BYETTA

[welshbunny]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Problem is I keep nibbling to relieve my nausea, so maybe thats why I havent lost weight, maybe it takes a time to have an affect with me? Will certainly try injecting in the leg and see if that helps. Maybe I should try drinking more water, problem is I havent injected again tonight, as couldnt face the feeling.

Will start the leg tomorrow morning. Thanks

Welshbunny

 

[SkimblesQueen]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Well finally the letter from my diabetic consultant arrived today...5pm I have to go & pick up my prescription, so I guess I start Byetta 5 micrograms tonight with dinner... :? I shall let you all know how I get on...But I don't feel terribly well today anyway...went for a blood test this morning & almost passed out & was very painful, which is unlike me, I think my skin was just extra sensitive today, it's not bruised, so I dunno how I'll cope with the Byetta.

Are there any rules with Byetta about what to do if you feel ill? (like, ill, ill...not byetta ill)

 

[peecee]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

SkimblesQueen, I'd say keep taking the Byetta if you're ill or not because as far as i know it wont work properly unless taken 2 times a day every day, but check with your diabetic nurse/ doctor to be on the safe side.

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Are there any rules with Byetta about what to do if you feel ill? (like, ill, ill...not byetta ill)

Hi Sq./ Peecee

Your dose needs may change if you are ill, if you have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency.

Do not change your dose of Byetta without first talking to your doctor. Use only the diabetes medications prescribed for you.

Any Antibiotics you may take should always be taken at least an hour before the Byetta.

 

[SkimblesQueen]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Aaaah...Thanks for that, good to know...am really nervous about taking it...Mum's dropping dinner up to me as I'm too poorly to go over there tonight (Had an interesting time at the hospital today when I went for a blood test - almost passed out :? ) I've asked her to ring me before she comes so I can take the Byetta...What a laugh collecting that was!

Went to the GP's to collect the prescription, & he'd prescribed the pen, but not the needles!!! LOL Good Job I had my brain switched on, I mentioned about not being able to inject it without the needles, & first he tried to tell me, it came WITH the needles, then when I persisted he ended up phoning Boots to ask them! LOL Got my needles & the pen now, & have checked the needles fit on the pen! Always a good thing to check!

I kinda can't wait to get the first injection over with so I know what it's like...feels weird, wanting to do it, but not wanting to do it :?

Will let you know what I think once I've had dinner.

Thanks again

 

[SkimblesQueen]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Had 5 microgram injection of Byetta about an hour ago, had dinner, def felt fuller quicker, No nausea, feel light headed though & VERY tired. A bit painful still round the injection site, but otherwise not too bad

Let's hope things continue as smoothly :wink:

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Sq.

Glad to hear that things went fairly smoothly. As with anything it is a bit of a learning curve as to how it affects you and the best way to do things. Keep us posted and ask if there is anything you need to know or clear up ?

 

[SkimblesQueen]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

This morning I've had my second injection, all seems ok...although, I don't feel sick, but I do feel...weird...like I don't want to eat or drink anything at all...it's been a struggle to get myself to eat anything today so far in order to do my morning injection...this is not a bad thing the rest of the day, but may be a problem come injection time...also, this morning best BM's in months 8.8! Woo! I'm surprised the Byetta seems to be having such an immediate effect!

Looking good though, I'm happy with it Did my injection this morning & didn't even hurt & I didn't feel weird about doing it either, really didn't bother me, so I'm pleased about that

I will keep you posted now on if I lose any weight...fingers crossed!

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Sq.

Don't forget that Byetta acts as an appetite suppressant and you will have to make sure you eat at the correct times. I very often don't feel hungry but know I must eat after injecting.

 

[traceyH]

3 month Byetta user

Hi all,
I have just finished my 3rd Byetta pen, 2nd on 10mg, and I must admit I have felt no different at all. No side effects, no weight loss, and my blood sugar level is still 9!! I also take metformin, slow release, twice a day, but i have just had this lowered to 1 a day because of the unsociable side effects, with this alone im amazed I have not seen any weight loss. Am I being impatient or should I be seeing some kind of difference by now? I have noticed that a lot of the Byetta users in this forum have seen a weight loss of some kind, and improved sugar readings, am I doing something wrong? Also, Byetta and alcohol, yes or no?

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi traceyH.

First of all when was your Bg level 9 ? If you have lowered the dose of Metformin then that will not help the lowering of Bg levels either.

As for some improvements, have you done anything such as tweaking your diet to help the drugs effects ?

Byetta is not supposed to be used with alcohol but speaking from my own experience I have two pints of Guinness with no ill effects, once a week. As with anything a moderate amount will not hurt you, frequent and excessive drinking will. A glass of red wine is also beneficial to Bg levels. Enjoy, in small glasses.

 

[SkimblesQueen]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi,


This evening's injection wasn't so bad, I was actually hungry, so that's ok, although I didn't eat a lot, it was enough....although I had a bad craving for crisps about 4 hours after my 1st injection today...I find I'm really tired about an hour after each injection, where I can just lay watching the clouds go by & really not care .

 

[welshbunny]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I am starting to feel much better now. Still get slightly light headed after morning one, but fine after evening one. Dont know why.

Blood sugars a little better this morning but no weight loss at all. Seeing specialist tomorrow so will see what he says. Definitely smaller appetite though so suppose eventually I will lose weight.

Cider vinegar really does work, but dont need it any more. Must be some other advantages to it, so now I have a bottle of it, will look it up!

Welshbunny

 

[parageiss]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I start on it next week I have to return tothe hospital after picking itup from the chemists. I live in Scotland and our health service has oked it for use so we will see how it goes

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi parageiss.
Welcome to the forum.

As you can see there is quite a lengthy post about Byetta here, it has been in use in the UK since sometime in 2007 so we are quite used to it now, although most HCP's still don't know a great deal about it ? So if you have any questions, just ask away.

 

[SkimblesQueen]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Just thought I'd write a quick note to update.

I've been using Byetta 5Ug since Monday eve now, & it's working well...although I'm finding I now have eyes bigger than belly syndrome a lot. I've been a coward & not tried eating bread yet...although it's not made me feel sick, & I've finally got used to not feeling hungry (which was very weird at first).

Doing the injections aren't too bad, although I've had an accident or 2, firstly when I discovered, yes, the needles are VERY sharp & will go right through the plastic caps if you don't put them on straight & into your finger, & the other was a minor mishap, when I tried to inject myself without dialing up the medicine today

I have found I'm getting little tiny bruises where I'm injecting & I'm being careful not to inject in exactly the same place each time, does anyone else get this?

I do my injections with Lunch & dinner (6 hours apart) because I just can't eat breakfast, I've found that I can eat less for lunch than I can for dinner, but neither is a particularly big meal anymore. I've also found that I'm strangely able to sometimes fill up on liquids rather than food, which is news to me. I drank a bottle of water today cause I was desperatly thirsty (5ooml) & by the time I finished that although I was still thirsty I didn't dare drink anymore cause I'm pretty sure I would've been sick. :shock:

I guess normal people must operate like this all the time, but it's quite a big change for me.

Great news on my BM's...2 hours after my evening meal yesterday bm was 13.4 MASSIVE improvement, down by about half.

All in all I'm really pleased about the way this is going - think I may have even lost a little weight this week already, if my jeans are anything to go by :wink:

 

[peecee]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I have found I'm getting little tiny bruises where I'm injecting & I'm being careful not to inject in exactly the same place each time, does anyone else get this?

Hi Skimbles, i get this sometimes too, i think its because i've nicked a blood vessel with the needle as there is also a drop of blood where i've injected.
Try and eat something for breakfast, not only will it help your metabolism to get going it will also help reduce "liver dump" and a rise in blood glucose levels. A liver dump is when your liver thinks there is not enough glucose in your body so it dumps some! There are several threads in the forum that can explain a bit better than i can or google "liver dump" or "Dawn phenomenon"
I lost 1kg after only 3 days on byetta so i guess your weight loss has started

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Sq.

As peecee says, the little bruises can sometimes happen. If you make sure that you pinch the flesh where you inject then it should help stop this as there is then a more fatty layer to inject into. Are you injecting into your tum ? this is the best place for most people.

As for the Dawn Phenomenon and breakfast, well if you can eat breakfast that is so much the better. As Pc says, a kickstart to your day. Check your Bg levels when you rise to know if you are high/low or in the normal ranges. You can then adjust your food/liquid intake accordingly.

However, unless you are a VERY early riser then the DP effect will have taken place before your breakfast so shouldn't really be a problem. I quite often skip breakfast and just have an Apple or some cheese and a 'cuppa.' Bg readings are fine.

So long as the Byetta is taken before each of your 2 main meals it doesn't matter if they are breakfast and dinner or lunch and dinner. As you say keep that minimum 6 hr gap between them that's all.

Glad to see that you are already beginning to see improvements, stick with it. Whilst your levels are still high, every little thing will help. You are on the right track.

 

[Jude]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hello everyone

Here is the news some of you have been waiting for !! - back to hospital yesterday to see consultant - he said "I do not know what you are doing here this is a teenage clinic!!" - to which I replied "not sure if that is a compliment or a mistake and he said I will leave that up to you!!"

Anyway, my HbA1C was down from 8.5 to 7.7. and I had lost 5 kilos since May but actually I have lost 9 kilos since beginning of April so, not such wonderful numbers as some of you have experienced but at last I feel more positive even though am still getting the nausea and unwellness but at least I can see things moving at long last. This now means that I have lost the weight which the Gliclazide & Lantus put on me.

I am only just on to my 3rd month of Byetta 10 - I had 3months on 5 pen and now am going into my 6th month - the consultant said that the numbers should continue to go down as I have only been on the 10 for 2 months - time, no doubt, will tell!

I am hoping that any newbies on the boards or anyone else who is struggling will take encouragement from my persistence in sticking with it - I did get very close to giving up and Candyog & I made a pact to support each other but then she was taken off it but anyway I am feeling more encouraged now. I must also add that Dennis, Ken, Vivkaroo, Humph & Sandy have been particularly supportive.

Hubby & I are off to Tenerife on Tuesday for 2 weeks and I can go now feeling less stressed knowing that at last things are settling down. Jude x

 

[Jude]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

P.S. I get the bruises too - its just part of it now!! j