What made you decide to ignore the potential health issues down the line and start injections?

[BringOnTheSunshineNow]

I'm not being goady here.

Just feel that on some days I should totally do this but then on others it's nuts.

I don't know how you can't worry about damage to your system.

I'm 3st overweight

Yep me too x

www.ucihealth.org/news/2024/01/diabetes-drugs-pancreatic-cancer#:~:text=IN%20THE%20NEWS%3A%20A%20new,GLP%2D1)%20receptor%20agonists.

You know what does cause cancer? Being obese

Contrary to the belief many have that these drugs are brand new they have actually been around for 20yrs+. They are well tested. Severe side effects at low doses are virtually nonexistent. The risks associated with being obese are well known and severe.
For me I want the food noise interrupted and use that period to get into a healthier zone. It’s too early to say the benefit but I am both eating less and making healthier choices

My Rheumatologist recommended that I consider it in October 2023 and I am now on week 3. I have lost 2.5 stone before starting it. I am maybe a bit different to a lot taking it in that I know I can lose without taking it as I have done before and lost 107lbs 8 years ago which I maintained for 2 years before putting on 33lbs in less than 3 months after an injection to induce menopause prior to a hysterectomy. No change in diet or exercise, both were carefully tracked which is what made me lose the weight in the first place.

I then took HRT in the hope it might help my joint issues and put on another 1.5 stone and triggered a huge flare in what I know now is psoriatic arthritis hence having a rheumatologist.

I have asthma, high blood pressure and cholesterol and fatty liver as a result of my weight currently and am mid 50s so time is not on my side. I worked in research for a few years back in the day and have been using the time since being recommended it to research my options. Having done so I have concluded the benefits in my case outweigh the risks significantly and there is the added potential benefit that Mounjaro may help reduce my inflammation and reduce the need for other medications to be considered for my arthritis that all have the potential for worse side effects than Mounjaro,

Also I suspect my GP is going to get around to suggesting statins , I am on tablets to reduce blood pressure, long term anti inflammatories along with my disease modifying drug so I stand to reduce other medications which all have potential side effects by taking Mounjaro alongside the benefits of reduced risk of all the other things that obesity can cause.

Maybe write down 2 lists OP and look at the risks v benefits in your own particular situation and see how it looks? It is very sensible to go into it being well informed. With regards to maintence there is a study on Wegivy I think it was where the results were that those who did resistance training whilst taking it regained significantly less than those who didn’t so that’s something to consider . Good luck with whatever you decide,

I actually think when you’re as concerned as you are op, it shows an underlying level of anxiety, that’s at such a level you can’t do research or understand risk, or even know much about the drug, its history or real life impacts to date. And as such, if you took it it would cause extreme anxiety in you.

the reason I say that is we all took some time, read up, were reassured, and then started. We also understand how to balance risk, as well as the very onerous requirements to get drugs approved. It takes 15 years. And these drugs have been used by millions in the last 20 odd years. Over 16 million in the USA, just for weight loss.

I would recommend you diet through more traditional methods, as being obese carries very significant health risks, it is the leading cause of cancer, and that’s before we discuss stroke, heart attack, diabetes, etc. as health risks are critical to you, then mentally this will help drive you to success.

good luck.

I haven't always been overweight or obese. I was only just with a BMI of 30. Also carried it well, my before photos are very different to some others at similiar BMIs. No health issues at my weight. I have fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis but ive that as a slim person too. My weight seemed stable i hadnt gained for over a year but I felt out of control around food. I've had counsilling in the past too. On the surface I was healthy, exercising, had a wardrobe full of clothes which fitted. Recently got sober after the most stressful 2 years of my life caring for my unwell child and using drink to cope. However what no one could see was the struggle I've had my whole life. The debilitating food noise. Laying in bed at night trying to count my calories in my head for the day, actually thinking I'd rather be dead than deal with the brain I have. Probably undiagnosed ADHD too and almost certainly ASD. I'd read all the positive stories as well as well as the risks associated risks. For me the benefits far outweighed the risks. I lost all my weight very easily, very quickly. My BMI is now 21.3. Within a week it shut the food noise off, improved my inflammation with fibro / RA and suddenly I just felt lighter and free than I have my whole life. I feel like this medication was made for me. I've had zero unpleasant side effects. I'm continuing on a maintenance dose because I don't want to be free of this medication as I know what the alternative is. I'm now able to eat more calories at my maintenance dose of 7.5mg which means I am no longer losing but maintaining. At the moment I am happy to stay on this medication long term.

Wow @Willowy1982 that's amazing.

Thank you @Seaitoverthere the rheumatic benefits are very interesting

I was 6 stone overweight and despite exercising, and dieting, it was the food noise that was my biggest obstacle. Constantly thinking about food, and feeling hungry. I could go out for an English breakfast and still eat a biscuit when I got home and not feel 'full'. The health risks as I approached menopause were my biggest worry, and I am so lucky that I didnt have any health issues to date. To be honest paying for the injections feels like a good investment to me, and I don't want to reach my 60s with lots of health problems related to weight. I have gone from 16st to 10st 3 in 10 months and feel so much better. I do worry about the long term risks and how I will manage in the long term to keep the weight off, but I think I would rather have that challenge than weight related health conditions

To me it sounds like the injections probably aren’t for you. If you’ve started exercise and changing your diet you may well be able to lose the weight through willpower and routine. I think you would be nervous and worried whilst on the drugs if you’re someone who doesn’t take any medication and is worried about potential side effects.

"What made you decide to ignore the potential health issues down the line and start injections?"

I could no longer ignore the health issues down the line of getting heavier each year. Each year and each holiday I would say to myself "I must lose a stone for next year" and each year I would get heavier.

I have a moderately active job and I'm starting to feel the weight in my knees and hips. I'm 45 and I need to keep working for over 20 years more. I have a son with special needs and I need to take care of him and provide for him - I need a healthier me.

In the past I have been able to lose a weight and keep it off when it was my focus - now in middle age, working nights and with a special needs child I don't have that focus. I need the help of curbing cravings and emotional eating to do it.

What a bizarre thread.

You take medicine on the advice of medical professional where the consequences of taking the medicine are a lower overall risk to your health than the consequences of not taking the medicine.

I have extremely high blood pressure (up to 240/130) that doesn't respond to meds. And despite being a healthy eater, vegetarian, and calorie deficient daily with no food or sweets cravings, I started gaining rapid weight about 10 years ago. I was never able to lose any of it since. I developed diabetes last year and got rid of it in 5 weeks by adding lentils/legumes to half of my meals. But values such as high cholesterol, NAFLD fatty liver (I barely drink), has been persistent and are not going down.

My cardiologist is desperate to get the blood pressure down, and put me on Mounjaro. It's taken me 8 months to be able to get the meds... That's how difficult it was to get approved for them.

I am more keen on the weight loss, to be honest. I just want to feel normal again. I tried so many things to lose weight I ran out of ideas.

That's a drop in the ocean compared the the risks listed on the contraceptive pill or antidepressants!

Are you struggling to weigh, risks, OP? It's about the balance of the risk of obesity Vs the risk of the meds.

yes, but even with nurofen , 2000 people a year sadly die from taking it. Every drug has risks. The op takes paracetamol, which has arguably higher risks. And it is unlikely the risk of why she’s taking it, outweighs the medication itself.

some folks seem to be selective in their risk analysis. If you were very worried about risk you’d likely never become obese. As the risk of that is enormous. Probably the biggest killer of our time. And yet she is focused on the rare risks of these very safe drugs. And she’s not alone.

I see so many folks saying I will do it the old way, but they don’t. They just remain fat. With the risks that comes with that.

anxiety defies logic.

How many of them are abusing it?

And how many are taking 2 a day once a fortnight?

This may be true but the 'decider' for me was thinking: "If someone told me I could pay £150pm for the rest of my life to spend ti slim and healthy, would that be worth it?"

My own answer was a resounding Yes. I'd have bitten off the hand of anyone offering any kind of slim-subscription service like that. Heck, I pay £100 for internet and TV and this is worth so much more to me than that

I don’t understand the question, can you clarify. The op was talking about the risks of the meds. I was responding to that.

where did abuse of meds come into it?

Me too. If this is the price I must pay to stay slim and healthy, with no struggle, I will pay it. Without hesitation.

I weighed up the potential health risks from using the injections versus the health risks of being my current weight. I do have more than 3 stone to lose so the weight related issues are more likely for me.

I was also concerned about the less serious side effects and was worried about feeling ill, but so far I have not had any. I have tried not to go up the doses too quickly, was on 2.5mg for one month and have been on 5mg for 3 months now.

Most people are not taking these drugs on the advice of their doctor.

I am also a similar amount overweight to you and I am undecided - not for the potential side effects but how it will be long term once the weight is off and how managing to keep the weight off works.

and the long term implications of the food that seems to be a daily diet of it as well

I wonder how many people don't experience side effects?

There are stats on it, it’s like 80 percent.

so far of the millions on it, no proven deaths due to the drugs.