Continuing Mounjaro...part 4

[ObsidianTree]

Welcome to thread 4!

Pointers for newbies:
1 - For taking your first dose you need to twist the pen a lot to get to 1!

2 - Your first dose may not have an immediate effect. For some people the effects build slowly. It could take 3 or 4 days to notice anything, it could take a few weeks. Some people don't feel the meds working until they get to 5mg. See titration chart which shows how the medication builds up in your system.

3 - 2.5mg isn't a therapeutic dose, meaning you aren’t meant to lose on 2.5mg. You need to start on 2.5mg to get your body used to the drug and gradually introduce it into your system and get used to any side effects.

4 - Not everyone loses a lot in the first few weeks. Don't feel discouraged if you don't lose a lot initially. Again, you might need a higher dose to start losing. Also, inches can be lost without anything showing on the scales. Start your journey by taking measurements and check them as you go along.

5 - If you do lose a lot in the first few weeks, please don't assume you will continue losing at this rate. The first few weeks it is usually water weight that is lost, after than a good weight loss is about 2lbs a week. Some weeks you might not lose anything, but this is ok too…again, taking measurements might show inches lost instead.

6 - Constipation, coldness, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, aches, are side effects. There may be be other side effects also. Read info here :
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.14201.pdf

7 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.

8 - Don't reuse any needles as this could risk infection. If you damage a needle or one isn't working, you can buy a pack of about 100 spares. Ask for suggestions of sites /types to buy.

9 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss. Try to have at least 100g a day. There are protein supplements you can take. Myprotein have a good range. Ask for a referral code if you want to buy some.

10 - Some natural sources of protein:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

11 - You can use supplements, some that people use are magnesium(for sleep and constipation), protein(to reduce muscle wastage), collagen (skin elasticity), aloe vera(for constipation), electrolytes.

12 - Drink lota of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

13 - Don't be afraid to feel hungry. It is entirely normal and healthy to feel hungry. Just eat something. Treat it as an opportunity to start good habits around hunger. Eat a nice balanced snack or a meal if it's a meal time. It's ok.

14 - Some of the places you can order from are:
MedExpress £149.99 - Sometimes there are codes that can be used for a discount. Ask for a code on here or do a Google search to try and find one.
Voy - £114.99 for first month then £229 after. Need a referral code (ask on here for one if needed)
The Family Chemist -£149
Simple online pharmacy - £159 2.5mg £179 for 5mg
Asda £184
Boots £219

15 - Does it makes any difference where you inject? yes it does! Drugs get absorbed at different rates depending on injection site

In order of fastest absorption, it goes:
• Tummy
• Arms
• Thighs
further reading about injection sites and the effects: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618

16 - You can track your calories / protein on apps such as My fitnessPal, Carb Manager or Nutracheck. Nutracheck is quite useful and easy to find foods /build recipes.

17 - If you want to switch suppliers, make sure you have pics of your Mounjaro box with your name and dose. This will come in useful when other suppliers ask for evidence.

1st thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5007744-mourjano-starting-soon?page=1

2nd thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5028495-continuing-murnjaropart-2?page=1

3rd thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5037623-continuing-mounjarop
art-3?page=1

Good luck all :)

@ObsidianTree

I used to be this person that didn't understand. I was a healthy weight for 45 years, through pregnancies too, and only became overweight in the last 3 years.
My daughter struggled with her weight and I saw others in my wider circle do so and I really thought they should just not overeat. At any time I felt I needed to lose a few pounds I'd just cut out some carbs, do a bit more exercise or skip lunch for a few weeks, lose half a stone and job done.

Due to a series of circumstances (menopause, lockdowns, broken shoulder) I then put on weight in the last few years. Once it started and got past a certain point it was like nothing I did stopped it! The job just became insurmountable (I have 4 stone to lose now). I finally understand how difficult it is to lose a considerable amount of weight. I tried and lost just half a stone last year and then couldn't sustain it.

I've become hugely less judgey on the subject of weight, I get what happens now!

I now see using Mounjaro as a tool to get things to a manageable stage again, although I realise that once I get there it won't be the same as maintaining a healthy weight was for all those years. There is some data to suggest that if you can maintain a weight loss for 2 years it becomes the new set point and then things get easier so that's what I'm aiming for but in the meantime, I am a whole lot more understanding on this subject than I used to be!

I haven't. 🙁

I've taken my first 5mg dose today. Found it stung a bit more than the 2.5 but that may have been me rushing. Lost 3lb this week which brings me to 17lb overall in 4 weeks. Still not calorie counting but being mindful of eating more intuitively and portion sizing - serving myself the same size at the children which is enough.

SW 16st12lb
CW 15st 9lb

I'm surprised I did as mine came in 2 days! So wasn't delayed! But I think there are better codes than the one I have so will try and get a better discount when I need to re-order!

@ObsidianTree Have they limited when you can reorder, as on my account says I can't order more until 19th April?

Sorry yes pharmacy2u!

Does anyone using Mounjaro already have any gallbladder issues/gallstones? I have one big enough for surgery, I think from being overweight and perimenopausal but with a BMI over 40, I need to lose weight before they'll offer elective surgery.
Having tried almost every slimming group, diet and shake under the sun, I was hoping Mounjaro (or similar) might get the weight loss going in the right direction.
However, if I declare gallbladder issues, I come up against a big fat no from the online pharmacies I've looked at. I don't want to lie just get get drugs (!) but wondered if any company might be more flexible with their eligibility criteria?

I have only just got back from my skiing holiday in France and I am so excited that I did not put on weight, in fact I lost 1.4 lbs. It makes sense, as I was so careful and I was skiing so much every day. But my fat person brain was telling me that eating that food would not work and I felt "fatter" - which was likely some inflammation because I could not find my normal type of food.

I also had to move back to the 5.0 dose as my pharmacy could not get the 7.5 (reminder - I am in the US). But I received a call on Thursday that it is finally back in stock, so am picking it up today! I will have 3 doses of 5.0 in the fridge for future options if needed. They last 12 months at least, so should be fine.

Next milestone is next week, I have my blood tests to see how my blood sugar is reacting and whether I can get my diabetes under better control.

I now need to catch up on this new thread - as I have fallen behind. But I saw the mention of wedding rings - yes, that is on my list of goals too. To be able to remove my wedding and engagement rings and have them cleaned.

I was the same in terms of heart burn. Most mornings I'd have a bad bout of it. I've been taking aloe vera tablets and not had 1 episode of it since I started. They also help with bloating and constipation.
In terms of time of injection I take mine early evening so I can sleep off any side effects

Yes. They stop you from ordering too quickly. This is only medexpress tho I think that does this

Well done for losing :) hope you had a good holiday :)

That's great that 7.5mg is in stock for you again. That's interesting that your meds have a year before expire. When ours expires within a few months!

@Letsgoogogo So funny! I thought the same... that maybe someone needs to know in case I have a dodgy reaction.
I am just so sick of having a wardrobe full of clothes that I can't wear, and feeling self conscious all the time.
Life is too short to not be able to fully enjoy it!!

I’ve still not told anyone. I’m calorie counting, tracking everything on nutracheck and prioritising protein and lots of water. I’m losing around 2lb a week so in line with my current calorie deficit. I am dieting. Previously I’d barely lost anything despite being in calorie deficit for months. It’s as though the medication has flipped a switch and made it possible to lose with cc. The only explanation to my failure before was I was somehow cheating and not logging everything but I was - even weighed salad and berries. That stumps the young pts as they only know the eat in calorie deficit = lose weight. I’m perimenopausal, auto immune disease, probably insulin resistance and so it just wasn’t working for me.
I do recommend logging on nutracheck even for a short while. You know you are in deficit and if you set to monitor protein and cals it keeps you focused on that.
I’ve not been to gym yet wanted to adjust to medication first.

In a massive slump this morning. On period. Haven’t been to the toilet for three days. In pain and this combo means I have gained a pound every day since my 12.4 weigh in to 12.7 this morning.

Now! I know it’s because of my period. The fact I have days of poop in me. I’m not eating over 1,100 cals so it’s not weight gain. It is water. But ARGH this is messing with my head. I can’t take many more laxatives. I don’t want to reduce food.

I just wanted a moan really. 😂

Apologies if this has been covered already but is mounjaro compatible with HRT? I know they check your other meds when you order but just interested to see if others are taking both.

I am - I spoke to my GP about possibly starting Ozempic when so first went on HRT and she was fine with it and I always quote my HRT meds when I order the meds including Mounjaro recently - it’s never been a problem.

I’m the end of my first month and have lost 13lb. Just started my 5mg pen which I got from medexpress for £127.50 thanks to someone on here posting a promo code.

I’m on hrt. I just put it on application form. No issues. Last period was more painful.

That's annoying. But I bet the constipation isn't helping as well as period. Sometimes I think period makes constipation worse!

Have you managed to get aloe vera yet?

I am finding my combo of psylum husks and magnesium citrate is doing the trick and I managing to go once a day most of the time. Sometimes once every two days.

Hope it sorts itself soon. I know it's hard but try not to worry about the weight gain. Maybe try not to weigh until you've had a poo 🤣

@Whattodo112222 ive lost just over a stone in three weeks on 2.5. But I have a LOT of weight to loose (if i halved my weight I’d be in the right weight section for my height). I’ve had no appetite at all and having to force myself to eat, plus I’ve upped my walking and exercise

Well done @Lunab18 :)

Glad you got a good discount on your second pen

@ObsidianTree I have. What’s not helped is I take codeine and ibuprofen for period pain. Codeine is an absolute bitch for constipation anyway.

Since I am an addict I know what I’m like. I will merrily end up taking an entire packet of laxatives to get myself going. Why take one when you can have two? 😅

More water it is. 😆

@lurkylurk Lickey Hills near Rubery?

Wore a size down in jeans to work today as my usual jeans are falling off me and I don't have any proper work trousers that fit. Feels good to have lost and it must have had an effect on my health as I really rushed for the train this morning and made it with 5mins to spare - before I'd have missed it or been gasping for breath.

Saw a colleague who knows I'm on MJ but hasn't seen me since I started about 6-7 weeks ago. She couldn't believe I've lost 2st in that time and has asked me for some information about it as she's been permanently on various diets for the almost 20yrs I've known her. I think I have my first recruit 😄

That’s amazing! Congratulations.
Have you felt okay with taking the 2.5mg? I’m coming to the end of the first week but still feel very ‘spaced out’ can not sleep properly and have a constant headache (plus haven’t lost anything yet) so just thinking this may work better for some than others? I have just over 1.5 stone to lose to get into a healthy BMI so perhaps won’t lose it as quick?
Youve done amazing though, hope it continues for you