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!

Week 2/day 1. I had some very, very strange sleep last night - I woke up at around 2am with a really specific song in my head and it’s been earworming me all day 😂

Re protein. I can’t do eggs or nuts so try and incorporate as much as I can into my meals from other sources - milk, chicken, mushrooms, cheese and what not but this is why I buy the shakes just to up it a bit. I’ll never get the 100g or anywhere near it but I’m ok with that

I am really not good at making sure I drink enough though. That is really something I need to work on

I am sure this question has been answered somewhere but can anyone help? When I finish the last (fourth) dose, there seems to be some left over - is there any way of getting this out and using it?

Just back from an impromptu visit to the pub to meet friends, delaying dinner. I had a bag of my favourite crisps alongside my wine. Wasn't until we left I realised I only ate 4 then was distracted by chatting and forgot about them! This is definitely the MJ. it was not a conscious choice to avoid the crisps. I managed to maintain a healthy weight for a few years a while ago, but it was a constant choice all of the time to deny myself what I fancied. It's still blowing my mind.

If you read the first post of this thread you will see where to order syringes from. It’s not recommended to do this so you do so if you feel confident and at your own risk of course.

I hear you. We have an absolutely delicious bottle of wine sat here. Unopened. It blows my mind that I can’t think of anything worse than alcohol right now.

I had a salmon fillet for supper. It was delicious and I feel so so full. Almost too full. Weird.

I have noticed this week a really strange side effect. Not sure if anyone has any idea what this could be.

The skin on my eyelids and hands is very saggy and if I pull my skin up on my hands it takes ages to go back down. Same with my eyelids, putting on eyeshadow is really difficult. Google tells me this is dehydration, but I'm drinking around 3 ltrs a day. I've been moisturising like crazy as I thought they were just dry, no joy.

I'm in week 4 of 2.5 and have lost 12 pounds so I've lost a lot I would say, so it could be down to rapid weight loss. But why only my hands and eyelids? Maybe it's a deficiency but seems a coincidence it's since I've started MJ

My hands literally look like I'm 20 years older

Haven’t posted this week, but been following everyone’s progress. Loving all the support and camaraderie here. Thanks @ObsidianTree for the ongoing threads.

@VelociraptorsVelociRapping I have moderately bad psoriasis. Just took my 3rd dose this evening. No noticeable improvement to date, unfortunately.

On a positive note, 2 pounds off this week, so that’s a total of 9.2 pounds in 2 weeks 😃.

Appetite suppression ok, but not as noticeable as last week, and no side effects at all.

The eyelids and hands are where your skin is the thinnest.

You know what I said about having no side effects? Scratch that! On day 5 week 2, and am bloody freezing. This is so weird as I've not been cold since my youngest was born 22 years ago! I don't even have a coat, only a rain mac, and I'm that idiot you see out wearing a vest in January. 😂

@user1471503652 I also meant to say, find a good marine collagen supplement and take along side hyaluronic acid. This supports your skin whilst your losing, and is also good for anti aging. It's important it's marine collagen, not bovine, as it's much more easily absorbed.

Thank you very much for the advice, I will look into it..

I took my second 2.5mg this morning. I appear to be very sensitive to the drug and I have had definitely had an appetite reduction to the level where I am forcing myself to eat.

Starting weight 13st 5.5lbs
CW - 13st 0lbs
GW 10st

I'm not sure if anyone has seen this, but the MHRA has now extended the use by date on some batches of 2.5mg pens.

Batch number and expiry date:

D712074 10/2024 (October '24)
D720751 02/2025 (February '25)
D720957 02/2025 (February '25)

I hope this helps someone. I've attached the document which says drug effectiveness and quality shouldn't be affected. I imagine as they've done this, they may well do the same with batches of 5mg, because as far I I know we have all received very short dated products so far.

@MelissaLouRocks thanks for this. I did wonder if they'd short dated on purpose but can't believe how long the extension is!

Day one newbie here checking in.

Thanks @MelissaLouRocks thats interesting that they increased the end dates

So end of week 8 for me... I think...losing count!

This week I lost 4lbs! Putting me in the 14st bracket at 14st 12lbs! So super happy at that

Total loss 19lbs since starting MJ
Total loss since January 37lbs

Start weight Jan 17st 6lbs
Start weight MJ 16 st 3lbs
Current weight 14st 12lbs

Also, I hadn't posted a weigh in post on thread 4, so that thread got full in less than a week! Looks like this thread might go that way too 🤣

That's brilliant Obsidian, well done!

That's amazing @ObsidianTree well done. I really hope I will see some weight loss soon!

I felt rotten last night. Have a massive feeling it's a direct consequence of what I put in my tummy so am going to try really hard to put the right stuff in.

As an aside. I remembered a recipe for protein yogurt so people may find will save them money. You mix protein powder and yogurt together. Simple and really nice. I had it with fruit this morning.

Well done Obsidian. You've lost loads! You must be really pleased.

I've now gone into the 1st loss bracket now. The losses are very slow and steady now. I find I cling to a weight for a week or so then suddenly drop a lb.

I find my skin feels more dry now(especially my hands) and I'm definitely thinner in the face, so might look Into marine collagen. Is this a cream or a tablet? Sounds pricey? I have collagen tablets from Holland and Barrett, but not sure they will do anything.

I get the coldness occasionally. It's like your bones freeze over. Very strange. Then it goes after a few hours. I'm very achy this morning too but went to the gym last Thursday, so could be that. I am finding my workouts a bit tougher, which is disappointing since that was a reason for me starting MJ. I hope when I'm on maintenance calories I feel better.

I have continued to drink alcohol but I don't drink a lot in one go as my stomach can't handle it. I can handle a decent sized glass of wine, but not much more. It could change now I'm on 5mg. I had half a bottle of beer last night and abandoned it as my body wasn't liking it. I wouldn't advise drinking lots. The few times I've thrown up on this was due to spicy, oily food or too much alcohol.

Just completed week 2 and have lost 3lbs this week.
SW 14st13
CW 14st6
That means half a stone in 2 weeks, more significantly for me, it means 6lbs over the Easter holidays, a time when I would normally gain!
I took my 3rd jab yesterday and the only real side effect I've had is feeling cold (I'm normally someone who is always too hot!).
I had quite a bit of reflux the first week, but that has gone.
For the past few days I have not had the uncomfortable fullness I was having in tbe first week. I have felt like I physically could eat more, but I don't want to. I don't feel like the food noise has gone for me, I still think about food a lot, I just don't have the need to eat it. When I'm at home, I do find myself wandering in to the kitchen, then wandering out again without snacking. Let's hope it continues.
I plan to use up the extra 2.5 dose then move up to 5.

Can I ask how you dodge a big meal with people who don't know? I have a family member coming later who wants a takeaway. Luckily it's chinese (and not pizza) so I can go for something lighter, but I'm worried I won't be shovelling it in my gob as usual. I think I might get sussed out this evening. Nothing gets past this person and she will be horrified I'm using jabs, as in her mind I'm not fat (even though I was on the cusp of being obese). She is bigger than I was, but happy with her weight and this will be 'cheating'.

The reason for the short dating was they had to complete stability testing, to ensure the medication still remained safe and effective with the extended shelf life.

The collagen is more effective as a powder, but it's tasteless. It should be marine and not bovine collagen as it's more easily absorbed. Also take alongside hyaluronic acid for maximum effect.