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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

Ozempic new starters thread

645 replies

MedievalMadness · 14/04/2023 16:46

Wondering if anyone would like to join me starting Ozempic. I’m doing my first injection tonight and am very nervous about reactions/side effects. I’m 5’ and 10.5 stones with very high blood pressure which medication is struggling yo bring down, high cholesterol and arthritis.

I would like to get to 9 stones realistically and ideally 8.5. I do seem to have unusual reactions to some medication so am really hoping I can take this without too many problems as I’m sure I’d be far healthier minus a couple stones.

OP posts:
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14
kkr168 · 19/04/2023 20:10

@bigPileOfDough have you spoken to your dr? If you are eating at a calorie deficit & losing nothing, then I would assume something else could be causing the lack of weight loss. I would be pushing for full blood work at least before starting ozempic.

Twilightstarbright · 19/04/2023 20:18

@bigPileOfDough do you track your calorie intake? I think I would also want to know speak to the GP and have blood tests done- could be thyroid or a number of things.

soundsystem · 19/04/2023 20:37

Saxendastarter · 19/04/2023 20:07

@MedievalMadness @Fortheloveofus Thanks, I'll look at that thread ! @soundsystem Can I ask what your starting BMI is? thank

My BMI is 30. Losing 2 and a half stone will take it down to just a touch over 25 so seems like a good place to aim for

PinkCosYouAreSoVery · 19/04/2023 20:40

2nd dose of 0.25 for me tonight. No adverse side effects so far, think ive been lucky this week. I have definitely felt much less hungry, only really feeling the need to eat around 5pm most of the days - Sunday I was bit hungrier but I'd had wine the night before. Today I did start to feel hungry around 2pm but not too bad. I did my first weigh in this morning and im 8lbs down. Beginners luck im sure!! Will see what the next 7 days brings.

Another family member had their first dose yesterday, will be interesting. to see how it effects them.

EddieHoweisMYmanager · 19/04/2023 20:55

Well my first Ozempic pen got delivered today. I told DH that I was going to start it. He was as ever completely supportive but as a slim guy who can eat what he likes and is naturally sporty I don’t think he gets why it’s so difficult for me to just eat less and move more. And I have tried. I have really tried, and had some success in the past. I just need some help so I’m really hoping it works. I plan to start tomorrow evening.

Looks like the pen has 6 doses in so I’ll be buying extra needles, where is best to get them?

Cabbage4eva · 19/04/2023 20:58

@PinkCosYouAreSoVery Wowza! Great result!!

Llamallamadingdong · 19/04/2023 21:04

Interesting reading all of your comments! I’m so tempted to give it a go (but a bit worried about side effects).

I’ve got 3 stone to lose and have so far tried traditional calorie counting, 5:2 and low carbing but I can’t seem to make any of it work. I also binge eat which doesn’t help.

I’m hoping that if I did start ozempic I could at least start to get sone weight off whilst seeing a therapist about my binge eating issue which stems from childhood.

I’d have to raid my savings to pay for all this as well but desperately need to prioritise my health.

Wtafisgoingontoday · 19/04/2023 21:14

PinkCosYouAreSoVery · 19/04/2023 20:40

2nd dose of 0.25 for me tonight. No adverse side effects so far, think ive been lucky this week. I have definitely felt much less hungry, only really feeling the need to eat around 5pm most of the days - Sunday I was bit hungrier but I'd had wine the night before. Today I did start to feel hungry around 2pm but not too bad. I did my first weigh in this morning and im 8lbs down. Beginners luck im sure!! Will see what the next 7 days brings.

Another family member had their first dose yesterday, will be interesting. to see how it effects them.

Oh wow, that's an amazing start!

Mephisneon · 19/04/2023 21:27

Could anyone talk me through how this works in terms of buying it? I'm a bit confused as it's a diabetic med right? So can you just get it online for weight loss? Is it safe? Also is the cost of say £170 for a pen per week or month? Also are people starting at the lowest dose then increasing?

Thanks I know there is loads out there on it. I'd just like to hear from actual people!

Original poster
MedievalMadness · 19/04/2023 21:35

Saxendastarter Bigpileofdough My starting BMI is 27. I’m 5’, 10.5 stones (66kg) and have very high BP which is still way too high on 4 different tablets, high cholesterol and severe arthritis in my back and neck. We sound a very similar height and weight and whatever I try I just can’t seem to shift more than a couple of pounds at best.

SoundSystem. Welcome . This is uncharted territory for all of us so the more the merrier. Glad your doing ok so far 👍. My second injection and weigh in tomorrow and hoping for the best.

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Original poster
MedievalMadness · 19/04/2023 21:46

Mephisneon
it is a diabetic drug but they found it regulated hormones that affect hunger and helps people feel fuller on much less food. So it was licences as a weight loss drug too. The NHS have very strict guidelines on who they’ll prescribe it to because of the cost presumably so many people who can afford it and who would benefit from it, are able to get it prescribed through private companies.

You do an online assessment - height, weight, bmi - any conditions that are affected by weight like high BP, high cholesterol joint problems etc. what, if any medications you take so they can check it’s safe for you to take Ozempic.

I got a discount code for MyJuniper.co.uk from someone on the thread ‘I started Ozempic last night’ with £50 off first month. I think it works out at about £175 pm full price (a pen with about 4 doses in) which is not a small amount. I’m hoping if I get on with it ok to take it to get 1.5 - 2 stones off and hopefully have changed my eating habits particular portion control after that as I can’t afford to be on it long term. If you go on the other thread there are posters who can give you a discount code for your first order with other companies such as Manual. There’s also more advice on that thread as some PPs have been taking it for about 6 months think.

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Mephisneon · 19/04/2023 22:05

@MedievalMadness thanks so much! Yes I unfortunately have experience of strict nhs/ nice guidelines on meds. Which really are about reducing eligibility to reduce costs to the NHS. That makes sense rather than it not being suitable for weight loss.

I also wasn't sure if a pen was per week or month! So that changes the price a lot. Although not nothing by any means it's a big difference! I'll also have a look for referral codes thanks!

EddieHoweisMYmanager · 19/04/2023 22:22

couldn't wait, just took my first dose now. I’m not one for delayed gratification 👀😂

BellsandSmells · 19/04/2023 23:26

End of first day for me, I feel fine but appetite feels different already. It might be psychological, I’m consciously being careful so I don’t feel sick. I’ve definitely eaten less today and don’t feel like binging chocolate so that’s a win. I do keep opening the cupboards trying to work out what I want to eat but nothing really grabs me…

I had quite a fitful night’s sleep last night after first shot, hoping for a better one tonight. I think I was just nervous. Good luck to those who started today!

Fraaahnces · 20/04/2023 00:35

I haven’t started yet. I pick it up either later today or tomorrow. I thought I would have “One last thing” because I have totally overhauled my diet anyway. I have been very low carb for months - almost carnivore. It’s boring as anything, but my hair is growing again… Anyhow, I thought before I started Ozempic I should just have one little treat. I had one scoop of my favourite ice cream. I wasn’t being weird about it or bugging it up in my head. I wasn’t craving it. It was just stinking hot here where I live and I thought if I was going to have a permanent “Bye Bye” moment, this would be a good time. Big mistake. I didn’t enjoy it as much I thought I would have, I threw most of it out because it made me feel blah and to make it worse, It went through me like a train. (Maybe it’s not a mistake after all…) Can’t wait to get started though.

Twilightstarbright · 20/04/2023 07:18

I’ve lost 1kg in my first week which I’m really happy with. Also exercised a good amount which I’m pleased with.

second dose last night and feel ok so far.

EddieHoweisMYmanager · 20/04/2023 07:29

Well I definitely felt nauseous within an hour of taking last night and like a pp had a bit of a fitful nights sleep. Onwards and upwards though!

Saxendastarter · 20/04/2023 08:11

I just did my first injection of 0.6. I held the pen with the needle for about 5 minutes before injecting because I was nervous of the needle but didn't feel a thing. I waiting for the dial to turn back to the start position and then counted to 6. There was a bead of product on the needle when I looked at it after pulling it out - is this normal?

Thanks

Original poster
MedievalMadness · 20/04/2023 09:49

SaxendaStarter. Well done getting started and I’ve read either on here or the other thread about seeing a bead of liquid at the end of the syringe after the injection and PPs saying that’s normal and ok.

Twilight 1kg is a great start. So good to see results so soon. I’ve no idea what to expect when I get weighed tomorrow. I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything.

Fraances. Good luck starting. I was excited but scared and couldn’t wait to get going. I’m looking forward to second injection tomorrow because I’m desperate for results. I must say I am definitely fuller on far less which might be psychological but I don’t care. I’ve just had a shredded wheat and strawberries and a coffee for breakfast and am full. I think so much with me is portion size, boredom eating and too many carbs.

BellsandSmells. I’m still not sure if my smaller appetite is psychological at such an early stage but I don’t care as long as I’m eating less. Somehow though I’m not sure it is as I am just not feeling hunger pangs like I usually do.

EddieHowe. Not being one for delayed gratification* might well work in our favour with this .

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Fortheloveofus · 20/04/2023 10:17

I started feeling nauseous yesterday morning, 1 week on from 1st jab. It did abate a little each time I ate (healthily) but still felt hungry.
Had my 2nd jab last night and I had an awful broken night's sleep, have woken up shivery, nauseous and, well let's just say I'm not constipated yet. It's a good job I work from home Thursdays (which is why I chose Wednesday evenings to inject) but I feel pretty sorry for myself.
I've gone from being worried about not having side-effrcts to wishing it was this time last week!
I have a long arranged all day event coming up this weekend and I'm going away for weekend next week and I'm worried I'm going to ruin/not enjoy both. Is there a chance I'll start to feel a bit better over next couple of days?

Cabbage4eva · 20/04/2023 11:40

My Juniper arrived and I took my first dose. Got to say, there was a ton of packaging for one pen. Enormous box that I sheepishly collected from my neighbour. It included a scale. Who doesn't already have a scale? They include a scale but not the alcohol wipes you need for the injection and also no extra needles. Would definitely have preferred things I can actually use rather than this scale I have to get rid of! All in all, though, very happy to get started!

Twilightstarbright · 20/04/2023 12:05

@Cabbage4eva i was put off Juniper by the scale!

I inject myself weekly for an autoimmune disease and I never use wipes for my injections. My nurse specialist said unless I was particularly dirty/in a dirty place it wasn’t a problem.

Cabbage4eva · 20/04/2023 13:31

@Twilightstarbright Yeah, had I known about the scale, I would've gone elsewhere, although it seems like lots of places are out of stock. At least Juniper had the pens. I suppose I can figure out a way to re-gift the scale. Not sure how I do that, though, "Oh, I just got you this scale. Not that you need to lose weight or anything but I just thought you might like it."

Good to know about the alcohol wipes. I won't bother then.

Sameiam · 20/04/2023 13:53

Cabbage4eva · 20/04/2023 13:31

@Twilightstarbright Yeah, had I known about the scale, I would've gone elsewhere, although it seems like lots of places are out of stock. At least Juniper had the pens. I suppose I can figure out a way to re-gift the scale. Not sure how I do that, though, "Oh, I just got you this scale. Not that you need to lose weight or anything but I just thought you might like it."

Good to know about the alcohol wipes. I won't bother then.

😂 can you give away mine at the same time? I think I’m just going to bin it which seems a waste.

Original poster
MedievalMadness · 20/04/2023 14:07

Fortheloveofus. That's sounds awful. I hope the side effects wear off v soon. I think Id better stop looking forward to my second dose tomorrow and hope for the best . The only positive is you are WFH today.

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