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!

@noclouds
It sounds like you're not eating enough throughout the day and that will cause headaches (and coldness, although that does seem to be just a side effect of Mounjaro anyway). It also sounds like your calories are likely too low, which puts your body into starvation mode.

But I really don't think I could stomach much urghhh

Just eating it now. It does have a strange cardboard chew to it 🤣 it's edible at least! I'll the warburtons next time!

I've eaten low carb options before that have tasted like cardboard! So these aren't bad!

@noclouds
I get it, what about a protein shake or a high protein meal replacement shake?

@melissalourocks on here recommended Purition shakes which are made from wholefoods and are low sugar and fairly high protein.

@ObsidianTree
Try the Warburtons ones, I like them toasted with a fried or poached egg.

Jumping on so I’m on the new thread. 3 days into 5mg injection. Feeling well. Eating very repetitively and nothing greasy or too spicy which seems to be suiting my system on mj. Logging everything on nutracheck. Lots of walking. My appetite is definitely more suppressed on 5mg - eaten just under 1000 cals v 1200 on 2.5mg. I know it’s low cals but I’m maximising protein and veg, no junk.
It’s a month tomorrow since I started and I’m 11 pounds down. My bmi has dropped from just in obese to overweight. Very glad I took the plunge.

@noclouds how about Greek yogurt with fruit and granola?

Or a fruit smoothie with yogurt?

Peperami stick?

Also make sure you are drinking.

I think electrolytes are good for times like this when you aren't eating and can't stomach food. So maybe a lucozade sports drink?

I eat my protein not supplements.
I like protein yoghurt for breakfast- skyr or the Aldi protein granola pots. Lidl and Aldi great for high protein yoghurt.
Or eggs. Smoked salmon is good.
Then lunch I’ve been having a chicken veg and lentil homemade soup 33g protein or eggs.
Dinner protein and veg. Salmon, chicken breast mainly. I sometimes have the protein ready meals from Aldi or M & S.
I try for 30g protein a meal.
Aldi also do protein mousse 20g or pudding. Kvarg is good 15-18g.
Milk - a skimmed milk latte is 12g.

I like the Aldi granola pots with some berries.
Lunch I’ve been having a lot of homemade soup - chicken/veg/lentil.

@Investinmyself
I like those Aldi protein granola pots too.

Soup is a good one although I find lentil soups sooo filling now, but I do love them and a good way to get the fibre in.

Out and about these wraps are in Tesco meal deal. You can get a Graham’s protein yoghurt as the snack and a costa medium latte as drink so 60g protein for £3.40 (I don’t work for Tesco!)

We have eatlean cheese, I order online but Lidl do a copycat version.
Cottage cheese is another and quite light to eat. On its own or add to eggs and veg for Crustless quiche.

5mg is working so well for me now too. I didn’t even realise it was the day to inject and ended up doing it the following morning! (2nd 5mg shot) still got a big tummy but haven’t drank wine at all this week and so far doing ok with that which was my major downfall along with crisps which just go too nicely with the wine .
i am really jittery though and not sure what that’s about! It adds to the not hungry feeling .

Placemarking. Thanks @ObsidianTree!

@NoMoreCoffeePlease did you receive the full amount back from juniper? I got it back minus £50 which I took as a prescription fee. I wasn't too fussed really. I was just happy they stuck to their word about not questioning why!

I went with Bolt for my 5mg but lots of others will also so this as long as you have proof of your first jab.

I was actually pretty disappointed with juniper as they mention health coaches etc but the only time I was contacted was 5 weeks I after my first pen was finished. Their Comms were all over the place sending emails out weeks after they were dues e.g. welcome emails

Hi, I tend to have a late morning meal. Examples without eggs:
WW bread & peanut butter
cottage cheese & smoked salmon
Avocado, WW bread cottage cheese
chicken breast & cottage cheese
1tin tuna, Greek yogurt, chopped veg, 3 Aldi Rosemary & black pepper thins

Add in 2 herb teas with 1T collagen in each per day.
Maybe a Lidl 20g protein pudding after dinner.
Dinners are normal food, but little carb.
I usually equal or exceed 100g protein per day.
This actually does not feel like a diet, & I could probably eat this way comfortably for the foreseeable.

We are MJ twins 😊 Great to see that things are still going well for you.

Mine only started the second week. But I think it might be because I started really watching what I was eating and my blood sugar plummeted. Yesterday I had a massive headache, decided to cook up a steak and it went almost instantly.

My understanding is if you inject in the thigh (which I have) your symptoms are less severe.

Good luck and don't over think it.

I don't think they can prescribe the injections yet and it probably depends how the tiers work in your local authority because by the sounds of it they can be very different unfortunately. Worth asking though.

I was previously under tier 3 services which was a pathway to bariatric surgery but that was more than 2 years ago and I couldn't continue with it because of bereavement.

Tier 3 now seems to have changed in my area - it says its a non surgical intervention with specialist doctors, psychologists and dieticians and I would assume as soon as weightloss drugs are avaliable on the NHS they will prescribe them. I imagine there is a long waiting list so I'm not actually holding out much hope of getting any help. I'm just hoping that mj will continue working for me and I won't need tier 3 services!x

Anyone still eat cockles? I had some from Tescos the other day. 82 calories and 16g protein for a little jar.

I got £140 + £15 back which is what I paid. I cancelled within a 25-day timeframe.

Would you recommend Bolt?

My allocated dietitian at Juniper was lovely and quick to get in touch, but providing generic advice like 'this is a healthy plate' and 'these are great sources of protein'. The support Juniper offered was also really good - when I asked about a side effect, she referred me to the medical team, who got in touch promptly with follow-up questions. Their welcome brochure, introduction videos, etc, were pretty slick, and everything felt professional.

But in the end -- the extra £50 or so a month for the app/coach/recipes, just wasn't worth it to me. I can see how someone much earlier on in a diet journey would benefit, but I think we all are in the same boat when we say we've tried almost every diet and read up on nutrition so much that we are close to being nutritionists ourselves.

Did you get to/have to return the scales? I find them quite useless and it would be so wasteful to have to bin them, so I'll probably try and give them away for free.

Just reading the lastest messages - welcome to the newcomers and congrats to those with losses!

I've been accepted by Bolt for the 7.5mg pen but am in a bit of a quandary - it's due for despatch IF supplies arrive, in w/c 23rd April. If I take the extra dose in my 5mg pen (assuming I manage it) then my next pen would be need to start on 27th April. I just don't know if this is risky and I should order another 5mg pen just in case.
I do also have the 2.5mg pen still in the fridge with the extra dose - was considering combining with the 5mg extra dose but am wondering if I should keep it as a next best thing in case the 7.5mg pen doesn't come, so at least I could take a smaller dose...
Alternatively I am wondering if I should start to delay by a day or two for my final 2 doses to buy a bit more time.
Really not ideal and as someone who isn't particularly sensitive to this drug I'll be disappointed not to move up quickly as I still find I am relying almost entirely on willpower (and the thought that I'm spending so much money on this).

Does anyone have any further news on the 7.5 or thoughts on what I could do?

I will look into it. At the moment it is psychological interventions. I am honest with them about using Mounjaro though. No point in deceiving anyone.

Edit to add - also a massive amount of meal replacement shakes if anyone is in need of any. Huge tubs of the things.