GLP-1 Medications

Did you ask your own GP first? I am curious why RO.

Yes my PCP and I had this conversation back in September. I asked Ro because it would’ve been cheaper than going through my insurance. $45 for the first month, then $145 per month after.

In fact, my PCP checked and my previous insurance would not even cover it, so I would’ve had to pay out of pocket. I just got insurance through my employer at the beginning of December, so I haven’t checked with them yet. All i know is that it’s really frustrating; my body will not do what Im trying to make it do and I get chastised for it, and yet people in the medical field shoot me down when I try to do something that I haven’t tried before and that might actually help.

I entrusted my health care to medical professionals for 50 years. I don't do that anymore. I'm not recommending you follow my example, however.....When I left care of my cardiology departmet (because they wanted to double my statin dose after I had reached my LDL goals and they failed to notice I had lost 38 lbs), My discharge papers said I was obese. Obesity and heart disease are a recipe for GLP-1 weight loss. My PCP didn't think I needed it. I'm fairly athletic for a 70 year old mildly obese man with heart disease. Statins provide an absolute reduction of cardio events of 1%. GLP-1s are said to provide 20% protection. I could use that. I became aware of a compounding pharmacy where you could obtain a GLP-1 sans PCP. They had me select my age from a column that only went to 65 years old. I'm 70. So I lied and said I was 60. I got the drugs. If I continue to increase the dosage, they are going to want blood work and verification of my age. I'm happy at .5ml if they are. If not, cheaper options are in the pipeline.

Because of the guidelines in this forum, I won’t say what my weight is. I will say, however, that based on my metrics, I am most definitely a candidate for glp-1 medications— in fact, they projected that on one, I would lose roughly 40 lbs. within the next few months. That’s huge for me (pun fully intended).

At this point, I’m sick of dealing with doctors. The only thing that concerns me about compounded medications is that they are not subject to the same parameters and regulations as non-compounded meds.

I wasnt able to get prescribed for weight loss even tho my bmi was morbidly obese, but my insurance did approve me for diabetes. The medication is not as strong and i dont lise as much or as fast, but i have gotten down to "just" obese, no longer morbidly. My dr told me i can expect to lose another 30 lbs, which would take me to overweight.

I hope your new insurance will cover something.

I burned 150 calories on the treadmill and another 100 on the stationary bike. I also did some leg exercises and some chin ups. If I do this everyday and otherwise balance my diet, I should lose a minimum of 4 lbs per month
just from the increase in exercise. I have lost 11 lbs having been on semaglutide .25ml for 6 weeks. I'm in it for the long haul. Also, options for weight loss drugs are in the pipeline. Pills will soon be available and costs are coming down.
Insurers may begin to provide more coverage. Who knows?

Yes, I am aware of all that. I also exercise and watch what I eat. But I am sick of waiting.

Do you have diagnosed medical issues? I have a history of an ED but my health issues outweigh it so I got prescribed them. But if you have heart issues or diabetes of something that is dangerous then you should be able to get it.

After a lot of thought and deliberation, I have decided that it's probably for the best that I am not on a GLP-1. I have prediabetes, but the more I read about GLP-1's, the less inclined I am to take them. For one thing, we're still learning about all the risks and tradeoffs involved in taking a GLP-1 medication, and some of the ones we've already learned about can be pretty debilitating, like gastrointestinal issues and gallbladder stones. For another, as I said, I only have prediabetes, which is not as severe as others like yourself who have more serious health issues; I don't want to be one of the many people diminishing the supply of a med that others may genuinely need. Finally, I don't want to be on this medication for the rest of my life, and the more we research these drugs, the more evident it becomes that when people stop taking GLP-1's, they experience rebound weight gain. This is not me shaming anyone on a GLP-1 if they honestly need it -- if you have serious health issues related to obesity and you've been prescribed it, then I wish you the best with it. This is just me stating my personal stance based entirely on my personal situation.

I was going to get an GLP-1 but my head just refused. In the end I know of a couple of friends that had terrible side effects. And they had no warning. Just one day their intestines were paralyzed. I am trying to lose weight on my own- again. It is tough. I also have a prescription for Phentermine. I use that sparingly.

My goal is just to learn how to eat again. I fear 25+ years of working has ruined my ability to eat normally. I have to learn to eat less food every day and not binge. .