Considering meds

[gotthearse]

I have recently found out I have high blood sugar and cholesterol. I am 5 stone over my fighting weight and 3.5 stone over a BMI of 25. I'm 51, on hrt and have never been so heavy. It's too painful to exercise and I avoid certain social situations.

Pre children I maintained a healthy weight but it took up a lot of my headspace. In recent years with family and a demanding job my weight has crept up. I have a big appetite and can 'feast or famine' but find applying discretion and calorie counting (ie a sensible, measured, healthy approach) really, really hard.

I am considering trying the medicated route as I have been this heavy for sometime and the test results concern me. I am also high risk for breast cancer and a healthy BMI is the best protective factor (my weight being for more of a risk than my HRT).

How do you choose the right meds? I have ads on my social media, but it's a bit overwhelming.

I did have what was thought to be a gallbladder issue a few years back when I was low carbing. Upper right pain. An ultrasound showed some inflammation in that area, but I stopped the diet and it was all back to normal and no gallstones showing when I had a follow-up CT. Other than that I have no other medical history that is likely to be relevant.

Where do I start, and what's the best/worst that could happen?

I would start with a discussion with a doctor. There are unpleasant side effects, like vomiting, nausea, diarrhea. There was a good documentary a few weeks ago, what stuck with me is that what the drugs do is make you less hungry by increasing or simulating the hormone that tells your brain that you are full. So if hunger and portion size are your issue then it could be a good option for you.
Please don't be influenced by social media ads. See a doctor.

I just read this book and it's fab. It's very balanced and has a lot of information for and against. I'm comfortable that it was the right thing for me and am nearly at a healthy weight now.

(BTW you can't post about injectibles without people spamming you with their Voy links. It's because they get a discount if you use their link)

Thanks everyone for your replies, much appreciated. I will start with the book and then speak to GP. I've got a second set of bloods coming back next week.

There's some helpful information on the introductory posts on the Mounjaro threads:

Continuing Mounjaro...part 8 http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weightlosss_chat/5068850-continuing-mounjaropart-8

I would be wary of putting much weight on celebrities writing books on this.

The NHS guidance is here if you scroll/search all the way down to semaglutide here, although Mounjaro has become available in the UK since this was updated:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/treatment/

Also: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta875/informationforpublic