Stopped GLP-1 Because of Surgery

TeresaHip

TeresaHip

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My doctor told me to quit tirzepitide 2 weeks ahead of my operation. This is really rough! My hunger came roaring back. On top of that, I've put on 3 pounds. 😭 I keep trying to hold out, but it's tough. I can't wait until I'm able to start it up again. I've thought about injecting just half of my dose. Once the surgery is done, I'm absolutely going back on it. I'll get my husband to prepare the shot and deliver it to the hospital for me.

Edited to add

Really it's been 3+ weeks now, since I chose to stop on my own so my body could rest. My plan was to resume last week. At that point my surgery hadn't been booked, since the surgeon already had a lot of operations lined up. I was told it would be roughly a month. Then they phoned and offered me the 11th, because a cancellation had opened up. Of course I said yes right away, since I just wanted it finished.
 
TeresaHip said:

My doctor told me to quit tirzepitide 2 weeks ahead of my operation. This is really rough! My hunger came roaring back. On top of that, I've put on 3 pounds. 😭 I keep trying to hold out, but it's tough. I can't wait until I'm able to start it up again. I've thought about injecting just half of my dose. Once the surgery is done, I'm absolutely going back on it. I'll get my husband to prepare the shot and deliver it to the hospital for me.

Edited to add

Really it's been 3+ weeks now, since I chose to stop on my own so my body could rest. My plan was to resume last week. At that point my surgery hadn't been booked, since the surgeon already had a lot of operations lined up. I was told it would be roughly a month. Then they phoned and offered me the 11th, because a cancellation had opened up. Of course I said yes right away, since I just wanted it finished.
Click to expand...
At times, giving your body the chance to recover is necessary so that you're in a stronger position to take on your challenges.

Go ahead and take that pause, tend to yourself, and once you're recovered, you'll return fiercely and achieve what you set out to do!

Everyone here is cheering you on!!
 
TeresaHip said:

My doctor told me to quit tirzepitide 2 weeks ahead of my operation. This is really rough! My hunger came roaring back. On top of that, I've put on 3 pounds. 😭 I keep trying to hold out, but it's tough. I can't wait until I'm able to start it up again. I've thought about injecting just half of my dose. Once the surgery is done, I'm absolutely going back on it. I'll get my husband to prepare the shot and deliver it to the hospital for me.

Edited to add

Really it's been 3+ weeks now, since I chose to stop on my own so my body could rest. My plan was to resume last week. At that point my surgery hadn't been booked, since the surgeon already had a lot of operations lined up. I was told it would be roughly a month. Then they phoned and offered me the 11th, because a cancellation had opened up. Of course I said yes right away, since I just wanted it finished.
Click to expand...

It's rough that your hunger is hitting you this hard. Over the years I've come across plenty of stories about what happens after people quit glp-1s, and honestly? It worries me. That's exactly why I never want to quit.

A two-week pre-surgery window does seem like a lot, given how the guidance has shifted across the past several years. Plenty of doctors just don't move that fast, though. The kind of surgery involved also matters a great deal.

Anyway, you're in my thoughts and prayers for the procedure, and I hope you bounce back quickly!
 
TeresaHip said:

My doctor told me to quit tirzepitide 2 weeks ahead of my operation. This is really rough! My hunger came roaring back. On top of that, I've put on 3 pounds. 😭 I keep trying to hold out, but it's tough. I can't wait until I'm able to start it up again. I've thought about injecting just half of my dose. Once the surgery is done, I'm absolutely going back on it. I'll get my husband to prepare the shot and deliver it to the hospital for me.

Edited to add

Really it's been 3+ weeks now, since I chose to stop on my own so my body could rest. My plan was to resume last week. At that point my surgery hadn't been booked, since the surgeon already had a lot of operations lined up. I was told it would be roughly a month. Then they phoned and offered me the 11th, because a cancellation had opened up. Of course I said yes right away, since I just wanted it finished.
Click to expand...
For a surgery I had, I had to pause the medication 7 days prior and then another 7 days afterward. That second week was necessary since general anesthesia tends to back you up for several days, and you need your system moving normally again before taking the next dose.

So yes, my appetite returned and I put on 4lbs. The main dilemma was whether to resume at my old dose or drop down. I chose the lower dose and added 2lbs more. Over the course of 3 weeks I then moved up beyond my original level. That did the trick and the extra weight dropped off fast -- mostly due to the stronger dose crushing my hunger. At this point I'm back at my pre-surgery dose and my pre-surgery weight. Things have leveled out.

All in all, it took some time, but it wasn't a huge issue. A few pounds came on, then went away quickly.

I'd like to know how it went for those who just picked up at their old dose after a 2-3 week break.
 
I work in anesthesia. I went through surgery myself not long ago. They told me to pause for 7 days, though I chose to stretch it to 10 just to be cautious. Sure, hunger picked up over those final 2 days, but it wasn't anything extreme. The same day I got back home, I picked up again at my old dose. No issues at all after that.
 
Skidude said:

TeresaHip said:

My doctor told me to quit tirzepitide 2 weeks ahead of my operation. This is really rough! My hunger came roaring back. On top of that, I've put on 3 pounds. 😭 I keep trying to hold out, but it's tough. I can't wait until I'm able to start it up again. I've thought about injecting just half of my dose. Once the surgery is done, I'm absolutely going back on it. I'll get my husband to prepare the shot and deliver it to the hospital for me.

Edited to add

Really it's been 3+ weeks now, since I chose to stop on my own so my body could rest. My plan was to resume last week. At that point my surgery hadn't been booked, since the surgeon already had a lot of operations lined up. I was told it would be roughly a month. Then they phoned and offered me the 11th, because a cancellation had opened up. Of course I said yes right away, since I just wanted it finished.
Click to expand...
At times, giving your body the chance to recover is necessary so that you're in a stronger position to take on your challenges.

Go ahead and take that pause, tend to yourself, and once you're recovered, you'll return fiercely and achieve what you set out to do!

Everyone here is cheering you on!!
Click to expand...
The unfortunate thing is that I made the decision to quit roughly 7 days ahead of time on my own. That means it has now been more than 3 weeks total. My plan was to resume last week.
 
krsct said:

I work in anesthesia. I went through surgery myself not long ago. They told me to pause for 7 days, though I chose to stretch it to 10 just to be cautious. Sure, hunger picked up over those final 2 days, but it wasn't anything extreme. The same day I got back home, I picked up again at my old dose. No issues at all after that.
Click to expand...
Whether you can go home may hinge on having a bowel movement, and that varies by procedure.

What do you think about dosing before that bowel movement happens after the procedure?

Or would that only come into play if the doctor made it a condition for discharge?
 
TeresaHip said:

Skidude said:

TeresaHip said:

My doctor told me to quit tirzepitide 2 weeks ahead of my operation. This is really rough! My hunger came roaring back. On top of that, I've put on 3 pounds. 😭 I keep trying to hold out, but it's tough. I can't wait until I'm able to start it up again. I've thought about injecting just half of my dose. Once the surgery is done, I'm absolutely going back on it. I'll get my husband to prepare the shot and deliver it to the hospital for me.

Edited to add

Really it's been 3+ weeks now, since I chose to stop on my own so my body could rest. My plan was to resume last week. At that point my surgery hadn't been booked, since the surgeon already had a lot of operations lined up. I was told it would be roughly a month. Then they phoned and offered me the 11th, because a cancellation had opened up. Of course I said yes right away, since I just wanted it finished.
Click to expand...
At times, giving your body the chance to recover is necessary so that you're in a stronger position to take on your challenges.

Go ahead and take that pause, tend to yourself, and once you're recovered, you'll return fiercely and achieve what you set out to do!

Everyone here is cheering you on!!
Click to expand...
The unfortunate thing is that I made the decision to quit roughly 7 days ahead of time on my own. That means it has now been more than 3 weeks total. My plan was to resume last week.
Click to expand...
Hang in there, this will be over before you know it...
 
Truth is, it's been over 3 weeks now — I made the call to pause it on my own so my body could rest. Last week was when I planned to resume. Since the surgeon's schedule was packed, my procedure hadn't been booked, and they estimated roughly a month out. Then they rang me: a slot opened on the 11th due to a cancellation, and asked if I wanted it. I said yes right away — I just wanted it behind me.
 
Skidude said:

krsct said:

I work in anesthesia. I went through surgery myself not long ago. They told me to pause for 7 days, though I chose to stretch it to 10 just to be cautious. Sure, hunger picked up over those final 2 days, but it wasn't anything extreme. The same day I got back home, I picked up again at my old dose. No issues at all after that.
Click to expand...
Whether you can go home may hinge on having a bowel movement, and that varies by procedure.

What do you think about dosing before that bowel movement happens after the procedure?

Or would that only come into play if the doctor made it a condition for discharge?
Click to expand...

If being released hinges on having a bowel movement, then it would certainly be best to hold off until that happens.
 
A significant concern, in my view, is that post-surgical care sometimes calls for oral antibiotics. When the pyloric sphincter — the muscle controlling the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine — has slowed digestion, those antibiotics won't reach the bloodstream as quickly.

A few months back I underwent major dental surgery, and I paused every GLP-1. Naturally my appetite returned, though given the circumstances I saw that as an overall benefit.
 
Wishing you the best with your operation. Perhaps taking a pause is beneficial for your body right now. To support recovery, you'll want as many nutrients as possible.
 
krsct said:

I work in anesthesia. I went through surgery myself not long ago. They told me to pause for 7 days, though I chose to stretch it to 10 just to be cautious. Sure, hunger picked up over those final 2 days, but it wasn't anything extreme. The same day I got back home, I picked up again at my old dose. No issues at all after that.
Click to expand...

I've got an epidural scheduled soon, for my neck. The injury goes back to a motorcycle accident years ago.

Finding out I needed to pause my Tirz for 7 days caught me off guard. From what I've read, aspiration is one of the worries.

Did you come across any other complications? Is there anything else I should keep an eye on?
 
Throttle883 said:

krsct said:

I work in anesthesia. I went through surgery myself not long ago. They told me to pause for 7 days, though I chose to stretch it to 10 just to be cautious. Sure, hunger picked up over those final 2 days, but it wasn't anything extreme. The same day I got back home, I picked up again at my old dose. No issues at all after that.
Click to expand...

I've got an epidural scheduled soon, for my neck. The injury goes back to a motorcycle accident years ago.

Finding out I needed to pause my Tirz for 7 days caught me off guard. From what I've read, aspiration is one of the worries.

Did you come across any other complications? Is there anything else I should keep an eye on?
Click to expand...

that step isn't really needed. Pausing GLP1 makes sense only when general anesthesia is involved, and that isn't your situation. Still, the guidance you were handed is what you should go by.
 
krsct said:

Throttle883 said:

krsct said:

I work in anesthesia. I went through surgery myself not long ago. They told me to pause for 7 days, though I chose to stretch it to 10 just to be cautious. Sure, hunger picked up over those final 2 days, but it wasn't anything extreme. The same day I got back home, I picked up again at my old dose. No issues at all after that.
Click to expand...

I've got an epidural scheduled soon, for my neck. The injury goes back to a motorcycle accident years ago.

Finding out I needed to pause my Tirz for 7 days caught me off guard. From what I've read, aspiration is one of the worries.

Did you come across any other complications? Is there anything else I should keep an eye on?
Click to expand...

that step isn't really needed. Pausing GLP1 makes sense only when general anesthesia is involved, and that isn't your situation. Still, the guidance you were handed is what you should go by.
Click to expand...
I get it!! Thanks!
 
Best of luck with your procedure. No matter what the studies say, at the end of the day the surgeon or anaesthetist has the final word, and you have to follow their instructions to keep them on board — if you don't, they may refuse to operate.

Being hungrier than usual for a few weeks, plus a handful of extra pounds, should hopefully be manageable once you're allowed to go back on the GLP drugs.

A search of pub med turns up hundreds upon hundreds of studies looking at surgical outcomes with and without GLP drugs. The evidence isn't conclusive, and a few of those studies do report worse results, but overall GLP drugs lead to better post-surgery outcomes, particularly for orthopedic procedures.
 
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