This past week I have seen the effects of Ozempic on 2 different people. One a celebrity recently in the news about it.

Sharon Osbourne, 70, reveals 30 pound Ozempic-aided weight loss | Metro News

The other my own GP. When the reaction is... holy shi* upon seeing them, you know it's gone too far. I hadn't seen my family doctor for months but last week when she walked into the room I was taken aback. I wanted to ask but didn't. Pretty sure she's using it unless she's got some major health issues going on. She runs another clinic as well for botox injections etc. I can't help but think body dysmorphia. Skeletal facial features is not a good look. JS

I'm going back in to see her next week for some preventative tests I was putting off until after I recovered from surgery. Maybe it's none of my business but if it's what I think it is, I'm seriously thinking about switching doctors. I'm also going to talk to my bariatric team when I see them in Oct. to discuss my meds. I was told by them that after WLS I should be able to get off most of them. My GP told me I'll probably be on all of them for the rest of my life???? I always wondered if she gets some kind of kickback from prescribing them because in the past she always seemed to want to add more every year. But now that all my tests are coming back normal, what's a doc to do??? It will be interesting what the bariatric team tells me compared to her. That may be the determining factor in whether I switch doctors or not.

Am I wrong to think that if my doctor isn't taking proper care of herself, how can she take care of me? But then I think...well there are a lot of overweight doctors and nurses too. It's a conundrum... but atm wanting to keep me on all my meds is a bigger concern.

To me, I think it's just FANTASTIC that you are keeping such a watchful eye on the people who are supposed to be caring for you. I remember when I was a kid,my mom believed you should "always do what the doctor says" . I grew up believing that ,and as a result I was always afraid to speak up or get a second opinion. What you're doing - even just thinking about it - shows you're an insightful and intelligent person ! Don't EVER think "it's none of my business" because it IS your business to have the best caregiver you can find. Outward appearances can show alot of inward flaws. (I'm thinking of those plastic surgeons who have their own faces done to the extreme - they look like someone shrink wrapped their faces ! LOL ) Go find someone you'll have faith in and check their on line reviews,too. Good Luck!!!!

Oooh I hope this is going to be a fascinating thread - what is 'it's gone too far' - is it in the eye of the beholder?? We might all have our own idea of that. Thanks for the chance to discuss this OP!!

I get asked pretty regularly now whether or not I am well (I SO AM) and whether or not I planned to lose this much weight (I SOOOOO DID). The inference being - you at best look thin of face and body, or at worst look really unwell (in that person's eye). I filter/ignore those comments depending on how much I trust/want to hear about that person's eye!

I think allowing people to do what they want to and need to with their bodies for their own reasons without judgement is probably a good thing on a general and totally generic level. I know it can be difficult when people go beyond what we ourselves are comfortable with, and then that it goes up another level if they do things well outside our norms AND societal norms.

If they are not hurting anybody then fantastic. Honestly you do you - if you want to have a skeletal face (and get paparazzi to follow you and your daughter for a day of "shopping") and it feels good to you then dooooooo it! And make your money out of it if you need that too.

Absolutely ready for a big old discussion on this one. ?

I'm sorry but I've seen more than one photo spread of what went wrong with the last Sharan Osborn medical adventure over the years. Somehow I can just pin this photo on her last adventure.

What folks near and dear to each of us may not have expressed is that quick weight loss made many of us appear less than healthy, sick even. I know I was surprised to hear it, but not altogether shocked by the news since I saw many others the same way.

We each make our choices and have to live with the consequences, both good and ill. Generally most of the consequences are temporary, some less so.

Life is a crap shoot.

Good luck,

Tek

Edited October 2, 20232 yr by The Greater Fool

On 9/30/2023 at 1:48 PM, BabySpoons said:

Am I wrong to think that if my doctor isn't taking proper care of herself, how can she take care of me? But then I think...well there are a lot of overweight doctors and nurses too. It's a conundrum... but atm wanting to keep me on all my meds is a bigger concern

This is where the saying "those who can't teach" comes into play. Everyone has their own inner battles and struggles, and even though we might not be good at taking our own advice, it doesn't mean we do not know the right or healthy way to do things. That being said defiantly go to medical professionals YOU feel good about and you are comfortable with. It is okay to get a second opinion and of course change doctors, this is your health and your journey, this is about you and you need professionals who you feel good about.

12 hours ago, KathyLev said:

I remember when I was a kid,my mom believed you should "always do what the doctor says"

That is totally not me. LOL I question everything. Thank you for the kind words.

6 hours ago, Spinoza said:

If they are not hurting anybody then fantastic.

And I agree. I am the first one to admit to being a nonconformist. I am a little over halfway to meeting my weight goal and who knows how I'll look when I get there. At the moment friends and family are all telling me how great I look, but who knows if that will change as the scale goes down. To be honest, it won't bother me at all to have a rail thin body. But if it comes with a face that ages me twenty years, I don't think I'll be happy with it or need anyone else to point it out to me. Does that hurt anyone else? No.

My point in bringing up Sharon Osbourne and my family doc is one... if you read the article, she is warning people against the use of Ozempic. She saw and recognized the effects on her own body and stopped using it. Doctors doling it out to anyone that can afford it, regardless of whether they are diabetic or overweight is hurting people. And some of the side effects are life threatening.

And two, how my doctor misuses this drug directly affects me. She's not diabetic or overweight and making decisions on meds for me and others that are potentially harmful to continue long term. More than one patient has voiced their concerns to me regarding her.

So, if you have more than one person telling you it's gone too far, it might be advisable to listen. Especially if it's coming from people you love and trust. If it's from people that are jealous of your weight loss than that's another matter and they can wanker off. xD

1 hour ago, The Greater Fool said:

We each make our choices and have to live with the consequences.

You got that right brother. Thanks for the input.

Doctors….

As I get older, my opinion on doctors has changed quite a bit. Going through taking care of two parents and all their medical needs has shown me quite a bit.

At the end of my fathers life, I came to the conclusion and can sum it up in a very easy statement.

” A Doctor graduating at the bottom of their class is still a Doctor.”

Both of my parents were of the generation the doctors were on a pedestals . As their journeys towards end of life progressed, it became very very apparent to them that they are not. Bad diagnosis, bad care, wrong medication‘s, not listening to patient feedback on and on. I can’t give horror stories on the amount of bullshit that came from doctors mouths.

Doctors now tend to be not very thorough and have blinders on. Gone are the days where they treated a patient as a whole person looking at all results and all the conditions. You need to be your own advocate, and do what is right for you.

I’m not saying there aren’t good doctors out there, but they are becoming harder and harder to find. And we MUST question and research and push back…or find another Doctor.

like any other profession, do you need to seek out the best and discard the worst.

You are right to be skeptical, and have the right to find a Doctor who aligns with your thinking and care.

On 9/30/2023 at 4:48 PM, BabySpoons said:

Am I wrong to think that if my doctor isn't taking proper care of herself, how can she take care of me?

Did you have questions about this doctor’s competence prior to this appointment?

10 hours ago, Fred in Pa said:

Doctors….

As I get older, my opinion on doctors has changed quite a bit. Going through taking care of two parents and all their medical needs has shown me quite a bit.

At the end of my fathers life, I came to the conclusion and can sum it up in a very easy statement.

” A Doctor graduating at the bottom of their class is still a Doctor.”

Both of my parents were of the generation the doctors were on a pedestals . As their journeys towards end of life progressed, it became very very apparent to them that they are not. Bad diagnosis, bad care, wrong medication‘s, not listening to patient feedback on and on. I can’t give horror stories on the amount of bullshit that came from doctors mouths.

Doctors now tend to be not very thorough and have blinders on. Gone are the days where they treated a patient as a whole person looking at all results and all the conditions. You need to be your own advocate, and do what is right for you.

I’m not saying there aren’t good doctors out there, but they are becoming harder and harder to find. And we MUST question and research and push back…or find another Doctor.

like any other profession, do you need to seek out the best and discard the worst.

You are right to be skeptical, and have the right to find a Doctor who aligns with your thinking and care.

You are so right, here in Australia dr's surgeries are run like a money-making enterprise not health care providers, you get 5 mins max in the office and dare you want to address more than 1 issue regardless of if the symptoms could be related you have to make another appointment. its 1 symptom per visit. How is that providing good health care and getting a full picture of what's going on with someone?

8 hours ago, GreenTealael said:

Did you have questions about this doctor’s competence prior to this appointment?

THIS right here is what I was thinking. Who are we to decide, based on how someone looks, that are well or unwell? Maybe she has a medical condition of her own that she battles that makes her look that way. We certainly don't like snap judgements and assumptions about us, I think we should hold that same logic for others, including our doctors.

So many layers to unpack…

let me first say that if it is your desire to come off some/all medications you need a doctor that will help you achieve that goal safely, if it is possible. Some truly may be life saving and necessary. You need to address it with every doctor that treats you and/or find one that will listen and guide you based on your needs and the facts.

Her appearance could very well be something else- If she’d proven competent in other situations, Im not sure the weight loss alone would be a reason to leave. There are plenty of unhealthy, thin/overweight (insert unhealthy practice here, like smoking) doctors too. Keep in mind all doctors “practice medicine”. Practice being the key word.

16 hours ago, Fred in Pa said:

A Doctor graduating at the bottom of their class is still a Doctor.

Mine is a PA. The key differences between the role of a PA vs. an MD come to light when complex issues arise. MDs have knowledge about complicated conditions that many PAs may not possess.

I was not happy to leave my family doc of many years for her to begin with. But my insurance changed with work, and he was no longer considered in network, sadly enough. My company has their own doctors and pharmacy, and the coverage is amazing, but the choice of doctors there are limited.

9 hours ago, GreenTealael said:

Did you have questions about this doctor’s competence prior to this appointment?

Yes, before ever considering WLS, I wanted to find an internist to sort out all the meds I was on. Some I knew were necessary, some were preventative and some questionable. To be told that I will be on all of them the rest of my life after my bariatric team told me otherwise was disappointing to hear and questionable.

She's always been quick to prescribe meds. I didn't see her often but when I did, I always walked away with one or two more. She prescribed Ozempic to me years ago before it became a thing. I didn't take it long, after reading it caused tumors/cancer in mice plus it made me feel horrible every day. Then recently, when I saw her to get a release for WLS, she wanted to put me back on it. I declined. Ironically, we had a discussion about Ozempic face at that time. She told me if I lose too much weight in my face after surgery, to look her up and she will fix it. She owns a business that does fillers. botox etc. So she lives in that world.

I guess I've always felt that since she is a PA, she may not be as knowledgeable as an MD when it comes to medication. But I will wait to see what the bariatric team tells me first before deciding anything.

1 hour ago, SleeveToBypass2023 said:

We certainly don't like snap judgements and assumptions about us,

Like assuming I would change doctors based solely on her looks? I recently had 3 of her patients tell me they already changed doctors for some of the very reasons mentioned here. So nothing "snap" about it. If anything, I'm biding my time and giving her the benefit of the doubt. For now.

3 hours ago, Sigh said:

if it is your desire to come off some/all medications you need a doctor that will help you achieve that goal safely,

Agree... I'm more holistically minded and need a doc who's likeminded. Not someone that hands meds out like candy. I'm not working this hard to be told I can never reverse the need for them. I realize it will take time and I may not be able to eliminate all of them but just never tell me never. Not yet anyway.

It’s an interesting issue.

I do understand the questions it might raise when your health professional makes a decision about their life you don’t understand such as feeling she did not think she really had a weight issue that would necessitate her taking Ozempic.

I had questions & worried about my injectables nurse (not as serious as with your Dr). I liked her & how she treated me. She was cautious. She was a friend of a friend’s daughter & they both saw her. Then one day I went for my appointment & her face was deformed (well it was in my eyes). Overdone the fillers I thought. I couldn’t understand why she did as she was very attractive without it & questioned how cautious she really was in her treatments with me & others if she did that to herself. I commented upon it with my friend expressing my concern. Turned out she was pregnant & was having a terrible time with morning sickness, fluid retention & other issues which caused the ‘deformed’ look.

So yes, I think the questions & doubts that arise are a pretty natural reaction. Usually we don’t know the real story behind why someone choses to do something or what they are experiencing & we never may. Doesn’t mean their care for us is any less. But it is your decision how you manage it. You have to feel comfortable & secure with them, their recommendations & treatments.

The over prescribing issues is a whole other debate. I’d hope as your health improves & your blood work & other tests show you don’t need all your current meds she will stop prescribing those you don’t need any more.

I’ve been fortunate with my doctors & I’ve been with my current GP for about 25 yrs but I worry about the day she retires. She initially had her own practice but joined one of those big chain medical clinics a couple of years ago. I dislike the impersonal nature of the staff but thankfully she is the same. My 83yr old mother is struggling to find a new GP after hers decided to specialise in skin cancers. She is finding establishing a new relationship, trust & respect difficult as well as having to go over 83 yrs of medical history with each one she has tried. They probably will start to think she is shopping different doctors to get additional drugs except they’ve all been at the same clinic so far.

PS - Many of us experience our faces looking gaunt as we near our lowest weight. Remember my uncle telling me I looked like death (not to my face but to my mum). It settles over a few months as we know. Sure I look older than before (I am 58 not 21 so I should) but I look like real me. I don’t have fat distorting my features anymore. I love having a chin & jawline now, my hooded eyelids have practically vanished, my neck is thinner & longer & I have freakin’ cheekbones.

11 hours ago, BabySpoons said:

Yes, before ever considering WLS, I wanted to find an internist to sort out all the meds I was on. Some I knew were necessary, some were preventative and some questionable. To be told that I will be on all of them the rest of my life after my bariatric team told me otherwise was disappointing to hear and questionable.

She's always been quick to prescribe meds. I didn't see her often but when I did, I always walked away with one or two more. She prescribed Ozempic to me years ago before it became a thing. I didn't take it long, after reading it caused tumors/cancer in mice plus it made me feel horrible every day. Then recently, when I saw her to get a release for WLS, she wanted to put me back on it. I declined. Ironically, we had a discussion about Ozempic face at that time. She told me if I lose too much weight in my face after surgery, to look her up and she will fix it. She owns a business that does fillers. botox etc. So she lives in that world.

I guess I've always felt that since she is a PA, she may not be as knowledgeable as an MD when it comes to medication. But I will wait to see what the bariatric team tells me first before deciding anything.

I understand, hopefully you can find a new doctor who is a better fit for you.

On 9/30/2023 at 1:48 PM, BabySpoons said:

This past week I have seen the effects of Ozempic on 2 different people. One a celebrity recently in the news about it.

Sharon Osbourne, 70, reveals 30 pound Ozempic-aided weight loss | Metro News

The other my own GP. When the reaction is... holy shi* upon seeing them, you know it's gone too far. I hadn't seen my family doctor for months but last week when she walked into the room I was taken aback. I wanted to ask but didn't. Pretty sure she's using it unless she's got some major health issues going on. She runs another clinic as well for botox injections etc. I can't help but think body dysmorphia. Skeletal facial features is not a good look. JS

I'm going back in to see her next week for some preventative tests I was putting off until after I recovered from surgery. Maybe it's none of my business but if it's what I think it is, I'm seriously thinking about switching doctors. I'm also going to talk to my bariatric team when I see them in Oct. to discuss my meds. I was told by them that after WLS I should be able to get off most of them. My GP told me I'll probably be on all of them for the rest of my life???? I always wondered if she gets some kind of kickback from prescribing them because in the past she always seemed to want to add more every year. But now that all my tests are coming back normal, what's a doc to do??? It will be interesting what the bariatric team tells me compared to her. That may be the determining factor in whether I switch doctors or not.

Am I wrong to think that if my doctor isn't taking proper care of herself, how can she take care of me? But then I think...well there are a lot of overweight doctors and nurses too. It's a conundrum... but atm wanting to keep me on all my meds is a bigger concern.

I was wondering why Sharon Osborn looked so bad. I thought it was over doing the plastics. I used to work in a dermatology clinic and saw a lot of ppl who over did the fillers/botox and unfortunately, when they lose weight it shows up (fillers). Thanks for this post..now I know.

On 11/9/2023 at 2:38 PM, BlondePatriotinCDA said:

unfortunately, when they lose weight it shows up (fillers). Thanks for this post..now I know.

Hopefully since she went off the Ozempic she can regain some of that facial fat. Even she knows it's not a good look.