Saxenda

[bembridge11]

Just wanted to share my experience
Weight gain has been an on going battle as I have got older - 49 now.
BMI in the unhealthy range - and at 5'2 being over 10 stone is not a good look.
Slimming world works .... when I stick to it.... but lockdown has made snacking in front of the TV all too easy and my weight shit up again. I decided to give Saxenda a try. The skinny jab. Just completed the first week. So far so good. It has been like a kill switch on my appetite: snacking has totally stopped and can only eat a fraction of what I ate before as I am so full so quickly. Have lost 2kg this week. Roll on next week. Have had a little nausea at the beginning and felt a bit more thirsty. That was all. Anyway - I just wanted to share my experience so far with you all because I am feeling v happy

[EveryDayIsADuvetDay]

thanks hanging basket - sounds as if its worth trying - I'm always fine for the first few weeks, then find it hard to stick to when the weight loss slows down, so I think its worth a try; there's the option of that or Trulicity, which works in a similar way, but you only inject weekly.

[Hangingbasketofdoom]

I am very nervous of possible serious health impact - but I have failed at doing this alone and the impact of my excess weight on my body is not healthy either.
I will stay on for the minimum time necessary, at the lowest dose I can manage.
Bloody expensive too!

[bembridge11]

Hi all,
Just an update.
I have now reached a normal
BMI of 23.4. Having started at a BMI of 27 and strong family history of diabetes I feel much happier now. I have now started to reduce the injections. I dont have it every day. Maybe 4 days a week. But I know that if I totally stop then the weight will slowly creep back over time. Definitely havent been as active due to lockdown so I domt want to totally stop now.

[coldwinternightsbrrr]

Where do you have to do your injections? Is it into a vein? I really hate injections!
Do you have to inject every day?

[coldwinternightsbrrr]

Also can you get it on the NHS?

[Tat33]

I've just completed my second week on saxenda, i have lost 10lbs already. I am lucky and have had no side effects whatsoever but i do have to remind myself to eat because all cravings have gone - i don't even think about food. Im learning though!!

[LookToTreblesGoingTreblesGone]

Having had a look at the Saxenda site and the warning

"Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care professional if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Saxenda® and medicines that work like Saxenda® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Saxenda® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.

Do not use Saxenda® if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)."

I'd just like to say - my husband is currently dying of Medullary Thyroid Cancer. He's had to suffer through 3 neck dissections, the removal of his thyroid, half a lung, 6 weeks of radiotherapy which is known to barely work on it, and now he's got it in his pancreas and liver.

A lot of people don't even know they've got a MEN2 syndrome. What if they decided to take this stuff?

There are other ways of losing weight than risking this. You may feel it's a small risk, or just a risk you're willing to take.

If you were in my shoes you wouldn't, as I watch my husband die of Medullary Thyroid Cancer, for which there is little treatment and is incurable.

I cannot believe people are willing to take this and risk it. MTC has ruined our lives.

[uggmum]

@bembridge11 @Tat33

Could I ask what doses you are on and what time of day you inject
Many thanks

[Tat33]

U have 3ml per day currently.

for the person saying they hate injections - ME TOO. But this is very easy - you don't put it into your vein and its a tiny 4mm needle so it's not like a proper injection.

I missed an injection and I got so hungry I binged and put some weight back on...wish I had more self control!!!

[Virgo1958]

Definitely buy your Saxenda from Burwash Pharmacy, its the cheapest.

[Shedtheload]

@LookToTreblesGoingTreblesGone

Having had a look at the Saxenda site and the warning

"Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care professional if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Saxenda® and medicines that work like Saxenda® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Saxenda® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.

Do not use Saxenda® if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)."

I'd just like to say - my husband is currently dying of Medullary Thyroid Cancer. He's had to suffer through 3 neck dissections, the removal of his thyroid, half a lung, 6 weeks of radiotherapy which is known to barely work on it, and now he's got it in his pancreas and liver.

A lot of people don't even know they've got a MEN2 syndrome. What if they decided to take this stuff?

There are other ways of losing weight than risking this. You may feel it's a small risk, or just a risk you're willing to take.

If you were in my shoes you wouldn't, as I watch my husband die of Medullary Thyroid Cancer, for which there is little treatment and is incurable.

I cannot believe people are willing to take this and risk it. MTC has ruined our lives.

Thank you for posting this and I am so sorry about your husband. It’s quite telling that people are just ignoring your post as they discuss where to get the cheapest version of an untested overpriced appetite suppressant to inject into their stomachs.

To the person who binged because she missed an injection - do you never stop to think that maybe that means that as soon as you stop taking this thing that the weight will come straight back on? So you’re taking something dangerous and it’s pretty clear that it’s probably going to be minimally effective in the long run because your appetite will return to normal when you stop taking it. Makes no sense at all to me.

[LookToTreblesGoingTreblesGone]

@bembridge11 @Tat33 @Virgo1958

Have any of you read my post?
Tat33 you say you hate injections? My husband does too, yet he's off for another operation tomorrow where he'll have to stay awake while they insert instruments into his liver and pancreas. All due to Medullary Thyroid Cancer, which is what you're risking just to get some weight off.
Do any of you have a MEN2 syndrome? You may well have and are just unaware. What a stupid stupid stupid risk you're all taking. I despair.

Thank you @Shedtheload for your kind words.

[Tat33]

I understand everything you have said and I am sorry you and your partner have to go through this. For me - I have understood all risks and found the pros outweigh the cons and that is the risk that I am willing to take.
You can express your disagreement with what I am doing - that's your prerogative but at the end of the day, people make their own choices and will do what they want to do. So...yes I did read your post but yes I will continue to do what I would like to do, as will many people who are on their saxenda journey and people wanting to start it.
Nobody is taking this without looking at side effects and cons, they are making informed decisions on their own bodies.

[Virgo1958]

We're not buying this on the black market or 'off the back of a lorry', you have to get a prescription every time. Being overweight is a health risk too.

[LookToTreblesGoingTreblesGone]

I didn't say or imply you were buying it off the back of a lorry.

But the mere fact that by missing a dose makes you crave food "I missed an injection and I got so hungry I binged and put some weight back on...wish I had more self control!!!" surely makes it obvious that as soon as you stop injecting yourself makes this a senseless risk to take.

Still, as you say, it's your bodies. But if you saw what Medullary Thyroid cancer does - and the fact that it's totally incurable I think you're being very blinkered. Nearly all GP's (who'll be prescribing this stuff) will never have even heard of or met anyone with Medullary.

GP's are not infallible about MTC.

[Hecg]

Hi can I ask did you lose all that on 0.6? Also I’m on my first day and still feel a little hungry does it get better as the days go on?

[Virgo1958]

I have never had the feeling I have to binge if I miss a dose. I will lose the weight I need to and stop Saxenda and endeavour to keep weight off by the normal eat less/move more methods but losing weight is generally very slow for me so Saxenda is helping me lose it much quicker.

[picklemewalnuts]

@LookToTreblesGoingTreblesGone I'm sorry for the pain you and your husband are going through.

Some of us have had a life time of weight related health issues/social issues. In my case various attempts to address it haven't worked. I'm considering bariatric surgery- also not to be taken lightly, with side effects and risks.

I've never heard of this drug, and am interested in other people's experiences to see whether it's a viable alternative.

I agree, the risk isn't worth it unless severely obese, but perhaps people are trying to avoid becoming severely obese.

[picklemewalnuts]

@Unfairtomiddling your father is horrible. Do you have to see him?

[notapizzaeater]

This has just been approved for nhs use for weight loss. The risks associated with high BMI are huge as in life we have to weigh up our risks and do what's right for you.

[picklemewalnuts]

That's good to know, pizza eater.
I've just started orlistat.

Something has to work.

[Virgo1958]

I jab in the morning when I get up but different times work for other people. Have had a couple of days when I felt rough (on it since September) but slipped into size 14 trousers today and feel slim!

[notapizzaeater]

Mines arrived today so starting in the morning 🤪🤪

[Virgo1958]

Good luck Notapizzaeater, its the only thing I've done that's made me lose weight.