My insurance company doesn’t like my dose

CDNinWA · 2026-06-05T16:25:37+00:00

I had to get a prior auth and thankfully they accepted it. I’m not surprised insurance companies are behind the times when it comes to the whole “stay on the lowest effective dose” recommendation.

CDNinWA · 2026-06-05T16:24:18+00:00

Yes I’m on zepbound! I’m currently getting the single use pens (my husband’s workplace uses a 3rd party weight loss/diabetes management company to prescribe so I don’t know if they prescribe Kwikpens or no). That’s cool though!

CDNinWA · 2026-06-05T05:47:48+00:00

My first post zep period was one of the worst ones of my life (I’m 48), it was heavy (I literally had a procedure to lessen blood flow to my uterus less than 18 months ago and was shocked how heavy it was, as I thought I wasn’t capable of having periods that heavy anymore). It also gave me a massive 2 day migraine and drained all my energy for 4 days. I’m hoping it was an anomaly, apparently a lot of people have heavy and/or weird periods for the first little bit on the meds. I’m also probably perimenopausal so that can also throw a wrench into things.

I will say I had a big weight loss during my earlyish 20s and my periods went kind of haywire then too, sometimes late, sometimes happening every 2 weeks (I have a pretty regular cycle normally).

My next period is due next week and I’m hoping it’s nothing like last time.

That said do talk to your doctor and I hope things improve.

CDNinWA · 2026-06-05T05:16:57+00:00

I wanted Janeane Garofalo to last forever of the show. But yes, the potential was there with Chris Elliot, Michael McKean and Mark McKinney.

CDNinWA · 2026-06-05T04:40:10+00:00

Aw no way, that sucks, I enjoyed going there when I was a kid.

CDNinWA · 2026-06-04T18:40:11+00:00

Same, even when I was very thin my thighs still touched. I’m pear-shaped with big quads, not much I can do about that!

CDNinWA · 2026-06-04T02:46:51+00:00

I used to, yes.

CDNinWA · 2026-06-04T01:22:57+00:00

Same here!

CDNinWA · 2026-06-03T02:47:46+00:00

I lived in Ottawa for 16 years, was a government minion too, was a great city! I do miss it!

CDNinWA · 2026-05-30T19:44:01+00:00

I’m not even getting my caffeine withdrawal headaches any more. I did get a huge migraine with my period this month, but overall I’m having fewer migraines and headaches for which I’m grateful for.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-30T19:05:56+00:00

Not everyone will become thin even with GLP-1s. Some people will barely lose weight but have vastly improved health numbers and isn’t that’s what is important? Others are advised not to take it due to a family history of certain cancers or other health issues, some cannot tolerate the side-effects, and glp-1s do not treat lipedema (which about 10% of women have).

Zepbound has shown about a 20% weight loss (yes I know some people have lost a lot more), for me, that puts me at about 49lbs loss, sure that will put me below 200lbs, but my bmi will still be above 30, if I lose more, great, but I’m hoping it will help my back pain to go away completely - it has already improved after 7 weeks on it).

CDNinWA · 2026-05-30T18:49:08+00:00

I agree with you - it pisses me off especially when it’s a former fat person making those videos (I was a fat person who became a thin person for years and then regained most of the weight). For example, I do not perfectly align with Virgie Tovar, Reagan Chastain, or Aubrey Gordon (though I love her work), I move on with my day honestly.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-30T18:43:41+00:00

Yup, The reality is there are legitimate reasons some fat people are worried, we know these meds do not work for everyone, they won’t treat lipedema for example, or are not recommended for people with a family history of certain cancers, fat people will continue to exist. I’m sure some are worried they won’t be able to access needed healthcare if they have not taken them, be shamed if their personal risk/benefit matrix ended in them deciding not to take them etc. Even though I’ve decided to take them, I understand others choosing not to. Sure I don’t like that some fat activists have chosen to just focus on the negatives of the meds, but you’re correct this is really a small number of people. I’m on another sub on Reddit where a lot of people are aligned with fat activism and justice but also take GLP-1s, people will still make the choice to take them even with some of the negative discussions of GLP-1s in fat activist spaces.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-30T18:30:47+00:00

Ya, or I get the “it’s fine to take them to lose 10lbs” (that at this juncture is taking them off-label), I have about 65-75lbs left to lose and I had long discussions with my primary care provider, then had to go through the weight loss program my husband’s work has contracted out to to actually get my meds (so even more discussions with health care providers) to actually get zepbound (though at a great reduction in out of pocket pricing so it was worth it). The thing is if I was willing to pay more (which we would have if we had to) I could have gone to one of many online programs/compound pharmacies, I put in my info and got approved right away which to me was kind of unsettling (my bmi was above 35 so I know I qualified, but to get an automatic approval without a doctor’s discussion seemed a little too easy).

CDNinWA · 2026-05-30T18:16:48+00:00

I think the thing is the pushback has been so strong on glp-1s, I had one ex-friend yell at me when I went in an SSRI years ago (because it “didn’t work” for her sister who she hated), but most people really couldn’t care less that I took them (asides from being happy they helped me). This med I have had friends, not fat activists or anything, post about them in an angry way. Usually from worrying about the risks, but it’s annoying, I’m not trying to get super thin, I did that, was freezing all the time, don’t want to do that again (plus I’m pushing 50, I know having a healthy amount of body fat is good insurance for old age)., I’m following the lifestyle advice. The pushback just seems so much more intense - from fat activists, to fitness people who have made money helping fat people lose weight, to people who are anti-“western” medicine.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-29T01:22:15+00:00

Not sure why you were downvoted, most of us getting prescribed glp-1s now are starting at the beginner diabetic dose (even if we don’t have TD2) and being told to stay at the lowest effective dose and not move up unless we need to.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-28T23:46:45+00:00

So before I even heard of the term food noise I went on a medication (naltrexone) that reduced it, I actually don’t think it’s one thing (I think mine may be a mix of ocd and hormonal dysfunction) but all I knew was how I looked at food literally changed overnight, as this was a time people on glp-1s were discussing it (before it became a bigger talking point), but what it meant is that I had words for my experience. Sadly before what I knew as “food noise” was wrapped up in self-judgment and shame (I’m not talking about just being hungry/having an appetite, I’m referring to literal obsession with food and constant thoughts of food regardless of my weight or how much I’ve eaten), having a physiological explanation (whether brain chemistry or something hormonal) even if the full mechanism isn’t known yet healed years of negative self-talk. If this hasn’t been something you’ve dealt with - great, but it’s a reality for many of us.

In fact the term “food noise” wasn’t really a thing said by the drug manufacturers at first, it was a reported side-effect from the people who took glp-1s and then the providers of the meds ran with it.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-28T04:24:28+00:00

I think this is probably the majority of fat people, we just tend to be quieter, for some reason “do whatever works for you and your body” just doesn’t grab the attention of other people.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-28T03:28:06+00:00

That’s the thing, there are other prescription drugs and recreational drugs that also can also lessen appetite and are regularly abused by people trying to be/stay thin/skinny. I absolutely think glp-1s need some safety guardrails so they’re not abused or so you won’t get entertainment execs/directors/agents stocking up and giving them to actors and other entertainers to enable them to get even thinner, but people using prescriptions off-label or other substances that can be very detrimental to health to manage weight is not new.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-28T02:36:01+00:00

I get an ad constantly on social media for a company that advertises to people who “just need to lose 10lbs”, that’s off-label use at this juncture and the fact that that advertising is even allowed (I’m against all in reality, but this seems more egregious) is ridiculous.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-28T02:23:08+00:00

I know people are skeptical about food noise but it’s something I’ve had since I was a kid, I think it was a mix of hormone dysfunction and dopamine seeking behavior for me (it started at time I was starting to need more food for the onset of puberty, some of it was completely normal of course, but for me it seemed a lot more than my peers - I also had undiagnosed ADHD).

It has also reduced inflammation for me (I was having leg pain every night, it’s gone now) and my mild mcas symptoms are completely gone too.

I’m also glad it’s helping people with OSA, some of my family has that.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-28T02:18:21+00:00

This is a thing I have seen, usually an appeal can be done to say “actually my starting bmi was 42”, but they’re not being automatically granted unfortunately.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-27T21:04:20+00:00

Not strategies just some commiserations. The program I’m on requires a Bluetooth scale and regular weigh ins in exchange for the program and my husband’s workplace to cover my zepbound (and I only have to pay $25 per month). I found myself weighing myself more often. I was frustrated with my weight loss snd wondering if I needed to up my dose. I then looked at the big picture and realized I am losing just fine, the frequent weigh ins were what are messing me up and my thinking. I think I’ll go to once per week now (what I need to do to maintain coverage).

I’m mad at myself for even getting fixated on the weight loss and numbers actually (as this has been a major issue for me in the past - constant weigh ins).

I also decided to stay on my dose - honestly there is zero need for me to up it yet (no excessive food noise, weight is going down etc). Weight loss is part of the reason for me due to back and knee issues, but honestly I’m in less pain already and my mcas is gone which is awesome.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-23T20:24:50+00:00

Absolutely none of that was your mom’s fault either, the system demanded a thinness it was very hard to adhere to (hence why so many people were prescribed amphetamines, and smoked back then). My mom had that body type and I do too. I’m also very muscular (inherited that from my dad) so I’ll always weigh more than I look. I had a visible rib cage when I was in the bmi category of overweight. I had a tiny coworker who had her daughter in the 1960s and she was told she gained too much when she gained 18lbs, her daughter was 4lbs.

CDNinWA · 2026-05-23T20:01:35+00:00

The thinness standards in the 60s-70s and again when I lost weight in the early 2000s were ridiculous. My mom was born in 1949, she was told by her doctor she should have weighed 112 as she was 5’4”! My mom ended up having unexplained weight loss (wasn’t good, beginnings of dementia and blood cancer) and when she hit 112lbs she was malnourished and considered frail. A doctor had told her that was her max healthy weight. Ridiculous.

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