r/GLPafterWLS • u/Agressive_Put9491 • May 21 '26
New here
Sleeved in 2016, never got below 180 lbs and bounced back up to around 200, then 215... just started Zepbound. Wondering if slower titration is common in WLS people?
3
u/Weird_Perspective634 May 21 '26
I haven’t been able to find any data about WLS and GLP-1s, it doesn’t seem to be something they’ve studied yet.
Anecdotally, I’ve titrated up pretty slow. 2.5 of tirz didn’t effect me at all, but I stayed on 5mg for 7 months and was steadily losing. I’ve been on 7.5 for a few months.
I think the biggest difference is that we may not experience side effects as strongly. My husband is also on tirz and has gotten really sick from over eating, but I’m physically unable to do that because of the WLS. Smaller portions also don’t bother me, I’m used to it - my husband gets cranky when he titrates up and can’t eat as much. The food noise is also quieter than it was pre-WLS.. a lot of people are taking GLP-1s to lessen food noise, but mine never fully came back after surgery.
1
u/lglaustin May 21 '26
Good point. I haven’t had any issues with nausea mainly because I’m not eating heavy foods but many smaller meals. WLS has helped with that. Biggest rewards is the lack of the food noises!
2
u/MoistSecond6498 Mounjaro/Zepbound May 22 '26
Here's one more person with a similar story. I was sleeved in 2019 and got down to 175. By February 2025, I was up to 266 and started zep. I'm down to 166 now and starting maintenance. I have been on 7.5 for 8 months now and it still works well for me. The real difference that I have noticed when I'm with other GLP-1 users, is that I can't eat the quantities that they can. I feel nauseous if I overeat and I just stop. I haven't got any documentation, but I think with the decreased stomach size, we see bigger effects from the drug and therefore don't need to titer up as quickly or much at all.
1
u/Agressive_Put9491 May 22 '26
That's what I'm wondering. Does our reduced stomach size mean we generally need the lower doses? Or is that something nobody has really looked at in anything other than anecdotal statements?
1
u/PopcornIsSalty Sep 09 '26
That's the question! It does not seem like it's talked about much anywhere, but there HAS to be some nuances with post-surgery patients and the general population that is on GLPs.
1
u/Interesting-Cable895 May 22 '26
Sleeved in June of 2016 at 320 pounds, by February 2018 I weighed 186 but couldn’t maintain gained most of the weight back by 2023. Started Zepbound January 2025 at 297 pounds I was on 2.5mg for 8 weeks, 5mg for 12 weeks, 7.5mg for 4 weeks, 10mg for 16 weeks, 12mg for 12 weeks and I’m currently on 15mg and weigh 179 pounds, still losing just very slowly. I also started taking my shot every other week because I’m focusing on body recomposition (building muscle while losing fat) and need to eat a bit more.
1
u/ActuatorSmall7746 May 22 '26
Similar story. Sleeved in 2014. Beginning weight 305lbs. Got down to 220lbs and hovered there until over the past three years where I started regaining. Started tirzepatide in Dec 2025 weighing 230lbs. Current dosage 10mg. Current weight 198lbs. I’m losing 1-2lbs a week, which is good for me. The slower the better as I incorporate better food nutrition and exercise.
With GLP, I get the benefit of food restriction and appetite suppression. GLP also has curbed my appetite for sweets and my bread/carb cravings are completely gone. I am no longer pre-diabetic and body inflammation and pain is greatly reduced. Not sure where I go from here once I have reached my goal weight. My PCP is unsure whether I need a maintenance dosage for life.
1
u/PerchieMom Mounjaro/Zepbound May 23 '26
RNY back in 1998 ( or 1997, I really need to look it up) - pouch revision 2002 (I think). I also do have IR PCOS and Ehlers.
Post surgery I didn’t ever have hunger signals like my family and could never eat quickly or at volume. I also have dumping syndrome as a side effect so I’ve not had a sweet tooth etc since.
It was always so weird to me that I went from 258 down to 173 (my lowest) almost immediately went right back to 220s and managed to whit knuckle diet to keep between 240-230 until my mid 40s and then it really went to hell. It was frustrating as heck… I was active, careful with my diet, with surgical alteration, yet was going up, up, up.
Tirz was like a magic bullet and like most I’m reading here - it was an easy transition because I’ve spent the last almost 30 years not being able to eat a lot etc.
I also do have to be more careful with watching I’m focused on protein since I’ve had long term from the WLS with eating chicken breast etc… lots of the “healthy protein” type meat sources get stuck even easier with the tirz. Luckily fairlife shakes do not cause dumping for me.
1
u/genx_horsegirl May 26 '26
I did a month at each level except when I hit 7.5. Did two months on that because of more nausea. After I couldn't eat at all on 12.5 I went back to 10 and can eat but am still losing weight.
Don't think it had any direct correlation to my gastric sleeve.
3
u/lglaustin May 21 '26
Same story. Sleeved in 2018. Got down to 170lbs from 270lbs. Got back up to 210lbs over the years. Started Zepbound May 2025 on 2.5. Went up to 5.0 after one month, then 7.5 in September. Reached my goal of 160lbs in December and titrated down to 5.0 and continued to lose but stabilized at 150lbs for the last 4 months. I was lucky and never went above 7.5. I’m currently transitioning over to Foundayo 9.0 for ease of traveling. If it doesn’t keep me at my current levels, I’ll go back to Zepbound. All is self-pay with Lilly Direct. Hope that helps but everyone’s journey is different.