Peanuts In My Pocket

I started Ozempic in February 2025 and stopped taking it about 10 days ago on my doctor’s advice. The results were nothing short of astounding. It virtually eliminated my type 2 diabetes, and I lost over 100 pounds.

But the journey wasn’t without serious side effects.

The First Signs of Trouble

In March, my stomach began acting up. It started with a sour feeling, what I used to call a “Vegas stomach,” because I only experienced this kind of discomfort after eating at cheap buffets. Soon after, I began feeling persistent pressure and pain after meals, sometimes resulting in sudden, violent vomiting within an hour of eating.

When it hit, there was no warning. I could go from feeling fine to emergency vomiting, searching frantically for a place to throw up, in under 10 seconds. It felt like someone flipped a switch that said, “Okay, time to puke.”

The Embarrassing Digestive Fallout

The other side effects piled up quickly. I turned into a walking fart machine. Every step after sitting down triggered long, loud, and embarrassing episodes. It was constant and incredibly annoying.

But the worst part? The belching. Uncontrollable, foul-smelling burps that reeked like something had died inside me. If you happened to be trapped in a confined space with me, like my long-suffering wife Flo was in the car, you have my deepest sympathies. I still don’t know how she made it through without passing out.

A Cascade of Side Effects

In addition to the bloating and belching, I also experienced:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Dehydration

The dehydration surprised me, but apparently Ozempic slows down how quickly your stomach empties. That made it hard to get enough fluids, even when I consciously tried to drink more water.

I was in constant discomfort and often in pain for months. The only reliable relief seemed to be avoiding food altogether. Red meat was the worst offender, within an hour of eating it, I’d be on my knees, begging for death. Beer and diet soda also became off-limits; even a single can would trigger cramps and gas. Fried foods were already out, but toward the end, any fatty meal set me off.

The only thing I could consistently tolerate was soup.

Taking a Break

Eventually, my doctor recommended taking a break from Ozempic. I may try it again in a few months, possibly at a lower dose. The upside is just too compelling to ignore.

As of today, things are slowly improving. I ate normally for the first time in months, although I still don’t have much of an appetite. I assume that will return as I continue to heal. I’m concerned about regaining weight, so I’ll need to count calories carefully.

What I’ve Learned

If there’s one key lesson from all of this, it’s that weight loss ultimately comes down to one thing: eating fewer calories than your body needs. That’s called a calorie deficit.

While I wasn’t exercising due to unrelated health issues, I still lost weight. My daily intake averaged around 1,900 calories, while my body needed about 2,300. The result? The weight came off.

If I keep up that deficit, I should continue to shrink, even without the meds.