Hi All,
I thought it might be useful to share my experience here as I found reading yours useful.
I was diagnosed with UC back in 2013. I was put on high-dose steroids which messed up my joints, mental health and made me gain a stone in a month, but seemed to work wonders for my UC. I cycled through a variety of other maintenance meds at this point, but ended up feeling worse for the Mesalazine. So only ended up finding my "new normal" and only taking Endo and GERD meds since 2013.
I was 135kg in summer 2023, and referred to the weight management team by my GP as I have a number of long-term health conditions like PCOS, and sleep apnea, I had been aiming for an NHS prescription for one of the GLP1 meds. It turned out after a long wait, "there was no budget" for such meds and although I was eligible on paper, it was told I had no hope of being prescribed it on the NHS anytime for the foreseeable future. I was encouraged by the dietitian to explore paying for it privately. She justified it as "you'll save the money on food" ;b
I started Mounjaro in late May 2024. I had been making a really concerted effort with my diet prior to starting meds, so was down to 125kg, by the point I started. I'm now 99kg as of late April 25.
I started out with Asda, but found their delivery unreliable, which means the pens then only have 30 days. Moved to Boots Pharmacy in month 3. I did not disclose my UC to either, as it had been under control for so long without the need for meds.
I'm now at the maximum dose of 15mg, have been for a few months now. The weight loss is undoubtedly made much much easier. Even as someone who loves food as an art, I simply don't have the space. Overeating is super brutal, so you're forced not to.
My bowels have undoubtedly struggled over this time. Maybe once a month, I'd have a day where it was very bad, which was probably twice as common as my previous "new normal". Unfortunately my "little bros" wedding last summer was one such day, where I must have gone to the bathroom 10 times in the 5 hour reception :( But mostly it's been manageable. Unfortunately it has in recent months got much worse. Oscillating aggressively between diarrhoea and constipation. I'd never really suffered with the latter, only the former. The combination is brutal. Sometimes with lots of blood.
I pushed my GP to do some blood/stool tests. Mostly normal. Vit B low but not so much I can get a shot, but the stool test came back with some inflammation. So I have been referred back to the NHS gastro as "urgent". That was a week ago. The appointment is in early June. So 6 weeks later.
My current pen is on its last dose, and I considered stopping, but have decided to continue for one more month, until I see the gastro. Stopping now for 6 weeks would mean I'd have to start again and I hear from friends who have done that, that the early doses don't hit like they did the first time around, so I worry I might have to spend 5 months (aka £1,000) getting back to an effective dose if I restart. I can't be sure the MJ is to blame, and it feels foolhardy to drop it without knowing.
I should say, overall I have found the MJ beneficial. Being 35kg lighter is quite some improvement in my quality of life, so it's a fine balance.
I don't have any questions, but will double back once I speak with my gastro and share their thoughts :)