What do you tell your Doctor

[RetCurious]

I've been dancing around this topic since I started reta in January. With my annual checkup with my cardiologist looming next week I've read this thread through a couple of times for guidance.

I use her and her genius PA as my PCP. I had a minor cardiovascular event in 2014 that resulted in a stent, statins, blood pressure meds and finally last year a SGLT2 inhibitor. to get my blood work numbers in order. Everything is cool apart from the 50 extra pounds I'm carrying around which is probably the cause of my other issues.

She had suggested we could explore "fat drugs" as an option on my last visit. I'm kind of resistant to starting new therapies and adding more drugs to my routine and told her I would think about it. Now I need to tell her something.

The last thing I want is for her to get alarmed about mystery powder from the far east.

So I'm gonna lie. The plan is to tell her I'm on Wegovy from an online prescription service.

Am I wrong for this? Will she buy it?

 

[tubby]

I've been dancing around this topic since I started reta in January. With my annual checkup with my cardiologist looming next week I've read this thread through a couple of times for guidance.

I use her and her genius PA as my PCP. I had a minor cardiovascular event in 2014 that resulted in a stent, statins, blood pressure meds and finally last year a SGLT2 inhibitor. to get my blood work numbers in order. Everything is cool apart from the 50 extra pounds I'm carrying around which is probably the cause of my other issues.

She had suggested we could explore "fat drugs" as an option on my last visit. I'm kind of resistant to starting new therapies and adding more drugs to my routine and told her I would think about it. Now I need to tell her something.

The last thing I want is for her to get alarmed about mystery powder from the far east.

So I'm gonna lie. The plan is to tell her I'm on Wegovy from an online prescription service.

Am I wrong for this? Will she buy it?

I think in your case disclosure could be smart.

One potential interaction (that in theory a doctor should catch) would be a minor increased risk of ketoacidosis that could be exasperated by combining an SGLT2 inhibitor with a GLP. It's not that the GLP itself would directly cause it, but rather than if you were a hyper-responder to the GLP and found yourself unable to eat for days, that (combined with the SGLT2 inhibitor) could increase your risk there. Don't freak out about this and it's a very minor risk, but SGLT2-inhibitors have been found (surprisingly) to slightly increase the risk of ketoacidosis. Normally ketoacidosis is primarily a concern for type 1 diabetics, but since there were no type 1 diabetics in the original clinical trials where that effect was observed, apparently it somehow extends beyond that group.

 

[dirtyharry]

I think it's probably best to let your provider know these kinds of things. It's not like he can stop your from taking them regardless of his opinion of it. Letting your doctor know though gives them the proper information to make informed decisions about your health.

 

[Killerbudd0912]

Assuming you go in for regular check ups and get blood work done. Do you tell him what you're taking? Do you keep it a secret?

I've also read you shouldn't hid anything from your doctor but when I told him I like to have a smoke every once in a while I got charged a smoking cessation consultation. And put on my chart which could affect any life insurance policy. Keep in mind I smoke at deer camp and when every once in a while when I would go out and drink.

So do you tell them or not.

As I first read this post I thought "100% tell them everything" but NO. Not everything. The random Smoke just keep to your self. Although STOP IT. No need for that.

 

[HereKittyKitty]

....So I'm gonna lie. The plan is to tell her I'm on Wegovy from an online prescription service.

Am I wrong for this? Will she buy it?

Good idea to disclose in some way.

These drugs matter for procedures involving anesthesia. I had special instructions for my last two medical events.

 

[HereKittyKitty]

When asked by "medical professionals" if I have any guns in my home I say no.

In other words it's none of their business.

Keep in mind: delayed gastric emptying increases anesthesia risk. The specific instructions for planned procedures depends on your anesthesiologist & other factors.

Gun ownership has no impact on the operating table. Use of this class of drugs very well can. Just tell them you're using compounded. For your own good health outcomes.

 

[Sid the SeaGull]

Good idea to disclose in some way.

These drugs matter for procedures involving anesthesia. I had special instructions for my last two medical events.

100% to this , I think i mentioned it earlier also . Additional fasting measures needed and also the medical team can reduce the risk of complications and death on the operation table if they can make appropriate preparations.

 

[glx3550]

My doctor knew my "stack" at the time. Told him everything I used and why. He did his own research, called me to meet up in his office. He wasn't thrilled about peptides, because of the lack of human data. He let Reta slide tho, because of the phase 3 trails in the US. He didn't recommend it but what doctor would?

 

[janedoe]

I posted this previously....When I transitioned from namebrand to compound, then grey, I told my doc I purchased enough compound to last the apocalypse. He attempted to tell me about expiration, etc, every visit. I said, I know, thanks. My next visit will be the same story, which is in 2 weeks.

 

[HereKittyKitty]

I posted this previously....When I transitioned from namebrand to compound, then grey, I told my doc I purchased enough compound to last the apocalypse. He attempted to tell me about expiration, etc, every visit. I said, I know, thanks. My next visit will be the same story, which is in 2 weeks.

Did he have anything else to say beyond the expiration "warning"? If you don't mind my asking....

 

[foffspam111]

I tell my GP nothing. I do my annual checkup and bloodwork. They say everything looks great and we’re done.

I wish we lived in a world where your data isn’t or wouldn’t be used against you but for the most part that is not the case.

 

[Turbo-Farmer]

I have been through many PCPs before I found one who appreciates the information I can bring to my yearly physical. She was happy to be wrong about my ability to reverse T2D with diet and exercise. She loves that I run every day to spite her, and stay off the meds my insurance would cover. She knows I won't take a statin or blood pressure medication as long as I have progress. I have to explain why I want more testing that what is usually included in a yearly physical.

I told my PCP about MOT-C and how it was going to help with my insulin resistance. I shrugged when she asked were I got it. I gave he a MOTS-C book and "statin nation" to read while she is out on maternity leave. I wanted her to be informed of why I make my decisions. She gives me a lot credit for lowering my A1C more than she thought was possible with life style modification (13.5 to 5.7 in 3 months)

She actually recommened other patients turn to compounding for tirzepatide as it's cost prohibitive for some. When I told her about my tirzepatide plan she was excited ( left out the grey part). But she understands how cost prohibitive the name brand glp1 can be.

We had a lively discussion about Reta which she's excited for (she's T2D) and can't wait for it to come out. I'm not sure if I will tell her about my pre approval research or not.

 

[tubby]

She gives me a lot credit for lowering my A1C more than she thought was possible with life style modification (13.5 to 5.7 in 3 months)

Nice work on that! I personally went from 13.7% to 5.3% in 5 months and can appreciate what it took to pull that off. 5.7 in 3 months is amazing since it means you must have gotten your blood sugar back into the normal range in weeks, implying you immediately went cold turkey, so to speak.

 

[Turbo-Farmer]

Nice work on that! I personally went from 13.7% to 5.3% in 5 months and can appreciate what it took to pull that off. 5.7 in 3 months is amazing since it means you must have gotten your blood sugar back into the normal range in weeks, implying you immediately went cold turkey, so to speak.

It was steroid induced diabetes.

One of the side affects of prednisone is diabetes, which I was prescribed for an upper respiratory infection. It sent me into a state of keto acidosis, where I lost a pound a day for about two months, no matter how much I ate I was still hunger, constantly feeling nauseous, light headed. I hade a triglyceride number of 3200 20 times. I left that first Dr appointment in despair and started running that day and haven’t stopped in over 3 years.

My doctor said I couldn’t do it and I was never more determined to prove someone wrong about me.

In my Dr’s defense, she told me everyone says that they are going to change and leave her clinic and keep doing what they were doing before.

 

[HereKittyKitty]

In my Dr’s defense, she told me everyone says that they are going to change and leave her clinic and keep doing what they were doing before.

My PCP always tells me that he wishes other patients would take a diagnosis in stride and improve their health as I have instead of relying on medications to manage symptoms but never change behaviour.

 

[Turbo-Farmer]

My PCP always tells me that he wishes other patients would take a diagnosis in stride and improve their health as I have instead of relying on medications to manage symptoms but never change behaviour.

I think that’s called accountability. Only you are accountable for your actions which can affect your health. Your Dr can only give advice, it’s up to each individual what they are going to do. It’s not your Dr’s fault if you don’t change course.

 

[janedoe]

Did he have anything else to say beyond the expiration "warning"? If you don't mind my asking....

Nothing at all, other than keeping up on labs for pancreas, kidney. Etc, which is routine. He rambles about Pharma dating.

 

[HereKittyKitty]

I've been dancing around this topic since I started reta in January. With my annual checkup with my cardiologist looming next week I've read this thread through a couple of times for guidance.

I use her and her genius PA as my PCP. I had a minor cardiovascular event in 2014 that resulted in a stent, statins, blood pressure meds and finally last year a SGLT2 inhibitor. to get my blood work numbers in order. Everything is cool apart from the 50 extra pounds I'm carrying around which is probably the cause of my other issues.

She had suggested we could explore "fat drugs" as an option on my last visit. I'm kind of resistant to starting new therapies and adding more drugs to my routine and told her I would think about it. Now I need to tell her something.

The last thing I want is for her to get alarmed about mystery powder from the far east.

So I'm gonna lie. The plan is to tell her I'm on Wegovy from an online prescription service.

Am I wrong for this? Will she buy it?

I have a complex-enough medical history that I decided to use an FDA approved glp1/gip because I'm not a doctor and I don't know if one product vs another can require different considerations in my on-going care. My PCP was supportive of my obtaining it without insurance; offered to write the rx. When I saw him 6 months later, I told him I'd gone compounded which I expected him to disapprove of. He didn't. He understood. He knows I take it for more than weight management. He can see the effect in my labs.

I had to disclose use for a medical procedure involving anesthesia.

If I was young and/or didn't have a chronic medical condition, I might keep it to myself and just repeat the diet & exercise mantra. But I'm not and I do so I disclose.

 

[Neurogroot]

I went through this last month with my primary care doctor last month. I had a follow up appointment, 3 months after seeing the doctor initially. I had lost 28 lbs in that month, so I knew I had some ‘splainin to do!

Previously, a coworker of mine had mentioned their doc had revoked their Adderall script after telling his doc straight up about buying grey market Tirz, since his doctor told him insurance wouldn’t cover him. He believes this honesty caused his doctor to flag him for risk taking behaviors. I don’t know exactly how he worded it though.

With that in mind, I told my doctor that I was working with a consultant from Hims. Not entirely a lie, my first month on GLPs was through that. My doctor said she wasn’t a big fan of this, but at least my weight, BP and A1C were down. And, I still have my scripts.

I guess I’d be more forthcoming if bloodwork turned up trouble. Aside from that, keep it vague and minimal.

 

[tubby]

It's hard to decide if it's sad or hilarious that for those who choose to disclose, potential fallout comes down to whether you use the right magic words or not in how you explain it.