INTRO Hi everyone! Tirzepatide user exploring other peptides

[estilence]

Hello!

I'm a 53-year-old woman. To make a long story short: a combination of traumatic events, an injury and illness left me house- and bed-bound on and off for a considerable stretch, and I put on weight. As a last resort for getting my mobility back, I started tirzepatide. I've now dropped roughly 70 lbs on tirz and am 20 lbs from my goal weight, so I'm starting to look into maintenance and other matters, and I really need to rebuild muscle.

My first source was an online telehealth provider — too pricey, but I wanted a baseline sense of how the medication felt. After that I switched to a discount provider (cheaper, though still too much), and then, after doing plenty of research on Stairway to Gray and here, I ordered grey. I've placed 2 separate orders with different vendors and had no trouble getting either one.

Over about 10 months I went from 225 to 153. The usual side effects have shown up: mild nausea and a bit of constipation. Around 6 months in, my hair started shedding, and it's still going, which worries me.

What I'd like to learn about regarding other peptides:

- maintenance after tirzepatide weight loss

- halting hair loss and getting regrowth

- I'm tired most of the time and sleep poorly, yet I can never seem to fully wake up

- anxiety, depression, brain function

- recovery from plantar fasciitis and back pain (the weight loss has already helped TONS)

- muscle growth, cardio endurance

- other antiaging and wellness benefits

I'm already on thyroid replacement and HRT therapy, and those seem to be going fine. My hair is already fine, and I've had earlier problems with thinning from hypothyroid. I was diagnosed with depression a long time ago, and it seems worse now, though I can't tell whether to attribute that to the tirz or not. I'm also curious how others with ADHD and/or AudHD have experienced GLP-1s and whether there are any differences or effects with medications.

Anyway, good to be here!

 

[momentousdunbird]

I'm on Adderall for ADHD. To see whether it would help me sleep better at night, I actually take a lower dose than what's prescribed. While I was using tirz, I didn't really notice any specific interactions — though if I took more than my usual amount, my appetite got suppressed even further.

If constipation is an issue for you, the first thing I'd recommend is increasing your fiber. You may want to raise it gradually, since adding too much all at once can lead to other stomach problems.

Fiber supplements are an option. For me, I'm a big fan of beans and oatmeal (though not eaten together lol), so I generally meet my fiber targets.

When it comes to maintenance, just be sure you're getting enough protein and start adding resistance training gradually — you'll see great results.

If you're taking antidepressants, those might be producing a fair number of side effects by themselves. I was on them at one point and came off them simply because I didn't much care for how they made me feel.

 

[LetsGoWolves]

Great job on all the effort you've put in — it's clearly paying off and you're nearly at your goals. Keep going!

Be sure you're getting enough biotin, whether from food or a quality supplement, to help your hair stay strong. On the constipation front, I'll echo the fiber suggestion mentioned above. I'd also stress the importance of staying well hydrated — even more so if you go with fiber supplements rather than adding more fiber through your diet.

If fiber supplements don't get enough water, they can actually make constipation worse. That fiber will soak up the fluid it needs, and without enough water alongside it, it pulls moisture from your gut and hardens. Some products are worse than others. Begin with 1/2 or even 1/4 of the label's recommended dose and gradually increase. And resist the temptation to solve things with harsh laxatives — using them too frequently can make your colon dependent on them.

A full metabolic profile could be useful if you haven't had one done. It helps you understand your electrolyte balance. For instance, poor sleep can sometimes stem from a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium L-threonate costs a bit more — though not hugely so — but it has actual research behind it showing better blood-brain barrier penetration than other magnesium forms for sleep support. It also tends to cause fewer GI side effects than forms like oxide or citrate.

My mom dealt with plantar fasciitis plus several other foot problems that eventually needed reconstructive surgery. The best approach I've found is proper stretching and strengthening exercises combined with supportive footwear. Gentle, slow stretching of that tissue is the best way to prevent the micro tears that form. In the end, identifying the root cause is the best way to tackle it. Treatment differs slightly depending on whether overuse or a structural issue — like flat feet or very high arches — or a mechanical problem with your stride is behind it. The treatments overlap, but stretching and therapy can only do so much for a flat foot, for example.

Regarding peptides, as you've seen with your tirz journey, they can help — but only as far as you're willing to do the work. Nothing comes easy. We all have to "pick our hard," so to speak. Working toward feeling better is hard. But feeling awful is hard too. Each of us has to choose which hard we want to live with.

Still, it's worth it, right?