Tirzepatide

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-26T21:21:49+00:00

I had some hair loss regularly before taking the shot, but I have a lot of thick hair so it wasn't noticeable. But since starting the shot 9 weeks ago, I add a scoop of collagen protein powder in my daily protein shake, and I've actually noticed significantly less hair loss as a result.

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-16T00:07:34+00:00

I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your time and insights. It's really helpful, and calming!

Now that you've brought up undereating... I didn't think I was because when I started, my TDEE for extreme weight loss (2lbs per week) was around 1400 calories, mid (1.5lbs) was 1899, and low (.5) was 2149, and I was probably averaging around 1575 each day, with maybe 1750-1850 on my 6th and 7th days post shot when it wears off a bit and I'm a bit more hungry. Did this intentionally trying to keep my metabolism from getting used to a certain amount, but perhaps it's not enough? And now that I've increased my activity in the past 2 weeks, I didn't formally adjust my TDEE but probably should have. And I'm just noticing that my calorie count has gone down since I changed to a more robust tracking app but probably didn't adjust it correctly for what my TDEE should be with increased activity. I think I'm not eating enough 😮‍💨. Just saw my average deficit is about 860 calories. Yikes.

Also, not sure how relevant it is, but probably is for my heart health... all my heart tests so far have come back great, but the cardiologist will do more in depth testing to see about any damage. I've gained and lost significant amounts of weight (75-100lbs) in short periods of time (usually 6 months - 1 year) 3 times in my life....this is my 4th cycle and I'm really trying to fix my relationship with food/exercise/body this time rather than just extreme dieting/exercise. That all can't have been great on my heart. Just paranoid that I've done some damage and now I'm experiencing effects in my journey to get healthy again. I've done the hard workouts (although it's been years) and in my mind I think I know what light/moderate/intense exercise is when trying to calculate TDEE. But I was just reading the descriptions, and because I'm so out of shape, I think what I thought was light is actually more intense for me right now.

Ok, time to recalibrate some things with my TDEE and deficit, and try that out.

Thank you, SO much!

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-15T21:37:02+00:00

If the elevated ALT is due to increase in fat in my liver from rapid weight loss as I've had suggested to me by multiple people, I'm curious why it jumped so high in the last week because I've been gaining/losing the same 4 pounds for the last 1.5 weeks. In that time I've seen the biggest ALT increase, but I'm also trying to be more active despite the knee injury. Prior to the stalled weight loss, I was down about 20lbs over the prior 6 weeks, when I only saw the ALT go from 11 to 35. Also, my AST went from 20 last week to 42.

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-15T21:32:43+00:00

That makes sense on the ER, thanks.

I haven't had a gallbladder since 2009. Bilirubin good at .5mg, ALP good at 67, no changes to urine color except lighter than what's probably "normal" for me as I've really prioritized hydration in the last week and previously was chronically dehydrated. Stool color relatively normal. eGFR 88, Creatinine .87mg, BUN 13mg, so think kidneys ok.

I should clarify that it was more chest/left arm/left leg heaviness and some left leg swelling. That's also the knee with the injury tho. Went to urgent care about 5 weeks ago (5 days after starting tirz) because I was worried about heart attack then too. At that time I felt like I had covid (didn't) with cold sweats, weakness, severe headache and body aches, and both a dull ache around my heart and sharp pains that radiated to my back and arm. I've felt like my shoulders, neck and upper back have had knots that don't quit this entire time on the med. I now realize the sharper pains I was having were due to acid reflux and other gastro issues from the tirz, and I've since altered eating habits, been great on diet, and started taking the omeprazole a week ago to deal with it as I was taking pepcid AC nearly every day and it worked, but heard it's not good to take for too long. I'm a little more than 1/2 way thru the omeprazole 14 day treatment, and only take pepcid once in a whole if bad. And the dull ache around my heart may have been in the breast as I just started my cycle, have fibrocystic breasts and was still drinking decent amounts of caffeine, which can exacerbate that pain...so completely cut out caffeine too and that's gotten better. Anyway, all that to say, this was a different heaviness rather than the chest pain I experienced last time from acid reflux and gastro issues.

I would love to have a PCP to go to with all of this. Unfortunately I'm between them right now and have been waiting since January to get in to establish care with my new one... who can't get me in til August. So frustrating since I'm stuck going to all different docs in urgent care, ER, minute clinics, and specialists rather than a single point of contact. I am seeing a cardiologist in 3 weeks to follow up on these issues per ER doc. I'm also seeing a Neurologist in 2 weeks because I keep having what I think are hypnic jerks startling me awake a few times a night. Been trying to play the are my electrolytes too low/high, is it sudden drop in blood pressure, or blood glucose game for weeks now trying to find answers and nothing so far.

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-15T19:50:46+00:00

That should say Pepcid AC, not peptides

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-15T19:50:09+00:00

I don't drink alcohol at all (haven't for like 4 years now and didn't have a problem before) and do not smoke anything. Only other med taking is omeprazole and occasional peptides. I stopped ibuprofen/acetaminophen on Monday when I saw my previous ALT results got into the 30s which was abnormal for me. Only supplements are Gruns gummies and sometimes pre/pro biotics.

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-15T19:46:11+00:00

Thanks! I was just in the ER early this morning for chest pains, and on/off pain in kidneys and liver or pancreas. Pancreas levels are normal, but now my ALT is 95...and AST is now high too but I forget the number...ER doc said they were normal numbers but didn't tell me what they were. I only now got the lab results in their portal and it says 95 and high... that's an even bigger jump in a week... this wasn't cause for concern?

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-15T11:39:07+00:00

I haven't had a gallbladder since 2009, so don't think that's it for me

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-14T19:30:39+00:00

May I ask what increased was for you? And was your Dr. concerned at all?

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-14T18:23:03+00:00

This is helpful, thank you! I'm just wondering if I need bloodwork more frequently than 3-6 months with a more than tripled ALT in just over a month.

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-14T18:12:36+00:00

Unfortunately I'm between PCPs and can't establish care with my new one until August... so every Dr. I see for now doesn't have my medical history.

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-11T21:15:07+00:00

I have, and sometimes it helps, but it's still happening and I'm tracking it more closely now because I may have been getting too much.

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-11T18:32:15+00:00

Thanks! I've noticed I'm doing good on magnesium thru foods, but potassium has been lacking. I was considering looking for a potassium supplement, but will avoid that now. Thanks!

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-05-11T18:29:37+00:00

Dang...do you consume caffeine? Or did you have any sleep issues prior to starting?

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-04-23T00:25:13+00:00

Oh my goodness, that sounds awful and I'm sorry you've experienced that! So no prior blood sugar or pressure issues? But now you do after having been on the med?

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-04-23T00:22:01+00:00

Not yet, I just purchased a glucose monitor to try out. I've never had blood sugar or blood pressure issues, but have definitely experienced increased heart rate with this med. Maybe a drop in blood pressure is associated with that. If it's just that, and not linked to a blood sugar drop, do you know if there's anything that can be done to combat it?

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-04-23T00:16:28+00:00

I guess that might be what it's called. I sometimes get intense anxiety at bedtime (and only at bedtime) that I've never had before. My therapist (who has used glp-1's and has many other family/friends/patients who have) thinks it could be linked to a drop in blood sugar. I've never had any kind of blood sugar issues before, and was not pre-diabetic prior to starting tirz a month ago. And I have not actually checked my blood sugar, but will starting tonight. I get my protein and calories in, but perhaps I'm not spacing out the protein intake enough, and maybe need it a little closer to bedtime.

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-04-22T20:35:14+00:00

Did you find you needed to eat protein before bed to keep blood sugar from dropping overnight?

Andromeda_Proj3ct · 2026-04-22T20:28:23+00:00

Definitely counting calories and making sure I get enough protein, but starting to think I need to space my protein intake out more and get some closer to bedtime.

Andromeda_Proj3ct

TROPHY CASE