Users report strong hunger returning after stopping, with several pounds gained during the break. Experiences vary on restart timing and dosing, with some lowering then raising the dose to regain control while others resume at the prior level without issue. Anesthesia providers note shorter holds may suffice for certain procedures, and overall the interruption is viewed as temporary. Guidance on hold duration differs by doctor and surgery type.
What this discussion establisheswhether a full two-week hold is still necessary or if seven to ten days is adequate for most cases
Still openbest restart dose after a multi-week pause and exact hold times for different anesthesia types
Nothing here is advice.
My doctor told me to quit the medication two weeks ahead of the operation. The hunger has returned hard and I've already put on three pounds. It's tough to hold back but I'm doing my best. Can't wait to get back on it after the procedure. I might try half a dose in the meantime. I'll start again immediately once it's over and have my husband prepare the shot at the hospital. I actually quit on my own more than three weeks ago to give myself a rest. I planned to resume last week but the date wasn't set yet. They called with an opening on the 11th so I took it to get it done sooner.
You sometimes need to let your body recover first so you can handle everything else later. Use this time to rest and heal. Once you're better you'll be ready to tackle your goals again with full energy. We're all cheering you on.
That level of hunger sounds rough. I've seen lots of stories about the same thing when people pause these medications and it worries me enough that I don't want to stop. I'm surprised the doctor still wants two full weeks because recommendations have changed recently. Many doctors haven't updated their approach yet. It also depends on what kind of surgery it is. Hoping everything goes smoothly for you and recovery is fast.
I had to pause one week before and one week after my own surgery. The week after was needed because anesthesia tends to slow everything down. Hunger returned and I gained four pounds. The tricky part was deciding whether to start at the old dose or go lower. I began lower and gained two more pounds, then increased beyond my previous level over three weeks. That brought the appetite down and the weight came off. I'm now back at my earlier dose and weight with everything steady. It was a bit of a process but not a big problem overall. Curious how others did when they went straight back to their usual amount after two or three weeks off.
I'm an anesthesia provider and recently had surgery myself. The advice was to stop for seven days but I made it ten days to be extra safe. The final couple of days brought more hunger though it wasn't terrible. I started the same dose again the same day I got home and everything has been fine since.
The difficult part is that I had already stopped on my own about a week earlier. So the total time off is now more than three weeks. I had planned to restart last week.
It depends on the procedure whether a bowel movement is required before going home. Would you still take the dose before that happens after the operation, or only if the doctor specifically requires it for discharge?
Stay positive. This will pass.
The time off is actually more than three weeks because I paused it myself for a break. I intended to restart last week. The surgery date wasn't set because the surgeon was booked. They said roughly a month. Then they called with a cancellation on the 11th and I took the spot right away to have it finished.
If going home depends on having a bowel movement then yes, wait until after that occurs.
One bigger concern is that oral antibiotics are sometimes needed afterward. If digestion is slowed, those antibiotics may not absorb into the blood quickly. I had major dental work a few months ago and paused all GLP-1s. Hunger returned but I saw it as a positive in that situation.
Good luck with the operation. The break might actually help since your body needs plenty of nutrients right now to heal well.
I have an upcoming epidural for a neck issue from an old motorcycle accident. I was surprised to learn I need to stop the medication for seven days. Aspiration risk is mentioned. Have you seen other complications or anything else to be aware of?
It probably isn't needed. Holding these medications is mainly for general anesthesia, which you won't have. Still, follow whatever instructions you were given.
Good luck with the surgery. You have to follow what the surgeon or anesthesia team wants so they proceed. A few weeks of extra hunger and a couple of pounds should be manageable once you restart. There are hundreds of studies on outcomes with or without these medications. Results aren't fully settled but they often show better recovery after surgery, especially orthopedic cases.
Wishing you the best for the surgery. Once you start again everything should return to normal.
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