Adventures in Wegovy

[lizbee]

Like many of us, I found that my clothes mysteriously shrank during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, and then I spent periods of 2023 and 2024 on steroids. I've gone from "slightly overweight" to "decidedly rotund", with a couple of notable side effects -- mainly that I can't seem to exercise without suffering a series of overuse injuries. Also it turns out that I may have herniated a disc in my back fifteen months ago. (I've spent a lot of time since lying awake with agonising pain radiating down my legs, thinking, "This is because I don't exercise enough.")

Last year I lost five kilos through cautious diet and exercise, and then injured myself again.

"Let's talk about Wegovy," my doctor said.

I was hesitant, but mainly because of the cost -- it's not subsidised, so it starts at $250 a month and goes up to $450. That's a lot of money! So I thought about it for a couple of months, and then readjusted my budget (less eating out, fewer entertainment and craft purchases) and bit the bullet.

I gave myself the first low-dose injection three days ago, and here's what I've found so far: 

• I had forgotten what it was like to feel full before I felt queasy from eating too much
• HOWEVER, I need to be mindful of including a complex carb with every meal, or else I will suffer a sugar crash
• (avoiding sugar crashes, especially when I worked retail and had very limited time for eating, is one of the reasons I think I started overeating in the first place)
• I am wildly more productive at my job when I'm not hungry, queasy or thinking about my next meal
• I don't think I've ever gone grocery shopping as an adult without feeling hungry
• I would not say that I've magically stopped wanting to eat junk food, but I will say that biscuits and chocolate are suddenly much less interesting to me
• it's genuinely alarming to realise how much "will power" and "intuitive eating" is just "hormones" -- I mean, not to sound like a 1930s health nut, but it's all hormones? 
• I have really worked over the years to resist self-hatred and fat-shaming myself, and ... well, a lot of the time I failed, because that is the society we live in, and surely if I was a better person I would eat less and better? 
• HORMONES
• yesterday night, instead of my customary Friday night treat of a whole frozen pizza, a cocktail and some chocolate, I had three-quarters of a frozen pizza, a glass of low-alcohol wine and some water, and I didn't feel like I was denying myself, or like I was being "virtuous", I simply didn't think about it at all. I ate until I was full, and enjoyed my food, and then I was done
• at some point I'm going to stop noticing how much mental space used to be taken up by thinking about food, and heaven knows what I'll do with all that new energy
• so far the only side effects I've noticed are some discreet, ladylike burps when I eat egg
• HOWEVER, the big effects -- constipation, nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea -- are basically my day-to-day existence, so would I even notice if I experienced them? So far those symptoms have also mostly reduced, although I am also on the lowest possible dose for the first month
• I really hope my personal grocery budget goes down, because there is not much wiggle room in my budget anymore
• pray Wegovy gets added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme asap

Comments

[runpunkrun]

Glad you're seeing positive results!

[nonelvis]

I read an article yesterday talking about how GLP-1 blockers appear to work on other "cravings," like the urge to shop or gamble, and it is frankly wild that our brains and hormones can do this to us. Anyway, I'm glad this is helping, even if the cost is a giant YIKES.

[kerravonsen]

As someone who takes Trulicity (similar medication, but not the same) for diabetes this all rings true. Reduced hunger pangs, feeling full sooner, definitely. No nausea, thank goodness. Maybe a little bit of stomach cramps on injection-day but not otherwise. And, like you, the constipation and diarrhea are par for the course - though for me I attribute them to side effects from my other medications. I've reached the "so many medications you start balancing their side-effects" stage. I get to choose between constipation, diarrhea, and excessive urination. Lovely.

And totally with you on the failure of talking myself out of self-hatred.

[starlady]

This is fascinating stuff. I'm glad it's working, and I hope it gets cheaper soon.

[greenwoodside]

Glad it's working for you! My mum has Type-2 diabetes and is on steroids for another condition -- I'll have to see if Ozempic (another brand name) is available on the NHS and doesn't interact horribly with the steroids.

I've been entertained watching Mumsnet as that portion of the population that equates thinness with moral beauty and social value has a hissy fit. BUT IT'S NOT FAIR, they say as people go on semaglutide and start losing weight without sitting in a hole and living on grass and rainwater.

Darlings, it was never fair.

[aella_irene]

It is prescribed on the NHS for diabetes, but obviously you will still need the steroid check.

[greenwoodside]

Thank you : )

[aella_irene]

Thank you so much for posting about your experience! I've been looking into semaglutide, but you have to jump through a number of hoops in the UK, and I may not be eligible. Still, your experience, especially chocolate and sweets just being less interesting, sounds really useful.