MyShockerHealth Newsletter • Issue 6 • May 30, 2025
Welcome to the myShockerHealth newsletter!
May is here! WSU students have graduated, others have moved off-campus to their first
apartment or are moving back home for the summer, and faculty/staff are looking forward
to some relaxation. I hope you find something in this newsletter that can be incorporated
into your life! In the last newsletter, there was some stress relief tips that may
also help you decompress!
Links to the most current newsletter will be posted through WSU newsletters, social
media, and our website, wichita.edu/shs. Enjoy!
For content requests: student.health@wichita.edu
What is "post-nasal drip"?
The nose, throat and sinuses are continually producing mucus that you normally don't
notice. It becomes a problem when the mucus becomes too thick or is too much and you
can feel it dripping in the back of your throat. This may cause you to blow your nose
more frequently or develop a sore throat or cough. Find advice on treatment and prevention. (Medical News Today)
Don't Pack Portable Battery Chargers
Due to recent incidents where lithium ion batteries have exploded or caused damage,
the TSA has reportedly updated its guidance and prohibits the chargers from being checked in bags. (Travel & Leisure)
Do you need a Measles vaccination booster?
Please refer to the updated information provided by Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) on which individuals need original childhood vaccinations or a booster.
How long does it take to walk 10,000 steps?
How long it takes to walk 10,000 steps depends on your environment, pace, stride length,
and fitness level. It also doesn't have to be all at once and can be lots of different
activities, not just walking (Very Well Health)!
Weight Loss Journey with GLP-1s
I was nervous before asking my PCP if I should try GLP-1s for weight loss. She knew
that I was struggling. Hormone fluctuation as a middle-aged female, stress, depression
and anxiety onset (thanks Covid) all contributed to my increasing weight gain. I also
had to get over my brain block of "the director of Student Health should be able to
lose weight naturally and shouldn't be overweight". But, my PCP was very open to the
idea and gave me a prescription for Ozempic in Fall 2023 at the lowest starting dose
0.25 mg. At this time, Ozempic was available for weight loss and diabetes, originally
released in2017 for Type 2 diabetes treatment. All of these medicines come in a prefilled
pen/syringe where you administer it in your thigh or stomach with a small needle
that automatically injects. As a nurse, I could definitely inject myself with no problem.
The biggest surprise was the sticker shock! Before insurance, Ozempic was going to
cost me over $1,500.00 (you receive a box of 4 pens you administer once weekly for
the month supply). However, there was a patient discount program through the manufacturer
and I believe I paid $750. I told myself that this was short term until I lost enough
weight to exercise. So, I proceeded to use my Health Savings Account to purchase the
medication. Let the side effects begin! I was continuously nauseated and experienced
constipation and abdominal pain that first month. But, I lost 8 pounds in the first
3 weeks! Remember that everybody experiences these meds differently, and that side
effects and weight loss amounts differ! Sick as a dog, I was still happy to have lost
weight. And then, as there usually was at this time, there was a backorder of Ozempic
when the manufacturer could not keep up with the demand, and I couldn't get my refill.
To be continued......
-Nurse Heather
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