try. I've personally been very impressed with Voy - delivery was fast and excellent, sharps bin provided, arrived cold and well packaged. My coach is really nice and approachable.

This is my code if you fancy trying them:

www.joinvoy.com/r/U-IWdDfOI4Yv

Good morning,
First jab of Wegovy done.

I had worked myself up thinking it would hurt (previous RA injectable did). I didn't feel a thing.
Let's hope it goes well.

Interesting……I’m on MTX too.
was surprised it was rejected for use with MJ…I did various searches and it didn’t bring up any issues with Tirzepatride (MJ) at all. Even if it may cause absorption problems I would’ve thought it would just be recommended that you administer both meds on different days, well apart from each other. After all I have to take folic acid whilst on MTX and that cannot be taken on the same day as can cause similar problems.
strange.

@Waitfortheguinness i was surprised too. I thought the Rituximab might contraindicate. However I can try wegovy and seek further advice later on. Numan wouldn't prescribe at all but didn't give a reason. They had taken money up front so I wanted to cancel anyway.

My rheumatologist is very negative to the point of rudeness. Twice now I've been in tears after my visit. I think it is an age thing, I'm 59 in a few weeks.

My Rheumy is fairly good, but both her and my GP just keep banging on about weight issues stating it should be dropping now my steroid dose is below 5mg…..well, you tell that to my body, it seems to have a mind of its own and food noise is massive although I never really had an issue before. My GP just keeps going on about statins too. I want to give MJ a go, as an aid to getting back on track healthily. My body now struggles with any form of exercise due to excess bulk and frankly it’s not enjoyable, I used to like being active but not now and being in a sedentary job doesn’t help either…..
I want to try an MJ supplier that will be ok with my meds and also have delivery options that mean you don’t have to be at home to sign, or you can collect locally. i don’t intend telling anyone if I use these injections, like others have said I can only imagine the tut tutting from all!

Im with Voy too. I'm not sure you can specify an exact delivery day/time though. You can delay delivery but you can't choose a specific delivery slot I don't think.

It arrives marked 'keep refrigerated' and is delivered by Royal Mail at unusual times eg 5pm, presumably because of that.

Mine came in a plain pack from Voy.

It is royal mail so I guess you could pick it up.

@Mrsredlipstick I just replied on the November starter thread and saw you were on this one too. I know we are the same height and GW but I also have an autoimmune condition. I've read how MJ can help with inflammation, fingers crossed.

@smart

Rogue message. Sorry about that. My phone wouldn't clear the incorrect user name.