Worrying remark by GP

[fudgesmummy]

Hi,
I have been on Mounjaro for just over 6 months now and have lost 2.5 stone.
I am having to lose weight to get my BMI down to below the required figure to have life changing surgery.
I started off on a dose of 2.5 and have gradually worked my way up to a dose of 10.
Right from the start I have suffered with constant nausea which has left me unable to eat very much hence the successful weight loss.
I have had regular phone calls with my GP since I started taking it mainly as my condition causes me constant pain and she has been trying (and so far failing) to find me effective pain relief.
I also battle with depression and anxiety about the unrelenting pain, the difficulty I have sleeping and the general shitty situation I have been in for 17 months now.
When on the phone today I was talking about the nausea and she said now I’ve been on the medication for 6 months and still feeling so unwell she would advise me to have some blood tests. I asked what the tests might show and she said “well I don’t want to worry you but it could be cancer”
I am so scared and worried, (and a bit angry), that she has made such a throw away comment and just left me to worry about what could be causing the nausea.
The earliest available appointment at my surgery for a blood test is the end of October.
I certainly feel even more sick now, with worry and fear.
I haven’t got anyone to confide my worries with, I’m so scared I don’t know what to do.

There is always a possibility of cancer. It is better have this investigated than continue without any investigation.
Nausea is a common side effect of Mounjaro.

Mounjaro is notorious for causing nausea because it slows down your gastric system.

The GP can't write off your symptoms, and if they suspect it's something sinister then far better they address it with you.

What have you done to manage the nausea? Pepto Bismol is supposed to be excellent for it.

That's a crazy comment for her to make, and I would think it is extremely unlikely for that to be the case. To suggest cancer and then say that she didn't want to worry you...wow. Terrible way to interact with a patient.

I would suggest moving down doses if you are struggling to eat and feeling nausea all the time.

Ridiculous of her to worry you like that without any foundation, other than this very common side-effect of taking Mounjaro. Most symptoms could be cancer, but thankfully aren’t. Hope your blood test confirms it isn’t, and the doctor can then concentrate on trying to make adjustments around your medication to try and decrease the unpleasant effects.

I think she sounds very conscientious and thorough. I'm sure also you would rather she was honest with you. Obviously it's very unlikely to be cancer, but isn't it best to rule it out?

You shouldn't be so nauseous you can barely eat 6 months in, and 2.5 stone in 6 months isn't a big lossat all so I personally would ditch the MJ and calorie count under my own steam

It's really not worth this.

I’m not sure it’s worth you being on the meds if it makes you constantly nauseous and you’ve only lost 1lb a week.

Im sure she just wants to rule out other causes.

I'm on Mounjaro and have GP friends who are not. They were absolutely fascinated to talk to someone on it as they see so many people with MJ side effects, usually prescribed by online clinics with minimal backup. They are really in the dark about how to help.

My experience - the nausea (and sometimes vomiting) is when I've eaten too much, or eaten too much fat.

Even after being on it a long time, I still have to learn (and relearn) the hard way. Last time I was sick was after a chocolate bar. I know I can't eat chocolate so WTF was I thinking???

If you were losing weight on less than 10mg I'd drop back down to see if that helps.

I think your doctor is suggesting that after 6 months she might have expected the nausea side effect of MJ to have subsided, and therefore she would like to check that it isn't something else causing that symptom.
She's just being thorough, sounds like you have a good doctor. They do have to be honest and tell you why they want to do further investigations. They might usually say "it could be cancer" but then add "but that is extremely unlikely but it's best if we rule it out". It can be really difficult to focus on the doctor's reassurance when you hear that awful suggestion though.
Really try not to worry, which I know is easy to say. It sounds like you know yourself it's the MJ causing the nausea, nothing else. Your doctor just doesn't want to miss anything. You have a good doctor!

I'm so sorry that you are in such an awful situation OP and I really hope you find some relief soon. However it's not fair to be angry with the GP and she wasn't being 'ridiculous' as a PP has suggested. She thinks you should have bloods to rule out serious issues. You asked what those issues might be. She told you honestly. I would be angrier if the bloods did turn up something concerning and I hadn't been told that that was what they were looking for. It's paternalistic and patronising not to give a patient an honest answer to their question and it's good that you have a thorough, conscientious GP. I'm sorry that you are worried and I hope you have reassuring news very soon.

There's honesty, & then plain stupidity! What patient isn't going to worry themselves after being told that. Very poor level of care from GP, I'd be furious. Absolutely no need to even put this in your mind at this stage. Most GP's know very little about MJ & they shouldn't be throwing flippant comments out there without some understanding, making sweeping guesses/statements helps nobody.

I've been on MJ nearly 6 months & still regularly have nausea, not from anything I've eaten, it's just how it is. Fortunately it's low level & tapers off after 2-3 days, so it's manageable. Lots of people have this & it's nothing to worry about.

Sending best wishes & hope you get results back quickly & there's nothing wrong. Please try not to worry now, just deal with anything IF it does come up, I know that's easier said than done, but worrying now won't help. Hope your other health problems are resolved for you soon. Take care of yourself.

What an appalling way to phrase it! Pain could be all sorts of things. Your GP has no idea what is behind it. (And if she thought you had cancer you would not be waiting till end October for blood tests.)

If it is any consolation OP I have had 3 doctors do something like this to me over the past 20 years about various aches & pains & other issues - one GP & 2 junior hospital doctors. In no case was it cancer! And in one of the cases (a molar pregnancy) my GP actually complained to the hospital about a doctor using unnecessarily alarmist language that caused me great distress when feeling very unwell.

There are lots of reasons for pain & nausea & it is good the investigation has started- the chances are it will not lead anywhere bad.💐