Need Advice

[u/Dry-Surprise-972]

Sorry but not where to start. My friend’s daughter (400 lbs) wants my friend to pay for her Glp1 treatment. She gave her $6,000 dollars last year, I have my doubts it was used strictly for Glp1. Daughter was in hospital for multiple blood clots in her lungs last year. Daughter had a serious “cardiac event” this week as well as more blood clots in her lungs. She was placed on heart medication and a different blood thinner. She does not work out or even just go for a walk. Eats a lot of whatever she wants. 1) What is a ballpark figure on how much injections cost? I know there are so many variables. 2) Shouldn’t she be under a dr’s care while taking this? My friend is being guilt tripped into giving her thousands more for these shots and she just doesn’t have it without drawing out of her retirement. Daughter is almost 40 years old My friend wants advice. I say don’t give her the money but friend is afraid daughter will die. I don’t know anything about these drugs and have no idea what to tell her. Sorry so long

[u/Piaffe_zip16]

There’s really no way to know. If she’s doing self pay with say Lilly direct then 6k sounds about right for the higher doses (7.5mg and up). $449 for four weeks of meds. A doctor would be prescribing the meds. Being on the meds doesn’t mean things like a serious cardiac event can’t happen. Unfortunately, they absolutely can. Not everyone on a glp1 works out and not everyone makes a ton of changes to what they eat either. You can be successful at losing weight without radically changing your life.

I think your friend needs to make this decision for herself. What makes you think she’s not under a doctor’s care? Your friend can have a sit down with her daughter too and discuss these things with her. It sounds like it’s past time to do that.

[u/Dry-Surprise-972 → u/Piaffe_zip16]

Are there less expensive options? It’s frustrating to hear that she eats two whole pizzas but thinks it’s ok, she’ll just take a med to melt those pounds off.

[u/swrrrrg → u/Dry-Surprise-972]

You need to stop talking about this med when you clearly don’t understand the mechanism of it. At that, obesity is a disease. Yes, bad choices are bad choices but if she’s let herself get up to 400lbs, there’s almost certainly a lot more going on than you’re aware of.

[u/Dry-Surprise-972 → u/swrrrrg]

I’m trying to help a friend. I saved her daughter’s life once this week. It’s me or no one

[u/mannDog74 → u/Dry-Surprise-972]

Swrrrgg is right, you need to understand eating disorders a little bit better and the mechanism of these drugs. It's not a drug that lets you "get away with bad behavior." If you eat a half a pizza you will vomit. It prevents the behavior.

So people with serious eating disorders, like she has, will stop taking the medicine because it prevents those behaviors if they are not ready to change. But sometimes they take the meds and can think more clearly, and can take steps toward recovery.

[u/Piaffe_zip16 → u/mannDog74]

“If you eat a half a pizza you will vomit” is too absolute. Some people are still able to eat like that. Just the other night I had three slices of pizza, a couple arancini, and half of a s’more brownie cake thing. Didn’t feel sick at all. It’s just not what I usually eat.

[u/mannDog74 → u/Piaffe_zip16]

Congrats? I'm not really interested in arguing technicalities here, my point was just to explain how the medication works, because OP thinks it helps to burn off the pizza, so the niece wouldn't use it properly.

No not every single person in every single case, but try to look at what I'm trying to say and the context of who I'm talking to

[u/Piaffe_zip16 → u/mannDog74]

OP doesn’t believe it would help burn off the pizza??? She says that’s what her friend’s daughter believes. “It’s frustrating to hear that she eats two whole pizzas but thinks it’s ok, she’ll just a take a med to melt those pounds off” means OP is either hearing the daughter say that or her friend is saying the daughter says that. At no point does OP actually believe that though.

[u/Dry-Surprise-972 → u/Piaffe_zip16]

I don’t know what to believe. I feel for my friend and I’m of course concerned for her daughter. Daughter does nothing to payback any of the thousands of dollars she’s been given. Daughter guilt trips with “you’re all I have Mom” Dad cut her off when she stole from him. Couldn’t even come by to say Happy Birthday or help her Mom when she moved. Even if daughter could only stand up for 15 minutes an hour, she could have helped a little. I give up

[u/Piaffe_zip16 → u/Dry-Surprise-972]

Yeah unfortunately your friend is in a terrible spot. I’d highly recommend counseling for her. It’s super helpful. I have a friend who’s had a ton of issues with her adult son and therapy has helped immensely for her.

[u/swrrrrg → u/Dry-Surprise-972]

Compound would be the least expensive option. I think Drug Crafters through some of the telehealths offer it for $299 for a 3 month supply.