" I started Ozempic last night" THREAD FIVE"

[Beenalongwinter]

Link to previous thread "I started Ozempic last night” THREAD FOUR http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weightlosss_chat/4761416-i-started-ozempic-last-night-thread-four

Manual code for anyone starting

manual.co/r/U-O6x8se14VL

I've been eating 1200 calories a day, macros worked out on fitness pal, low carb, high protein since Jan and going to gym 3xweek, I've just added walking 10000 steps a day and apart from some bad choices with alcohol and chocolate over Easter weekend, I've not lost one single pound. Over 2.5 years or so I've done everything I can think of - even juicing 5 days a week for 3 weeks straight, 16: 8 IF. SW and I have lost nothing of the 2 stone I gained when entering menopause coincided with lockdowns and WFH. I absolutely cannot afford this ozempic (putting it all on credit cards) and this is my last resort. If this does not work, I honestly don't know what else I can try

Appetite suppression is a side effect not the main purpose of Ozempic. But some people like myself experienced that side effect almost immediately (may have even been psychosomatic I don’t know) whereas for others it seems to take a few weeks to kick in. I have no idea why.
Then again, why do some people get nausea/vomiting and not others? That’s a side effect too. I guess we all just have different reactions to the same drug. If you’re committed to trying Oxempic then I think you need to give it a bit longer to see if the side effect you want kicks in. It does for most people.

Ozempic is designed to lower blood glucose levels, it mimics insulin production.

For me that's a good thing because I'm insulin resistant due to PCOS which is I think why it's lowered my appetite.

@OzempicClicker and @Fortheloveofus we are all using Ozempic off plan for weight loss. But Ozempic is a drug designed to control blood sugar/insulin issues in diabetics. It partly does this by slowing the transition of food in your stomach so you feel full longer. It’s not an appetite suppressant in itself. If you are only just starting and starting on 0.25 it will take time to build up in your system. Ozempic is not licensed for treatment of obesity. It’s for diabetes. However Wegovy is licensed for weight loss and is the same drug. But in much higher doses. Not available here as yet but has been in the US.

I am not a scientist or expert in anyway but I wonder if it works better for those of us with blood sugar issues. If your insulin regulation is ok maybe that is why it does work for some people.

I am not saying it’s not working for either of you as I think it’s too early to say yet. Stick with it. Don’t stress. Take your doses as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.

I think it does work better in people with sugar issues. It’s what it’s designed for. I know I have sugar issues and I’m insulin resistant and my inflammation is way down on week 2x

I don't have blood sugar issues as far as I know so what you say makes a lot of sense. I rarely exceed 100g carbs in a day. My issue is emotional eating and lack of self control.

@Peridot1 again, thank you for your thorough information. I did A LOT of research before deciding to paying out a lot of money and injecting myself with an off plan drug for weight loss. I understand its a drug for people with diabetes. I understand it works differently for everyone, some immediately, some weeks down the line, some get side-effects, some don't. I get this. I understand. I've expressed my comprehension many times.
I thought the thread was for people to report their progress, the reasons why they've taken the decision to start injecting, asking for general help and advice. I was sharing my story in response to PP who was also not feeling any appetite suppression etc.

Sorry @Fortheloveofus. I thought you were worrying it wasn’t working for you? Apologies if I misunderstood. I might be mixing you up with another poster who hasn’t been on it long.

That would be me!

Thank you, I’m trying everything but think I may have to give this up. Ginger syrup in warm water helped but I’m struggling to eat, feel terrible all of the time, plagued with headaches and can’t continue like this. Weight loss is really slow too.

Actually looking back it was @Fortheloveofus as well as you @OzempicClicker!

@Fortheloveofus - I was responding to you saying you were panicking it wasn’t working. But you have only just started. I wouldn’t panic yet.

I just wanted to say you are not alone. I put on 2 stone at the start of perimenopause whilst going to the gym 5 times a week and eating healthily. I lost a stone of it but it went back on within 3 weeks.

Since then I have put on another 2 stone and it's impossible to lose for me. I've been so miserable about it.

My menopause specialist said it is due to a reduction in oestrogen and some bodies are so desperate for it that they keep creating fat which mimics oestrogen.

I am now obese so I am hoping ozempic works for me. I've lost 7 lbs in 3 weeks.

@Fortheloveofus
Our manual coach said it takes 6/7 weeks for Ozempic to build up in your body.
I suspect it works sooner for those with blood glucose problems.

@Movinghouseatlast and @Fortheloveofus - I read (well half read - need to finish it) i good book called The Miracle of Bio Identical Hormones. By an American doctor who has a website. He thinks some of us are oestrogen dominant and he calls oestrogen a fat maker. So for some people it may be too much oestrogen rather than too little.

I'm definitely not oestrogen dominant! I had horrendous menopause symptoms before HRT.

No I didn't "handily" leave it out. I just pointed out that the website says you can rather than should.

OK so I'm 5 weeks in and I have lost over a stone (around 7 kg). That is a massive calorie deficit in a very short time, and something I could have never done without the appetite suppression effect.
I've done the maths and the mind boggles.
To lose 1 kg takes a deficit of 7000 calories. I have slow metabolism and know from experience 1200 kcal a day wouldn't move the needle for me. On Ozempic I've been having 600-900 kcal most days, comfortably, and it's clearly working. For now. Haven't felt especially hungry at all, no cravings.
I feel like I've been rewired in the brain in terms of my comfort eating (and drinking!), portion sizes and the nutritional value of my food.

Thanks, that’s very kind of you 💐

Thank you for everyone for the reassurance again. It's just hard to read the posts saying it had an immediate effect and can't help thinking I've done something wrong. Please, I know all the science and done all my research and I know it doesn't work immediately fot everyone. I know I'm being a complaining unreasonable b*h. I'm just incredibly disappointed that I'm sat here hungry again. Did 1600 steps and an hour at gym yesterday, just done another 12000 steps today. Tracking every single calorie on Fitness Pal, low carb, tracking macros. I just don't know what else to do.
@pier thank you for the recommendation for the book. I might take a look at getting audible version and listening to it while walking/at gym. As well as explaining the science, does it offer solutions too?

I've been hungry on it all the time at meal times, but I choose to eat a much smaller portion than before and then it's ok? I don't seem to want more after that small portion. Would that work for you? Being hungry is a natural part of the world, Ozempic or no. It's how you deal with the hunger that counts?

Can anyone please send me a juniper code? I’d be really grateful.

Will PM you 😂

Sorry - didn't mean to add the laughy face!

Have you been to the GP and asked for any tests?

There are several conditions that can cause slow metabolism and affect weight. You have a food diary you can show them to evidence that reduced food intake isn't working.

I'd ask for a HBAC1 to test for diabetes, a thyroid panel, a hormone panel to test for signs of menopause and standard vitamin/mineral levels to look for deficiencies.

It could well be that you have an under active thyroid or are prediabetic, if either of those were the case then you may need a different medication instead of Ozempic, or a different dosage.

Before having Ozempic I used to have to go to the toilet at night to wee about 5 times every night. Since having Ozempic I'm only needing to go once a night. Has anyone else noticed this?