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First The Gratitude

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Now The Discussion

I am combining this with my Angela’s Journey content because it relates so closely. If you do not want to read about the weight management journey I am on, this is your warning.

Yesterday, I received a call from the place where I go for weight management treatment, and Zepbound was approved! I picked up my medication, and Monday will now be the injection date each week.

There is a lot of propaganda around weight loss injections, especially the weight management variation of Ozempic. That one is called Wegovy. They are the same chemical basis, with Ozempic dosages being for diabetes and Wegovy in higher doses for weight loss and management.

Like all medications, there are risks.

My personal opinion is that these injections should likely be reserved for people who are excessively overweight. Not someone who needs to lose 20 lbs, but someone who needs to lose around 100 or more pounds. When you are my size, the benefits outweigh the risks. However, I have always been fully monitored by a doctor when it came to something of this nature.

A year ago, I tried to get insurance to approve Wegovy. They were not willing for whatever reason they may have had. So, I tried again with Saxenda. Saxenda received approval, but there was a major shortage of all the weight management injections. By the time it was available again, guess whose prior authorization ran through? Mine. They were not willing to reapprove the medication.

Fast forward to Friday of last week, and my discussion with the lovely NP I see for weight management. She assured me that she would go to bat and help me. I don’t think insurance companies work on the weekend but I’ll be darned, Friday afternoon the prior authorization was submitted and I was notified of the approval by the same time yesterday. After all the trouble I had in the past with them, I was gobsmacked and overwhelmingly excited! I took my first injection yesterday, and today I seem to be handling it well. I am not feeling excessive hunger, and it is supporting my goal of smaller portions through the day, it seems.

I already know the risks and warnings that come with this type of medication. I know what to look for and when to go to the ER if a major complication arises. Being properly educated is important as, yes, issues with the pancreas can arise from use.

I need to lose a lot of weight. This is the best option to help me kickstart the process, especially due to my chronic pain and limited movement due to said pain. As the weight comes off, it will put less pressure on my body so I can do more.

This is being accompanied by an appointment with a nutritionist, and I am to see a physical therapist for an evaluation. They will give me a list of exercises that will help me move forward in weight loss as my physical capabilities become less restricted. The nutritionist will give me the information I need to help me make better food choices and share ideas I have not already implemented in my journey.

I feel comfortable in saying that I am not only educated on the risks but that I am maximizing the process by taking additional steps to get the most out of my journey. This is, in my opinion, the proper use of a medication like this. Knowledge is power and an important piece as self-control takes over. It helps build that self-control for better choices. In turn, it is a good step forward for someone my size who needs help kickstarting a journey this intensive.

I cannot yet decide whether this is the true week one now that I have the tools for the full journey or if I should maintain my current tally. That thought is up in the air for me. This feels like a true start, though.

Thank you all for coming around and reading all of my gratitude’s, weight management posts, and daily prompt responses (when I have time to answer them anyway). I see your likes on my posts, and I appreciate that you enjoy my content. I think the secret is that I write for myself. It has more authenticity than content intentionally written for reactions. ♡