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!

Yes, 0.6 is a dose, so 7.5 is 25% more.

@ObsidianTree

I don't want to come across as mean to new posters, as we've all been there and asked the exact same questions, but it might be useful to add to the top of the pinned OP post to tell all new posters to read ALL previous threads FIRST before posting as their question will likely have been answered.

The phenomenon of the same things being asked over and over always will happen on any forum and, as I said, we've all asked some form of these questions too, so they are to be expected but it might help a little (if people read the pinned post first that is!)

Although at the rate these threads are going it might eventually take them a week to read through the previous ones! Maybe tell them to read the first three or something as that would answer most questions for newbies.

@PissedOffNeighbour22 Yes, it is really frustrating and I did just take my dose a day early since I’ve extracted it. I really hate using those needles. They aren’t as fine and it makes me much more aware of taking it than the pen which is painless. Having to jab at an angle and only go in a small amount to be subcutaneous is odd when you’re not medical at all.

At the rate I was going I should be down to about 11.10 now. The 11 is feeling utterly elusive today.

I know it will move again. It can’t not. But RARRRRR.

@lurkylurk if only MN had the wiki function that other websites have. I think telling people they have to read the first threads first is never going to work. That's 1000 posts on each thread, even if you just read the first one that takes a long time. And the search function isn't brilliant so it's not like people can make it easier on themselves.

There could always be an offshoot thread for people who've been on it for a while.

I’m sure it will be with you soon- Asda are very fast. But no one can say what day it will arrive. My guess would be you’ll have it by tomorrow or Saturday

Yeah, I'm sure you're right, they're never going to read through that many!

I am celebrating today as my hideous sulphur burps have stopped. I don't know if it was the tablet I took with esomeprazole in or if I just got over them but I am incredibly relieved.

@KeepingUndercover

Offshoot thread not a bad idea, I've only been on it three weeks myself but don't have any of those questions as had read all the threads.

@KeepingUndercover

It could well be the esomeprazole, I was getting bad heartburn so got some and it did handle that completely but then gave me other side effects with a rumbling stomach and wind! Can't win.

I don’t mind the questions so much. I think people want to talk and ask about experiences. You can get all the info you need from reading the threads, sure. But people like the conversation and feeling responded to I think.

Thinking back to the first thread MJ had only been out about a week and there were so few of us. It’s gained pace so quickly.

We were all clueless back at the start of February. Those early threads are a fun re-read. I love seeing all of our journeys.

If it was that gives me hope that if they come back I don't have to just suffer with them. Worst side effect yet.

@lurkylurk I don’t mind the questions from newbies BUT it really worries me when people ask such basic questions as it shows they’ve done very little research before taking the plunge and ordering MJ.

I’m really concerned us posting our success on here is encouraging people to sign up without much thought. In particular I worry about those who will use MJ to eat as few calories as possible to achieve rapid weight loss which can be dangerous. The lack of dietary planning, exercise and low calorie intake can lead to malnutrition and muscle loss, eating disorders etc.

People die from anorexia- i am not being melodramatic here. This drug makes it possible to be overweight and anoerexic.

For this reason I would strongly recommend that people do read the first threads to learn - and other online resources too, including the research findings.

Jumping in without doing much research could be harmful to your health.

I agree. It’s worrying when people ask super basic questions because I think god you are going into this blind and it’s a massive massive life changing decision. I mean, it is for me anyway.

my turn to ask for advice now. 2.5 wasn’t quite enough by week 5 for me, so I did 5mg. That’s been way too much. I’d like to do 4mg. My headache is now 6 days old and unbearable.

By my reckoning for 4mg need 0.48ml, which I’m happy and confident to do. Does that sound reasonable?

Maybe a "MJ 5mg plus" group for those who are through the getting to know the medication stage...?

@WannabeHealthier

Yes, I really feel people should do full research, any medication, including this one has side effects and risks, and it's only after understanding all of them that you can make a balanced decision for yourself as to the risk/benefit equation.

I don't mind the questions from new people either, I just thought that 3 or 4 threads from now we might have tired of answering them over and over, but then realised that the people starting now can be answering them then!

Yes, the maths is right, it would be 0.48ml of a 5mg pen for a 4mg dose. The jump from 2.5mg to 5mg is the only one that doubles, so it's a 100% increase, and seems to be the roughest on people.

From then on, the jump to 7.5mg is only a 50% increase and from there to 10mg is only a 33% increase. I am thinking of doing a stepped dose from 2.5mg to 5mg too to moderate it a bit.

Well I’ve taken the plunge and ordered my next pen - I was up and down about going up to 5mg but as I’ve been reading that I can do a lower dose if I want to, I think that will work for me. I need to order some pen needles though because the insulin needle method scares me 😂

That sounds like a plan.

My muscle aches completely gone this morning! Thank god because I was so sore and my 9 month old still contact naps so I was not enjoying it. Feeling great otherwise, already feel like I’ve got a bit more energy and motivation.

Breakfast today was Greek yoghurt and protein granola. Salad for lunch. Not sure what to have for dinner as need the protein boost but limited with cooking time with baby.

Glad to hear, I had them for a day or so after first injection and a day after second, hoping they will go altogether as doses go on.

As to restricted cooking time with babies (been there!), a stir fry is a good option there, can put in lots of meat (or if vegetarian tofu or seitan and edamame) and even egg too if a Thai style one or have with homemade egg fried rice with peas too (as legumes they have protein too) that you can add as much egg and peas and as little oil as you like and all quick to cook. You can always freeze some of the rice to have on hand for next time.

Or else a tray bake with protein and veg that you can prep quickly, then shove in the oven and forget about for a while as it does it's thing!

@NCfor24 's suggestion of a 5mg plus thread is a good one as the topics the 2.5mg users talk about is slightly different to where 5mg plus users are at.

That's good info - thank you. The 2.5mg to 5mg jump has been too much. I am 100% responsible for blithely thinking I would be fine on it.

I think a 5mg+ thread would be awesome actually - because we are now in a very different place to the people who are just starting or about to start - it's why the 1st 3 threads were so good for us all.

I think you might now have unrealistic expectations of Mounjaro. Your period won't help weight loss of course but now you are two stone lighter every thing you do in life is using less energy than it used to. Walking a mile uses less energy as you are moving two stone less of fat over that mile distance. So even if you eat the same each day as you did on week 1 of Mounjaro you require less energy and your calorie deficit is lower. So your weight loss slows.

That is true for Mounjaro as much as it is for plain old calorie counting without drugs. To keep the weight loss going at your previous rate you will either have to eat less or move more. But losing slower and then plateauing to a weight you can maintain long term is absolutely normal and a healthy way of living. 2st in 2 months is bloody amazing!

Amazing news @spamm well done!

@AgathaMystery sadly I've not had the aversion to wine however you've made me realise I DO have it to beige food! Really not interested in chips in particular, to the point my son had some from the chippy the other day and I spat out (classy) the one I nabbed from him as I didn't like it.

Can't remember who said about ovulation but I'm currently in a loss stall. I did also remember the weight I am now I had a big stall when I last lost weight, and I did eventually get past it but it took a couple of weeks so I'm feeling less anxious about it now.

@FlappyFish have you taken any measurements? I often find that when I don't lose weight, I do tend to lose a few inches here and there and that cheers me up a bit.

I've taken my first 5mg on Monday and Jesus I am floored. I feel so tired and all I want to do is sleep. I also feel cold all the time which results in me wanting to be under a duvet!

But I've forced myself to go to the gym and am still alive!