Considering a GLP-1, have some worries
Edit: Hey, everyone. Thank you so much for all these great responses! I want to try to reply to everyone individually soon. Just rather swamped with things right now!
Hi all. I'm so glad a sub like this exists. I have a history of a couple different eating disorders, and I am also at a weight that is rather impractical for living my daily life, at least in my case. Most of my weight gain happened years ago, but I'm still slowly gaining weight for reasons I'm not exactly sure of. (I know I have prediabetes and PCOS, but they're both being treated.) It's a pain (sometimes a bit literally) to care for myself, and I'm nervous that I won't fit into my parents' cars pretty soon. And while part of my mobility issues are due to my mildish cerebral palsy, I believe I could move around better if I weighed less.
I thought my anti-diet dietitian would be totally against a GLP-1 when I brought it up to her. But she's not. She said she would have been a few years ago, but she's seen GLP-1s quiet some people's "food noise" and give them more peace. She said she'd help me make sure I'm not eating too little if I go on one. My therapist, whose primary specialty is EDs, is on board if that's what I want. My PCP and psychiatric nurse practitioner are on board. In fact, my not-so-anti-diet PCP would love to put me on a GLP-1. But she didn't put the idea into my head initially. I'm just tired of my current situation, and that's what put the idea into my head.
I know it would be a bit difficult financially with my insurance not offering coverage for non-diabetic GLP-1 prescriptions, but I think (or hope) it could be made doable. I've researched options, and going through a manufacturer's direct program seems most doable. I'd ideally like to be on Zepbound due to my sleep apnea and it being helpful for that, but I may have to settle for Wegovy cost-wise. I'll see.
So, I'm wondering a few things:
- Has anyone with mobility issues aside from just a certain amount of body weight taken a GLP-1? And were you able to maintain your strength and not lose too much muscle?
- If you've had to stretch yourself financially to afford a GLP-1, has it been worth it?
- If you have issues with needles (I'd put my needle aversion as mild when receiving vaccinations or doing labs; never yet had to inject myself), are you able to cope?
- How have your GI side effects been? Did they get better over time?
- I'm also open to hearing about experiences with EDs and GLP-1s.