Wegovy/Saxenda for weight loss?

[Anonymous]

I'm a PP, one who some readers said sounded like a Calibrate rep because I was so hopeful and enthusiastic upthread. Here's a little update:

Started with Calibrate in November, 5'3" and 209. Today am 176. I can see myself getting to 150#, we'll see where I end up. I have no goal in mind.

Started on Ozempic, was switched to Wegovy in Feb. Currently at 2.4 mg. Some injections I feel more tired than usual, or have a heightened sense of smell that makes me gag/dry heave on occasion, but I'd say that that's less than 10% of the time.

While I am so so SO happy at the weight loss, what has been transformational and liberating was finally stopping blaming myself for being fat. I would yo-yo diet, ended up binge eating due to restrictions, and spent the last 25 years beating myself up for not having willpower, control, etc. Meanwhile, one injection and it was like a switch was flipped in my brain -- those crazy, insatiable, and uncontrollable signals to eat, eat, EAT disappeared. Thankfully, the injections have also helped me stop my one-bottle-of-wine-a-night drinking that started during the darkest COVID days in the summer of 2020.

Don't know if that was food addiction or what, but this medication has taken a huge monkey off my back. For that, I could not be more grateful. Which is why I would enthusiastically endorse this for others struggling with the same problem. Life is too short to beat yourself up like that, and be obsessed with food, counting calories, worrying about whether there will be something you can eat at this party or that work event or during vacation...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh - I want to believe but am waiting for the longterm health risks of this stuff to emerge like it has with every other medicine before it for weight loss.

I had terrible side effects, and I stopped using it over two months ago and am still having abdominal pain. CT scan showed diverticulitis that was spurred by inflammation caused by Wegovy. I probably already had it, but it was asymptomatic until the Wegovy caused serious inflammation in my body and now it's active, inflamed, and not going away.

What are you talking about? You make no sense. Semaglutide is anti-inflammatory and you have diverticulitis because of defective colon lining, poor diet with low fiber, and use of nsaids, opioids, and steroids - med profesional here. Semaglutide did not spurred the inflammation, it was mainly your poor, long term diet and sedentary lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

I’m the earlier poster who was just prescribed Ozempic for being pre-diabetic. I just finished my first week on 0.25mg and am down 3lbs. Other than fatigue, I had no side effects. The most noticeable thing for me was what the PP above me experienced: a disinterest in food. I’m someone who would eat out of boredom. Or thinking I might not get that food again. It’s hard to explain other than be overly preoccupied with food. It’s gone. Yes, there were times when I had real hunger, and I ate. And then I moved on. On Saturday I was at an event where I had a boxed lunch. I ate half the wrap and left the chocolate chip cookie and Lays potato chips (my absolute favorite!). I brought them home for my teenager. THEY’RE STILL UNOPENED! That would never happen in the past. There’s no fight in my head. I’m just not interested.

I upped my water intake and did my usual work-outs at the gym. I wrote nothing down. Weighed and measured nothing. Still can’t believe I’m down 3 pounds.

[Anonymous]

I did Calibrate for a year and really liked it until about the 11 month mark when my Wegovy was cancelled without notice because of insurance issues. Apparently there was a limit to the coupon Calibrate was using to get Wegovy. So I had to go off it cold turkey. Now they’ve gotten it approved but it would cost me $350 monthly which I can’t do. It’s disappointing that it ended this way. Now that I’m off the medication I’ve already gained back several pounds.

[Anonymous]

Do you have to take the meds for life?

[Anonymous]

If insurance won’t cover it, anyone know if HSA money can be used? I’ve had an has for years, but never touched it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a PP, one who some readers said sounded like a Calibrate rep because I was so hopeful and enthusiastic upthread. Here's a little update:

Started with Calibrate in November, 5'3" and 209. Today am 176. I can see myself getting to 150#, we'll see where I end up. I have no goal in mind.

Started on Ozempic, was switched to Wegovy in Feb. Currently at 2.4 mg. Some injections I feel more tired than usual, or have a heightened sense of smell that makes me gag/dry heave on occasion, but I'd say that that's less than 10% of the time.

While I am so so SO happy at the weight loss, what has been transformational and liberating was finally stopping blaming myself for being fat. I would yo-yo diet, ended up binge eating due to restrictions, and spent the last 25 years beating myself up for not having willpower, control, etc. Meanwhile, one injection and it was like a switch was flipped in my brain -- those crazy, insatiable, and uncontrollable signals to eat, eat, EAT disappeared. Thankfully, the injections have also helped me stop my one-bottle-of-wine-a-night drinking that started during the darkest COVID days in the summer of 2020.

Don't know if that was food addiction or what, but this medication has taken a huge monkey off my back. For that, I could not be more grateful. Which is why I would enthusiastically endorse this for others struggling with the same problem. Life is too short to beat yourself up like that, and be obsessed with food, counting calories, worrying about whether there will be something you can eat at this party or that work event or during vacation...

Did you just go to your regular doctor for it?

[Anonymous]

Are these covered by insurance?

Does a regular doctor prescribe it?

[Anonymous]

If your insurance covers weight loss then likely
Docs prescribe it. I got my endocrinologist to prescribe it
My guess in primary care will be reluctant to Rx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are these covered by insurance?

Does a regular doctor prescribe it?

Yes and yes, my NP prescribed it.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been on Wegovy since Oct. I started at 156 and am now 131. The weight loss is slow and steady. What I like about it is that it’s easy. I don’t eat huge portions and my cravings are more for protein and vegetables. Sweet treats have become fruit.

Typically when I try to lose weight I am so hungry and miserable. I’m counting 1200 calories and I lose and gain the same 1lb. Or I’ll lose a lb and then eat ice cream and all of a sudden I’ve gained 2lbs. There is so much deprivation. With Wegovy I have none of that. I had a donut today. I don’t feel guilty and I know it will balance out.

If I had been dieting for 7 months, I would be miserable with how hard I have to work for a few lbs a month. Because it’s so easy, I don’t mind the slow loss. I’ve gone through the holidays and 3 vacations and I’m still down.

I do feel tired and sometimes nauseous but overall I don’t have many side effects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh - I want to believe but am waiting for the longterm health risks of this stuff to emerge like it has with every other medicine before it for weight loss.

I had terrible side effects, and I stopped using it over two months ago and am still having abdominal pain. CT scan showed diverticulitis that was spurred by inflammation caused by Wegovy. I probably already had it, but it was asymptomatic until the Wegovy caused serious inflammation in my body and now it's active, inflamed, and not going away.

What are you talking about? You make no sense. Semaglutide is anti-inflammatory and you have diverticulitis because of defective colon lining, poor diet with low fiber, and use of nsaids, opioids, and steroids - med profesional here. Semaglutide did not spurred the inflammation, it was mainly your poor, long term diet and sedentary lifestyle.

You are clearly not a doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did Calibrate for a year and really liked it until about the 11 month mark when my Wegovy was cancelled without notice because of insurance issues. Apparently there was a limit to the coupon Calibrate was using to get Wegovy. So I had to go off it cold turkey. Now they’ve gotten it approved but it would cost me $350 monthly which I can’t do. It’s disappointing that it ended this way. Now that I’m off the medication I’ve already gained back several pounds.

Unfortunately studies show that once you go off the drug you rapidly gain the weight back to baseline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did Calibrate for a year and really liked it until about the 11 month mark when my Wegovy was cancelled without notice because of insurance issues. Apparently there was a limit to the coupon Calibrate was using to get Wegovy. So I had to go off it cold turkey. Now they’ve gotten it approved but it would cost me $350 monthly which I can’t do. It’s disappointing that it ended this way. Now that I’m off the medication I’ve already gained back several pounds.

Unfortunately studies show that once you go off the drug you rapidly gain the weight back to baseline.

I have been taking the medication for nearly 2 years (was a part of the study), I would disagree that you “rapidly” gain the weight back. But from “my experience”, it takes about a month for your body to adjust to no longer taking the medication. Then your brain rapidly goes to work talking to you and doing whatever it did to get you overweight originally. But that was my brain. But I learned that physically I really wasn’t as hungry as my brain would lead me to believe. The medication definitely taught me some cues and I have to willing lean into them and turn away from what my brain is trying to get me to do. Not sure if I’m articulating this well. But like last night I didn’t. I had two ice sandwiches when I knew I only really wanted one. $hit, I didn’t even need 1! I wasn’t hungry at all, but my brain…why did I even buy them? My brain. When I was on the medication, I wouldn’t have even bought them. I do not understand why insurance won’t cover it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds too good to be true. What are the cons, other than cost?

This really is a breakthrough drug. And it’s not a quick fix. You have to make changes to your eating and exercise for it to work. For me, it’s freed up the cognitive load around eating. I just eat less and don’t stress about it like it did before. Nothing is off limits; it’s just that I don’t obsess over what I can/should/can’t eat. It feels like I could sustain this for a long time.

The cost is not a con for me. I just started my 4th week of Ozempic and pay $25 for 6 weeks. Some people have intense gastric issues as a side effect (nausea, diarrhea and/or constipation). So far, none of that for me. I’ve definitely noticed when I’ve eaten just a little too much or ate too late at night. I’m taking those cues and learning from them.

I’m down almost 7lbs in 3 weeks. I’ve never lost like that before.