Ozempic - For those of us a few months in

[Lndnmummy]

Hi all, thought I would create a designated space outside of the newbie zone for those of us who are in it for the long haul and are a few doses, stone, months down the road.

This has spurred me on to up my dose from 0.5 to 1mg. I'm due to put had put it off. That's obviously why you get a lot higher doses of Wegovy.

Not sure if anyone gets the Zoe health newsletter but they have a new podcast on the subject of Ozempic. I haven’t listened to it yet but I’d say it will be interesting.

Weigh in day for me tomorrow and I went for a swim today! I used to love swimming but as the weight piled on I lost confidence. Went to a new pool today and had such a good swim, did 60 lengths. I ACHE all over now but glad I did it. Hoping for a couple of lb tomorrow but I’m also due to ovulate so we’ll see. I’m on 0.5 twice a week, appetite suppression working well. I get very hungry but then get full very quickly when eating and I don’t crave as much crap! I do still have something if I want it because I know that I’ll only manage maybe 1/3 of what I’d usually have.

@Peridot1 Yes I noticed it pop up on the Zoe podcast too. Haven't had chance to listen yet though.

Could you please let me know how you approached this with the GP? I am in exactly the same position and would love to be able to get my Rybelsus prescription through the NHS. Have just ordered 7mg after 3 weeks of 3mg and have dropped 6kg so far.

Also, sorry to ask and please feel free not to answer, but do you have any obesity related health conditions? Just trying to see how good my chances would be if I were to ask the same as you. TIA

Hiya, I called to say that my BMI and weight was the highest it had ever been, that I had struggled with disordered eating and weight problems all of my life. I explained that diets didn't work for me and I had been researching Semaglutide for weight loss and I wanted to try it. The GP asked me to have a blood test and it turned out I was pre diabetic and he was lovely and agreed to prescribe it to me. I spoke to him again to advise the progress and he was pleased and put me up to 7mg.

Thanks so much. I burst in to tears at the doctor's about 6 weeks ago for exactly the same reasons, but my GP advised IF.
I didn't mention semaglutide to him. He told me to come back in 12 weeks after 'a really good try' so I might do that and bluntly ask for a script.
I'm not pre diabetic and my blood pressure is fine but it's worth a go.

I think I’ve gone down a shoe size. Has that happened to anyone else after a significant loss?
I thought my feet were just bigger post-pregnancies, but maybe it was obesity related.

That is fab , what a result.
I have an elderly friend who was size 3 when she got married, sadly she is now now size 9 and barely five foot tall.
I guess you are losing weight all over!

Gosh I have been ravenous today. I have gone up this week from 0.5 to 0.5 twice per week.

I've managed to not over eat but only because I've not been around food. I'm home from work now and may well end up stuffing my face!

I might see if I can go up further if it's not better tomorrow.

Should I go up to 1mg once a week or maybe 0.75 twice a week?

I'm looking forwards to Wegovy becoming available as I expect I'll need those higher doses.

Have you listened to the Zoë podcast yet @Peridot1? it's very interesting (and encouraging) and talks about a lot of the questions that keep coming up here - what happens when you come off it, should it be available for people with BMI less than 30 etc.

@HolibobsinApril stick to the dosage instructions for your own safety. As @Peridot1 always wisely states, you need to exercise healthy habits, willpower, and allow it to work. It can take up to 8 weeks to have its full effect on blood sugar. Weight loss via the side effect of reduced appetite via slowed gastric emptying is a side effect but the one that obese people without T2 diabetes are using it for. It's s serious drug, respect how it works and what it does. At least speak to your supplier about the dosage.

@FfeminyddCymraeg how did you get on at the GP?

@HolibobsinApril - I’ve noticed the days I’m hungrier are when I’ve had something to carby for breakfast. And some days I’m just hungrier than others. I try to have an apple and a slice of cheese if I’m hungry.

@CheetahCheetah - not me but my sister. She gained weight from a particular medication and a lot went to her legs and feet. She’s lost a lot and has gone down a shoe size.

@mumwheresmyribena - not yet no. Hoping to over the weekend. Glad you found it interesting.

@AlternativelyWired - I can’t tag FfeminyddCymraeg posted on the other thread I think - all is well.

Here's a link to the Zoë podcast about Ozempic if anyone's interested. Definitely recommend. Can Ozempic (semaglutide) solve weight loss?

Just a 1lb off for me this week. I can’t lie I am a bit gutted, I have really upped my exercise this week. But I haven’t been to the loo since Tuesday and I’m about to ovulate so maybe it’s that? I don’t know, I suppose it’s a loss still at least. I’ve felt weirdly shakey at times throughout today and appetite’s suppression has been good. I fasted from 6:30 pm last night until 1:30pm today so that was good. Had a piece of toast at lunch then nothing until tea which was unfortunately McDonald’s due to travelling to pick the kids up from their dads. But I had a happy meal which I only ate the fries and mozzarella dippers which worked out about 500 Calories so actually only had 650 total all day which is far too low but doesn’t hurt as a one off I suppose. Still now I think about it that could explain the weird shaky feelings.

1lb is good loss
not having a poo definitely won't help the scales 😁
Exercise can cause water retention
that's far too little food - why are you fasting on ozempic?

Well I gained a pound this week@Prettybubblesintheair so you are doing better than me!

As @MaireadMcSweeney says being constipated won’t help. I don’t even bother to weigh if I’ve not been for a few days. I agree you probably don’t need to fast on Ozempic. You probably feel shaky because your blood sugar is too low. Between the effect of Ozempic on blood sugars, fasting and only eating a slice of toast I’m not surprised you felt shaky. A slice of toast will raise your blood sugars really quickly but then they will drop as quickly. I know toast is an easy breakfast but make sure it’s whole meal, high fibre bread and have some protein with it. There wasn’t much fibre in your food yesterday too so that won’t be helping the constipation situation.

Thanks both, that’s really helpful. I think I fast because it’s just what I’ve always done, I lost 6 stone on my own before ozempic but then decided to try this as no matter what I did I platued for 6 months! I’ve got 2 stone to go now, I’ve lost 1st 4lb since ozempic. I did it intermittent fasting before and it worked (until it didn’t!) and I’ve just got in the habit of it really. I don’t actually get hungry until lunchtime when I’m at work, I get up at 6 and eat at 1pm but at the weekend when I wake up about 8 I wake up starving! I need to reframe my thoughts around ozempic as it works by emptying your stomach slower, so I actually need food in it to begin with!

I was hoping Ozempic would mean that I could fast but I wake up hungrier than I used to. Hoping to be able to introduce fasting once I’m off Ozempic. Partly to help with the weight control/maintenance and partly for the health benefits.

I IF too @Prettybubblesintheair I always was a 'skip breakfast' kind of girl until I got sucked into the "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" message a few years ago. Now we find that that's not actually the case, I can happily go back to eating as my body wants.

That I can find, there's nothing in the research, scholarly articles and literature that precludes (sensible) IF when you're on Ozempic; unless you're actually diabetic. Dietary info says lowish carb (not keto), low GI and not a lot of fat and that's it. There is some evidence that Ozempic can help protect against low blood sugar as well as regulate high.

Sorry to come on here as I'm only 4 weeks in but panicking and wanted advice from those that have been there.

I bought my first pen from Manual. Cancelled at the beginning of the week to go somewhere cheaper. I know I've another (2 doses?) at .5 before I need a new pen but I need to know how to get one.

Will another supplier be happy to give me the higher dose? Can they check with Manual that I did have the .25 first or will they just take my word for it?

Also I don't know where to go for my second. Does anyone know where is overall cheapest that I can go and stay? If so is there a discount code?

Many thanks in advance for any advice. This transition part is making me really anxious and I just want to get set.

I switched from Manuel to quick meds and they took my word for it that I had taken the 0.25 dose from Manuel.

Thank you @WhyDoesItAlways that's really helpful

@msssm HealthExpress accepted that I had already been on Saxenda and let me start on 0.5mg Ozempic, and Juniper accepted that I was already on 1mg Ozempic and started me straight on that.

I think HealthExpress is pretty good value but they do have stock issues. Juniper seem to have reliable stock and are excellent value once you get on to the doses higher than 1mg.

I've hit 2 stone weight loss which I'm delighted about. I also had my first drink last night since starting and can definitely say alcohol and Ozempic don't mix for me. I had one glass of wine and feel like I drank a bottle this morning.