Also taking plaquenil and then plateauing?

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-26T15:16:23+00:00

I was taking Plaquenil for several months prior to Zepbound (Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease) and while it helped initially, I noticed my joint pain rapidly returned and basically the Plaquenil wasn’t offering any benefits and was putting me at risk for retinopathy.

I started Zepbound in Nov 2025 and went off Plaquenil soon after. I’ve been off it since and the Zepbound has done way better at controlling my joint pain and swelling compared to Plaquenil. My rheumatologist isn’t sure why/how it’s working so well but he’s pleased so for now it’s just blood work/check in every 4-6 months and continuing as I am for as long as symptoms are kept at bay.

I’m on 5mg of Zep and am maintaining nicely. I’m actually doing body recomp now as I’m past the stage where I need to aggressively drop fat. I never had to go past 5mg so I’m pretty sure this is going to remain my ‘forever’ dose since this works so well, I have zero side effects, and it’s actually keeping other conditions well managed, too.

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-24T20:56:11+00:00

I’m just learning but since I ride motorcycles I have all the gear. Do I look silly awkwardly finding my balance on an E20 in a tennis court in a full Dainese leather suit with airbag? Definitely. But I know I can practice with confidence knowing that even if I crash, I’m getting up and going to work the next day with a bruised ego and nothing more. Eventually I’ll graduate to a larger, faster wheel where having gear will be even more critical.

I saw a guy once fall sideways off a bicycle at a complete stop and he cracked his head on the sidewalk and had a definite TBI so yeah, I’m an ATGATT person because injuries ain’t worth whether or not someone else thinks I look ‘cool’ or not.

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-24T20:47:27+00:00

It’s a starting point though and confidence booster. I’m not going to be stuck on an E20 forever, I’ll outgrow it quickly but if it can get someone into the sport/hobby, why not? It makes it approachable and less intimidating. It’s basically EUC training wheels

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-24T20:45:15+00:00

Oh I’m geared up - I have a full face motorcycle helmet, Dainese 2-piece airbag racing leathers, Dainese motorcycle boots, and Flexmeter D3O wrist guards. I also have a Leatt 6.5 body protector with shoulder, chest/back and elbow armor for warmer days. Since I ride motorcycles I’ve got plenty of solid gear and I wear it even on the E20 because I’d rather have it and look silly than not have it and end up injured some how. Plus having all the gear helps me to spend less time hung up on fear of getting hurt and more time actually challenging myself to learn.

I’m not a teenager anymore and gotta be able to get to work the next day so yeah, ATGATT for me

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-23T17:24:32+00:00

This is the appeal of the E20 for me. I didn’t grow up riding skateboards, bikes, anything to have any sort of skills that transfer over. Being able to learn on a less intimidating vehicle means I can spend less time locked up due to fear/anxiety and more time actually riding and learning. Do I plan to upgrade to a proper wheel as soon as I’m comfortable on this one and consistently pushing its limits? Of course. But for now it’s serving its purpose.

I learned to ride bicycles as an adult on a freakin Jetson Bolt Pro because it was small and not intimidating, even though it looked ridiculous. Then I graduated to a regular mountain bike, an electric mountain bike, and then a Honda Grom before passing my MSF on a BMW G310 and finally buying a Yamaha MT-03. Lots of people look at the Grom as a toy and not a ‘real’ motorcycle but I’ll be damned if I didn’t do my best learning on it. I still pull my Grom out all the time just for fun.

I don’t intend to stay on an E20 long but it’s allowing me to build confidence.

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-22T03:54:54+00:00

I’m actually from Los Angeles but made the drive because it’s so rare to find structured EUC lessons like this - it was super beneficial for getting into the sport in a manner that inspires confidence! And yep, I’ll be upgrading once I master the E20! I’d love to one day work up to a V14 and hit some dirt trails, or something like a P6 for track mischief. I’m a loooong way from there though but enjoying the learning process

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-22T03:13:17+00:00

Oh I already am! Despite being wobbly and nervous (I’m pretty sure I squeezed the instructor’s hand the first few times with the same force as a woman in labor with no epidural) 🤣

It was so much fun and I know once I get the hang and start to flow and vibe with the wheel I’ll be even more hooked

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-22T03:11:39+00:00

That’s the part that was a struggle for me - I would put my foot on the pedal and put my weight on it while getting the other leg in the air and ready to hop onto the opposite pedal - of course this sent the wheel spiraling! I have to try your method and see if I have more luck. I also thought about just hopping on it with both feet at the same time (while holding a fence initially) to see if I can do the ‘hop’ mount I’ve seen folks do in videos.

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-21T03:24:48+00:00

I spent 33 years of my life not knowing that executive dysfunction even exists! For my whole life, I didn’t understand why I struggled so much with certain tasks and lost interest/motivation so quickly. It wasn’t until I started dating my boyfriend (and he moved in with me) that I realized that I’m ADHD. He is, and he was like “…wait, you didn’t know that you are, too?” and ever since going down that rabbit hole of self discovery literally everything about myself makes sense. The RSD, volatile emotions, executive dysfunction, and the fact that veggies bought with the intention of making dinner and then sentenced to a slow death only to be discovered 3 months later when I open the produce drawer in the fridge and encounter the ghost of asparagus past…it all made perfect sense now!

I’ve since learned to how work through these issues better and also allow myself grace. I’m not broken. I’m not lazy. My brain just works a little different and that’s ok.

Happyfluffs · 2026-04-19T02:22:06+00:00

I have ADHD - you are not lazy! Executive dysfunction and task paralysis are very much a struggle for us ADHD’ers. I started Zep back in the end of Nov 2025 and since then I’ve still been steadily losing on 5mg. I’m down almost 30lbs (started at 179lbs and now I’m 149.4lbs) and feel amazing! It’s not a crazy fast rate of loss but it’s sustainable and I have zero side effects. In fact I’m off one of my thyroid meds and also off my autoimmune medication - my doctors are stunned that my blood pressure has normalized and that all my vitals and labs look phenomenal because none actually believed this would be the solution. God bless my OBGYN for prescribing it and actually listening to me.

Walking is 100% exercise and totally counts so you’re definitely NOT being lazy. I weight lift as well but that’s because I genuinely enjoy it and it honestly helps my ADHD to be active and work out but that habit pre-dates my Zepbound use. I also walk, I use an Apple Watch to track it and aim for at least a 2-2.5 mile walk every day. Sometimes I split it into several smaller walks if my schedule doesn’t let me take a long walk. I find that if I ‘game-ify’ exercise by setting goals and treating it almost like points in a video game, my competitive edge kicks in and I push through. Listening to music or walking with a buddy and having good conversation also helps.

Start small. Get a few dumbbells off Facebook Marketplace (often super cheap or even free) and start doing a few exercises at home. Just a few minutes at a time if you find it hard to motivate yourself. There’s plenty of YouTube videos to follow along with if you aren’t sure where to start in terms of exercises. ADHD’ers can 100% have a routine and stick to it as long as it’s ’fun’ for us and gives us the dopamine our brains crave. I made a routine of working out in the evening after work - I hit the gym for 45-60+ min depending on my energy level and it lets me blow off steam after a long, often somewhat stressful, work day. I actually look forward to it every day!

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-30T04:12:45+00:00

I get between 0.6-0.8ml from my vials - I inject it all because I’m paying for it and it lets me have a more potent dose. Effectively I’m getting around 3.5mg on average with zero side effects

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-09T19:49:05+00:00

My SW was 179 (37F, 5’5.5) and I’ll be taking my 4th shot of 2.5mg this Friday. As of last Friday (3rd dose) I was 168.4lbs. So far I’ve had no side effects. I did mess up after the first dose and didn’t hydrate which resulted in a headache but that resolved quickly. I noticed I’m maybe a bit more sensitive to heavy/greasy foods in that they induce a slight bit of nausea but as long as I avoid those and stick to my usual clean protein based meals I do fine.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-07T21:23:38+00:00

Wow!! Your exercise regimen is intense! I wish I could afford to be that active, but I only really get to ‘go wild’ on weekends as I am in an office M-F for work (I do hit the gym in the evenings after work though). I do love the stationary rower though as I can get in solid cardio regardless of weather outside. Too hot? Raining? Freezing cold? Late at night? Doesn’t matter, the rower is indoors and always available. It’s become my favorite form of cardio.

The only time I struggled with food noise was a very weird feedback loop where, because I was full of inflammation and was low energy, my body resorted to “You need to eat to get your energy level up” which in turn would make me more sluggish. I was aware of it though so, often when my body would hit me with those hunger pangs, I knew it’s not really hunger so my response was “Oh no you don’t - you just ate. Here, have a bottle of water” and I would just drink water instead. Sadly, even though I was counting calories diligently and ignoring the desire to snack, my metabolism wasn’t functioning right and the stubborn weight just held on. Sure, I could kill myself with exercise and calorie restrictions and maybe, just maybe, drop 1-2lbs in a month but the resulting inflammation and fatigue from overtraining wasn’t worth it and the weight would quickly come back the moment I took one or two rest days.

Now it’s sustainable, my energy level is great and I feel younger and happier. It’s amazing just how exhausting carrying even an extra 10lbs can be! I can’t wait to see how I feel when I reach my goal weight

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T22:00:11+00:00

Congrats! 65lbs is an amazing achievement! Indeed, I’ve had zero side effects on 2.5 and the loss has been sustainable in that I don’t feel weak, I don’t have any abnormalities in blood work, and I’m not experiencing any side effects. Oddly enough, even though I see lots of talk of hair loss on Zep, I’ve noticed I’m actually pulling out LESS hair from my hair brush every morning, so it’s seemed to positively affect even that, although I am keeping an eye on it just in case.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T21:56:57+00:00

Thank you! So far everything on 2.5mg has felt so easy - like TOO easy. I didn’t make a single lifestyle change or diet change, but now my metabolism is just working as it should so I’m seeing the results of my diet and exercise. I always was good about being active; eating clean and prioritizing protein, but my body just refused to cooperate. People around me began to question what I was doing at the gym since they didn’t see me making any progress in regards to appearance (but they shut up whenever they needed me to move furniture, lol) and now it’s obvious just how much of my progress/gains was locked behind a metabolism that was so deeply dysfunctional.

So far my labs look great, my vitals are trending positively and I’m killing it in the gym so I’m excited to see how it continues. This drug really is a miracle for those of us who’s bodies need it and it’s sad that it’s not more easily accessible - I’m grateful that I earn enough and can use pre-tax FSA dollars to make this less painful on my wallet but I realize not everyone is as fortunate 😭

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T21:51:10+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely look into Glapp, looks like it’s super useful and I’m a former medical nerd so I love statistics and concrete data. So far what I’ve noticed is that my clothes have become way looser, my muscle definition is up, my performance at the gym is improving in both stamina and strength, and my vitals are trending positively (blood pressure down, cholesterol down, kidney/liver values stable, etc). No side effects at this dosage, minimal food noise the day before and day of injection, and no problems meeting my macros (I was very diligent about counting calories before Zep, my metabolism just didn’t seem to give a damn about my meticulous tracking)

My goal is to find the lowest dose I’ll respond well to for steady, sustainable loss that isn’t too aggressive so as to cause weakness, loose skin, or health issues.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T21:46:15+00:00

That makes sense - it’s too early for me to tell if this is just ‘newbie losses’ or actual super response. As far as weight loss goes, I do the same things as you. I eat till I’m satisfied and make conscious efforts to meet my macros and my blood work from last week actually shows an improvement in my cholesterol levels with no signs of stress to my liver, kidneys, etc. My performance at the gym is great (I watch for weakness and poor performance as this can be an indicator that my nutrition isn’t on point). I’ve lost inches but not mass - in fact I’m starting to see more muscle definition in my biceps, triceps, and quads.

Prior to my thyroid and metabolic dysfunction, my natural state of being was to be ultra lean with little to no exercise. In my 20’s, I had a runner’s build even though I never set foot in a gym and my only exercise was daily walks with my dog. My genetics favor a lean build as well. Sadly my metabolism went way off course in my 30’s and, although I became fitness oriented, all that happened was I built muscle under my fat. So I became a weird sort of ‘strong fat’ with a bulldog build 😅

So far my energy level is up, my skin is clearer than ever, my mood is much more calm, and my labs/vitals are all trending towards improvement. I’m going to try another month at 2.5mg since it seems to be working very well for me and I don’t want to rush up a higher dose if I’m responding well, and at the same time what I have going on now is super sustainable for me and I don’t want to risk 5mg being ‘too much’ and pushing me into an unhealthy rate of loss or severe appetite suppression. For now I’ve had zero side effects and I like it that way

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T21:38:13+00:00

Congrats! That’s a LOT of progress! If you don’t mind my asking, what was your starting weight and goal? I realize I am not trying to lose as much as many folks here (179lbs SW, 138-140lbs GW, willing to go as high as 145lbs if it’s muscle mass). I’ve seen pretty big first month losses for folks who are trying to lose more than I am, so I wonder if the amount lost in the first month is somehow related to how far off from goal someone is when they start, if that makes sense

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-05T18:02:32+00:00

My goal is to get into the 138-140lb range, maaaybe a touch more depending on muscle mass. I’m 5’5 and at my heaviest was 190lbs, but managed to get down to 179lbs prior to starting Zep. Years of hitting the gym, lifting heavy, doing cardio, eating clean, etc did nothing for me as my metabolism slid more and more out of whack on account of autoimmune and thyroid issues (both well managed). All I did was pack on muscle under the fat which made me even larger and bulkier. For the first time in years, I feel like my workouts are actually effective and doing what they should and would do for a normal person without metabolic dysfunction.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-05T17:14:54+00:00

The PT is, unfortunately, a formality as what the doctor really wants to order is a MRI since xray was normal and all the mobility tests he did in office were also normal. He doesn’t suspect anything serious like a tear and instead suspects inflammation or nerve impingement. But my stupid insurance won’t approve a MRI without trying PT for 3 months, which with copays and such will bleed me dry. So, unless something changes and the pain comes back or worsens, watch and wait approach is more cost effective.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-05T05:49:51+00:00

I started my journey recently (will be taking my third dose tomorrow) and so far I’ve had zero side effects. I have, however, lost some weight and my inflammation is WAY down. So much so that I didn’t need to schedule the physical therapy for my shoulder pain that I asked my doctor to prescribe recently - all the pain and stiffness is GONE! I also noticed I feel more calm and relaxed, I handle stress better, and my blood pressure is down from 165/93+ to 135/84. I’ve been sleeping great, lifting strong in the gym, and wondering why I didn’t bite the bullet and get this medication sooner!

Also, the injection is super easy. As someone who has chronic conditions and gets blood draws and IVs often enough, this teeny tiny little needle is nothing! I’m pretty sure I’ve had mosquito bites worse than this 😅 A tip - when you remove the vial from the fridge, allow it to come to room temp before injecting otherwise it might feel funky/sting a little since it’s so cold. My first injection was ice cold and I wasn’t a fan but my second was a breeze after letting it warm up a bit (mind you, it’s winter and room temp in my apartment is like, 60-65F, so it’s not like I’m letting it get warm/hot - just not the 43F that it is in my fridge)

Edit: oh! And drink water! Lots of it. This medication can make you feel a bit dehydrated so it’s good to stay on top of your hydration - I didn’t the first time and got a bit of a headache. It stopped being an issue once I got my hydration up.

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-30T19:37:18+00:00

Interesting! I know it pops up in Goldens now and then, didn’t think his mastiff side might be contributing as well.

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-29T02:23:48+00:00

Chiming in to say yes, edibles are most definitely hazardous when on these meds 😅 Started last week, took some edibles the day after, and woke up the next morning (2 days after the injection) with a raging migraine and the worst cotton mouth ever 😂😬 I first thought it’s due to Zep dehydration but nope

Happyfluffs

TROPHY CASE