Shemed January Starters - Thread 4

[FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden]

Hello everyone! I completely missed the other thread was full (haven't been too well this week) so I've started this one and will tag as many people as I can think of from recent pages. Do tag anyone else you think of that might miss the new thread!

I hope everyone is okay. It's been unsettling times hasn't it with all the news about the price increases and very little from Shemed as to what they are planning. I am hopeful that of all people we will be shielded the most due to being on the Study (fingers crossed).

I weighed in this morning and took second dose of the 10mg. I seemed to put on this morning but if I take the weight I've been most of this week...

I am exactly half way to my target! And I've lost 25% of my bodyweight!

10mg - so far no burps or nausea but I am wondering if this extreme tiredness is in part due to the drug. Was eating just as I was before the last couple of days but today don't want to eat so who knows!

I'll read up and tag people if I can.

Sorry @JBJ I don't know anything about gallstones.

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardenI've just had my Titration Appointment through from Dr J. It is 23rd December. Would you recommend I be off mj to start this (I want to see if the medication alone will help me maintain) and I worry that the mj will slow absorbtion and therefore change the effect of the medication? And if you don't mind sharing what did they start you on (I want to say Vyanse) and what did Titration look for you, how long did the medication take to arrive etc? Maybe this is better as a DM?

Sorry @JBJ I don't know anything about gallstones.

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardenI've just had my Titration Appointment through from Dr J. It is 23rd December. Would you recommend I be off mj to start this (I want to see if the medication alone will help me maintain) and I worry that the mj will slow absorbtion and therefore change the effect of the medication? And if you don't mind sharing what did they start you on (I want to say Vyanse) and what did Titration look for you, how long did the medication take to arrive etc? Maybe this is better as a DM?

I've reported the extra posts, bad internet I think made it post multiple times 🙈

So for the first time ever.... I forgot to jab on a Friday!

Its my period so weight has been all over the place but I'm 14st11 today so exactly 7 stone down - and hopeful I'll get a woosh post period if I'm lucky.

@tinyemmy im really not in a position to advise and I'm not a clinician etc. Once I had a titration appointment the medication arrived either the next day or the day after. I'm on elvanse but it depends a bit on the clinician even within the same org. I started on 20 and went up slowly. Others don't.

You could email the DrJ people. I did before I started and got a reply from a clinician that as long as it wasn't both at the same time so you could see the effects they'd be happy.

However in your case I could see some value in being off mounjaro. I don't know. Or the other option is you keep MJ exactly the same dose weekly for the whole few months of titration so you don't end up wondering what's what.

Good luck whatever you decide! I'm going to be on this dose of elvanse long term and then hope to titrate down mounjaro but I'm currently taking 8mg and have 4 stone to go so in a different position!

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardenwell done on the weight loss that's incredible!
What dose did you make it to?
My daughter's psychiatrist just moved her to Elvanse, over £200 for 2 months at 20mg. I hope it works for her, although I suspect she will need to go up the doses. £270 per psychiatrist appointment plus 3 hour round trip to London. I can't wait until she gets to the top of the list (it's been over 2 years). I'm grateful that when I get there it will be free!
I think I might jab 1.25 during November and see how I cope...

Gosh that's expensive! Have you looked at right to choose for your daughter? I'm not up on children's timeliness though.

I got to 40. Probably could have tried higher but titration appointments ran out so actually was happy with lowest effective dose... It seems some people get sped up v quickly.

Good luck. I can't believe looking back over his year the difference my diagnoses, adhd meds, mounjaro has made. I am now in a full time job which I love and am passionate about. And although exhausted/ overwhelming and I've had a few difficult weeks I'm the most "me" I've ever been. I did my last day in my old job just before half term and exit interview in half term. Lots of emotions - but excited about taking the new me forwards! I was in an unusual position of doing both jobs at once at differing times his year and I'm in such a different place to where I was.

Every year around about this time I'd be trying to "sort my life out" re weight, counselling, trauma, career change... And each year I'd lose more and more hope.

This time is so different.

Thanks @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden o please don’t apologise for celebrating your success. I celebrate with you! You’ve worked hard and things are going well so please do shout it from the roof tops.
I hope my time will come or maybe it will just take a bit longer to get there. I’ve had the biggest of battles this year and amazingly proud of myself to still keep going. Grief for my dad has so nearly broken me and yet I am still fighting to keep going as I know I deserve to be happy and healthy.

This week has been so tough. This virus has well and truely kicked my a**e! I have basically been in bed or the sofa, drinking tea constantly. My appetite so low and throat so sore I haven’t eaten normal levels but what I could face hasn’t been best.
Soup, frozen yogurt, fruit smoothy, soft bread and digestive biscuits to line my stomach for what has seemed non-stop Ibprofen.
At last yesterday my fever broke and today feeling more myself, less pain relief needed.

i am now 6 days late for my jab (honestly just felt too ill).
Not sure what to inject today/tomorrow?

Anyone have guidance on what to do it 6 days late? I take 10mg but should I take less do you think?

@JBJ I am so sorry you are struggling with gall stones?
I think GP will advice to MJ in active flare just because there is not enough known about the drug and effect so likely they will say stop. Have you noticed more issue straight after jab?
Are you loosing a lot with just 500kcal a day??? That may actually be making the pain worse if rapid weight loss, also the constipation?

@Reginaphalangeeeee I’ve actually found the opposite- most of my bad flares have been towards the end of the week and I jab on a Monday. All I’m worried about at the minute with stopping is that I’m scared I’ll have raging hunger and still not be able to eat much. That sounds torturous! I’ve lost far too much weight this week, not happy losing at this rate, but that’s been because of the gallbladder attacks and feeling bloated, not the MJ. Had 2 days in a row now without an attack - I’m sticking to bland, low fat foods and have managed more calories, which I’m happier with. Guess I’ll just have to see what the doc advises on Monday. I can’t find much online to advise whether to stop or not and I’m really conflicted, as the damage has already been done!

Ah that sounds so hard @JBL.
if attacks are not worse in the first 48-72 hours of taking then there is likely no benefit to stopping unless it has some other effect of bile ducts by slowing digestion etc.
Hope GP helpful tomorrow.
How much have you lost this week. That alone may be why GP says stop?
Hoping things calm very soon for you. If they don’t, you may not be having ‘routine’ surgery if you are not able to eat and really unwell.
I do know you have to stop for 2 weeks before any surgery so that may be important if things getting worse.

GP refused right to choose for my daughter as she has been on the list so long they think she will get to the top before right to choose (although I know that's not the case!!) so annoying!

I know what you mean, I feel the same. I actually have those same feelings, but the difference is I'm not in the same position. I've been eating so badly and I really need to stop but at least I'm not where I was this time last year!

And sorry I can't remember who posted but I think if you just miss one week you can keep jabbing the same amount, it's only if you miss three weeks I think you drop. I missed last week because of holiday and because I felt awful I decided to leave it. I think I will jab tomorrow morning, my usual day. Not sure whether to go for 1.25 or 2.5. I will probably go for the latter.

@Reginaphalangeeeee I’ve lost about 6lb this week, which isn’t ideal. Bugger all to do with the mounjaro though as I’ve just been too scared to eat as the attacks have been relentless.

Oh gosh @JBJ, that is a lot & rapid weight loss can actually make inflammation worse. Though I complete understand fear of that pain is the driver. Hydration ok? Think dehydration also makes it worse. Best of luck tomorrow with GP

Yeah I’m drinking gallons of water, just very nervous with food as everything seemed to be setting it off last week. I have managed to eat a bit more today though and I’m, so far, feeling ok.

Weigh in today and 6lb off, so a total of 6st 6.5lb. Not injected though, as I’m at the docs soon and want to see what he says first.

The doctor has said he can’t find any evidence to say I need to stop taking MJ, although if I find gallbladder attacks get worse shortly after the injection, then it would probably be sensible to stop. He said the gallstones have probably been forming for years and it’s weigh loss, whether from WLI or just dieting, that have caused them to flare up, so he’s happy for me to continue for now.

That’s great news @JBJ
found this which may give some further reassurance:

https://www.secondnature.io/guides/lifestyle/glp1s/mounjaro-with-gallstones?srsltid=AfmBOorcNXUzuqsfgbnRPJ_Iqxsda9EXWvyUJEUtoc7Uvxcod8G3GdCu

Only thing I’m concerned about is that if I disclose the gallstones, there’s a chance that I might not get it prescribed. I do have at least 11 doses in the fridge though!

Realised today that I’ve only got just over 2st to lose until I can get back on a horse! And 2st 9lb to my ideal goal weight, although that would still not be in a “healthy” BMI range!

I don’t think you have to declare you have gall stones right now if had medical advice from GP?

Amazing your end goal is in sight!!!! I am a way off still. I have had a small loss this week which is great to be loosing again. 0.5kg this week takes me to 101kg.
I really want to get under 💯 but ultimately hoping to get to 80’s.
I say that loosely because To be under BMI 25 I need to be under 75kg. I have never been under 77kg since age 18. I thought 80kg would likely be my limit but right now with how slow weight lost has been to even get to 89 would be amazing!!
So I have decided to set my sights on 12 kg/2 stone!!

strangely this week, with ultimately slow weight loss and stalling the last few months I have been frustrated, but had so many comments this week on my weight loss. Not sure why, no different clothes, only 1lb off but apparently it is all showing now!

Weigh in this morning (still feels weird not doing the SheMed check in!) and lost 0.5lb, so now at exactly 6st 7lb total loss. Very happy with that, as I lost 6lb last week due to feeling crappy, so I’m pleased it’s slowed down. Still very nervous eating in case my gallbladder kicks off, but I’m sticking to very low fat, little and often, and I’ve only had one full blown attack this week, plus several rumblings that haven’t led to anything. Can’t wait to get my gallbladder evicted!

Well done @JBJ
truly a success.

I met with some uni friends on the weekend. Non of them noticed my 5.5stone weight loss because I weighed less than this the last time they saw me. They were probably all thinking how much weight I put on, I sat and reflected that at least it wasn’t 5.5stone more for our reunion, a small win. On further reflection I think if I hadn’t have lost this weight I would probably have not gone to it!

Yes I know what you mean @Reginaphalangeeeee as I dropped out going to an old works reunion a couple of years ago, as I just couldn’t stand anyone seeing me how I was. Bought a new dress and everything, then took a photo of myself in said dress, looked at it and texted my apologies to cancel. Loving that I no longer feel like that, although I’ve still got a fair chunk to lose, but it does wonders for the confidence.

Popping in to catch up on everyone’s news. Pleased you are feeling better @JBJ. Well done for attending your reunion @Reginaphalangeeeee. I have been known to opt out of events due to not liking the way I looked. I’m sure your friends were just pleased to see you and catch up.

So my Wegovy journey has been frustrating. 4 weeks on 1mg led to limited weight loss. I lost all of 2lbs having lost 7lbs the month before. The food noise returned and the suppression decreased. It was all very hard.

They increased my dose to 1.7 mg and the first week was more successful. I lost 1.6lbs but was still feeling hungry. I took my second dose last night and the suppression has kicked in today. I am not hungry at all. It almost feels like MJ. I am so relieved. I had been reading all the threads from others who had swapped and seeing that their experiences were similar and that they were planning to return to MJ. All the changing back and forth just slows everything down and I’m not the fastest loser. And every month costs money. Fingers crossed the scales continue to drop, I wanted to be close to a 5 stone loss by Christmas.

However, Wegovy seems to suit my arthritis better. The pain in my knee is better and the effect lasts longer. That’s definitely a positive as I walk everywhere!

Sounds really positive @YouWillFindMeUnderCats

Are you in the SheMed Wegovy? Was wondering about prices with them as they seem to offer lower prices to new comers (a limited time ofcourse).