I think I have hyperfagia and need ozempic but…

[lcarter]

Okay so I’m a type 2 diabetic on ozempic, metformin and empagliflozin and insulin.

Ozempic is the only drug that stops the hunger from being SEVERE and I mean I can eat a full roast dinner and dessert and I’m still hungry. I don’t ever feel full.

Diagnosed as a type 1 at 26 years old but then c peptides were done and they said I’m a type 2 as I’m clearly making my own insulin. They said insulin resistance is my problem and that’s when they introduced empagliflozin and then ozempic.

The ozempic handled my binge eating and amazingly I felt full like everyone else. I could’ve cried. In fact I did. But then my hair fell out and it was so thin I thought I was going bald. Dr told me no way was this ozempic—but it was. All bloods done. I lost 4 stone and looked great. Glucose levels were great because I wasn’t overeating and meds were working. On the full dose of ozempic I didn’t need insulin.

Then the bowels went. Truthfully, I’ve never had anything like it. I was constantly on the loo but I also didn’t get any warning if diarreah was going to strike and I’d wake up to it in my bed. I couldn’t do supermarket shops without it happening—never experienced anything like it.

So I came off it.

Appetite and weight surged, glucose through the roof. I know some people are like ‘it’s mind over matter’ but I promise you it’s not. I’ve cried while eating. It’s a real disorder.

So then I discovered an article about hyperfagia and I was like OMG that’s me.

The treatment?

Ozempic.

I’m honestly between a rock and a hard place—what do I do? I’ve tried trulicity and victoza and side effects were so bad I couldn’t tolerate them. Tried tablet versions of semi-future type things but it did nothing.

Please, any advice, but be kind. I’m really struggling with my existence right now, and have been for over 15 years with my various conditions.

Thank you

TLDR: need ozempic to survive but can’t live with the side effects

 

[zand]

I used to be starving hungry all the time too. A roast dinner with 5 potatoes followed by apple pie and custard, followed by a can of coke, 2 packets of crisps and a cake and I was still ravenous.

My situation was a lot simpler than yours back then. I was very obese but not yet T2 and on no drugs at all.

I have mentioned this on the forum many times over the past 10 years so I'm sorry if you've read it all before.

The breakthrough for me came one morning when I ran out of bread. I had enough to make my son's usual bacon butties but there was none left for mine. So I had the same amount of bacon and butter as normal but no bread. I was usually starving and snacking at 10 am at the latest, and again at 11, with lunch at 12. That day I looked at the clock and it was 1pm! I hadn't eaten since 7:30 and I still wasn't hungry.

After that I gradually reduced the carbs and got more energy and lost a little weight.

If you decide to do this you will need to be careful as you are on insulin and may need to reduce the dose. Your HCPs may be able to advise on this.

 

[Outlier]

I'm another - I was always starving hungry, even right after a meal, until I gave up carbs/sugars completely. This wouldn't be a case for everybody - most after all don't feel hungry until several hours after a meal - but certainly applies to some of us. I quit carbs/sugars and am now only hungry if I haven't eaten for 20 hours or so. Might be worth a try for you. After all, if it doesn't work, you are no worse off, and if it does, you'll feel much better.

I've followed this regime now for nearly 3 years, and feel better than I have for a very long time.

Edited to add - very important to have guidance over your insulin.