At my most recent visit to the endocrinologist (thyroid issues, etc.), the doctor told me that Lilly has decided to offer Zepbound (a variation on Ozempic) for a discounted price to patients whose insurance companies won’t cover the GLP-1 weight loss medications. The average price for these medications, in the United States, is about $1,000 a month, though in other countries they can be bought for $100 or less, which has come up in contentious congressional hearings of late. My health insurance still refuses to cover these medications for anyone without type two diabetes or a severe heart condition, and I have been waiting impatiently for them to decide to cover GLP-1 medications for Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which I was diagnosed with last year, but who knows when that will happen.
Last year, the endocrinologist told me about a program that discounted Zepbound to half price, but only for people without any insurance coverage, which did not include me. But now, they are making it available to people like me who have health insurance that doesn’t cover the medications. The cost is $400 a month, which is a lot for me, but for the sake of my health I really can’t say no. My hope is that, if the Zepbound works for me, these medications will soon be covered under my health insurance and I won’t have to pay this much for long. Ideally, losing weight will improve the health of my liver and reduce the need for heart medications. I don’t think it will give me more energy, or reduce overall body pain, but you never know.
To be completely honest, though, what I really want from this medication is to lose enough weight to feel like a normal person. Yes, I want to reduce my risk of liver and heart disease. And yes, I would love to find out that losing weight could give me more energy and allow me to actually live more of my life, but, since childhood, I have been self-conscious about my weight, and I am so tired of feeling like a mutant. I know weight loss won’t change my life miraculously, because I’ve lost weight in the past, when I was able to exercise enough to lose weight on my own. And I’m sure I will still feel uncomfortable in my body, and struggle with pain and depression and anxiety and exhaustion. But it would be great to be able to go to my doctors and tell them my symptoms and NOT have them blame everything on my weight.
I was on a low dose of Ozempic last year, when my insurance was still allowing it, and I lost fifteen pounds. But as soon as the FDA cracked down on off label use of Ozempic, I was cut off, and within three months I’d gained the weight back. So, one, I know the meds can work, and two, I know I will have to be on them forever.
There’s a lot of fear for me around starting the Zepbound, actually. For some reason, the discounted Zepbound comes in a vial, with separate needles, instead of in pre-dosed pens, so I’m afraid it will hurt more and/or I will do it wrong. I’m afraid I won’t be able to lose enough weight to make a difference in my health, or I’ll get cut off again, because the price will go up or supplies will run out. I’m afraid I’ll be sick to my stomach for the rest of my life (though that’s not very different from how I feel now, to be honest), or that the Zepbound won’t work, or that I’ll lose the weight but I’ll look like a deflated balloon instead of looking, and feeling, healthy.
Maybe most of all, I’m afraid that having to spend $400 a month on this for the foreseeable future, on top of paying off my medical debt, will mean that I can’t really afford a new dog, with all of the vet bills and adoption fees and toys and treats involved. And going too much longer without a dog in the house feels like a risk to my mental health (and to Mom’s). It feels so unfair to have to choose between my physical health and my mental health, especially when they are so intertwined. But here’s hoping I won’t have to choose, and a little, hypoallergenic rescue dog will come along soon, and congress will decide to cover GLP-1 meds for Non-alcoholic fatty liver, and all medical debt will be wiped out, and we will all live in peace and harmony, forever and ever, amen.
A girl can dream. Right?
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
I am on Ozempic, I take mine each week, the nedles come separate to the pens, and you screw the needle on and load up the dose, it does not hurt, I promise, It is very easy to do and no pain at all, just inject in your stomach area, you won’t feel it going in. good luck starting that new med, I hope it works for you!
Thank you! That’s reassuring!
I support your dream
👍🙂☮️❤️
Thank you!
I have a feeling that if people knew your address or a PO box, they would overwhelm you with puppy gifts and treats. We all want to see you with a new companion!!
I love this community!
❤️
It would be great to have sane prescription drugs pricing. Vital medication should not force us to make drastic choices. Also, perhaps a lovely canine will come along without you needing to sacrifice too much.
All of that would be wonderful!
Good luck, Rachel. I hope this works for you (and a poochie, too). Why not? 😊
Thank you!
Oh I hope things work out for you Rachel!
Thank you!
Good luck. I do hope somehow you can get all you need to make you happy with you, and can do that without having to choose. Somehow I feel you can make it happen and get all you want because you do deserve it. I think we all share that wish for you.
Thank you so much!
I hope this works for you, Rachel.
Thank you!
i feel you. I am on zepbound now and fortunately it is covered by my insurance. I started in late May of this year and now lost 35 lbs. zepbound is better than ozempic. No side effects at least for me. The second round, zepbound was backordered so my doctor prescribed me wegovy (another brand of ozempic) and i did not like it. I threw up a lot. So i just waited for the zepbound to be back and so far it has not been backordered yet. For me, it is a game changer. I got my energy back and felt good. Quick background, i had thyroid cancer and coz of my inbalanced hormones, I kept gaining weight… no matter what i do. Diet & working out is not working out great for me. Truly zepbound helped.
i wish you goodluck and i really think zepbound will help you. But make sure to still work out like weight lifting and walking to help keep the muscles 💪🏼. Eat lots of protein and balance diet is still a must.
Thank you! Good to hear a success story!
Keep well Rachel.🥰
Thank you!
I have wondered how much these weght-loss products would cost.A bit cost-prohibitive for me. When I dog-sat, I always got in better shape joining the neighbours on walks in the dog park three times a day.Win-win. I do hope you can find a dog or two when the time is right.
Me too. Thank you!
Hope it all works out for you so you can feel better (at a reasonable price) AND get a new rescue dog!
Thank you!
Have you considered GoFundMe?
Interesting idea!
Sending hugs and hopes that this new med works wonders, including for increased energy. 💕🙏
Thank you!
I figure you’ve probably already looked, but are there possible herbal solutions for thyroid? I know a lot about health care, but very little as to meds in general.
Claude
Herbal options haven’t worked well for me, but thank you for the suggestion!
First off let me apologize for not having checked in on your space in too long as you are such a wonderfully comfortable writer and make me feel at home, I have missed that. But I have moved twice in the last four months to to the tune of too many $$$ with the first being the reason for the second with my sister and my nephews now and a finished basement and her fur and mine and have just been head down in the Attic for comfort while adjusting to new digs and working remotely from a desk at our stations up the Albany way. I bought lamps for the desk by the way, gotta have lamps
I never even knew what an endocrinologist was, like that was a thing, until I needed one. Been seeing the guy every six months or so for going on 8 years now for my discovered adrenal deficiency and taking my small dose hydrocortisone on a daily.
But short story long Rachel, the first and really most important thing I noted from your post was … “And going too much longer without a dog in the house feels like a risk to my mental health (and to Mom’s).”
That’s it, ’nuff said. That’s where you just figgr’ things that need to be figgr’d and you move on to buying a dog bed, possible pee-pee pads and a squeezy toy or two. You just do it. Walks with a dog, out in the air, in the world where you are forced to be aware and be alive with maybe even with Mom in tow will do more than any med could possibly promise.
Though this time has passed for another year this is one I wrote for this Halloween season and some fun.
https://frankenberrysattic.com/2024/10/20/its-a-frankenberry-monster-cereal-family-time-again/?_gl=15hjb1i_gcl_au*MTgzOTUxMTYzNC4xNzI4NDI5ODMz
I like the name Max by the way, or Maxine. HeHe
Cheers Rachel, hang in there.
Thank you! Good to hear from you!
Fingers crossed that everything works in your favour.
Thank you!
It’s ridiculous that insurance runs our healthcare in this country and all other civilized countries don’t have to deal with this. I hope you get the medicine you need at an affordable price long term. And a hypoallergenic pup.
Thank you!
Idk a democrat run congress had no effect on my ops to use a GLP-1 drug so good luck all around. Here is hoping for a better future.
Fingers crossed!
Btw i didn’t mean that I feel a gop run congress would do any better. To me it feels insurance is rogue in how they treat us in this country petiod.
Fingers crossed for you Rachel
Thank you!
I’m praying for good health for you! Best of luck.
Thank you!
Rachel, I don’t think your dream about adopting another dog is unrealistic. I didn’t pay a penny for Lucy, Chia or Riley. And, around here, there is a spay/neuter clinic that takes care of that plus vaccinations and chipping at an unbelievable small cost. Maybe there’s something like that within driving distance of you, too. But I know the costs really start running up if/when the pup gets sick…then there’s always that app (name eludes me) where you can ask folks for financial help. I used it when Lexi got cancer and I got in a great deal to cover her medical bills. Anyhow, don’t give up! Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?
I hope so!
Unfortunately, Rachel, there is simply too much greed in regard to the medical corporations. So much for the Hippocratic Oath. These days, if one can’t afford it, one suffers.
Art
I wish that wasn’t true.
I can certainly understand the appeal of these medications. But their long term consequences have not been fully assessed. These medications can, also, put patients at risk of pancreatitis — a serious and potentially fatal illness.
Wherever we go, there we are. We bring our problems along w/ us. The self-esteem issues you have stemming from abuse will not be eliminated by a GLP-1 weight loss medication, even if you do manage to lose substantial weight. They will simply take another form. You need to work on such issues through counseling and prayer.
Value is not measured by the pound. Nor is beauty — despite what our society says.
I hope you make the right decision for yourself, Rachel.
Thank you!
I hope this comment did not come across as presumptuous, Rachel. I spent years doing medical malpractice litigation and, unfortunately, have extensive personal experience w/ the negative side effects of medication, so am always leery when new drugs come on the market. I wish you only the best.
Thank you!
Rachel,
Here’s to good meds, realistic prices ( or free with insurance and medical need) and a new rescue pup! ( just watched a 60 minute’s interview on the Nova company who created the GLP-1 meds. The US drug companies could benefit from Denmark’s policy.
❤️🙏
Thank you!
Good luck on the meds regimen. You echo my same thoughts on FEELING better both physically and mentally when my weight is more healthy ranged. I am rarely in that range (over usually). Go for it.
Thank you!
Yes, forever and ever and ever. Peace, harmony and health. Love an hugs.
Thank you!!!
Losing weight will give you more energy and better health, and I pray that you will find the solution – but no matter what – don’t be ashamed of your body. God created you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Don’t let any people-created lies rob you of that truth. “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14.
Thank you!
Yes! Keep dreaming!
Long time Rachel, cheers from this guy. Girls can dream indeed but though I ain’t no doctor, as my wonderfully useless degree in English and communications will attest, but part of me just feels like its time to take the argument in the other direction. Flip it. Get that little yippy snuggle first. Simply being happy is such an integral part of being healthy and the more you blame being unhappy because of cost and the “without” because of it the more you will be resentful, and resentment is dark. Really dark.
It’ll suck the life right out of you. Get a yipper, go for walks with a purpose, get laughingly angry about mistakes outside of a pee-pee pad, have reason to come home, laugh with your Mom about how much of a knucklehead your Yipper seems to be, be their and your reason to be. You can surely absorb the cost and you will also be saving a life, a few of them.
Ok, two cents done
Cheers again Rachel
We are definitely looking for a dog. Here’s hoping we find one soon!
Well, here’s hoping a soon is soon. 🙂
I’m taking Wegovy and it’s changed my life. I’ve lost 46 lbs, and would like to lose 20 more. My NP recommended Zepbound to get to my target. I hope that your insurance helps you.
What a success story!
Thank you! It’s been a struggle for me up to now.
You’re doing great!
Thank you! I hope that your dreams come true and congress passes that law and you don’t have to choose between meds and a dog. I’m off to see about that book of yours!
Thank you so much!