“I started Ozempic last night” - THREAD SIX

[Peridot1]

Hi all. Just spotted the previous thread filled up so thought I’d start a new one quickly.

Pharmacy planet is saying they've got stock. I've placed an order and will see if it actually arrives 🤞

Anyone combine e.g. IF and Ozempic?

I do. I nominally do 16:8 but tend not to eat after 16hrs if I'm busy and aren't hungry, it can stretch to 20hrs quite naturally. This isn't much different to IF pre-ozempic though.

@Assert150 no problem with coffee, can't tolerate diet coke anymore so mainly drink cold brew fruit teas to keep my water intake up x

@Assert150 coffee is fine but I've noticed a change of my taste - I've gone bit off coffee! Any symptoms seem very personal, I've had mainly tiredness, some tummy symptoms that I have with IBS anyway. And very slight nausea but very manageable. I do drink a lot of water and try to eat home cooked food, I feel it's easier in the summer (salads, berries) anyway.

Thanks everyone for all the info, haven’t braved it yet!

It is only available on prescription. HTH.

😊

Waaaah. I need to buy a new pen and I’m so gutted it’s so hard. I have lost nearly 2 stone in 3 months, with very little effort. And I’ve felt in control and had 2 holidays in that time. Really want to order a new 1mg pen, but this is painful in terms of getting hold of it.

Has anyone had any success in it being prescribed through private healthcare? I need to double check who my provider is, as I’ve not used it since DH started a new job last year and we got updated plans.

I’m so annoyed that this is happening. This is the most positive thing I’ve done for myself in YEARS and it’s about to start falling apart. Can’t seem to see Rybelsus anywhere either and Saxenda working out a lot more expensive as each pen would only last 6 days as I’d be on a higher dose.

So disheartened.

@noozempicforme

Ozempic is being studied as a medication that may delay early-onset dementia. If it's successful, it seems likely that at least initially it wouldn't be available on the NHS because it would have to be rebranded (like ozempic/wegovy) and have to go through the NICE proceedures. So would you support anyone obtaining a private prescription if they had a diagnosis of early-onset dementia? Or would you still be shit-stirring?

If you would rail against anyone trying to avoid or delay the ravages of early-onset dementia? What's the difference between people who are trying to avoid or delay early-onset dementia and those who are trying to avoid or delay type2 diabetes or any of the other health risks associated with obesity?

Hi I had similar effects week one was amazing and then week 2 and 3 was like back to normal. I took the pens to chemist to ask if my pen was empty as I thought I had a few failed attempts of pressing it in the air before I got it into the skin (have 2 young kids and always in a rush). Anyway the chemist looked at the pen and said it’s actually filled only a tiny bit has been used. Turns out I wasn’t using it right the second and third week. So I got chemist to help me one more time and that week was just as good as the first week. Now I watch a video on YouTube before I inject but I think I got it now.

@PlasticineKing I'd be keen to know if anybody has managed to get anything prescribed privately too, please let us know if you try this route!

@PlasticineKing - as far as I know most private health care plans won’t cover weight loss. Because obviously it’s just all our own fault. Hopefully with new research and knowledge about the causes of obesity that may change but I think it won’t be for a while. I think your best bet would be to try for an appointment with a private endocrinologist. However with the current shortages I don’t think it matters where your prescription is from as there is just no stock even if you have been prescribed on the NHS for diabetes. And those patients are rightly taking priority. My neighbour is a pharmacist and she said she is constantly being asked for Ozempic by people who have had it prescribed and they just can’t get it.

@Peridot1 thanks. I’m not surprised by any of what you’ve said, I’ve been following this thread since the first and started in April. Just such a shame to potentially have to start all over at a later date when this has worked so well for me. I’m not sure I’d have started if I knew it would be quite so hard to source IYSWIM 😢

It does sound like the tides are turning in attitudes to semaglutide and weight loss, I found an NHS paper accidentally online at some point and it was talking about the benefits of it, so hopefully it won't be too long before the UK catches up with the states prescription wise!

@JaffacakeJanine - I think the difference here is that the NHS would be funding the prescriptions potentially for life for people whereas in the US it’s on insurance. And even there some insurance companies won’t pay for it so people are buying privately. And it’s way more expensive than here believe it or not.

I picked a terrible time to start but have noticed a massive difference and only due my 4th dose this evening. Others have commented on my weight loss and I’ve done very little exercise- my plan is to ramp that up when I eventually come off Ozempic (which may be very soon going by supply issues!) to help keep the weight off alongside a healthy balanced diet.

I have a relative who is morbidly obese but as yet has no major health issues and they spoke to their doctor about taking it and the doctor advised them it would likely be a benefit however could not be funded on the NHS. They were instead prescribed Orlistat. Is this worth trying if unabel
to source any Ozempic? Does anyone have any experience taking it?

I've been taking Orlistat after starting on Ozempic (but had bad side effects to Ozempic hence had to find something else).

Can I suggest you take a look at the Orlistat thread? I'm losing weight on it but very slowly compared to Ozempic and have to be careful what I eat as have a normal appetite.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/4758894-orlistat

@Twiglets1 thank you! I didn’t think to search and see if their was a thread, will have a read through that now.

I've done well and lost 3 stone 2 lb in 16 weeks but the last 2-3 weeks lost very little. The nurse has suggested upping my dose to 1.25. Has anyone else done this? I'm a bit nervous as I did have some constipation when I went from 0.5 to 1 dose but sorted that with Fybrogel sachets for the first few days after injection.

@Thedreamer28 if your DH has managed to lose 4 stone then any negative effect of cologne on his face is surely more than compensated for by less risk.of heart attack and stroke and less likelihood of some cancers.

I agree with this. Less weight = less risk of a heart attack so any weight loss is beneficial. Some of us need more help for weight loss than others. Everyone is different and there should be no looking down on the ones who need a bit more help.

@caringcarer - I was on 1.25 for a bit but have come back down to 1mg due to the supply issues. It didn’t make a lot of difference for me. I’m holding out for Wegovy next year I think. I’ll keep going as long as I can on Ozempic - only have one pen left and one ordered but no idea when I’ll get it.

The Ozempic needle is about 1/2 cm long and only slightly thicker than a human hair. I pinch an inch of my lower stomach and put it in and I honestly don't even feel it. Inject liquid then wait 10 seconds and gently pull it out.