Anyone taking Wegovy who could answer some questions please

[givenup123]

Hi
I’m at my wits end and my weight is really starting to affect my mental health. I’m huge and can not bear to even look in the mirror now.

I was 11 1/2 stone at 5ft 9 so BMI of 24ish for 20+ years so not thin but happy with how I looked. Moderate exercise and ‘sensible’ non restrictive diet.

Then at 49 I started perimenopause and fast forward through to menopause. In 2 years, I did nothing different regarding exercise and actually started to limit my diet but put on 2 stone. Then tried uping exercise and stating to reduce calories and am now down to less than 1000 calories a day but still putting in weight - another half stone in 5 months. Been to the doctors multiple times - had a thyroid and a diabetes check which were both fine so now keep being told there is nothing wrong. Exercise is getting harder and harder as I’m just too heavy now. Joints and back ache regularly so I’m desperate…..so please could someone /anyone answer …

1/. I am eating about 1000 calories a day. I can manage that without feeling too hungry but any less than that is a struggle - will it help me to be able to live on 500 or so a day without feeling very hungry all of the time?

2/. I started in referral form using Bolt as it was recommended as the cheapest one in another thread but it asked if they had permission to inform my doctor. I clicked no and it said they couldnt prescribe. Does anyone know any stockiest where this isn’t a pre-requisite. I don’t want my doctors to know. I don’t want to be dragged in and talked to like a naughty 3 year old when they find out or have to explain myself to someone who thinks gaining a bit (!) of weight is ‘normal’ in menopause and I should be ‘body positive.’

3/. Are there any foods you have to avoid or do you just eat your normal food but less of it?

4/. side effects - I’ve read them. Can you take anything for constipation or is it contraindicated?

Thanks in advance.

I’m on Wegovy. I started at 16st 10 and now am 15st 5. I have another three stone to lose. I ticked that they could tell my doctor but they didn’t.

it’s working well for me. I started at the end of November and have lost 20lbs since then. I get mine from MyBMI.

Food - I don’t want to eat. When I do eat I can’t manage much at all. I’m drinking protein water to get my protein and vitamins in, and very small portions.

my side effects are bloating and wind, and this week, nausea. No constipation, not sure whether you can take anything for it but the opposite problem seems equally common.

Just let them inform your doctor. If your doctor asks you to come in and discuss it, just say no thank you.

1. living on 500 cals isn’t sustainable, it will certainly knock your calories down but 1200/1400 is probably more reasonable, maybe less on the first day or two of a new dose.

Also - there is no way you are CONSISTENTLY only eating 1000 cals a day or you would be losing weight, sorry to be blunt.
if you are honestly only eating 1000 cals a day and have been consistent without going over and still putting on weight then wegovy won’t help because that sounds like a medical or hormonal issue.
living on 500 isn’t sustainable for health, you will be seriously malnourished.

2. Mayfair weight loss clinic ask if you would like them to inform or if you are going to, you can tick that you will inform them.

3. it is advisable to focus on protein and healthy fats, decent amount of fibre. You can still eat a bit of choc, cake etc but generally I find I don’t fancy it. Most people report feeling absolutely horrendous if they eat very fatty food or drink alcohol. Big meals don’t sit well so it’s generally the same but much smaller amounts and very little snacking for me.

4. I haven’t been constipated at all, make sure your diet has plenty of fibre, I tend to have a couple of dates or dried apricots every day. Lots of water. You can always use over the counter constipation relief or the stuff that “softens” everything!

honestly it’s been great for me but the fact you are not losing on a highly restrictive diet now would concern me. All wegovy does is make you fancy food less and make you feel fuller so you eat less, you will still get hungry if you aren’t eating a base line amount. Obviously that is going to depend person to person but in my experience I have to have at least 1000 cals to sustain my energy levels, more if exercising.

There are currently three live wegovy threads on the weight boards - why not start there?

My gosh I just googled it and the first website I went on (where you can buy it) lists side effects beginning with thyroid cancer!

And warnings about how it's not been tested on people, just rodents! Wow....

1. It is not sustainable to eat 1000 calories a day. If you weigh enough to be prescribed Wegovy, you will be able to eat more than that whilst still losing weight. When I was bigger, I attempted to lose weight eating 1200 calories. It was so slow. The moment I upped that to 1800 (I was huge) I started to lose weight. Work out your TDEE and slowly reduce your calories until you’re eating a 300-500 calorie deficit. If you’re not already focus on whole foods, number of calories isn’t everything.
2. I don’t, but I also don’t think this is something you have to worry about. Admin will put it in your notes, that will be the end of it and your doctor probably won’t even notice at your next appointment unless you bring it up. Mine has actually been supportive. I’d be worried about provider that allowed this.
3. If I have anything that’s both processed and fatty or very sweet my tummy isn’t happy. A little bit is fine, but I don’t think I could manage a slice of cake for example.
4. I’m lucky I haven’t had any.

What bollocks.

Sorry but you really think there's an NHS available drug that's not tested on humans?! If it wasn't tested on humans how would the cancer link be known?

Yes it has side effects including increased chances of thyroid cancer. But obesity comes with increased chances of THIRTEEN cancers.

@DerelictWreck I have thank you but they don’t answer my specific questions

@Greatscottshesgotit thank you. That’s really helpful. I do appreciate your concern but I am only eating 1000 calories a day and have been for 5 months but have put on another half stone. I have been to the doctor multiple times and they say they’ve tested everything and it’s ‘just menopause’ so I have to assume that I need to get too way less than 1000 hence wanting to try Wegovy. Thanks again for your detailed answer

@Greatscottshesgotit
thanks for the info.

@givenup123 OP did you decide to take the plunge? Ive just ordered from Bolt Pharmacy. Arriving tomorrow hopefully. Quite determined to make small changes to shift the weight, it seems to have piled on since I had my second baby, and that baby is almost 3 now, so something needs to change!

@UnicornAndSparkles

Yes I did. I’m on my fourth week. I was only eating 1,000 calories which took a huge amount of willpower as it was and is pretty miserable. I was still gaining about 0.5 to 1lb a month. I’ve had every conceivable blood test and apparently there’s nothing wrong with me so I have to accept that I need to eat less than 1000 calories a day to at least not put on weight.
The first week I didn’t really feel any different but I bought the 500 calorie cookbook and am only having one meal plus bowl of bran flakes a day so around 800ish calories. Second week onwards I can definitely feel the difference in that 800 calories a day is easy to do. I feel full after eating very little food. A very small bowl of branflakes - like two table spoons of bran flakes and 4 of milk and I’m full. I made a two egg omelette for dinner the other day with spinach & mushroom and literally couldn’t finish it. I ate half. I’ve started to lose weight which is amazing. The problem for me is I don’t think that 800 calories a day is doable long term without the Wegovy and eventually my body won’t have the fat reserves to have to convert to energy but I’m going to deal with it when it happens. I also can’t afford to stay on it for ever. I couldn’t continue with gaining a stone a year either so 🤷‍♀️

I’ve had no side effects at all.