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RHONJ’s Jennifer Fessler was hospitalized for an “impacted bowel” due to Ozempic use, but that’s not stopping her from continuing to use the medicine.
On the premiere episode of Jennifer Fessler and Jackie Goldschneider‘s new podcast, Two Jersey Js, the RHONJ newcomer revealed that she experienced a very painful side effect from taking the weight loss drug, Ozempic.
“I have been on, and I’m not going to call it Ozempic — that’s been the umbrella name. But I’ve been on semaglutide for over a year now, and I’ve lost maybe 22 pounds,” the 55-year-old explained on the December 4th podcast episode.
Jennifer admitted to being “a raging hypochondriac” but notes that when it comes to her “physical appearance,” her anxiety flies “out the window.”
“I’m not afraid of Ozempic, and I will tell you I have had an experience that was not good — and I’m pretty positive it was about the semaglutide — where I had to go to the hospital for an impacted bowel … and I’m still not nervous about it.”
The 55-year-old RHONJ star explained that one of the “side effects” of Ozempic can be “constipation,” so when she initially dealt with it, she brushed it off and wasn’t too worried.
“I was drinking no water, eating no vegetables because something that happens, a new experience for me, is being able to eat what I want even when it’s not the most healthy choices and still lose weight,” she continued. “So maybe for the first time in my life, I’m losing weight on pizza and bagels and ice cream.”
“Having said that, I noticed there was constipation, I didn’t do anything about it. I wasn’t taking Miralax, that you take every morning, or any kind of stool softener,” she said. “I hadn’t gone in a week, then it was a week and a half.”
Before continuing her story, the RHONJ star admitted that she was “to blame” for “ignoring” the symptoms and has since changed her approach to taking the weight loss medication.
“I haven’t had a problem since,” she shared.
Co-host Jackie Goldschneider noted that “muscle loss” is another worrisome side effect of the weight loss drug. Jennifer revealed that she experienced some muscle loss and is going to the doctor every month to get it checked.
“Physically, I feel a lot better in clothes,” Jennifer said. “When I’m not in clothes, I look 90 because I have gone up and down my more than 20 pounds in my life … so there is a lot of skin that exists now when you lose muscle and fat.”
“Again, I have to take responsibility for that in the sense that, you know, you don’t put on muscle when you just lay horizontal on your bed eating chips. It doesn’t work like that,” she continued.
Despite Jennifer’s love of the weight loss medication, Jackie has made it known that she’s not a fan of Ozempic.
“I am an outspoken advocate for eating disorder recovery and a very strong opponent of semaglutides for losing those last 10 pounds,” she explained, noting that at least half of the RHONJ cast is on the medication. “I think it’s a very dangerous trend, but out of respect for each other and our friendship, we have never discussed it.”
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RHONJ will return to Bravo for season 14 in 2024.
