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.

Well the MJ is officially out of my system as my back pain is back with vengeance this week.

I've done without WLI since 18th September. In this time I've put on about 7lb. ! That's not so bad but with the inflammation and pain relief appearing again im disappointed that I'll need to restart, but I will.

Therefore took 0.5mg of Wegovy this morning, looks like I'm back on the band wagon.

I'll keep you posted on how I get on with the Wegovy.

X

My first injection was mid-January, so my 'next' pen will be number 13. I guess when they charge me I'll know if it's a 13 or 12 pen study!

Thank you@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden. Glad you are doing well and I may need to think about pharmacy’s going forward. Still have a stash and a couple of cheaper deals with Numan to go but I don’t ever want to stop 🤔

so great news for me. Under 100!!💯!!! That is a total oflb80 ost and I think the last few pounds have made a big difference visually as everyone is noticing.

i’ now BMI 33 and everyone is saying ‘you look really well’ stage, so although obese still, very much less so

Wow BMI 33! That's great @Reginaphalangeeeee !

I was charged £99 for my 13th pen with SheMed, so it looks like they're honouring the calendar year.

I'm finding Wegovy 'ok'. Not as magnificent as mounjaro, where being 'good' was almost effortless, but still good at the feeling full and being able to leave food. I was just over 66kg at last weigh in, not quite at my personal target of 65, but within a whisper. I'm helping a friend who is doing a personal training qualification, so I'm getting 'free' PT for the next couple of months. Hopefully that will help solidify some of my wobbly bits!

Does anyone know what the 'special reward' is for doing the study?

I'm not sure, they've sent the email out prematurely I think.

It's probably nothing great ! 😃 Imagine if it's a free month though . That would be brilliant.

X

Hello!

I'm on jab 47 - so 5 weeks to go to a year!

I can't believe what a journey we've all been on and it's been amazing to share it with you all 😍.

I'm now a stone away from bmi 30 and not being obese and so can't wait! I've lost just over 7.5 stone now (and I'm still obese 😳😳)

My stomach is currently weird. Most of me is now just overweight person sized but where I've lost so much weight my stomach is like a bizarre dough. I can grab fistfuls and move it and squish it.... It's like this strange appendage I can't wait to see off. I'm a little nervous I will have a melted candled/ baggy skin look anyway but that's to be expected if I get to 10stone loss. Id like the stomach to be less visible and to be able to wear jeans!

@tinyemmy Yes I think once I sleep and exercise things will feel good. I'm constantly catching up with myself currently. It's mainly work causing it. It's intense and full on and a step up for me in many ways but also my Saturdays I just crash now.

Wrt adhd meds I honestly think the meds once up to the right dose might help with cravings. They won't tell you to come off MJ - it's more it's helpful to know which drug does which. I have wondered about hrt though and whether that would help sleep once I titrate mounjaro down in maybe a few months.... I've gone from little meds to mounjaro, elvanse and potentially hrt 🙈

@Earthgirl3971 For a full year it would be 13 pens (134) as 412 is only 48 and there are 52 weeks in a year. I have no idea how Shemed are doing it though.
I've lost track - did you stop completely and now starting wegovy? Hope it goes okay x

@Reginaphalangeeeee wahooooo for under 100 🎉🎉🎉. I feel similar - still obese but kind of the large normal person side of it than the huge I was.

@kittykarate That's great to hear they're honouring pen13. You've made it work really well within the year. And pretty much at target that's amazing. Well done 🌟. Have you decided what you'll do after the study?

Ooh special reward! I'm curious!

I'm thinking I still have a long wya to go with MJ. That I'm still at where some perople start! And wondering if I'll need it for inflammation. I think my adhd drugs do a lot for me too though and have wondered how much I could lower the dose by long term to make it viable.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Weigh in and injection day and I’ve lost nothing this week. More than happy to maintain at the minute as I’ve lost far too much, too quickly recently because of my gallstones, so I’ll take that. Only need to lose 1.9lb to hit my 7st loss, so hoping to do that for next week 🤞🤞

14st 10.4lb BMI of 31.3. Never thought I’d see those numbers!!

Wow that's amazing amount. How are the attacks? I had my gallbladder out over 20 years ago (gosh I feel old) but didn't have to wait so long for the op then.

They’re very unpredictable! I’m eating very low fat, little and often and avoiding everything I’ve been told to. This last week, I’ve had no attacks, the previous week it was practically daily, twice one day, yet my diet was the same. Just can’t work out triggers, so I’m constantly worried about it kicking off when I’m not at home, as it usually ends up with me vomiting profusely! I’ve been told I should get my op within 4 months, so just taking it day by day at the minute.

@JBJ this sounds horrendous to endure for 4 months. Being so unpredictable is no way to keep managing it.
i’m sorry.
@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardenonly 1 stone to under 30BMI and 7.5 stone loss. You are smashing it. I have like 9 KG to loose before I get under 30BMI.

@Reginaphalangeeeee 4 months is a huge improvement on what my local hospital were saying - they were estimating 8-9 months to get a consultation, then 18-24 months for the op 😳 My GP is fab and referred me out of area to a private hospital 45 minutes away where I was seen within a few weeks. I’m praying for a cancellation in the meantime.

Wow. So 4months is the private time??? That's all crazy. I hope it flies by.

@Reginaphalangeeeee As are you!! You only need just over a stone to get to bmi 30 so it sounds like we're both on our way. It's been fun to share this journey together.

I'm really hoping that my loss will feel faster as I'm hoping it will be more visible over the next few months 🤞.

I want to buy some bravissmo bras but not now while I'm losing..

Yes it’s been great to have some I can really relate to @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardeni know that you get it, that even after nearly a year… loosing loads of weight yet still being obese and heavier than some starting the journey.

If I went back to January 2025 me, I can’t imagine I could believe this year I’d loose my dad and near 6 stone! It’s been such a sad year but I’m so grateful for the opportunity of improved health even as my mental health remains low with grief.

However, unlike you I don’t want it to be so noticeable. Yes I want the weight just gone already but have grown really self conscious of people’s comments on my losses. Wish they would keep opinions to themselves. I hate it even more when it is obvious people have been talking about me to others. Comments like ‘oh we have noticed how much weight you’ve lost, so and so said yesterday you looked so different ‘.
i know these are no bad words, just don’t want the attention or judgement.

So I’m now on 2.4mg Wegovy with still no food suppression. Really disappointed that I’ve basically wasted the last 4 months because I’ve gone back to old habits and slowly putting weight back on. Feel really sad that the 12 months “trial” didn’t work out because of issues outside SheMeds control but it’s still not what I signed up to. I have 1 more pen to go but if I don’t start losing weight again I’m definitely not going to spend anymore more money on this after the 12 months. Does anybody else feel the same way?

Hello!

I've stayed the same this week but I'm not too fussed as the overall line going down on the graph has been good.

@Mazd323 That's so frustrating. Has going up the doses helped at all or do you think wegovy just isn't right?

@Reginaphalangeeeee Ooh completly. I'm so pleased with my progress and it's a huge amount lost. Yet I'm still higher than so many start at 😳.

You've had such a difficult year 💐. And grief is so debilitating.

I don't particulalry need others to notice (although I'm now less bothered by comments than I was. I was really anxious when seeing old friends around July time at the judgement I'd get re "finally taking care of yourself etc." I'm good at fending off comments now and better at owning it.).

My visible loss comment was that I want my stomach to go. It looks odd now and out of proportion and I'm hoping a bit like that toilet roll analogy that now I might be at the stage where each stone makes more of a visual difference. I will look odd without clothes. My arms hang etc but my stomach is tricky in clothes right now.

Ultimately though my goal is a healthy bmi... Fingers crossed I can get there. Maybe another year....

No unfortunately going up the doses doesn’t seem to have made any difference, I just don’t think it’s as good as Mounjaro, although tbh that wasn’t working as well by the end but I think I was definitely ready to move up a dose at the time.

Morning everyone!

I’ve just been reading through and doing a catch up. Sorry to hear about the gall bladder issues - it’s something I’d wondered about as it’s often linked to rapid weight loss, but having watched a friend go through the attacks I wouldn’t want anyone to have to deal with that! Fingers crossed for a cancellation.

For those who stayed with SheMed - I did too, with the switch to WG. They upped my dose again to 1.7 and I took the first one yesterday. I can’t decide if there is any suppression there or if I’m just more conscious of what I’m eating. I have noticed that I don’t seem to be able to cope with certain foods anymore: we had a Chinese the other night, and boy did I suffer afterwards! I felt like it was my punishment for eating something like that. I didn’t ask for an increase and am not trying to lose weight now, I just want to maintain, so I’m not sure what their reasoning is, but I haven’t bothered to ask. I reckon I have one one left after this before the trial ends.

I've starting considering the ‘life after the trial’ and have been looking round to see what’s on offer. Ideally, I’d like to go back to MJ and the prices seem to have settled and come down a bit. Bolt Pharmacy seems to have some good offers and will take me on as maintenance, and I’ve looked at a couple recommended on here too.

For now, it’s looking forward to Christmas. I’m enjoying wearing different clothes, but I still look in the mirror and see the old me. My brain definitely hasn’t caught up with what I look like and although I know that a size 10 jeans fits just fine now, I still think I look the size I was. I have a fair bit of
lose skin on my bum, thighs, tummy and abs (non-existent ones) and lots on my upper arms. The jelly bras that are all the rage now have been a great find as they smooth everything, especially the saggy skin under my armpits.

If I'm honest, I’m scared of putting it back on and although I’m looking forward to Christmas, the food bit worries me. So much on offer and it’s seen as ok to eat as much as you want. I’ve learnt that I put weight on so easily that I need to keep hold of that and will always have to control what I’m eating. My mind needs to catch up!

It’s mad to think it’s nearly a year and for all of us, whatever stage we’re at, it’s just a milestone on our journey. Whether you’re still trying lose or trying to maintain, I think it’s a journey many of us will be on for the rest of our lives. Reading your stories, even as a ‘lurker’ has kept me going, and I think we need to celebrate our amazing achievements. Maybe on NYE we should add up our total losses and see just what incredible things this little community has achieved!

Does anyone know what happens at the end of the 12 months? I'm nearly 1 months to the milestone, unsure if we need to give notice to terminate? I don't want it to automatically roll onto the standard program. I definitely can't afford that 😐

2.4lb loss this week! 14st 8lb, BMI now 30.9. 7st 0.5lb loss in total 😀

Gallbladder has behaved for over a week, thank goodness, although I’ve had bloody vertigo for a few days to replace it. Managed to eat more though, so feeling like I have a bit more energy, which is good as I’ve got loads to do in preparation for Christmas!

Good luck this week everyone.

So my weigh in Friday sts but then today... I saw a 13. Two of them in fact 🎉.

10more pounds and I will no longer be obese. It seems finally like it will be achievable eventually which is incredible.

I am so up for us all having a big end of year party and celebrating how the year has gone. We could invite back some of the others that started with us and do a round up.

Crazy to think this time last year I was still uming and ahing and worrying about shemed... Even though I'm not with them now I'm so so so glad I signed up initially and had that peace of mind for a year to not worry about prices and be committed to it.

@Mazd323 😔 That must be so frustrating. It seems like it works for some and some prefer it with less side effects and not at all for others. I was going to try it for maintenance (a long way away for me) but I might try to just really reduce MJ.

@Kaggi9 Wow size 10 that's amazing. But compeltley get the mind distortion and the fear of it returning. Do you know what you might do longer term. I think pharmulous let you come off but then go back on within a year if you need to as I think that's what I'll do. Your idea for us all checking in is brilliant. We should so finish this year with a check in and reflection.

@Simi90 Sorry no as I'm not with them any more but do ask them. It was that if you don't do the questionaire then no pen is ordered and they don't charge you but don't know if that's still the case. It's worth looking round at other pharmacies to compare rates.

@JBJ yay for a gall bladder pain free week. Will keep my fingers crossed for you over Xmas. And 7atone is incredible ❤️. Yay for energy. Mine is severely depleted at the moment zzzzz

Weigh in day and another 2.5lb lost. 14st 5.5lb current weight, 7st 3lb total loss!

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardenseeing the 13’s? That’s fantastic! I can’t wait to glimpse that for the first time! We all deserve a party to celebrate how well we’ve done :)

Wahooooo @JBJ that's amazing.

I was 13.13 at weigh in yestersy. But had seen lower during the week 😳. It's all seeming very possible.

I walked around London today and although tired didn't ache. It made me realise how much of an uphill battle everyday life was a year ago for some many reasons.

Oh and I sat on the tub without worrying about overspilling!!

I've ordered from pharmulous again. I think it was just under 6weeks so will stick with that for now I think. Still so much money compared to £99... I still have 3 stone to go then I hope to cut down. I imagine that 3 stone could take a v long time!!

@JBJ thats amazing!

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden well done on the 13s!

I’ve been looking at Pharmulous and Bolt - both will accept me with my BMI for maintenance. SheMed gave emailed to say that there will be a special offer from month 13 for those finishing the clinical trial, details to follow next week. If I’m honest, I’d like to go back on MJ as I feel that it did more for me, so will be doing some researching. I had a jab yesterday, and five more to go before I officially finish the trial.

Starting weight: 17st 2
Current weight: 10st 4

@Kaggi9you’ve done brilliantly too.

I’ve had my last few pens off Numan. Worked out if I threaten to cancel each month, they come back with an offer of £219 for 10mg, which is still eye watering, but a good price compared to most. I’m taking a slightly lower dose too - 8mg - so getting 5 full does out of each pen, so isn’t too bad overall.

Starting to think ahead to maintenance myself. I think I’d like to find somewhere that will let me maintain on a low dose of MJ fairly long term, as I’m just not ready to come off it completely. I’ve had brilliant effects from it for my general pain and brain fog and I don’t want all that flooding back if I stop.