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 :)

That sounds nice 😊 can you get on with gluten free bread? Or too processed?

@FlappyFish I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so down. Please don't though. I just bought new scales as my old ones died and when you weigh, they track your muscle mass, water weight, fat weight etc. Sometimes this week when I've gained, it's been water or muscle and my fat has stayed the same or gone down. It helps me to see that, even though rationally I know it must be water anyway. (They are £20 in Argos - Renpho Bluetooth scales - they give nice graphs etc for your progress).
Also, have you been measuring? Because you could have lost cms/inches. In all honesty, it's prob just your period being a total prick, and you'll have an even bigger loss once it's over!

Too processed sadly, it's the UPF's that seem to do it for my digestion and inflammation.

@MelissaLouRocks
My recipes are often very much make it up as you go along! There is one here though:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/5548316/recipe/smoked-mackerel-pate

A lot of recipes for it also add a little horseradish if you've got any jars of horseradish sauce knocking about.

@JanetSnakeholeMacklin I have the Renpho scales too, they're brilliant. My daughter also bought me the smart tape measure which uses the same app, you just push a button on the tape when you measure, and records all results on your phone via Bluetooth.

@JanetSnakeholeMacklin I took my first 5mg yesterday around 5pm ish. I did get mild effects on 2.5, they improved with each injection but my first 2.5 I looked like I swallowed a beach ball before bed and I was full of wind. I also suffered a bit with insomnia and sore leg muscles. I had wind again this morning but slept relatively okay if I ignore the bit where the 1 year old got me out of bed. Last week I doubled up my last 2.5 with the dregs left in the pen, main symptom was one sore thigh muscle when I walked.

Food wise after 5mg I was fine to eat a sensible (but not small/tiny) portion of dinner last night (whole grain pasta, bolognese I bulk cooked from the freezer with some grated cheese) with no desire to eat anything else.

That's great thanks @lurkylurk , and yes, love horseradish!

Morning all!
I have cancelled my subscription and will check away my pen tonight (safely). Sadly I can't cope with these side effects. I can barely eat anything at all, and whilst I didn't have the racing heart last night I did have very disturbed sleep with nausea and a terrible headache. I am surviving on paracetamol. In positive news I have lost almost a kilogram in 2 days, lol.

I do appreciate that if I stick with it the side effects may dissipate but looking elsewhere some people have had recurrences of the fast heart rate with any alcohol, or moving up a dose, and I just don't think I can handle that anxiety. It feels like absolute waves of fear and it's horrible.

I don't regret giving it a try. I think it's actually galvanized my mindset that for me there is no quick fix and that willpower and a good plan is what I need. I got myself here and I can get myself out.

Wishing you all lots of luck and good health on your journeys.

@FlappyFish
I had my period last week and I usually put on a pound or two of water retention with it and know that that's the case and it usually doesn't settle until a couple of days after it's finished but this month (first on Mounjaro) the scales were all over the place during that time, a lot up, down, up again so I really wouldn't pay too much attention.

There does seem to me to be some funny things that go with fluid retention with Mounjaro anyway that can mean you put on a couple of pounds one day and lose them the next, so just go by the overall trend and try not to get into the daily nitty-gritty, though I know that can be hard.

Am so sorry it's not worked out for you @VoyOySaveloy 💐

I've got fancy scales too that give lots of info. I've not paid attention to any of the extra info, but think I will start tracking daily to see water weight etc

For anyone having trouble with insomnia, try passionflower tablets, they're a lifesaver for me sometimes. I usually have trouble with staying asleep rather than getting to sleep but if I do have the getting to sleep issue these really help.

They basically give the relaxing and sleepy effect of having had a nice glass of wine (it actually binds to pretty much the same receptors as alcohol) without all the other effects and don't make you groggy in the morning like other remedies can. I use these ones:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Schwabe-RelaxHerb-Passion-Extract-Tablets/dp/B002NUYTUC/

Right, I've been posting far too much this morning and need to go and actually get some work done. The perils of working for yourself, no boss to go "why are you on mumsnet instead of working?" 😂

Sorry it didn't work out @VoyOySaveloy 😔 hope you feel better soon x

@lurkylurk I may try that. Good idea. I also thought about trying to get an extra dose out of the pen so I could start the 5 the following week on a bank hol weekend, which would give me longer to suss it out. I'll see how the next week goes!
Thanks also @ObsidianTree @MelissaLouRocks - that's reassured me a bit!

Talking of breakfast - this is something I struggle with as I have zero appetite in the morning. I will look out for the protein bagels!
I like the m&s protein pancakes. 2 of those, with 3 turkey bacon rashers is 34g protein and less than 400cals. I can't stomach eating that much most of the time, especially when I'm up and out early.
My quick breakfast has been an Actimel, a trek protein flapjack and clear whey topped up with extra water to make 1 litre that I'll drink throughout the morning. That's 31g protein.
I wish I liked greek yoghurt as that would be a good way to get protein in the morning, but I hate it.

@ObsidianTree I'm weighing daily and recording that number but once a week on my "official" weigh day I'm doing a little video of the scales display so I've got weight, water, fat and BMI. I've not compared the numbers yet but will do at some point as hopefully it'll show positive changes even if the actual weight doesn't move.

@RagzRebooted @ObsidianTree @JanetSnakeholeMacklin thanks all. I know it’s ridiculous, but that’s just how my head is. I only posted as I know how emotive this journey is and I know I won’t be only one who has probably had a freak out at gain.

I am not measuring but I am taking photos.

I know it will go down again. It can’t not. 😒 But today I’m just tired and sad.

@JanetSnakeholeMacklin
If I have zero appetite in the morning I usually just skip it, most of southern Europe does that and doesn't seem to do them much harm! I like Greek yogurt and wish I could eat it for breakfast but it makes me nauseous and heartburny if I do.

Then I just make sure I have a nutritious lunch.

I moved up last week and side effects haven't been too bad. I was a bit more tired the day after my 5mg jab and I've been feeling cold since starting but that's about it. However, I have noticed that my appetite suppression hasn't worn off yet and I'm day 6. When I was on 2.5mg it would wear off after about 4 days.
I also have half my body weight to lose.

@JanetSnakeholeMacklin I don't often have breakfast. I don't feel like food. I am having a protein shake now though to get some protein in!

Have you tried Greek yougarts with honey? I tend to have this instead and I quite like it

Just catching up. I think the endless Voy posters at just trying to get their codes used so their next dose is cheaper. It looks like they are doing the rounds on all of the threads and probably FB/Reddit too. Maybe just a line about not posting but people can ask for them?!
I think Voy and Juniper sell themselves as a 'lifestyle change with coaching and support' which command a higher price. In reality they Juniper have a fancy app and empty promises. I have just left the FB community any being increasingly frustrated by clueless people asking the same thing everyday. The straw that broke the camels back was being told I was 'ridiculous and over reacting' when I suggest not to use the same needle twice then got laughed at 🙄

For those asking about side effects on moving up to 5mg, mine were minimal on 2.5mg and exactly the same on 5mg. I did worry a bit but it has been fine.
I'm off work for Easter and I actually can't wait to get back to be more in a routine 🙈 I go away in just over 2 weeks so I'd like to go shopping for something new but want to wait a bit longer.

I get up at 6am with a cup of tea but routinely have nothing to eat until 9.30am. I make sure it's a high protein breakfast though.

Im rubbish with breakfast, haven’t eaten it for years. I do need to shake up my recipes, find myself eating a lot of chicken salads but bored with that now. Husband had the most delicious smelling garlic bread so now I want something garlicky! Any other favourite simple recipes?

@BourbonD

I cook a lot and like to cook from scratch as much as possible but if I want something quick and easy my absolute favourite (always have some in the freezer) is Asda's frozen giant cous cous, quinoa and veg bags (unfortunately only available in their bigger stores so I stock up if I'm in the one that has it) served with Aldi's frozen fish with tomato feta and oregano (also microwaveable)

I combined the two by sheer luck one day and it's now my favourite fast lunch!

Not a recipe but the nicest fastest lunch with at least some veg and a fair bit of protein that I've found.

First dose of 2.5mg yesterday, heart palpitations last night but I think it was anxiety as I wound myself up of having an anaphylaxis reaction (I have never had one before either!!). Don't feel any different, checked the one this morning that I definitely got a dose and I did. I like the idea of the food noise going but I don't think I have a lot of that anyway, I guess I will find out!

I can usually fast and eat very light until 3pm/4pm when I will either snack unhealthily or hold out for a big dinner possibly followed by snacks so how the afternoons onwards go for me will be where I notice the difference.

I have done Fast 800/keto and fasting successfully in the past and did very well on it the first time to the point mist of my meals and cooking is keto now, but find as soon as I have a busy weekend/life event after losing a stone and feeling better it all goes to pot (fish and chips at the seaside, ice creams, sweets, afternoon teas etc which then triggers more takeaways and junk as I've messed up) so I'm hopeful this will help carry me through those moments and keep my weight loss going without being so tempted to binge.

Sick of yoyo-ing now. I'm quite good at giving myself a ceiling weight and maintaining below but I look forward to that being 10 stone not 15!