Continuing Mounjaro...part 5

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro can only be taken if your BMI is above 30.

Pointers for newbies:

1 - For taking your first dose you need to twist the pen a lot to get to 1! The instructions say prime each time you take a dose, but actually Eli Lilly have confirmed you only need to prime for the first ever use of a pen. (The video posted says every use, but this isn't true!)

2 - When injecting, hold down the button until the number goes back to 0. Once at 0, keep holding down the button and count to 5 with the needle still in so no medication is lost!

3 - 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.

4 - 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.

5 - 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.

6 - 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.

7 - 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

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

9 - 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.

10 - 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.

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

12 - 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.

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

14 - 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.

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 - Abdominal side-effects are much easier to control with smaller meals. For example, having 4 small meals in the day vs 2 big meals can have an improvement in nausea and burps.

17 - 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.

18 - 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
• Bolt pharmacy 2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. Or starter pack with 2.5mg and 5mg pen £319
• Asda £184
• Boots £219
• Chemist4U £179
• Pharmacy2u
• Superdrug

There other other sellers, we don't have them all listed

19 - 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-mounjaropart-3?page=1

4th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5044316-continu
ing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

Good luck everyone!

Those are great NSVs. I look forward to being able to do walk up a hill without feeling like I need a new set of lungs at the top 😂

Also, are jeans even jeans if you don’t have to do a little dance to get into them?!

Hi everyone, I posted back on thread 3 about the awful side effects I had 48 hours after my first dose. I'm pleased to say they subsided the next day and I've just taken my fourth dose having had minimal side effects since the first lot. I've lost 18.5lb in 3 weeks so have decided to stay on the 2.5 dose for now as it seems to be working for me. I've got my second pen already but, having just taken the fourth dose, there seems to be quite a lot left in the pen. Probably enough for a fifth dose. Has anyone else experienced this? Sorry, if it's already been covered on here. Did you take it as a "freebie" dose or discard the pen and move onto a new one? Thanks

Hey @plinter and @Rainbowl well done on the NSV. I felt old when I had to Google it to learn that it means Non Scale Victories!

My NSV are also around exercise and jeans! I am walking - did 17 miles a couple of weeks ago, 15 last week and my first walk in the rain tonight! My jeans are now too big. I could do with sizing down but I am holding out as I know I'll be need to buy more in a while...

Well done. Keep going!

Glad to hear your side effects decreased. To answer the extra dose question. Lots of us on the thread have used the extra. Either by twisting the pen hard so it goes round again, or by getting insulin needles and extracting the dose. There's lots of chat on here about it. You need to use a new needle if you're twisting the pen hard, don't reuse it. And if you're extracting a dose is 0.6ml, check how much you're getting out.

I'm still getting constant side effects from this week's dose. Managed to eat more today but I have the dreaded burps. Currently wishing I'd stayed on 2.5mg! Really hoping tomorrow is better.

Same here. My concern is not eating enough and losing my hair as I did on Fast 800!

Hi. I've been lurking and midway through my 2nd dose of 2.5mgs. I'm really sensitive to the drug and I am having quite a significant effect from the 2.5 doses. My appetite has completely disappeared and I'm having to force myself to eat small amounts. I'm prioritising protein but I'm struggling to hit even 1000 calories per day. I made a high protein veggie chili for dinner but I could only manage half a bowl. This is very unlike me, I usually really want good portions and I struggle not to graze.

The nausea has subsided but the whole can't be bothered to eat feeling is quite strong. No food noise whatsoever. I am freezing cold though.

I am 5ft 5 inches.

Sw - 13st 5lbs
Week 1 - 13 stone
CW 12st 9lbs (week 2 is in 2 days time)

GW 9st 7lbs

I think this is a complete game changer for me and gor the first time ever I feel I will achieve a healthy bmi.

I’m now 5 days in after my first dose and the hunger suppression has definitely gone. I am constantly hungry!

Should it be lasting longer than this? I injected into my stomach and I’ve seen some chat about doing a thigh instead to make it release more slowly and last for longer - is this an actual thing?

I haven’t weighed yet as I only want to do it once a week but I feel like the first few days made a difference and I don’t want the second half of the week to spoil it

Hi, just re sharing this video for a couple of people that’s looking to take first injection. @schoolie258 @Uglyducklingswan
@JanetSnakeholeMacklin Shared this after I mucked up on my first last week and wasted a dose. I found this one super helpful.
Hope link works.

No it's unlikely people get a full week of suppression on the first dose of 2.5mg. After 5 days your body has eliminated half the dose. But the good news is after 7 days some of that first dose is still inside you and you then top it up with dose 2 so dose 2 works a bit longer than dose 1. And then when you step up to the second pen of 5mg the amount inside you started getting progressively higher so you get stronger and longer appetite suppression.

I got a comment today that being on MJ is cheating! From a very active gym bunny I know. We have a bantery relationship but I was surprised that someone said this to my face!

I understand why people might call it cheating but it doesn't feel like cheating. Cheating would be over eating and not moving relying on a med to do the work. I've changed my eating habits and am doing more exercise as I want long term change.

It's funny to think other people naturally feel this way. I described how I feel when I'm hungry to a different friend - I get an empty gassy, acidy feeling in my tummy (similar to when it's about to rumble), my friend doesn't experience that.

Incidentally it's one of the main things I've noticed reduce on MJ, my stomach just feels better, satiated and settled.

Even writing this makes me wonder if its possible to have had some sort of lifelong silent reflux!?!

Though that isn't the only reason I have been an overeater!

@Ghilliedu In the clinical trials a lot of people didn’t get any effect at 2.5mg as it’s not a therapeutic dose, average weight loss is low. It’s just about getting your body accustomed to Mounjaro.

So your experience is better than average based on the clinical trial findings. It’s just that the anecdotal feedback on this thread is skewing towards a high level of weight loss at 2.5mg. If you lose on 2.5mg I’d say you are lucky. I lost a lot on 2.5mg and was surprised!

@MeAndMounjaro This is why I’m not telling anyone! Weight loss medication came up in conversation last weekend at a gathering and I watched someone screw their face up and proclaimed how awful they are. I kept quiet!

Thanks @Choux and @WannabeHealthier That makes more sense then. I’ll just try to be as healthy as I can til my second dose on Saturday and see how it goes. Crossing my fingers for less vivid dreams tonight - my least favourite side effect!

@MeAndMounjaro What a daft comment to make. There is no cheating here, it’s not a competition or an exam. It’s about finding something that works for you as an individual! I have held off telling anyone for this reason, I just can’t be bothered with the judgement

I want to be open about my MJ use, its a shame someone said the worst they could about it!

I am definitely going to next time say "cheating who or what? It's not an exam or race". Perfect!

A lot of people are definitely not able to differentiate between prescription jabs and the dodgy salon skinny jabs so that can form strobg opinions when stories circulate about someone being hospitalised due to using a jab - often if you do somw digging its a dodgy salon jab bought from china or even mixed in house.

@plinter
I always put on weight when I'm ovulating. I get quite bad ovulation pain, all the women in my family do, so I definitely know when it's happening and I always put on a pound or two at that time, sometimes even more so than totm.

I had a big event I was managing at work, so I have fallen behind on the thread. But I wanted to update on my Doctor appointment today.

Just for everyone's info, as it can be confusing: I am in the US, I started in January and I am trying to treat my diabetes, including losing weight. I have been on 7.5 for 1 month and 1 week, with a 5.0 stint in between because of supply issues.

Anyway, results from today's tests are so good - my blood sugar is down to 6.3 and my blood pressure is at 128/78 - lowest since I was a teenager. I have lost 20lbs so far. My doctor was so pleased that she hugged me and I nearly cried.

I will try and catch up over the next day or so.

NSV - I've been in the gym since 5am! Also, I've went up 5kg for my chest presses and up 10kg for my squats! 💪
I weirdly have been craving the gym in the past 2 days but this is the first chance I've got to come.

I'm moving my jab and weigh day from Thurs to Fri to fit in with work better. So won't official weigh in today - will do it tomorrow instead. Weighed this morning and am the same weight I was last week anyway. Af is due so I've gained and lost even more this week, despite my eating being spot on. Ah well! Roll on my final 2.5 dose tomorrow!

Morning ladies
I've been following these threads since the 2nd one and you all inspired me to take the plunge. Coming up to the end of week 2 of 2.5mg. Trying not to get too focussed on the scales as I've had some crazy fluctuations (87.5kg to 84.6kg overnight - even my scales said "are you sure it's you, try again" 🤣). I'm convinced it was water but the elusive 84 has not popped up again.

SW - 87.5kg
CW - 85.9kg
2 week loss 1.5kg

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for faster but my food choices have improved dramatically. CC at around 850-950 cals per day and not hungry outside of meal times, wouldn't say food noise is gone entirely but definitely better - especially the dreaded mindless evening tv snacking.

I'm hitting over 100g of protein a day but that is with supplements - too much chicken just gives me the ick 😬

Amazing news! I’m so pleased for you and love hearing about the support and encouragement from your Doctor.

It can take a while to lose as your body will probably be holding onto fat and water especially as your calories are ultra low. Ideally we shouldn’t eat below 1200 calories per day for a sustained period. You’ll probably lose more if you increase your calorie intake.

Am now 6 weeks into Mounjaro and have about 10lb weight loss depending on the day.

Took my bonus dose from the 2.5mg pen last night. The pen was still in date as the expiry is May 2024. But following the discussion yesterday about whether opened pens should be used within 30 days of opening even if refrigerated I decided to just get it used if I was going to.

It was 42 days after the pen was first used so outside the 30 days but the information is not clear on the deadlines. The leaflet quoted which seemed to say 30 days was a bit ambiguous IMO and was printed in Jan 24. Another patient leaflet online published in March 2024 so more recently makes no mention of this 30 day pen use deadline even if refrigerated.

Anyway I took it, the insulin needle injection was easy and pain free and I am still feeling fine despite using 42 day old Mounjaro. I feel some appetite suppression from the 2.5mg although as I was on 5mg last week I will take another 5mg dose in a few days. 2.5mg probably won't be strong enough now.

@spamm great news from your doctor. Keep going. Do you feel healthier in day to day life? I have no idea if you can feel effects from your blood sugar levels.

Start of week 4 for me today.

SW: 12.6.6
CW: 11.13.8
GW: 10.0.0

Almost half a stone off in 3 weeks!
On a side note, I didn't know my scales went to 3 decimal places - they are obviously as desperate as I am to get a new front number! 😂

I do think that logging food/drink on an app is actually making a difference - yes, the food noise is diminished, and some appetite suppression is there, but I still have to make the good choices. An app is helping me with that, along with ensuring that I'm keeping a reasonable protein level.
I haven't managed 100g of protein yet (not taking supplements for that), but it's been close. As long as it's over 70g then I'm happy.

Ooh - and I've just realised that takes me from obese to overweight BMI.
Started at 31, and now at 29.65

I think that is happening with me too. I'm trying to get my 1200 a day calories in but sometimes I just can't stomach it, but I'm focusing on protein regardless. I've stalled big time over the past 2 weeks.

I'm not sure what the answer is really. If I force myself to eat food I can't stomach ill just be sick 😐