Ozempic new starters thread

[MedievalMadness]

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.

Is anyone able to share a money off code for my juniper or similar please? Thanks

AncoraAmarena. I hope you get approved. I was sure I wouldnt be.

franklin2000, fortheloveofus. Thanks I was shocked. I don't feel like I've lost 5lbs. My jeans feel very marginally less tight. I'd have thought a pound at most.

Picked up my script just before lunchtime today. I have such a busy weekend that I realised that it was a bit of a now or never moment to minimize side effects impacting the rest of the plans (they involve excitement like the Deliver Oxygen Therapy part of a first aid course….work, and laundry. Always laundry. Bleh.) I had the giggles as I injected myself in the tummy while sitting behind the wheel in the carpark of the compounding pharmacy - which is in an industrial estate, just to make it even more dodgy-looking. I was imagining some cop knocking on my car window while I was doing that and trying to explain what was going on. Meanwhile needles don’t bother me at all, but injecting myself is a different kettle of fish when it comes to coordination! “Bevel up”, she says…. I can’t see a damn thing. Aside from being old and blind, my boobs are in the way!

Fraances you win the award for most enthusiastic starter by injecting in the carpark . I hope side effects don't disrupt your weekend plans. I tried to follow your bevel up advice today but needle so tiny I couldn't see it. But second injection wasn't painful .

I'm five days in now, did my first injection of 0.25 last sunday.
I haven't weighed myself yet.
I would say that my appetite is quite well suppressed but not totally. I am feeling fuller on smaller portions, and there have been a couple of days when I have forgotten to eat breakfast and lunch (work crazy busy, but not like me to forget, normally speaking) and didn't feel hungry but definitely felt weak and in need of some food.
I'm trying to support this by mindful healthy eating - less carbs, no refined sugar at all, (and also trying not to have artificial sweeteners), plenty of low fat protein, veg and some fruit. Smaller portions overall also, and keeping a daily log of what I eat.
Got a cracking headache today though, but that could be the result of my stressful working week.

@Mephisneon it was Friend50 which gets you £50 off, used to be a voucher for referrer too but that's stopped but think the code still live x

5lbs! 🙌🙌🙌
Amazing, well done!

Can we talk side effects? I'm a bit tired and have had pangs of nausea over the first couple of days, but today (day 5) I'm feeling physically fine but quite "on edge". Is that a thing?

I’m on day 3 and am pleasantly surprised that I haven’t had any side-effects yet. I think I did feel a bit funny the night I took it, slept badly and felt shivery - bit like the Covid vaccine. My appetite is definitely curbed but I do still feel hunger. I don’t want to binge - couldn’t wolf down 6 chocolate biscuits if you paid me. So that’s good. Weird though, isn’t it? I don’t want to dwell on what’s going on as it feels a bit Frankenstein’s monster!

Am I naive to think I’ve got off ok and this will be my pattern or could the side-effects still come back to bite me?

@BellsandSmells I'm not sure anyone can predict who is going to suffer side-effects or not, and if you do, to what extent. I think it's a bit of a magical mystery tour and no two experiences are going to be identical.
Personally I started some a week in just before second injection, got worse day after second injection and today feel a little better but still a little nausea and the odd shiver, but definitely not as bad as the previous two days.
I hope you continue being symptom free and it keeps you off the biscuits - it's what we all wish for

I took my second yesterday. Have just ordered new scales to be delivered so haven't weighed myself yet. I've had a little nausea, and for the last day or so have had a bad stomach. May be related, I'm not sure.

Overall, I'm certain I have less of an appetite - definitely not wanting to snack on crap as much. And put on a pair of jeans tonight which felt like they were cutting in less than normal

How long on Ozempic: 8 days

Weight change: -7lb, like @MedievalMadness I have never ever lost this much on the millions of diets I have previously tried.

Appetite effects: Day 1-4 zero appetite, I forced myself to eat. Day 5-8 still not much of an appetite but did get some hunger pangs come dinner time, treated myself to 2 choc hobnobs tonight & felt so sick after.

Side effects: Waves of nausea on days 1-4, went by itself relatively fast. Nasty metallic taste within 10 minutes of injecting, taste is back to normal when I wake up in the morning. I seem to have gone off cups of tea!! I used to drink at least 6 a day but just don't fancy it at all.

Day 1 done. Didn’t eat till early evening and managed the supermarket shop without gorging on crisps. Had pasta for tea and gave myself a small portion and feel full. I can’t say it’s taken away cravings but I’m definitely more mindful. Also thinking of the cost which is stopping me eating the junk as what a waste it would be if it didn’t work.
Side effects, none after injecting, slept fine. Was nauseous this morning until 12pm ish. I had HG with ds2 though so it was manageable compared to that! Also had a headache but that’s nothing unusual.

@AncoraAmarena Weird that you were asked for measurements and photos for Juniper. I ordered Monday or Tuesday of this week and wasn't asked for either. I had actually taken a photo because I was expecting them to ask. I am PCOS though so maybe I qualified with that and so they didn't need the weight verification?

Holy Cow, @kkr168 , great results! Very encouraging to hear that.

I'm in the camp with some of the others in that I definitely feel less hungry and much less desperate for food. I can look at food and say, nah, I don't really want it right now, even if it's something I love. It's such a powerful feeling. I'm still probably eating too much to loose weight but I feel in control like never before and I think it will work as the dose ramps up.

I suspect Juniper (advertising very heavily here in Aus too) have demographics they’re aiming at for future marketing possibilities @AncoraAmarena You might become famous

Just wanted to let you all know that the placement of the injection should have absolutely no outcome on your side effects. This medication doesn’t go into your stomach to make you feel bleh, but is absorbed into your bloodstream and picked up by your cells. It travels everywhere.

Because we only inject ourselves weekly, we notice any change in side-effects in that cycle. If you change the site of injection from tummy to thigh, you may notice an increase in side effects, but that is more likely to be due to the cumulative effects of the drug than the site itself.

Days = 9
Weight loss = a very low -1lb
Effects = Appetite is lower
Side effects = Headaches, nausea + super tired since second injection

Honestly the -1lb is annoying me. I
know how well ive eaten these pass 9 days and i have had more success without paying £195 a month 🙄

How long on Ozempic: 11 days
weight change: 8lb (as of day 7, im weighing weekly on a Wednesday)
Appetite changes: can easily go all day without feeling like I need to eat, though am ready for food come 5pm. No cravings for chocolate/sweet things at all which is soooo helpful! Feel fuller on approx half size portions.
side effects: nothing like headaches/nausea/upset tummy etc but I am finding I wake in the night (but I think that is normal for me when dieting)

Perhaps an extra note to add on...

Exercise: 3 mile hilly walk almost daily.

I think we are all doing amazingly whatever we have lost. By the sounds of it .25 is well below a therapeutic dose so any positive effects in terms of appetite reduction and weight loss is a bonus right now.

This morning I was really hungry when I woke up but was satisfied after one shredded wheat, half a small banana and a cup of coffee. Normally I’d have had something like two slices of toast, butter and jam/marmalade or a big bowl of cereal and not felt it had touched the sides.

Am I naive to think I’ve got off ok and this will be my pattern or could the side-effects still come back to bite me?. I’m taking it day by day as like with any drug, side effects vary hugely from person to person. I’m braced for potentially getting more side effects as the stuff builds up and dose increases and am just hoping if that’s the case, they’re not deal breakers in terms of carrying on with it.

You're only on day 3. It's definitely too soon too think you've got off ok re side effects. You might be lucky and not get them but it's too soon to tell.

If you’re happy on 0.25 can you choose to stay on that? I mean, if you’re tolerating it well and losing steadily, can you choose not to go up to 0.5?

Also, some posters have mentioned the cumulative effect of the drug in your body, but others say each dose - and it’s effects - wears off by the time you’re due to take the next one.

I was wondering this too!

Haha, well they have asked a whole bunch of others for photos too and stipulate they won't be used for marketing, so I'm not too spooked 😉 (And of course my face wasn't in them!)

I took my first dose on Thursday and feel exhausted today. Any tips for improving energy?