Byetta Club 2

[LaBigGirl]

Good news, I got my lipids tested and my total cholesterol is way down as well as triglycerides cut in half since Feb. Dr. says it is mostly the weight loss, but I also started using CholestOff, an OTC plant sterol tablet. I think I'll continue with everything, just need to kick things up a little to keep weight coming off. Has anyone else been surprised by changes on Byetta? As a PCOS woman, I take it as a given that my tests are going to be abnormal. Guess I should be more optimistic.

[jessietex]

LaBig- That's wonderful news! I haven't had any labs done since starting Byetta. But I did have some in January & all of my numbers were great- the best they'd been in years, my doc & I were thrilled. I attribute it to the weight loss & Met. I was just at his office last week & he said there's no need to repeat it until next January, unless I have any problems.

[LaBigGirl]

Jessie, looks like you had good tests too! Isn't it an odd feeling when the dr. says, "Well, everything looks quite good." I'm used to "Let's start with your fasting glucose/insulin numbers..."

[gdesshill]

First off, I am so glad I found this site. I knew of soulcysters for a while but never joined as a member. I wanted to find out more about Byetta and IR as my prescription starts today. I was dx with PCOS around 15 years ago. IR around 5 years ago. Of course, I have all of the symptoms that go along with it, including obesity, infertility, etc.

I recently lost a baby at 4 months in 10/08 due to severe birth defects. The baby had Sirenomelia. I had to terminate the pregnancy and it was the worst experience of my life. I could go on and on about that, but that is not what I am here for. The moral of that story was, The Baby's rare condition (1 in 100,000) is linked mostly to women who are diabetic.

After I recovered slightly I thought about it and realized that all signs were now pointing to me doing something more about my health and weight issues. Was I heading more towards diabetes or was the IR to blame and had the same damaging effects on the fetus? I didn't really blame myself as no-one knows for sure what the cause was. What I really wanted out of all this horror, was something good, however small to come from this. What if that something good was taking better care of my body? I just recently (2 months ago) changed to a low glycemic diet. It has helped, I feel better but the weight is not dropping off as much as I would have hoped, maybe only 10#. I realize this can be attributed to IR.

I have severe sleep apnea (of course) and my ENT doc suggested I try Byetta with Metformin. So here I go. I am cautiously opptomistic. I typically don't have the average response to meds. Metformin isn't really doing much. My fasting insulin levels have gone down, but I do not get my menstrul cycles. I have read over alot of posts and I am very excited to have a forum to discuss my thoughts. So, I just wanted to introduce myself and say "Thank you" for those who have started this Byetta Club. I am sure I will have questions.

[jessietex]

gdesshill- Welcome!!! I'm so sorry for your loss. Please don't blame yourself, it's really out of your hands. Congrats on working on your health & weight.

Met did work in regulating some of my levels, but I never really started Oing on it & having very regular cycles. They were better, but not exactly regular. I did have 2 28 day cycles, then they went to 35-42 days...which is def better than every 90+ days, but not exactly normal.

I love Byetta! I've had great results. However, I just found out I'm preggers this week so I quit taking it, but you can bet your life I'll take it after the baby comes. Stick baby stick! GL in your journey, please let us know if you have any questions!

[2boysmom]

Hi there Ladies - I have been on Byetta for about 4 months now- I just recently went up to 10mg 2x a day. It has been a bit of a struggle for me with getting sick, but not as bad as when I have tried Metformin. When I was trying that, I mine as well just lived in the bathroom. Anyway, I am frustrated because I have only lost about 6 lbs. I am 230lbs now - I am eating well and eating about 1/4 of what I did before. I don't crave sugar anymore on the Byetta - actually I don't feel like eating at all. But then wouldn't you think I would loose more weight???

I am going to my OB in a week- I am finally getting a fairly normal period - about 20 days apart. I used to have it 90 percent of the time. So that has been a positive. I am working out and eating right. Is there anything else that anyone would suggest that I try for vitamins or meds? I see that alot of people seem to be on multiple things. I don't have the hair problem, I have been sitting on the fence of being diagnosed type 2 diabetic, I am done having babies (I got two on Clomid but lost 4) if that information is helpful at all. I would appreciate any ideas. THANKS!

[luv4deliah]

Ive been on byetta for like a month now. I never felt nauseated at all. I do 5 units twice a day. Ive gained 5 pounds in the last month!!!! Ok, i started a new job so since i start my day earlier, i probably eat more then I used to before. I go back to my doc on 5-6 next wed and Im afraid of what she is going to say!
For those who have lost weight, is it because you feel nauseated that makes you not want to eat? or are you just not that hungry since taking byetta? and by the way, how much byetta do you take? I really need to and want to lose weight. I started walking 3 times a week for about an hour.

I have taken the advice from "a beautiful disaster" and "jessietex" regarding my post on how to inject myself with the least amount of pain possible. It has been helping me and I am not too afraid any more!!! thanks again ladies!!!

If anyone could share their experience reagarding weight lost, I would appreciated it!

Aloha,
Brooks

I have to wonder if you've had no nausea and actually GAINED weight on Byetta, maybe you're not getting the medicine in afterall. Did you read the instructions that came with your pen thouroughly? Before you use your pen for the first time, you're supposed to follow the "Set Up Your Pen Instructions". Make sure you're doing it all the right way before you give up on Byetta. In the first month I took it I lost 15 lbs! I did have a lot of nausea. But you should feel almost overly full after you eat a meal right after your shot.

Good luck!

[LaBigGirl]

Jessie, congratulations on becoming pregnant! I wish you and your family well.

2Boys...It DOES seem weird that you would lose so little if you are eating dramatically less than pre-Byetta levels. Is your activity level the same as it was before? Have you seen the dr. about it? I don't have any advice, really other than that and take it as the package says. You should not have eaten for several hours before each injection, which I'm sure you're doing.

In my own Byetta quest, I'm having a slow time losing weight at the moment. I had taken a few weeks off from the gym while I finished the school year teaching, and just got back on the horse this week. It is my Summer of Fitness! I did legs tonight and boy am I feeling it. I am hoping that the increased exercise will jump start the weight loss. Who knows, though. The first two weeks I was on my current Byetta pen, it felt like it wasn't doing a THING for my appetite. Then, suddenly, fullness and nausea again! It seems to be working again, same pen same everything. Funny how I get excited about feeling sick.

[LaBigGirl]

I'm wondering if anyone has noticed a difference in their side effects when they inject in the thigh versus the belly. Yesterday I used my leg because I had so many marks on my belly. I spent the whole night and now this whole morning feeling restless and my pulse is above 90 which is way above my normal. Just curious if it could be connected, but there could be many causes.

[brooks]

I have to wonder if you've had no nausea and actually GAINED weight on Byetta, maybe you're not getting the medicine in afterall. Did you read the instructions that came with your pen thouroughly? Before you use your pen for the first time, you're supposed to follow the "Set Up Your Pen Instructions". Make sure you're doing it all the right way before you give up on Byetta. In the first month I took it I lost 15 lbs! I did have a lot of nausea. But you should feel almost overly full after you eat a meal right after your shot.

Good luck!

Hello,
Thank you so much for your post back to me. Since my last entry here, my doctor boosted up my byetta to 10 units twice a day. I did read the instructions and i know that im getting the medicine because the liquid in the pen gets used up by the end of the month. I set up or prime the pen when it is new. I hold the needle in for 5 seconds. My byetta pen is kept in the refridgerator because it is too hot in hawaii to keep it out. I am doing everything exactly the way my doctor told me and what the instructions say to do. I was so afraid of needles, but now that im doing this twice a day, im getting a lot braver. I just went to the doctors last week again. my A1C and Triglycerides improved alot, my doctor was pleased for the first time ever!!! But I GAINED another 5 pounds!!! Im not even kidding, i dont know what it is. I give myself the shot and wait one hour then have my meal. I may have gotten nauseaed only 3 times ever in about 3 months. other then that, i feel normal not full. My doctor said that it is not a magic shot that makes you lose weight...but i dont get it. everybody else is losing weight and im gaining. I continue to use the byetta because it is helping me. it's just that i am not losing weight but the very opposite.
I thought for sure that when we went to 10 units, that i would lose some weight...but it hasnt happened. Doctor wants me to up my excerise from 3 days a week to 5. hopefully this will help.
Any advice is welcome..thank you for replying to my post.
aloha!

[sccuddlers]

Hi all,

I started Byetta (5 mcg) last Thursday and so far so good. No nausea at all, I did get a headache the first day though. It has really cut the appetite. Does that effect last or does the appetite come back after a while? Feeling really good about it so far. Is there anything I should look out for as I continue to use it?

Thanks!

[LaBigGirl]

It has really cut the appetite. Does that effect last or does the appetite come back after a while?

Sccuddlers, in my experience the appetite does come back but still less than pre-Byetta. Another tricky thing is that while your appetite may inch back up, your ability to eat a lot remains compromised (by the medication making your stomach sloowww to empty). Don't overeat and pay later with a belly ache! It has happened to me a few times in the evening, like when eating a late dinner and I had a little too much because dang it I was really hungry. Then you can kiss your reg. bedtime goodbye, cause you'll be staying up until relief sets in.

[sccuddlers]

Lori,

Thanks for the advice, I will keep that in mind. Just got a call from my doc's office. My insurance company won't cover the byetta. That really sucks! Not sure what to do now. Anyone have this happen to them?

Thanks,
Kim

[LaBigGirl]

hi everyone, I am seeing my endo. next week for checkup. Although it's not proven by blood test (yet) I feel like my androgens are rising again (more acne, scalp more oily, revved up libido, etc.) and want to give Glucophage yet another try. I still have some in the cupboard from before starting Byetta, which was middle February.

My question is: Has anyone taken extended-release Glucophage with Byetta? Due to Byetta slowing down stomach emptying, I wondered if it would be bad to take the XR Gluco...would it somehow release the med in the wrong place of the digestive tract? I only ask because I quit Gluco. in the past over the unpredictible diarrhea that I would get (even with XR). I'd really like to be able to rein in the androgens, if they are indeed up. Thanks for help.

[sccuddlers]

I take the extended release gluco with the byetta. I haven't had any problems with it.

HTH,
Kim