Considering weight loss injections after gastric sleeve regain and binge eating

[Lozzie89]

How did you take the leap into weight loss injections? I have a gastric sleeve 5 years ago, losing 8 stone in about 6 months. Over the last 3 years I’ve put back on about 3.5 stone and I just hate myself. I have an awful relationship with food and I think I have a binge eating disorder. Coupled with depression and anxiety this is not a healthy combination.

Once I decided that I had reached the point that drastic action was needed, I just got on and ordered Mounjaro. Then took it when it arrived. You can always stop if it isn’t for you. Lots of people find that it can give you some headspace away from the constant negative self talk around food and weight. I used to feel totally hopeless about my weight and now I really really don’t.

Do you still have access to your bariatric team to discuss where you are now with your sleeve and if injections would be the right next step alongside your other concerns or if they recommend other support alongside the injections to give you the best chance of long term success.

I started Mounjaro last September as I was 15 stones and short and feeling very depressed as I’d just turned 60. I’ve lost 4 stones on a low dose and couldn’t be happier with how it’s gone over the last 10 months.

If it doesn’t suit you, you can always stop taking it, but you won’t know until you start.

Some people need to go up to a higher dose before they find it effective but I’ve been lucky to lose my weight on the lower doses and have only increased to 3.5mg.

What’s missing from your post is any mention of therapy or counselling to help you understand your disordered eating. Is that something you’re doing? A gastric sleeve is quite an extreme weight loss strategy and if that hasn’t worked very well, then maybe it’s naïve to head straight into another medical strategy without really looking at why you eat the way you do.

I hope you find success, whatever you end up doing. 💐

I had a gastric sleeve three years ago lost 30kgs and then found 10kg came back in the last year 😩😩

So I start MJ three months ago and have found that because of my sleeve I reacted really well and haven’t so far had to move from 2.5mg and have lost almost 8kgs. I’m taking it slow as I had bad hair loss with my sleeve so am taking this slowly.

I’ve resigned myself to the fact I will be on MJ maintenance for life. The sleeve didn’t change my eating habits and give me a personality change where I suddenly love salads and neither has MJ - but the food noise stopping is lovely… my favourite part

If you have a binge eating disorder you may find it difficult getting a pharmacy to prescribe Mounjaro. They are very cautious about prescribing to people with eating disorders and may well ask for a lot of additional evidence about your disorder and any treatment you are having or may have had. If you meet the NHS criteria, then your best option would be to try to get a prescription via your bariatric team, as has been suggested.

Just to clarify, as I was the one who mentioned speaking to the bariatric team, I wasn't suggesting they would prescribe medication as we all know the NHS prescribing criteria are incredibly strict and it probably isn't within the remit of that team.

My suggestion was that, if the OP genuinely believes she has binge eating disorder (BED), it would be worth seeking support, as it's a mental health condition.

If it's occurring alongside depression and anxiety, addressing those underlying issues is important, as weight loss medications alone without further support may only provide temporary results.

As the OP had qualified for bariatric surgery, I considered there may be a possibility that the OP may meet the NHS criteria. That of course may not be the case. 👍