Wegovy.

[Tickertalker]

I changed my diet a while back and no longer eat meat or dairy. This has had the benefit of losing two excess stones. Great. I reckon that, if I can drop one or two more, I'll be in good shape. I'm considering the new wonder drug Wegovy to get me over the line. Wegovy, however, is not suitable for those with heart failure. I was born with a bicuspid valve which led to an aneurysm. My valve was replaced with a mechanical one three years ago and the aneurysm was repaired. Does this count as heart failure?

[Hidden]

Because of various health conditions I am required to take several different form of medication each day. I take these reluctantly, because I view them to be some form of poison my body has to cope with, in spite of the help they provide. I am sure many on here are the same. I suggest you also view your weight loss drug as a poison quite apart from any other side effects it may carry. There are better ways to lose weight. You have already lost 2 stone, so I suggest you carry on as you are and perhaps increase your exercise regime, which has the added benefit of being good for your heart, and forget this 'wonder drug'.

[Tickertalker in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I agree that drugs should be stayed away from unless strictly necessary and I never touch the most damaging one of them all. Alcohol. But, for me, my surgery went disastrously wrong. Six months before I was trekking across Borneo, six months after I was struggling to get to Sainsburys. I regret agreeing to surgery every day. My decision to lose some weight was born of the need to have something positive come out of my new life. Yes, I have lost some excess pounds by sticking to a diet of fish, fruit and vegetables with the occasional boiled egg and a fist full of nuts. But, I seem to have plateaued and I really need to achieve this goal. The question I asked wasn't 'Is Wegovy a good or bad idea?'. That's a personal choice. I just wanted to know if having my aortic valve replaced is classified as heart failure as it's recommended that people with heart failure stay clear of the stuff.

[Tickertalker]

Thanks for your reply. Exercise isn't my strong suit. I do like to go out for a good cycle but only when the weather's good. I know that, in a perfect world, I'd do more, but I had a stroke during my surgery and lost the use of a leg and an arm for a while. I'm good now, but wouldn't feel comfortable about running. And, I've never felt at home in gyms or swimming pools. As for Wegovy, two years is the maximum you're allowed, so not a lifelong fix. I've been very good about changing what I eat but not so successful at changing the amount I eat. The attraction of Wegovy is that it apparently retrains your body to stuff less food into your face. It's said that Hollywood lives on the stuff. Not that I'm deluded enough to think that I've got Brad Pitt's physique lurking behind the flab but, who knows, maybe his elder brother Cess Pitt. But, yes, you're probably right that wonder fixes aren't the ideal way forward. As for the snake, I found it on a riverbank in Indonesia and was stupid enough to pick it up. Looking back, I'm just grateful that I wasn't on the menu.

[RufusScamp]

There is a warning article on the Guardian website, suggesting this is not entirely a good idea,

[Captain_Birdseye]

Aortic valve failure/replacement does not necessarily mean the same as heart failure.

Did you have heart failure before the valve replacement? The surgery may have helped to reduce this - but you really need to run it past the GP for your own situation.

Same with the Wegovy... this will (thankfully) be prescription only in the UK and to qualify you need to be diagnosed with at least 1 weight related condition (like type 2 diabetes) and have a BMI of over 35.

[Tickertalker in reply to Captain_Birdseye]

Thanks, that is the info that I was looking for. No, I didn't have heart failure before my surgery unless being prescribed statins counts. And no health related conditions, although I did suffer a stroke during my surgery. Not sure if that makes weight an issue. Anyway, I've just checked my BMI and it's 30, so I guess I'm not going to qualify anyway. Shame because I need to lose another two stone before I join the healthy weight club.