ozempic

[S_dillow]

i was just put on two mg of ozempic and i was wondering if it helped or harmed?i read a recent study that says its beneficial to ckd people,another that warned against it.both my pcp and nephro gave the ok but wondering what to expect?

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Did they put you right on 2 mg or did they step you up. Most people start with .25 and work up. I have been on Ozempic for over two years and my husband for almost as long. His CKD improved. I am on the lowest dose because I got pancreatitis from it. But I had pancreatitis before. I do not take enough to lose weight. But my A1c is 5.3 and has been for a year and half.

[S_dillow in reply to Bassetmommer]

my a1c is 5.5 right now and they put me straight on that dose.i didnt know anything about a lower dose.thanks for the information.im gonna be watching to see what this does

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to S_dillow]

Holy smokes. Are you trying to lose weight? I would be concerned that they did not titrate you so your body gets used to it. It will change your bowel movements, either way more or way less. I would speak to the doctor about jumping it at that level. It might make you hypoglycemic with that A1c. Are you taking insulin too? If so, be careful.

ozempic.com/how-to-take/oze....

[S_dillow in reply to Bassetmommer]

no it was supposed to regulate my sugars.i havent noticed anything other than a slight upset of stomach and not being hungry at all

[userotc in reply to S_dillow]

Your fasting blood sugar at 5.5 mmols/l, is in WHO's normal range who.int/data/gho/indicator-... and only the start of pre-diabetic range for Diabetes UK diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_car...

I presume youve seen my replies to other posts on GLP-1s? If not, see healthunlocked.com/user/use...

[barbara55109 in reply to userotc]

Reminder - userotc is NOT a DR. His father is NOT a medical DR. He regularly uses outdated studies to diss GLP1s. He has a private business advising people on diet, Although he is not a certified dietician or nutritionist.

[Pontios in reply to barbara55109]

Good on you Barbara. You are keeping it factual. I don't understand how Userotc gets away with it. Well done. A private business advising on diet: I did not know that. I thought it was all just flaky well intentioned advice.

A private business would make it unethical.

[barbara55109 in reply to Pontios]

He repeatedly post links to articles written by himself and his dad on his business webpage, but does not disclose he is the author and owner of the website. His father has a PhD and uses the title of Dr. But he is an engineer, not a medical Dr. They don't disclose that either.

[MToQ]

Totally supposed to start at lower doses and work up to 2mg.

[S_dillow]

thanks for the info.i just got stuck on the dose no explannations etc.my husband is royally p.o.d at the doctor.im hoping i dont get pancreatitis...

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to S_dillow]

cll the doc and ask him to start at a lower dose. At 5.5, you do not need all the dosage. Don't wait until you pass out from low sugar.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to Bassetmommer]

My A1c generally is 6.1 or lower, and not prescribed anything except cinnamon pills.

[S_dillow]

ok.calling today

[barbara55109]

There are nationwide shortages of both T2 diabetes drugs. they may have started you at the top because of that. I would argue that isn't safe. I'm also surprised they gave you ozempic when your diabetes is in control. You don't mention if you have weight loss needs.

Here is my experience. I use these drugs for both T2 and weight loss.

Both semaglutide and tirzepatide have shown weight loss results that compare very favorably, without the problems associated with bariatric surgery. The drugs have their own side effects, but luckily those haven't impacted me much. I was on semaglutide for a little over a year. I can't have bariatric surgery because of previous abdominal operations. I have no colon and already am fat and malnourished.

Because of my combination of health conditions my endo followed the prescribing protocols and it took several months to get to the top dose. I was able to go from 224 to 190. But then my weight started crawling back up.

Since the CKD diagnosis and my attempt to get on the kidney transplant wait list I go to the YMCA an average of 5 nights a week for 2-4 hours. It is impossible for me to meet all the medical diets I've been prescribed. They all disagree with each other. Low carb for T2, low protein for CKD, low fiber for ileostomy, low calorie for weight loss. My endo wanted me under 800 calories a day. So I eat once a day. I mostly eat turkey or chicken sandwiches. I am still malnourished, but there isn't anything I can do about it. Every dietician gives contradictory advice. They only know their specialty. Since a blockage can kill me I stick with a low fiber diet.

I switched to tirzepatide. I was on two types of insulin - because of my CKD. Prior to CKD my diabetes was totally in control with low doses of glipizide and metformin - but those drugs are contraindicated with CKD. So I had to go on insulin. I had frequent lows while on insulin and semaglutide, but I couldn't stop the insulin. My A1C was in the 5s. After hitting the max dose of tirzepatide I was able to stop my meal insulin. It was a miracle and I finally started dropping weight. I now hover around 172. Because of my unique system and dehydration issues my weight can vary by 5-10 pounds a day.

Genetic obesity, dietary limitations, a blockage prone, high output ileostomy, postmenopausal, insulin and physical limitations make losing weight very difficult for me. I've never been able to get down to 800 calories a day as recommended by doctors. Getting off on insulin was the key. I expect to be on the max dose of tirzepatide as long as my insurance continues to cover it.

For the last month I've weighed between 171-175. This is what I weighed at 17. I'm 61 now. I've NEVER been thin or even average. Stupid BMI charts still have me as obese, but at least I qualify for a kidney transplant.

I have had very few side effects on either semaglutide or tirzepatide. I have had occasional stomach cramps when I eat. I CAN'T get constipation, though if I ate high fiber I would have life threatening blockages. Luckily I haven't been impacted by the world wide shortages. I am very fearful of losing access and gaining weight above the transplant limit.

If you are on insulin that make losing weight much more difficult. It makes most people gain weight. If you don't have an endo, I suggest you see one. They are much more knowledgeable about weight loss than GPs or nutrition people. Obesity is more often caused by metabolic issues, not calories in calories out. Endocrinologists understand the science.

[CuriousCKD in reply to barbara55109]

God bless you for your fortitude! I have many problems and go through my depressive states, but to be honest, there is always someone who has more issues than I do, and in some selfish way, it makes me feel better. Blessings to you! 🙏🏼

[barbara55109 in reply to CuriousCKD]

Thanks

[barbara55109]

I forgot, my eGFR has climbed since I went on Mounjaro. I was in the 30s in 2020 and then July 2020 I dropped to 7 and was hospitalized with severe dehydration. Dehydration is the cause of my CKD, not the T2. I got up to the low 20s and stayed there until 2024. No one knows if it is the Mounjaro itself or the weight loss, but my eGFR is now 31.

[Matrix1959 in reply to barbara55109]

Giving you a virtual hug! 🫂

[barbara55109 in reply to Matrix1959]

Thanks. I even went inactive on the transplant list. I can still get time, but I'm doing so well I don't need a transplant today.

[honeybug]

Hi S_dillow 😊🌿🌸🦋

I have a negative results to report. Not to scare you but educate you. I started Ozempic in August 2023. The first jab I got a bad headache straight away. Then with additional jabs I started getting severe stomach pains then severe nausea. These 2 very unpleasant symptoms stayed with my whole experience while using it. It definitely curbed my appetite as my GI issues were ever present. Then by the second month I noticed my GI tract wasn’t functioning normally. I stopped using ozempic when I wasn’t able to have a BM anymore. I was well on my way to having bowel paralysis. Now it’s 10 months later and my bowels are still not normal but I am able to go thank God. I only lost 6 pounds while on Ozempic. It wasn’t worth it to me. I then moved on to GOLO capsules which had resulted in the same results w/o all the pain nausea. I quit that too.

In all fairness to these wonderful products I don’t believe I was ever a good candidate to try them at all. I’ve always had GI problems and to complex to describe. Not ever had normal bowel function. I know now that my GI tract has been permanently damaged from using Ozempic.

My advice to anyone without normal GI functioning is beware on trying this. I’m a patient with over 70 comorbidities with severe type 2 diabetes and multiple autoimmune diseases and I have just accepted that I’m going to stay 200+ pounds till the end of my days and although I don’t like this no control over this due to failed thyroid and very little sleeping it’s just my road to travel. I’m thrilled not to have severe GI pain anymore.

I hope this hasn’t scared you but it will help you or anyone else that has GI problems to begin with be sure to give thorough consideration to trying anything that might cause serious GI complications because I’ve read where too many others who have to live with much worse outcomes than mine.

Best wishes for success in your journey my friend.

Love and prayers

EJ 😊♥️🥰🙏🕊🌿🌸🦋

[S_dillow in reply to honeybug]

thanks for the info im watcfhing this carefully

[honeybug in reply to S_dillow]

Most welcome sweetie. 😊

[CuriousCKD]

TWO mg? I started out out on .25 mg for a month, .50 mg for a month, then onto 1 mg, against my better judgment. I know it doesn’t happen to a lot of people, but I got violently ill after one dose of the 1 mg, and it took me 5 weeks to recover. I would definitely question that dose unless you’ve already worked your way up to it and had no ill effects.

[S_dillow in reply to CuriousCKD]

no reaction other than upset stomach a little and a brief headache.

[S_dillow in reply to CuriousCKD]

no that was a straight dose.im keeping tabs on whats up.

[CuriousCKD in reply to S_dillow]

Well, in my case, all the distress came at once. I was fine one day, and the next I was retching like crazy, with my stomach literally doing flip flops. I had stomach pain so bad, I couldn’t have eaten if I tried. I ended up going to Urgent Care, where I was tested for pancreatitis and gall bladder attack. Thankfully, neither issue was the case, but I was sick for quite a few weeks. I’m not saying you will experience any issues, I just wonder why the doctor would start someone out on the highest dose, when the general rule of thumb is to start out small and increase by a half dose more, a month at a time? That being said, I hope you have great success!

[S_dillow]

thanks.i havent been able to reach anybody yet...but as its a weekend theyll probably call me monday.if i dont get them first.

[S_dillow]

thanks.i havent been able to reach anybody yet...but as its a weekend theyll probably call me monday.if i dont get them first.

[Badger2024]

Even the leaflet that comes with the Ozempic pen tells you to start at .25 for a month. Then .5 for a month etc. Perhaps your Dr just meant for you to get the higher dose pen then follow microdosing instructions to titrate up slowly?

[S_dillow in reply to Badger2024]

nope.they just put me on 2mg flat period.still dont get it

[Badger2024 in reply to S_dillow]

If you can’t get hold of your doctor soon then have a chat with the pharmacist who supplied it to ask if there are any dangerous side effects to look out for when starting at a high dose. Pancreatitis and low blood sugars come to mind but perhaps if you haven’t experienced any side effects then you’re okay to continue the 2mg. Pharmacists are highly trained and often know more about new drugs than doctors. If not they certainly have access to the information you need

[S_dillow in reply to Badger2024]

thanks badger i wil.