I had an Uber driver a couple of weeks ago who easily weighed 500 pounds. I was on the way to the lab to have my blood drawn for everything: HbA1c, liver panel, diabetes panel, kidney panel, and lipid panel. 11 vials of blood were taken.
One poke.
I add that “one poke” because I used to be a hard poke with needles. Even in the oncology/hematology lab, I have had as many as six tries before I told them that was enough and went home. In the hospital, they call the PICC team and use an ultrasound to find a vein in order to get an IV in or blood drawn.
Now, I can see my veins. It’s like I’m looking at someone else’s hands and arms. Someone with veins.
Confessions of a Fat Person
Happily, the driver asked where I was going and I was able to tell them, “The lab,” and continued telling them how excited I was to get the labs drawn because I had lost almost 150 pounds and knew the results would be better than my last labs were.
They took the bait.
“How did you do it?”
I shared my short history and quickly got to Mounjaro and how my life has changed, now understanding that all those times trying to lose weight… and losing weight then regaining again… were not my fault. That obesity is a disease just like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. They can’t fix it, but can help with medications.
They began sharing the words and feelings I knew so well:
- I’ve tried everything.
- Should I have a gastric bypass?
- I eat so little and I stay so fat.
- I can’t walk.
- I can’t go to the doctor because they will yell at me.
- I can’t go to the doctor because I don’t fit in the chairs.
- There is nothing I can do.
I countered each of their comments with, “It’s not your fault.” I must have said that 15 times, but they kept repeating the well-known/felt/understood belief that it is our fault.
If we just tried harder. Followed this plan. Did that exercise. Paid for that therapist. Ate this food. Done <fill in the blank>, we would not be fat anymore.
But they were and are wrong.
I repeat: It is not our fault.
(Honestly, I can barely comprehend that belief myself and I have said that for 40 years.)
The driver knew someone on Ozempic who told them about it, but they didn’t think it would help. I said it was something to ask about and then told them about Mounjaro and its better results, not just on weight, but all the health issues that come with having obesity. As I exited the car, I told them to look them up and find a doctor to talk to. Before I closed the door, they said, “I’ll think about it.” I wished I had a magic wand to wave over the car to give them hope instead of the constant despair I heard in their voice.
My New Passion
You know how people get when they find religion? Join an MLM? Are going to sell Amway? Convert to a different political party?
That’s how I feel.
This is a repeat of how I felt about Fen-Phen (1995) and the RNY Gastric Bypass (2001). Each of those ended in regaining all the weight lost. I could not have seen Fen-Phen being removed from the market, but it was never meant to be a forever medication. I believed I would never regain my 190 pound loss from the RNY, but I did… and 50 more.
With the GLP-1s, I have hope again that I might not have to live any more of my life as an enormously fat woman.
So if you come anywhere within earshot, you might want to steel yourself for the Mounjaro proselytizing that is sure to begin at any moment.
