Startng Ozempic anybody fancy a new thread

[catskittens]

hi
im overweight and im 5ft 5 and 16.5 stone size 18-20 like many i have tried all sorts of ways to lose weight but fail each time

anyway i now am diabetic 2 and really need to sort my weight out so lucky for me i have a perscription on the NHS for Ozempic just waiting for the chemist to do it though i have been told stock around the country is low

there is another thread but its way ahead so if anybody wants to post here feel free

how are people finding it?

i hear some feel sick does your portion size decrease as in you cant eat as much?

anything you would have liked to have known in advance of starting it

@mumwheresmyribena it's scary how people know so little about what they are injecting.

I'm on my second week (will be taking my third dose Thursday).

Week one I ate fairly normally at meal times but didn't feel the need to snack at all (I'm a big snacker) - I lost 3lbs so was pleased.

This week is period week so I am bloated, and we have had family here for Easter so lots of food and drink. However. We went out for food Friday night. I had mac cheese with 2 slices of garlic bread (standard pub size meal). Normally I could eat all of it plus pudding. I managed less than half, and I think the last five or six mouthfuls I forced in were really forced. I did also have an upset tummy a few hours later because I think it was too much. Same happened with all the meals I've had - not managed to finish a whole one and I've not touched chocolate because I've not been hungry between meals.

I always bloat up massively this week of my cycle (I hold water like a swimming pool!) so will be interesting to see how much I've lost Thursday - not expecting massive loss because of water retention but hopefully
Will reflect the week after!

It's definitely helping with my appetite.

Side effects have been manageable. Serious heartburn/indigestion the first week but im prone anyway, and I've noticed that if I have eaten too much I've had a dodgy tummy a few hours later but it's been ok. Maybe a little gassy at times but sneaking off to the loo for a big burp helps!

I’m on week 2, took my 2nd dose on Saturday. The biggest change for me is not snacking between meals. My meals are protein/vegetable based with occasional carbs. I’m trying to eat a healthy, balanced diet with the Ozempic aiding that rather than it being a quick fix. It’s not. Unless you are intending on being on it forever then you have to change the way you are eating and form good habits. Otherwise as soon as you stop the weight will pile back on. I definitely feel fuller for longer but am trying to listen to my body and eat when I’m hungry - something I’ve never done before.
I’d also really urge people to only take as prescribed.

I agree absolutely with this. It's tempting to want to 'speed it up' but it's medication - why would you not follow the guidelines?

My diet was relatively healthy anyway, but I have a huge appetite and I'm a snacker so short of wiring my mouth shut, I felt really stuck. I'm trying to listen to my body and stop eating as soon as I feel full And making sure what I do eat is good quality, nutritious food. I'm hoping that once I've kickstarted the weight loss (I have 10st to lose), lost a few stone and gained a better understanding of the amount of food my body needs I can cut the injections out and do it myself. Im not stupid and naive - I know that will require willpower otherwise I'll end up back where I started, but this is making me realise I don't need anywhere near as much food as I thought. I also think I need to see quite quick results to be motivated and once I do see results, I'll be more inclined to do it myself.

I've been at the gym since before Xmas as well and kept that up which I'm hoping will boost my motivation and loss

You sound exactly like me. I’ve always had a huge appetite and I also have about 10 stone to lose. It’s going to take a long time, I’m very aware of that. But if you are spending up to £200 a month then why would you mess about with it and do your own thing? I’ve read so many comments about people doing 2 doses a week or upping their doses. If you read the guidelines you take it once a week for a reason. I wish you the very best of luck @thefamous5

just decided and could tell about an hr after

I injected Monday evening, its Wednesday today and no effect at all yet- no difference in appetite, no nausea, nothing

I'll join.

I started March 3rd and I'm on 1mg now. I've lost around 12lb so far with minimal diet change and the only true side effect I've had is incredible and painful gas. Burping, farting - the lot! I've learned that leaving longer periods between meals, eating earlier, and drinking tons of water helps but it's a really irritating side effect.

I have 10 stone to lose too but I'd be happy losing 8.

@MotherofTerriers maybe you should read the links that have been posted here and find out how and why the drug works.

@catskittens and others who are just starting and don’t feel it’s working please just stick with the recommended doses each week.

Someone posted a really helpful calculation a few days ago on another thread about how it builds up in your system. I’ll try and find it.

Basically week one you take 0.25.
After 7 days there is half of that still in your system.
you take another 0.25
after 7 days you still have 0.25 in your system pretty much
Etc.

Yes in America people take much larger doses but that is Wegovy (which is the same drug as Ozempic but higher doses) and they build up to it.

As others have said appetite suppression is NOT the main way Ozempic works. You won’t necessarily magically not be hungry. Eat higher protein and fibre and low carbs. Limit processed foods as much as you can. If you are hungry eat some protein. Maybe take glucomman or psyllium just fibre supplements which will help you feel fuller.

Take a look at the other Ozempic threads for information on how it works.

I posted this. This is sticking to the recommendation regarding dosing. It is a powerful drug and, imo, has a clear strategy with how you step up the medication. It isn't a quick fix. I was always looking at the long term as I have a lot to lose!

Week 1 - 0.25
Week 2 - 0.37
Week 3 - 0.43
Week 4 - 0.46
Week 5 - 0.73 (upped dose to 0.5)
Week 6 - 0.86
Week 7 - 0.93
Week 8 - 1.01
Week 9 - 1.5 (upped dose to 1)
Week 10 - 1.75
Week 11 - 1.86
Week 12 - 1.93
Week 13 - 1.96
Week 14 - 1.98
Week 15 - 1.99
Week 16 - 1.99….

Thanks so much @TheGoodEnoughWife! That’s it. Couldn’t remember which Ozempic thread it was on.

And it doesn’t mean injecting 0.37 in week two. It’s the amount in your system after your second 0.25 injection.

Yes as you say @Peridot1. The drug has a half life of seven days so builds up over the first 14-16 weeks.

Thank you @TheGoodEnoughWife - it’s a really good way to show how much is in your system and how it builds up over the weeks. Also to show why it’s important to take as prescribed to combat some of the side effects.
My biggest challenge so far is not eating just because I fancy something. I fear this may take a while and take some serious willpower. I didn’t get to the size I am by eating 3 square meals a day! I am doing well though. I have not been tempted by chocolate at all (which is a first for me 😂).
I hope everyone else is doing ok?

All good here. To quote an advert for a vitamin drink (I think that is what it is lol) I feel like me but on a good day.

I feel I can choose to wait until my dinner. Not have that snack. Stop eating when I still have food left on my plate. I am really pleased. I am also only on the first week so the only way is up. (Is it placebo? From the idea or the amount of money spent? Maybe but I don't care!)

I'm in my 8th week and this is me too @TheGoodEnoughWife. "I feel hungry, dinner's in an hour so that's good then" not "I feel hungry, dinner's in an hour so I need something now". Small portions, high protein, high fibre, high good fats, lowish carb, unprocessed and no fast food, Ozempic makes it much easier to keep to it.

im at my gp's tomorrow so im going to weigh myself in the reception they have digital scales there

my weight does change from home to the gp's but im going to base on the gps scale i can still see the scales going down from home so that gives me a rough idea

so was 107kg im hoping i have lost something a kg would be good i have a sneeky feeling i have lost something but tomorrow i will find out,and of course will post here good or bad

wish me luck and to all those on here good luck with this journey

Good luck @catskittens I hope you have a good loss 🤞
I’m only weighing once a month so have to wait till the beginning of May. I’m getting impatient already but don’t have the time to go to the surgery and weigh when I’m at work all day.
Is everyone else weighing? What are your losses like in your first month?

hi sammy and thanks
god i admire your strength in not weighing for a month wish i could do that
your probably wise monthly well done for sticking to it

It worked out quite well as I did my first injection on 2nd April. It’s BH on 1st May so I will drop in the surgery and weigh on 2nd. If I had scales at home I would be on them every day so it’s easier not to have them.
Let us all know how you get on. It’s so nice to see Ozempic working for other people as it gives me a boost to keep going.

ok i am now 105kg a loss of 4lb or 2kg over 12is days

im v happy i thought i had lost something but always good to see it on the scales
i was hoping for 1 or 2 kg so all good
i think 1kg is doable weekly but know things can go a bit funny

Yay well done! I’m so pleased for you. I hope I can achieve 5kg when I weigh in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately weight loss is very slow for me, always has been. I am definitely a slow and steady girl.

For anyone who is interested I have received this email from the pharmaceutical company who make Ozempic, NovoNordisk in response to a query regarding splitting the dose and extra doses in the pen:

Ozempic®‚(semaglutide) – Licensed indication
Ozempic is indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise
• as monotherapy when metformin is considered inappropriate due to intolerance or contraindications
• in addition to other medicinal products for the treatment of diabetes.
*
Splitting the doses:
Semaglutide should be administered once weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of the day, with or without meals. Semaglutide should be administered subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
Novo Nordisk has not studied alternative dosing regimens, including splitting the dose. Novo Nordisk has only evaluated semaglutide in clinical studies as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. *
*
Extra doses in the pen:
Extra doses are provided to prime the pen. If a patient needs to prime more than once, extra doses are available in the pen to allow them to do so as advised in the patient information leaflet.(1)*

I hope this information is of assistance, but if we can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Yours sincerely,
Sai Priyanka Vungarala*
On behalf of the Medical Information Team
Novo Nordisk Ltd, 1st Floor, 3 City Place, Beehive Ring Road, Gatwick, West Sussex,RH6 0PA, England Tel: +44 (0) 1293 613 555 Fax: +44 (0) 1293 613 535 Web: www.novonordisk.co.ukukk* Registered Office: As above Reg. No: 1118740_ The United Kingdom

As you can see, the extra doses are to prime the pen and there is no clinical data for splitting doses.

2nd weigh in.
Started on 1st April weighing 232lb
Week 1 - lost 7lb
Week 2 - lost 3lb
Total of 10lb loss in 2 weeks.