I'm starting saxenda this week.

[Saxendastarter]

I'm 33.

I'm 1m68 (5ft6)

I don't actually know what I weight and I got rid of my scales last year when getting on them just made me cry every time and I was just too depressed to even try and start loosing weight - I have ordered scales and will weight myself tomorrow.

However last time I weighed myself nearly a year ago I was 94kg (14st 11) and I know that I have gained since then.

I started gaining weight the beginning of covid, before 2019 my very highest weight had been 68kg ( 10st10) and my normal weight had been round 62kg for most of my adult life, so I have massively put on weight over these last four years. (Separation, depression, stress at work, and just general giving up).

My body is ruined by stretch-marks and my boobs that used to be great are now just swollen and saggy and stretch marked.

I'm really depressed by my weight and have decided its time to do something about it.

I have an office job and I'm not at all active.

I've tried to start making small changes, walking to the underground instead of getting the bus, getting the stairs up the one flight to my office instead of the lift but everything feels like a struggle and I have such awful thigh chaffing that walking is often excruciatingly painful.

I how I need to make a change because on top of it being so unhealthy being so over weight just makes me so upset. I've stopped going out as much and have just retreated into a shell.

I also have an appointment with a psychologist tomorrow.

I decided last month that enough is enough and I need to do something about it all.

I've started using face cream, and am finally having laser on my very very hairy thighs and - the point of this thread - I'm going to start saxenda tomorrow.

I thought I'd journal here.

I've lost 10 lb and I wanted to keep going.

I don't want a break. Im going to have to go from 3 dosage to zero. It's irresponsible to prescribe it to loads of people and then not be able to guarantee repeat prescriptions.

This has really annoyed me. I actually messaged Boots a few weeks ago seeking assurance that they have a good supply, because I saw some messages on here saying people were struggling to get new pens and they said all was ok with supply.

Symptoms were horrific yesterday morning. TMI warning but my sick absolutely stunk of sulphur. It was horrendous. Slowly improved over the course of yesterday and decided not to do a dose last night and just have a complete break from it.
Then this morning i had the same! Nausea, horrible sulphur burps, no vomiting thank god but I still have horrendous diarrhoea.

I was querying a separate stomach bug but the sulphur burps are a very saxenda specific thing for me. Never had them until starting saxenda so I do think it's that.

Just awful! I wonder if my old pen became less effective over time, especially as it's been a very warm June here.

Might try and 'pretend' I've injected in the morning and try and keep up with the new eating regime. Mind over matter.....At least the placebo will be cheaper.

Are you storing the pens in the fridge?

@BeagleMum1 I agree it's irresponsible of them to tell you to carry on with 3 and suddenly have to stop. Have they said when they are likely to get more? This whole thing has become a bit of a nightmare hasn't it? I don't know if you've seen the high number or jab-bashing threads on here and how people are just calling "us" fat and lazy for using them.

If I were you I think I would reduce it slowly so as it lasts a bit longer. Maybe 2.4 for 2 days, then 1.8 for 2, then up again to 2.4?

@snuffles123 your side effects sound vile. Have you stopped taking it then? Maybe a couple of days break and start again on 0.6 to see how you feel?

I haven't personally seen those threads but I will say, speaking generally, that weight is a hugely complex thing. So many factors make a person 'fat'. There's a huge psychological component to it plus people have medical issues that cause weight gain. Some will just enjoy eating a lot of food. Some eat their feelings. It's very nuanced.

I do notice that those who suffer with alcohol or drug issues are treated with much more compassion, but imo those issues are much more destructive to the individual and to society as a whole.

Being overweight is viewed with disgust and a lot of judgment. Perhaps because it's so visible, we literally 'wear' our issues / trauma / pain etc. Some people like to be nasty and being cruel about a persons weight is seen as fair game. If body size became a protected characteristic, a lot of them would go very quiet, very quickly.

Those in glass houses......

@snuffles123 i had horrendous diarrhoea for a few days last week, so stopped for a couple of days. Have restarted at 1.8mg yesterday and so far it has been okay. In fact I think it’s gone the other way. Probably all the Imodium I took!

For the people struggling to get it; I have ordered from Chemist4u a couple of times now with no problems. Just got 5 pens last week. Quick delivery too.

Just signed up to them and they are Sold Out

@BeagleMum1 storing them in the fridge apart from the one that's currently in use as per the instructions

I've always kept mine in the fridge, including the one currently in use. I only take it out to use it and then put it straight back into the fridge. I think the weather is too warm for it to be left out.

What do other people do?

Yes, I keep the pen currently in use in the fridge too .

@BeagleMum1 I could not agree more about how complex the multiple reasons that result in people being overweight are. Complex, multi factorial, interdépendant and often overwhelming as a long whole.

For me the Saxenda is acting on one of the factors, the hunger. Leaving me headspace to deal with the rest ( activity levels, healthy diet, healthier mind etc ).

To be honest I was skinny most my life up until 4 years ago and I was very guilty of just thinking to myself ( politely in my head ) why the fuck don't you just move more and eat less when I used to hear people complain about their weight. And then I put on 40kg and saw my life as I knew it crumble - and I know it's not that simple. I hope that if these last fews years have bought me anything it will be that going forward in life I will be, in my own words, less of a judgy bitch...

It's certainly a problem trying to get it and I have no idea when this will be resolved. Does anyone know?

@Footgoose @snuffles123 @upanddownandupanddown @CiderJabs @ThisMustBeMyDream

Sorry to hear about supply issues and side effects.

Happy week to all and congrats @ThisMustBeMyDream on the continued losses!

I need it for my diabetes and cannot get it.

What is your GP/nurse saying about the expected time?

@BeagleMum1 Keep trying with trying to re-order, check daily etc, from what I can gather the pharmacies are being rationed stock by the manufacturer, all of them are effected and stock deliveries seem to be first week of the month and they are being delivered less than they are ordering due to the shortages that are affecting worldwide. So once it runs out that’s it for them getting more stock until the next month.

They are already limited to only existing customers and does seem the extent of shortages was unpredicted, Boots managed to keep up supplies for nearly all of June whereas the other uk pharmacies ran out by mid-June.

I order from one of the other big uk pharmacies and they have stock back in as of this morning, but are rationing to 3 pens only and existing customers only.

Boots have also updated their message on their website re stock too, looks like may be available or shortly available now.

This is a worldwide issue due to huge demand for wegovy and ozempic which then put pressure on saxenda and expected to last for months/into next year, its why wegovy hasn’t been released here yet and it’s the manufacturers fault (but seems lots of reasons why) not the pharmacies as such as they seem to have been good for stock until now

It also happens with other drugs all the time, I have a very common normal tablet daily and it was unavailable for 6 months at one stage due to manufacturing issues, nothing nhs or pharmacy can do to get it in those circumstances, it happens a lot

I have a follow up next week so I guess she will update me then.

Either way I need a different medication. I've tried dieting and 2 different meds and nothing is helping.

I'm symptomatic with the thirst and fatigue etc.

I have umpteen other conditions and take boxes and boxes of pills every month...I don't suppose that helps.

They said a glp-1 injection would help and I would be followed up and prescribed at clinic.

But the next day the DHSC announced for GPs not to prescribe....so I'm thinking I simply won't get them now.

Just reordered through Boots!

I hope you don’t mind me joining in! Today is my day one, having taken the first injection last night.

No headache / nausea etc, but I’ve just felt constantly full since waking. Had some food so far but it’s been a bit of an effort to get it down. I feel like I’ve had a really big dinner!

Hello! 👋 welcome

Welcome to the sisterhood @Smokeahontas ! ( love the name) Well done on the first jab. Let us know how your first week goes!