Saxenda support thread

[EmmaH2022]

Hi all

Continuing on from here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/a4172903-Saxenda-journey-all-welcome?msgid=115224282#115224282

@tigger2022

Good luck to you all! I lost nearly 50kg on Saxenda last year, so it really works! I felt really sick for ages but you do get used to it.

Have you kept it off well, @tigger2022? Am hoping it will re-train me to ‘food as fuel’ rather than an all-consuming hobby.

(De-lurks on thread) I have been on Saxenda for 5 weeks - 1 stone 3.3 lbs gone of probably 6 stone needed at least, with zero hardship so far. This has been absolutely revolutionary for me.

@BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

I use SimpleOnlinePharmacy for mine and they send out the pens by post.

I've lost another pound, so 4lbs now in total in under a week. I'm eating around 1000 calories a day. I don't know whether I'll increase the dose as I'm happy with the effects so far and it's stopped the sugar cravings at least. I do have to use the willpower, but I can't say it's too difficult. I'm drinking lots of tea.

Thank you! That's brilliant

Well my Monday check in is not good news. In 3 weeks on Ozempic I have now only lost 4lbs

Im sticking religiously to around 1k cals a day and Ive had some exercise some of those days. Previously when Ive lost weight my weight comes off in direct alignment with the calorie intake, which should have resulted in me losing over about half a stone in these 3 weeks.

Im getting paranoid its doing something to my metabolism. Im 10 stone overweight so the weight should be falling off me at this calorie intake.

Im not hungry so from that perspective it certainly is working, I just cant work out how the weight isnt dropping off

I went away for the weekend and didn’t stick to a healthy eating plan. I’ve gained 1lb since last week. Today I’ve upped my dose to 1.8mg and am back to intermittent fasting and no snacking.

That’s disappointing and frustrating @bellac11. I did read that for some people it can take a few weeks to start working.

Have you taken any measurements? In a FB group I’m in for Ozempic I remember one lady hadn’t lost much on the scales but had lost inches. I’ve notice for me I seem to have lost around my shoulders - seams of tops are hangin lower. DH says he can see it in my face too.

@Whitney168 it is quite hard to keep off. I found myself slipping back into some old habits, though not nearly as bad. At the end of Saxenda about a year ago, I could comfortably wear jeans size 12 and now I wear size 14.

Gah, how frustrating @tigger2022, I am pinning my hopes on it re-training me to largely forget about food LOL.

@bellac11 I lost 17.5 lbs in my first 3 weeks on Oz - then 0.5 lbs in the next 4! After 2 months I'm now 25 lbs down. Weight loss is not linear.

I have calculated that with an average loss of 1 lb per week I'd need about 50 weeks to get to normal BMI. So, I've planned to invest into about a year's supply of Oz. It's still much less than weight loss surgery! If I reach my goal earlier, well, even better.

In addition, it's true that the clinical dose of Oz is 1 mg, and the smaller doses are for people to get used to side effects. Some people do start losing weight from the beginning, but by no means all. I was told that I needed to lose at least 5% of my starting weight within 6 months, if not then stop as that would mean the drug didn't work for me. So it doesn't work for everyone, but you need to give it time.

[quote LighterHeart]@bellac11 I lost 17.5 lbs in my first 3 weeks on Oz - then 0.5 lbs in the next 4! After 2 months I'm now 25 lbs down. Weight loss is not linear.

I have calculated that with an average loss of 1 lb per week I'd need about 50 weeks to get to normal BMI. So, I've planned to invest into about a year's supply of Oz. It's still much less than weight loss surgery! If I reach my goal earlier, well, even better.

In addition, it's true that the clinical dose of Oz is 1 mg, and the smaller doses are for people to get used to side effects. Some people do start losing weight from the beginning, but by no means all. I was told that I needed to lose at least 5% of my starting weight within 6 months, if not then stop as that would mean the drug didn't work for me. So it doesn't work for everyone, but you need to give it time.[/quote]
You're absolutely right and overall I need a year of 2lbs a week to get to a normal BMI so I have a long way to go. I would be saying to someone else in my position 'you'll have a big drop soon'!!!

The issue with the dosage is surely measured by whether you feel hungry or not? The only measure for me as to whether its working is that I am eating a very low calorie diet. If it wasnt 'working' then I would know because I would be still eating the same was I was, craving food and being hungry all the time?

I will give it more time.

"The issue with the dosage is surely measured by whether you feel hungry or not?"

Actually, no. The reduced feeling of hunger is only a transient effect of the medication. In the long term, it's the Oz's action on the pancreas, liver and brain that helps with eating less. See here: www.healthcareevolve.ca/ozempic-and-obesity/

Has anyone else run out of sharps due to maintaining lower dose? If so, how on earth do you buy more?

I bought my Saxenda from Boots Online Doctor, and have messaged them asking how I can get more, but all they will say is that I should have increased to 3.0.

I have been doing absolutely fine on 0.9 (or whatever 0.6 and 3 clicks is). Am losing weight at a good rate, and don’t actually see any need to be eating less than I currently am.

BOD seem to suggest that it won’t be working effectively at this dose and I should be up at 3.0. Have just been searching online, and as far as I can see other sites say that if the lower dose is working effectively for you, you don’t need to increase just because the schedule says so.

I would prefer not to take more of any medication than I actually need, let alone one that costs this much😆, but I am definitely going to run out of sharps.

Any tips?

[quote LighterHeart]"The issue with the dosage is surely measured by whether you feel hungry or not?"

Actually, no. The reduced feeling of hunger is only a transient effect of the medication. In the long term, it's the Oz's action on the pancreas, liver and brain that helps with eating less. See here: www.healthcareevolve.ca/ozempic-and-obesity/[/quote]
I didnt read it as saying that, I read it as saying the side effects which mean you eat less are transient. The long term effect of the reward dynamic is not transient

In my case I havent had any side effects,, I just dont crave food anymore which is amazing.

In any case the upshot is the same, you eat less which causes the weight loss, not some other system, its only calorie deficit which is my puzzle because I am in a massive calorie deficit.

@Whitney168 you can buy pen needles on ebay. They're sold for diabetic pens which will be the same size.

[quote BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation]@Whitney168 you can buy pen needles on ebay. They're sold for diabetic pens which will be the same size.[/quote]
You star, thank you. Had done all sorts of Google searches, wouldn’t have thought of eBay!

Hello,

I suspect you have had many messages like this before. I have just filled out an order for 3 pens from Boots. My BMI is 30.9 and my weight gain has been rapid recently.

I think I also have ADHD (undergoing diagnosis hopefully soon...ish...) and I am wondering how that will affect my journey. I am on medication for it, but the dopamine etc I am learning about and how this effects my interaction with food.

Here to stick head around the door and listen and see how others are doing.

You can buy the needles on Amazon - about £14 for 100, and if you have Prime that includes same/next day delivery.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08KSN6C31?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

My mistake was clearly using the term ‘sharps’!

Another 3lbs lost for me. I've decided to do two more months on Saxenda then move to Ozempic, as I've budgeted for 2 months of Sax.

If you're using Boots, use the code welcome20 for 20% off, and remember to add your advantage card for points.

I'm now on 1.8, felt hungry all day yesterday and could have cried, but powered through, drank lots of water and stayed within my calories. Feeling much better today, no hunger.

I've requested my next lot of pens from Boots yesterday, and even though I put exactly the same answers, they're now querying one of my medical conditions. So annoying.

I'm still on the starting dose and have lost 5lbs so far. No real hunger. Still fancying something sweet after a meal so I had 20mls of double cream with erythritol and some vanilla flavouring.

Don't know whether to increase the dose 🤔

Tomorrow I’ll be three weeks in. So far I’ve lost nearly 16lbs!

Yesterday I went out for lunch. I had quite a lot of bread and dips for a starter, by the time my main meal came (veggie moussaka) I could only eat half of it. Then for dinner I just had two scrambled eggs. I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself and am eating until I am satisfied.

Fantastic, @Sockpile - it's is mind-boggling, isn't it?

Took two days, but Boots have confirmed I can have more pens. Was getting worried for a bit.

That's an amazing loss Sockpile. Well done.

Hi

How long after injecting did Saxenda kick in please?

Started yesterday. Took 0.6 yesterday before bed and didn't sleep great and woke up foggy.

Took another injection 1 hour ago -0.6 again and can't feel anything yet. I feel hungry. I definitely injected it properly.

I have just injected my first dose and my box arrived from Asda.

Found helpful youtube videos about the process and I am now trying not to freak out about the side effects. I have an anxiety around needles that I have had to get over for this.

I am going away in two weeks for a few days, so at least I will have time to get used to the routine.