From Anonymity to Advocacy: My Journey Fighting for Affordable Access to GLP-1s
For about one month, I was living a double life, secretly taking Tirzepatide. I would set an alarm on Sunday mornings, tiptoe out to the kitchen to find my hidden vial, then stow away in the bathroom to dig out my needles and alcohol swabs. I would pull up my shirt, pinch my belly, and inject the medication into my fat. Then I’d store my used needles in a makeshift sharps container made from an old bottle of fish oil pills.
I started blogging anonymously under the name Anonymous.be🐝~, with the intention of one day writing a book. I was prepared for a happy ending long before the story even began.
It was doable at first. The weight started to melt away, and my appetite was significantly and obviously controlled. I was wearing baggy clothes and eating a vegan diet to avoid suspicion.
This routine worked — until the media pulled my secret life out of the shadows and into the public eye.
Lets just say that my husband was less than thrilled when I hit him with, “I started a National Movement that caught the attention of the media and I am going to be on the news.”
Before I started taking Tirzepatide, I spent hours researching what it was, how it worked, and most importantly, where I could get it.
My insurance wouldn’t cover it, and at $1,500 a month, paying out of pocket was NOT an option.
During my quest to figure out how I could get this GLP-1 journey going, I discovered that the most affordable option was through compounding pharmacies — an alternative many people turn to when the price of brand-name medications is absolutely impossible to meet.
It was a lifetime commitment that many could never afford, even if it offered a road to longevity, health, and happiness.
During this time, a wave of panic was spreading through the GLP-1 community for people who relied on the compounded version. The FDA had removed Tirzepatide from the shortage list, cutting off access. Desperate people were left without answers and without hope.
The FDA was sued over its decision, causing them to backpedal and issue an ultimatum on December 19, 2024.
This decision will determine if thousands of people across the nation will lose their access for good.
It was during this time that I met incredible people and heard their amazing, heartfelt stories. Seeing how this medication had transformed their lives made the thought of losing access feel unbearable.
As the Chief Medical Officer of Knownwell said, “Denying weight loss coverage should be illegal, should be immoral, and should be malpractice given the data we have today.”
The more stories I heard, the harder it was to stay quiet. I realized this wasn’t just about me —
— it was about the freedom of each and every one of these people to have the right to reclaiming their lives.
So, I started a petition to demand affordable access to GLP-1s.
Petition for Affordable GLP-1s
Whether that means bringing down the price of brand-name drugs or keeping the compounding pharmacies open doesn’t matter to me, as long as the American people have realistic options they can rely on.
To start, I took the petition to Reddit, where the community helped me get it off the ground, and my Medium blog became a soundboard for the movement. Between these two resources, in just 2 weeks we were able to rally over 8,000 signatures and raise more than $600 in donations to promote the petition.
82% of those signatures came directly from the promotions, making every dollar count in truly insurmountable ways.
Petition Insights provided from within the dashboard
The petition even caught the attention of two major media outlets. It was featured in articles by Politico and —
— USA Today.
Seeing the movement in the spotlight was surreal and gave me hope that this could grow into something even bigger.
USA Today — High prices prompt consumers to seek alternatives
But as the days passed, the momentum began to slow, and I realized I needed to find new ways to keep the movement alive.
That’s when I turned to social media. As a social introvert with zero experience since Myspace, I quickly realized I was in over my head.
I still don’t know the difference between a story and a reel. But Instagram is nothing compared to TikTok — I haven’t figured out how to do much more than create an account.
I know how powerful these platforms can be, but every post feels like a shot in the dark.
What’s more, Instagram gives you a thumbs up for interacting but then suspends your account when you interact.
I started to make a couple of friends, but now I’m grounded. It’s like being a teenager all over again. I can look out the window, but I can’t go outside, even after proving I was a real girl.
Once I lost the ability to reach out, I started working on posting my own content and even opened a GLP-1 Collective storefront as a fundraiser to fight for affordability.
GLP-1 Collective — Join the Movement
All proceeds go toward promoting the petition. No bites so far, but I’m still holding on to the hope that one single Instagram influencer will reach out and help spread the word.
GLP-1 Collective —Artist Profile
Despite the setbacks, I’m not giving up. I’ve been reaching out to anyone and everyone — NBC News, Bernie Sanders, NPR Health, the APC (Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding,) Pharmacies like VitaStir and Hims, and local news outlets like KCRG, and countless influencers on Instagram. I’ve sent emails, made calls, and tagged people in posts, hoping someone with a platform could amplify this cause.
Each time I see a new comment on the petition or see the generosity of the people donating to keep the promotions going, it reignites my drive to keep pushing forward.
This isn’t just a fight against unaffordable medications —
— it’s a fight for dignity, hope, and the chance for everyone to live their fullest lives.
The December 19th decision looms heavy, and with only 2-weeks-left the stakes couldn’t be higher.
If the FDA rules against keeping compounding pharmacies open or doesn’t push for realistic price adjustments, countless people will lose their access potentially permanently.
The thought of that keeps me up at night, but it also keeps me working, even when it feels like the odds are stacked against us.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. 💜 This fight means everything to us, and your support can truly make a difference.
Here’s how you can help:
Sign the Petition: Every signature adds to the pressure we’re putting on the FDA.
Share the Petition: Spread the word on social media, with friends, and in your communities.
Reach out to your local News and Representatives: Let them know how important this issue is to you and to countless others.
Donate: Contributions help us fund promotions to keep the petition visible and growing.
Tell your Story: If you or someone you love has been impacted by the lack of affordability, share your experiences in a comment or a 30 second video.
If you’d like to find out what else you can do or are interested in volunteering, please reach out at GLP1Collective@outlook.com.
