The Saxenda Sisterhood

[Saxendastarter]

Hi all,

As the last thread is filling up I thought I'd start a new one so we don't get lost.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/4788207-im-starting-saxenda-this-week

This is the follow up from "I'm starting Saxenda this week" I'm personally journaling my way to a hopefully healthier and happier life. I'm journaling what I'm eating, the weight I'm losing (and gaining) and trying to see the positives outweigh the negatives on a daily basis. I'm joined on this thread and journey by many amazing women who are all very supportive and who are also sharing as much or as little as they like.

I'm finding I'm opening this thread instead of opening the cupboards, the fridge and the food delivery app on my phone and feeling less in my struggles and frustration and writing about my days makes me realize my life isn't all bad.

I'm thankful for all the voices in this thread and feel supported by the sisterhood of women from all over facing the same body struggles as I am.

I post some pictures and photos and I really like it when others do too.

If you're new please join us if you want to and let us know how you're getting on with your Saxenda journey. Come here for compliments when you deserve them and commiseration when you need some. You're welcome whatever your age, wherever you are and if you have 1kg or 10 stone to loose.

I've been on Saxenda for 10 weeks and lost 9.2kg (1st 6.2lbs) so far. I started at over 96kg and am now 87 and a bit. I have at least another 20kg to go to be happy with how I look - but knowing that the Saxenda sisterhood is here makes the journey seem less intimidating.

This shortage is giving me anxiety.. I don't have any savings so I have to wait until next pay day.. I'm lucky I have 5 pens that should last minimum until 19th August.. but if online pharmacies start to prioritise ( rightfully so) existing customers, that leaves me with right-angled and 70£ per pen! I was keeping my eye on simple online but is now only for existing.. I hope I can continue and not have to stop like I did with ozempic.. that would be a waste of money...

Weight loss management beginning of September, but it is unlikely they will prescribe me anything right away.. eve with a high bmi..

Sorry just feeling disheartened 😔

I’ve had 2 orders with rightangled recently and not at £70 a pen, one lot came today. They do seem to think basic maths is beyond us though as the different size packs are priced awkwardly but you can order multiples of them and get lowest average of their prices that way

Day 81 ( yesterday)

Breakfast
Tomato and Halloumi toast
Water
Coffee
A green juice thingy

Snacks
Cappuccino
Iced tea
Iced coffee
Expresso Martini
tomato Buschetta

Lunch
Slushi
Pastarilla

Snack
2x cocktails
Coke Zero
Olives

Supper
Fizzy water
Proscecco
steak
potatoe salad
coleslaw
coke zero

Day 82 (Today)

Breakfast
Juice
Poached egg
Bressaola
Turkey Sausages
fried tomatoes
bread
orange juice

Snacks
2 chocolate flakes
Water

Lunch
The saddest airplane tomato and mozzarella triangle sandwich ever
beer

Snack
2x bubble tea
Waffle with whipped cream
Haribo sweets

Supper
Fizzy water

The last two days have not been great food wise. And today was a write off. Got on the plane okay at 10 this morning headphones and a chill pill helped. We were in the front row. I zoned out with my headphones until I noticed that FPOTM has been gone rather a while. Took my headphones off and asked guy in aisle seat if he had seen my friend. I was so zoned out that I hadn’t heard the « Is there a doctor on board » call and realized that FPOTM had gotten up for that…. FPOTM « doctored » until we landed and the emergency services came aboard. ( the person went to hospital but will live). We got off the plane and then stayed at the airport for 5 hours while airline sorted out paperwork and insurance and stuff with FPOTM ( seems pretty complicated as airline has to sort of insure him retroactively for helping on the flight and although he’s an MD and registered here he now works in a private company as a scientist and is only insured on a case by case basis for operations he takes part in by different hospitals so doesn’t have what I think is the UK equivalent of blanket malpractice insurance ) FPOTM was pretty freaked out to be honest because he’s not an ER doctor at all at all and was not expecting to emergency doctor on a flight. Whilst we were waiting airline peeps asked us what we wanted to eat drink and he surprised me as he’s normally a minimal sugar and soup for supper sort of guy and he went all out with , « Oh if you could find bubble tea in the airport and maybe à crêpe or some waffles and maybe some sweets and some chocolate and a donut » It made me smile inside because it was obviously a stress reaction - normally I think he’d have turned to alcohol but he couldn’t because if the situation. The airline lady came through and bought us a sugar filled TikTok worthy platter. We stuffed our faces. I also learnt that if a doctor doesn’t answer the « is there a doctor onboard call » and gets found out they face a 45k€ fine and up to 5 years in prison, even if the call is for a heart attack or a woman giving birth and the doctor in question is for exemple an ophthalmologist…. Good side is the airline has reimbursed both our tickets and given us a voucher to use for another trip.

We got back to mine and FPOTM was very very sick and now after a shower he’s the one zoning with headphones and a chill pill…

So that was today!

And I think I saw @justsaxy from the plane !

Wow! That’s some end to your holiday @Saxendastarter . Not what you had in mind to keep yourself chilled by a long shot . Hope you and FPOTM are ok now .

@Saxendastarter !!!!!! Omg!!! That is a very dramatic ending. Am pleased to hear that patient will live and FPOTM was taken care of but I understand his shock. Wow.

And those fines!!! Of course, it was a very stressful situation but it was nice that there were some rewards.

And yes, you see me!!! Was relaxing in my garden with my new archway with wisteria plants (am terribly proud of them, I feel ever so grown up). waves

Well, today was the day for me and I just got back from the rdv with the endocrinologist. I had a sudden attack of nerves, just before I went in but she was super lovely and kind. We discussed all kinds of things, basically she feels I don't eat enough during the day, then I eat too quickly (I am always on the go) and then on an evening I sit down, apero starts, I eat and drink too quickly and then the wine and come out... so I have had blood tests done where she will asses my resistance to glucose.

My heart did sink a little bit when she told me that the health insurance company requires me to see a dietician twice before she can submit the request (and I had already waited 3.5 months for this appointment) and of course, everyone is busy, plus they are on holiday....

But I rang around a few people and found an appointment for Tuesday!

So, hopefully I can squeeze in two appointments in the next month, then the endocrinologist will submit the request for saxander to the insurance company, and they can take 1-4 weeks to respond. I have a follow up appointment with her mid September anyway, and she says she will show me how to use the pen etc. she did tell me that it isn't a magic pill, it won't take me to my goal of 75k and I will have to do some hard work (such as giving up my hefty Coke Zero habit). But I feel I will be able to tackle all of these things, but I need some help to get started.

There is also a strict procedure for the insurance companies, if you haven't lost a certain percentage of your body weight by a certain time, they won't cover it. And the general overview is 3 years!

it's all very detailed and thorough. So I am a little sad that I haven't walked out of there with a prescription for saxander straight away BUT, I do feel well taken care of and like we are headed in the right direction.

And I have a booklet to read! Did you all get this?

Am about to curl up with a drink and read through it

@justsaxy Sounds positive and going in the right direction - and you may be surprised on the Coke Zero habit, saxenda culled mine to nothing within 1-2 days of starting! And I was an absolutely nightmare for drinking far too much of it daily

Oh that is good to hear! I do drink A LOT of it, as I don't drink tea/coffee/matcha but need the caffeine!

I shall try not to worry too much about that then.

Okay...one week down. Just upped my dose there an hour ago so hoping my body will adjust and no nasty side effects. Bar being tired week one was okay.

Is it wrong that im disappointed in my first weeks loss? I lost 2.1kgs. Now dont get me wrong i know thats progress. I have pcos and seeing the scales not move up weekly is an achievement but i just feel i have such a mountain to climb. I had been hoping to lose half a stone week one as i know the losses will inevitably slow along the way.

Is it okay to join belatedly? My icy box just arrived.

Did I just spend the best part of an hour trying to write a simple script to scrub all the usernames from the last thread ... yes I did and I time tracked it at work as "ongoing learning in coding fundamentals for non engineers" because there is a slot for that ;-)) Anyway I think it picked up everyone.

I don't understand a word of that but it does sound clever.

Hello @JeandeServiette and everyone!

currently hoarding 7 pens in my fridge. I’m sticking at a 1.8mg dose for now to make them last. I’ve been taking Saxenda for a month and I’ve lost just over 5kg which I’m pleased with. Feel really tired though, probably because I’m barely eating!

I have a colonoscopy on Monday so I ‘m going to make the effort to have a proper meal tonight. Otherwise the low residue diet and then the fasting and (gulp) prep will knock me for six! I had to admit to taking Saxenda in the pre-op and she asked if I was diabetic, then looked very disapproving when I said “no, just fat!” It’s helping so much though, I’m really grateful to have found it.

Hope everyone is stocked up and feeling the benefits.

@Saxendastarter goodness me, what an end to you holiday. Alls well that ends well. Hope FPOTM has recovered from the experience.

Had a shitty day- so opened a bottle of wine... which I'm really enjoying for the first time in ages.

Will do proper update tomorrow with weigh in, but just over 1lb off this week. Disappointed as I had set my heart on hitting the 3 stone mark. Ridiculous, as the target is arbitrary, but I will get over it. Onwards and weight downwards.

Have a lovely evening everyone!

@justsaxy I did think that was you with the wisteria! ;-) Well done on your appointment and I hope the next appointments all go to plan. Jealous of your booklet - I didn't get one :-( . Like @Sotiredmjmmy I also have a massive soda addiction - it's slightly better and I'm drinking more water. I'll repeat my offer of sending my airup bottle and caps to anyone who wants it though because I can't get used to the noise it makes! If anyone wants it, just PM me and I'll pop it in the post.

@Hopeful1984 Thats a great loss but I understand the feeling of thier being a mountain to climb - but we're all here with you! We can be your Saxenda Sherpas.

@JeandeServiette Welcome (Thats just geek talk of mine justifying procrastinating in mumsnet at work - I can't (computer) code and work in an environment where this is seen as a handicap - I meant to spend time every month trying to learn to write code - so I wrote a couple of lines of code to automatically pick up the names of posters on the thread and then used this as an excuse to spend more time on mumsnet ... ) Let us know how you are feeling the first days and what you're goals are (weight or other).

Hey @Vinvertebrate - with your prep I guess you won't be joining the threads weekly lament of not having been able "to go" - if it makes it slightly better try to imagine how jealous we all are of you being able to have a good clean out - more seriously I hope the colonoscopy goes well and that the tiredness lessens.

@Glorfindels As I'm about to write, I'm not going to weigh this week, not feeling it, don't want to feel down about it. Have had far too much to eat/drink this week and we didn't actually ask much in Malta because it was so so hot.

@Glorfindels read - walk much ! not ask much.

Start of week thirteen and weigh in number 12 here

Not weighing this week after holiday and assuming no loss again!

Weight loss this week : 0kg

Current Weight 87.5kg (13st 10.9lbs)
Total weight lost to date 9.2kg (1st 6.2lbs)

Starting Weight 96.8kg ( 15st 3.4 Ibs)
Goal Weight 70kg (11st)
Time On Saxenda 83 days
Total percentage of weight loss so far 9.5%
Total weight to loose when starting 26.8kg ( 4st3lbs)
Total weight remaining to loose 17.5kg

Side effets Tiredness / really down this week
Goal for end of July 83kg
Dose 3mg - the full dose
Starting BMI 34.3
Current BMI 31
Average loss per week on Saxenda 0.7kg (1.75lbs)

Got two pens today, just trying to decide when to start.

Nervous and excited!

Day 83

Breakfast
Black coffee

Snacks
Black coffee
Ice tea

Lunch
2 glasses of Rosé
An oeuf parfait with peas and mint and pommes de terre grenaille
Raspberry and tarragon pannacotta
Coffee

Snack
A flake
A lemon fanta

Supper
Coke zero
Quinoa and halloumi salad
Water

Me too. I am just deciding whether to do it now before bed.

@JeandeServiette @freetheunicorn1
Youpie ! Let us know when it’s done!

Today was a good day - we got up early and went to a museum in the suburbs to escape 14th of July and the end of the riots and transport cutoff craziness. Saw quite a trippy installation and had a nice lunch in the museum gardens before both heading back to our respective homes. FPOTM felt much much better after speaking to the hospital the passenger had been transferred to and being reassured he’d done what needed to be done and hadn’t caused premature death! He did leave me by saying that he was going to go home and have a bottle of wine in the bath though… I’ve always seen him as being really calm and cool headed so it feels quite warm and fuzzy in a way to be let into his inner turmoil. And I know how strange that sounds been it feels very intimate and he’s always outwardly as cool as a cucumber.
Photos from the expo - the writing says « ce qui s’est passé dans l’histoire nous appartient. tout ce qui s’est fait à travers l’humanité, dans la douleur comme dans l’amour, est en nous, et c’est cela notre plus grand trésor. » What has happened in history belongs to us, all that has been done through humanity, in pain and in love, is inside us, and that is our greatest treasure.

Photos from the expo - the writing says « ce qui s’est passé dans l’histoire nous appartient. tout ce qui s’est fait à travers l’humanité, dans la douleur comme dans l’amour, est en nous, et c’est cela notre plus grand trésor. » What has happened in history belongs to us, all that has been done through humanity, in pain and in love, is inside us, and that is our greatest treasure.

Love that. It perfectly describes creativity.

I think I will start tomorrow or Sunday. I am WFH Monday and Tuesday (thanks School holidays) so it will help be me to deal with side effects i hope.

Ha. I actually booked today (yesterday) and Monday off for this but then couldn't face starting last night until I'd finished a box of chocolates that was looking at me. I've just done mine and am sitting her braced like a numpty for the fireworks. (Might be easier to just settle down for now.) At least we are both fully prepared!

@JeandeServiette braved for the fireworks 😆

Fingers crossed there are none! But as you are slightly ahead of me I will be keen to get updates.

This has not been my best week.

I'm down to one pen and have been very stressed by stock shortages. I've only ordered from Asda before and everywhere that has stock is only supplying to new customers. Asda got some but their system was so overloaded that by the time I got the site to load half an hour later it was all gone. Every time I follow a lead to Right-angled or wherever they've sold out.

Although I have one untouched pen left, I've skipped a couple of days rather than start it, almost as though my brain says I need to hoard it. Which is completely irrational but I've been so stressed about this.

I should just bash on, take the jabs, hope I get some from Asda on Tuesday and deal with running out when it happens, shouldn't I?

@Namechange602 . That’s tough . I’m really sorry . Not sure what I would do in your situation but maybe just try the lowest dose you can until some where is back in stock ? I’ve noticed that despite the shortages saxenda stock does pop up fairly frequently . When I got my latest e mail from Lloyds pharmacy about new stock I held back from re ordering . I have 5 pens and 8 to 14 pounds to lose depending on what I decide when I finally reach a healthy BMI . I’m going to run out before that happens and try to adjust to a lifestyle without saxender which is daunting given how effective it’s been . My worse fear are a return to alcohol cravings . It’s been very liberating not battling those . Good luck to us both. X