I cannot express how distressed I am that my Mounjaro 15mg is back-ordered. In fact, this last month, I was given Mounjaro 12.5 instead of my 15mg. Now, all dosages except a few of the 2.5s are nowhere to be found. I know I am not the only one frustrated, but I don’t feel a kinship with others. I feel alone. I’m going to have to deal with this alone. I’m going to have to work my ass off to keep my HbA1c and weight down, but I am up for the task.
Medical Preparation
I’m doing my best to find Mounjaro somewhere. I’ve called at least 15 pharmacies around Orlando, but all of the pharmacists say the same thing: the warehouse for all the pharmacies is back-ordered. By a lot.
Then I moved to compounding pharmacies. I have emails and calls in to five of them right now, including popular, well-respected national ones.
I also have an email in to my endocrinologist asking if I could have a prescription for Ozempic 2mg because my pharmacist is saving a box for me. Apparently, Ozempic/Wegovy are not as back-ordered as Mounjaro/Zepbound. I did ask the endo if I might be able to get Wegovy 2.4 since that is a higher dose than Ozempic. Not sure my insurance would pay for it, though. I’m sure they don’t have contingency plans for the evaporation of the medications.
Mental Preparation
Maybe this should be called Financial Preparation. Would I be able to spend $500 on a compounded prescription? Believe me, I know that is a bargain compared to what so many are paying out of pocket. But my insurance pays 100% and I barely make $500 in two weeks pay. If I only had to do it for one month, I could go into debt to pay for it, but what if the shortage lasts longer? What if the compounded tirzepatide doesn’t work like Mounjaro?
No matter what happens, how am I going to cope with the return of Food Noise (if it returns)? Will I be able to be in a Diet Mindset for the length of the shortage? I have never succeeded more than a few days on any diet in my life. What if this shortage is three months long? Am I going to force myself to starve? To eat like I do on Mounjaro, but without the help of a full stomach and brain re-alignment?
These are the things I am trying to figure out.
I cannot gain weight only to re-lose when I get the proper medication and dosage. Only because my labs are great right now can I focus on the scale. I weigh 200 pounds. I’ve lost 205 pounds. I want to see <199 pounds in the worst way. (If I got my loose skin cut off, I would be well under 199 pounds.) I know people will think that is greedy and selfish of me when 15% of those on GLP-1s are “non-responders,” aka hypo-responders, unable to lose very much at all. I’ve been called a “super-responder” aka hyper-responder. I’ll take it.
Physical Activities
I walk every day, and walk further each day. I am up to 2.5 miles at a time, but have been as far as 3.5 miles in one walk. As I’ve been walking the past couple of days, I’m talking to my body… my legs in particular… to tell them they are going to walk even when I’m on semaglutide instead of tirzepatide. I will walk even when I don’t want to.
Atomic Habits to the rescue!
Decide the type of person you want to be. Prove it to yourself with small wins.
“I have a friend who lost over 100 pounds by asking herself, ‘What would a healthy person do?’”
An aside, I watched a video on a guy who lost 300 pounds by walking to Walmart. Clickbait worked!
Spoiler: He walked 1+ miles to and 1+ miles from Walmart for every meal he ate. Three times a day, he walked to and from Walmart. He kept no food at the house so he had to go for a walk to eat every meal. I loved that story! I was way inspired.
I’m also doing strength training with hand weights and bands. I also do a lot of stretching and go to Physical Therapy (1.5 miles, walking each way) for my smooshed disk that hurts my left leg until it’s hard to walk. 50+ years of massive weight didn’t make my spine very happy.
I’m Gonna Make It!
I’m not going to let medication shortages or weird thoughts of buffets and bowls of candy derail me.
When I come here and cry because it’s so hard, please remind me of this post and to read it again. And again.
I am worthy of feeling great and being healthy and alive.
I am going to make it.
I’m a Queen fanatic and this song has a rent-free place in my mind. Let’s sing it together!