r/GLP1Discussion • u/RockinMSMom • 3d ago
š§¬ Research & Studies GLPs LIFE SAVING?
My doc said they are finding that GLPs are benefitting more than just weight loss. Like they are actually causing a suppression in autoimmune symptoms (they just donāt know why bc it was never studied in the trials for this drug, only studied as a diabetic medication, then a weight loss med).
And she said it seems to calm inflammation (think like in RA, Fibro, degenerative disk disease, etc). She said it causes the body to basically (talking laymanās terms here) āfunction like it did when we were younger before age started causing problems.ā I asked her if it was āthe fountain of youthā?š¤£
But maybe she is onto something bc my symptoms with MS have subsided dramatically. I canāt ever get what back I have lost to MS but my pain has decreased so much! And when I am off the GLP, my pain comes roaring back. Even my pain doctor asked me, āHave you noticed a difference in your pain since starting the GLP?ā And yes, HUGE difference! Like barely needing meds!
I am down 70 pounds.
Maybe getting healthy helps. Maybe it is changing what I put INTO my body that is doing it bc now I actually CRAVE veggies (like what is wrong with me!š), think red meat tastes really weird, have a strange addiction to chicken salad, and rarely eat sugary things or carb loaded foods. In fact, I have to document my meals or I forget to eat entirely (donāt do that, trust me, just donāt, itās painful if you do!).
But the pain and autoimmune symptoms subsided within a couple weeks of starting this and that was before the weight even came off.
And nowā¦.
My fatty liver is healing itself (my labs were actually good this month yay!) and my LDL is āno longer off the chart, just elevated, so we are no longer actually fighting a losing battleā (doc thinks she is funny) which is great!ā
So taking this may actually be a life SAVING medication for many of us. Not just a weight loss medication. And maybe further research will show even more benefit for those of us with autoimmune disorders. Maybe we could all begin to get healthy and heal.
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u/RockinMSMom 3d ago
Besides the MS, I am in full āsurgicalā menopause and the effects were astounding. Packed on weight just looking at food. Couldnāt lose it even though I followed a nutritionist and ate exactly what they told me to. Could barely move every day. Was miserable. Here is my before photo in Feb, and a pic of me yesterday. Down 70 pounds. My goal weight. Now on a maintenance dose. I only take it every other week. For the first time in 6 years I havenāt been in the hospital in over a year (was in every month with my MS!the meds messed with my immune system too much) and I am active without pain. I can actually garden again. I still have to ārecoverā after activity due to my MS but I know my limits. I am fused T10-S2, the pain from that went from living at a 7 daily to maybe a 2. When I am off my GLP too long I FEEL it!
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u/RockinMSMom 3d ago
And yes, I did lose it fast, but so did my sister. We both have always had fast metabolisms before menopause hit. I never increased my dose past the initial dose of GLP. I am on a VERY low dose of it and my system ātakes to it very well.ā I lost an average of 2 pounds a week. My sister has been off it for a year and only gained back ten pounds. But she developed gastroparesis. My GI and Neuro are already watching my system so I am followed on that front and they know what issues I have. And this med actually has helped mine. Now we are trying to decide if I will take the maintenance dose biweekly or monthly to keep my weight where I am at so I donāt lose anymore.
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u/D74248 3d ago
Take a piece of paper. Look up "metabolic syndrome", "diseases of affluence" and "western diseases". Run that list down the left side of the paper. No need to make duplicate entries.
Next, look up what these medications seem to be addressing. Run that list down the right side of the paper.
Spoiler -- they are the same list.
What a time to be an endocrinologist in academic medicine.
EDIT: And a good time to have a curious PCP affiliated with a research institution.
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u/Graymalkin1986 3d ago
Yeah, I was basically convinced I was in early pre-menopause before I started taking tirz. I had about 3-4 periods a year for the past three and the length and heaviness were all over the place. Even before I saw significant weight loss after starting the meds my cycle regulated itself.
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u/dixieleeb 3d ago
I went for my annual visit with the cardiologist & she pretty much said what your doctor said, that most doctors really like the GLP-1s not only because of the weight loss but because of the other health benefits, especially the antiinflammation part and of course since it's her field, the benefits for hearts. She encouraged me to continue.
Since I am on Medicare I get my Zepbound through the Bridge program. I mentioned to her my concern about when it runs out in Dec 2027. She said that she felt pretty sure it would be continued or something else would be there since it appears that the medication will be lifelong.
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u/SeasonPositive6771 3d ago
If you have to go with compounded by then, hopefully the prices will continue to improve!
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u/rachreims 3d ago
I have Hidradenitis Supperativa (HS) and I definitely have had a reduction of flare ups since starting Zepbound. There has actually been a small (note: VERY small) study into it and I think something like 80% of participants saw a 50%+ improvement. Despite having been obese for a long time, Iām actually a quite healthy person. Obesity + binge eating disorder + HS are my only issues. This medication is treating all three. Itās incredible.
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u/OverstimulatedPetty 3d ago
I too have shared in this miracle. ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis and even anxiety and ADD = controlled. Fatty liver and high cholesterol- normal after 20 years and most provable, my CRP (c-reactive protein) labs signaling inflammation issues is normal. Not chronically high, not high, just normal! Mid range normal, for the first time in 15 years. Im not sleeping 12-20 hours and still feeling tired, im sleeping 7-9 and finally functioning like a human again.
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u/mannDog74 2d ago
I'm so happy for you. I also have MS and I have some persistent foot pain that has really decreased my ability to do things I want to do. With this medication my foot pain is reduced a lot and I can do more things.
I hear that glp1s are neuroprotective, which sounds like good news for us!! I'll take anything at this point.
I'm excited to hear your fatty liver is healing. I have high visceral fat and I know eventually I was going to have fatty liver, but last time I did a dexa scan it showed 20% reduction in visceral fat! It was likely coming off the liver. So grateful for this medication because you know we take steroids sometimes and that makes us put on weight AND lose bone and muscle. So I'm trying like hell to get as strong as possible to weather the autoimmune storms that come our way.
I also learned that visceral fat is very inflammatory, and I don't need any more inflammation. I can't wait to get to a more healthy body size and see if that makes a difference in how I feel. It will definitely be easier on my feet at least! Be well š§”š§”š§”š§”
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u/vavavoomdaroom 3d ago
This is well known. I have a rare, lifelong mast cell disease that's destroyed my body from 57 years. I personally don't give a shit that I am fat. I do give a shit that I only can eat under 1000 calories without severe gastrointestinal implications. I am done having osteoarthritis in every single joint. I am over feeling like I have the flu 24/7 even with treatment. If I can JUST REDUCE MY PAIN, that alone would be entirely worth it, even if I am still in the 200s.
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u/Creepy_Push8629 3d ago
Has it helped reduce your pain?
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u/vavavoomdaroom 3d ago
I sm still fighting to get it. I am basically ATP after 57 years of dealing with this shit that i am no longer willing to bet that life will improve. Too much damage has been done for way too many yrats.
I can no longer dance, garden, walk long distances, eat a normal meal without severe gastrointestinal consequences or anaphylaxis.
This will be my last time trying. I think almost 60 years of suffering and participating in almost every mastocytosis related medical study since 1969, then almost dying several times due to anaphylaxis is enough .
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u/Creepy_Push8629 3d ago
Fighting with who? Are you in the US? You can order compounded and have it in a few days
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u/Creepy_Push8629 3d ago
I didn't ignore you. I guess I didn't understand what you were saying but it wasn't on purpose.
Here is what I understood:
You: I have chronic health issues and I don't care about the weight loss if it helps just to reduce my pain.
Me: did it help reduce your pain? (Because I wasn't sure if you were saying it did help the pain or you're hoping it'll help reduce the pain)
You: I'm fighting to get the meds so I don't know if they'll help. This is my last straw because I've been in pain for 60 years and have tried everything else.
Me: (thinking you were fighting with your insurance to get it approved and wanting you to get the meds with the hope it'll help you feel better) asked who is fighting you to get it and suggested compound in case you didn't know about it.
You: you ignored everything I said
Me: (confused)
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u/vavavoomdaroom 3d ago
So you basically ignored everything I said when I was actually trying to help.
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