Thread 2 - BMI under 27 - Off Label/less to lose

[Beachforever]

New thread from:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5509897-bmi-under-27-off-labelless-to-lose

Result!

I've reached the BMI 25 threshold this week. I'm feeling comfortable with what I'm eating. I've got more appetite mornings and midday, and less for the evening when my portion size is most reduced.

I am feeling slimmer and more comfortable in my body now, and it feels more like its old self and not weighed down. The texture is a bit soft-skin though. I'm hoping that it firms a bit with some time to adjust. My (long) post-natal tummy is a lost cause in that department though. I can see my muscle definition a bit better now too which is satisfying because I've worked hard for that over the years.

Did my 2nd jab yesterday, still no side effects (perhaps a bit more headache prone than usual, but nothing major). Weighed in this morning and the scales said I’m 2kg off from last week’s weigh in. That doesn’t seem quite right (I’d weighed in the middle of the week and it was well under a kilo lost at that point). But something has shifted so I’ll take that!

I’ve upped my wegovy to 0.5mg, not had any side effects & I’m not hungry but can eat if that makes sense. Had a small bowl of skyr & berries for breakfast & a tin of tuna with cucumber & tomatoes for lunch. The smell of certain foods turns my stomach, mainly meat cooking. Does anyone else have this?

Hello. Can you talk to me about off label off license. I have a friend who has given me some MJ it is in the fridge but I am scared

Please don't use a prescription medicine unless it has been prescribed specifically for you.
Off label simply means that clinicians can choose to prescribe outside of the current guidelines, which in this instance means prescribing it for people who have a BMI under 27. It still requires them to assess you, and to make the decision whether it's safe and suitable for you, and to be available for you to get advice from if you have any issues eg side effects. As far as I know there's a few providers in the UK who will consider this, but it varies by country.

Agree. Don’t take it.

@splendidgirl Just to add to other observations, I’d be especially concerned if someone else has already been using that pen.

Hello, has anyone used bolt and gone through their approval process and can tell me what’s involved?
I have tablets through voy at the moment but thinking about switching to injections

I'm interested in views on sticking on the starter dose for a second month? Have been taking wegovy pills (1.5mg) for just under 3 weeks now. Minimal side effects but effect on appetite has been quite strong and I've lost 5lb. Only have another 10lb or so to lose so thinking it might be best just to stay on the low dose - but Superdrug are telling me the best thing to do normally is to go up to the 4mg dose. Is that necessary if the starter dose is still working well?

@Fireyflies I don't know if it's any different for the tablets compared to jabs, but my experience with the jabs is that the company (voy) were set up to encourage me to increase the dose per month, whereas the clinicians were clear if it was working to stay on the dose, to avoid side effects and for it to be most effective/healthy - ie to have supression, but not to go to high and have trouble eating enough, which would cause other issues.

Thanks @Proteinpudding - that would fit with what I'm seeing from Superdrug - the higher dose would cost more so maybe that's why they're pushing it? I'm not really fussed about the cost but quite happy with the current state of my appetite where I can just about manage a normal (smallish) meal, but am not snacking at all, and am losing weight, so why would I want to go higher? The effects were stronger a week or two ago (too strong), so maybe they'll get weaker and I'll need to go up a dose later.

I think clinicians in general work on the basis of the lowest but still effective dose (for any drug, not just WLI) I appreciate with it being prescribed monthly there's a risk of it losing effectiveness during that month and then you have to wait for your next prescription to see a change, so I guess it depends where your priorities lie - being cautious and it possibly taking a bit longer/not getting as value for money, or take the risk of side effects and a higher price that month to be sure of losing weight!
I do think the companies are a bit naughty, my clinician told me there was no pressure to move up each month, and then I found voy had set my plan up to automatically do just that, and I had to put in a request to change it. I had strong supression from the starter dose and although I have adjusted to it, I didn't want to go higher than I needed.

Injections…. But I regretted a second minimum dose order in case I’d decided to go up a dose in week 5. For my third pen I went up a dose and now microdose. I don’t think you can do that on tablets though as they have to be intact don’t they?

I'm around BMI 24.8-9 now, officially healthy!

I did a progress photo and can see the difference on it. While the data I sent to Voy was genuine, I admittedly did squeeze on an uncomfortably tight crop top and cycling shorts to be unflattering and emphisise the surplus body mass. Putting them back on again was a lot more comfortable this time, and getting the top off did not involve thoughts of scissors 😂

I'm happy with progress and appetite. I feel that I'm happy to safely continue losing weight healthily for now, and I'm feeling better for it. My injury is improving and it's feeling easier to move my body with 6kg less on it- that's a reasonable dumbell!

Can I ask about switching providers? I’m down to BMI 25.6, currently with MedExpress but they only offered a discount on the first pen and nothing further. I’d like somewhere that doesn’t need a video consult / scales video (my scales are at the gym so I don’t especially want to have to video myself there!). I just had to upload a photo for ME, nothing else (BMI was 26.6 at that point though).

This is for Mounjaro (likely 2.5 but possibly 5)

I just came to ask the same question! I’m coming to the end of my first 3 months with voy and I’m thinking about switching provider and switching from tablets to injectables too. My BMI is now within the normal bracket now though

Also does anyone have a discount code?

It may still be cheaper to go elsewhere, but just so you know - I had signed up for three months with voy, and when I went to cancel my plan towards the end of the three months (be warned, they set you to auto renew!) after clicking all the buttons to say yes I definitely want to cancel, I was offered £50 off the next two pens. I stayed with them as I probably won't order beyond another three months so it was just easier!

Down to 60.8kg this morning. This is likely to be the dip of the week but is pleasing progress again.

I'm at pen-ordering time again. Voy is encouraging 1mg, but with the current rate of progress, I'm happy to stick at 0.5 again. I don't want to go too fast or hit issues like side effects or low energy.

Thanks @Proteinpudding! I did this

I was with Voy for the first month then changed to Swift Doctor as much cheaper (even with £50 additional incentive discount that Voy offered). Didn’t need any additional checks even though my BMI was under 25 by then, just proof of a previous prescription such as photo of the box/prescribing label. I’ve stayed with Swift Doctor, the 1mg WeGovy pen is £89 and they will send a free pack of extra needles so I’m microdosing 8 weeks of 0.5mg from it making it £45 per month.

Still barely eating and have stayed the same weight for the past 3-4 weeks so it’s feeling really pointless but at least I’m not gaining I suppose. Been on it since end of July and have only lost 11lbs in total. On 0.5mg now and I am slightly nauseous, mild headaches, palpitations. Thinking of dropping back to 0.37mg as still had good appetite suppressant effects at that dose but less side effects.

Thanks for this. I just looked at Swift Doctor but they needed a verification video of stepping on the scales too. Did you not need to do that?

Sorry yes you’re right, I did need to send that! But I didn’t need the live appointment/video consultation with a clinician even though my BMI was under 25 by then (which was the thing I didn’t really want but had to have initially with Voy). It just got approved quickly with Swift Doctor.

Thanks again. Think I just need to get some scales for at home then .