If you have to stay on GLP-1s forever, is it really a solution or just an expensive subscription?
So I’ve been on tirzepatide for about 7 months now and I’ve lost 52 pounds which honestly has been life changing. But I keep thinking about what happens next. My doctor basically told me this is a lifetime thing – that if I stop, the weight will likely come back. And I’m sitting here doing the math on what this costs even with insurance, and it’s making me wonder… is this actually solving anything or am I just paying a monthly fee to keep my body in check?
Don’t get me wrong, I feel better than I have in years. My A1C is normal now, my blood pressure is down, I can actually keep up with my kids. But there’s something that bugs me about the idea that I haven’t really “fixed” anything, I’ve just found an expensive workaround that I’ll need forever. Like, my body is still broken underneath, right? The medication is just masking it?
I guess I’m struggling with whether this is truly healthcare or more like… I dunno, a subscription service for my metabolism? Has anyone else thought about this or am I overthinking it?
I mean, I get where you’re coming from but isn’t this true for most chronic conditions? My dad takes blood pressure meds every day and will for the rest of his life. Diabetics take insulin. People with thyroid issues take levothyroxine forever. Why is obesity different? If your body doesn’t regulate appetite and metabolism properly on its own, then yeah, you might need pharmaceutical help long-term. That doesn’t make it less valid as treatment imo. The “fix” is that you’re healthier and living a better quality of life. But definitely talk to your doctor about your concerns – maybe there are other interventions that could help too.
I felt this HARD when I first started. 8 months on sema here. But then my endo explained it differently – she said some people’s bodies just don’t produce enough GLP-1 naturally or their receptors don’t respond well. So we’re not masking a problem, we’re supplementing something that’s deficient. Kind of like how some people need vitamin D supplements because they don’t make enough. That perspective shift helped me. Though I agree the cost is absolutely ridiculous and insurance coverage is a nightmare. What MetabolicMike said is true too but I do think the “subscription” concern is valid when these meds cost what they do.