Continuing Mounjaro...part 6

[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/product/15481/pil#about-medicine

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. https://www.chemist-4-u.com/carepoint-pen-needles-31g-4mm-pack-of-100?gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH51rLZBVFQxuvS7mDJooegtK8BMiyT0PwREMRHhH_1atfQIo8TEbsmkaAkA0EALw_wcB

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:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
https://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
furthet reading about injection sites and the effects: https://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

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-continuing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

5th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5048290-continuing-mounjaropart-5?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/5057475-mounjaro-and-wegovy-newbies-april-2024

@imnottoofussed @BlackFriYay I hope you get a movement on the scales soon. Honestly I was so puzzled as I have definitely been in calorie deficit for the whole time and yet no losses for 2 weeks. So a bit of a mystery as to why it suddenly went down. Normally I would have given up and hit the junk food but just knowing I have paid for at least 2 more pens means that I've got the mindset of sticking to it

This was me too, up a pound, down a pound, repeat ad nauseam. Like you I am trying to look at NSV such as finally being able to take off my wedding ring and now wearing a smaller belt (at the widest notch!). Considering whether I look at getting some size 14 jeans at some point, but will probably wait till after the summer....and maybe they'll need to be 12s

MOUNJARO SHORTAGE!!!!
No-one can get hold of it in the US! It's all over Reddit.
I fear this means we will have the same problem here really soon!

5lbs overnight is amazing. Well done

@Purrdy
The US have different pens to us. Theirs are single use. The issue is with the manufacturing of the pens not the actual medication. No one is having any problems with 2.5 or 5mg at the minute and 7.5mg is just being rolled out this week.
I don't think there is any cause for alarm.

I dilute collagen powder much more than is recommended on the packaging, and pretend it is medicine, which makes it just about bearable. But yes it is rank.

@CiderJabs I just put the collagen into my first water bottle of the day. It's super diluted so I don't even notice it.

Thanks the best wishes everyone, it really is lovely of all of you. ☺

Those struggling with collagen powder, which type are you buying? Of all the unflavoured ones I've bought, there's only one I've struggled to get down, all the others are fine.

If anyone odds recommendations let me know.

Just waiting for my next bloods, then hopefully I'm outta here! 🚀

@MelissaLouRocks glad you're sort of on the mend!

Which powder do you take ? And which one was the horrible one!?

I'm not home so don't know the brand I bought. It was from Holland and Barratt.

Yeah the people on there don't know what they are talking about. I got annoying this morning reading that apparently we won't have taken the covid jab!? Foolish people. I've now deleted it from my watching threads. No arguing with stupid so no point!

The one I couldn't stomach was Ancient and Brave bovine collagen, there was someone just rank about it, the marine one is fine. Also Hunter and Gather marine and bovine both good, and Nutrition Geeks bovine with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. Because I have a lot of gut issues plus osteoarthritis, I take them both. I sometimes add to coffee or hot choc, more usually just include with my protein shake in the morning.

Meant to add, look for the ones with zero additives or nasties, and if using bovine make sure it's from grass fed cattle.

I was reading some of that thread last night @ObsidianTree, it was good for a laugh at how ignorant people can be if nothing else. 😂

@ObsidianTree yes I've seen it but decided to not take them seriously as the Covid thing was so ridiculous it was actually funny.

Thank you for the tips @MelissaLouRocks. I've taken some with a protein shake and it was ok, but it made me so full I haven't eaten anything else today.

Is anyone waiting for a 7.5mg pen to be delivered? I have taken my 3rd dose of 5mg so looking to order another pen next week. Although I will use the bonus dose in the 5mg I need to order another pen next week so I don't have to go back to 2.5mg.

I would like a 7.5mg pen but not sure if this is wishful thinking. Bolt say will be in stock this week, Asda say will be in stock 'late April'. MedExpress say zilch about 7.5mg.

CW 177lbs. Have lost 11lbs in 6.5 weeks.

Hi, jumping back over here from the newbies thread to ask a question of those who have been on MJ for a while.

did you ever feel absolutely no different after taking an injection? I took my second one yesterday and I don’t have a single side effect and also don’t feel any suppression at all. I know 2.5 isn’t a therapeutic dose but last week I could really feel it for a few days. I lost weight last week but worried I’ll undo it all this week because I’m feeling so hungry

@Ghilliedu on 2.5 it took a few days to feel it kick in on week 2,3 and 4. Worked the next day on 5

I didnt feel anything really for the first 3 weeks, but then I found I was wanting to eat slightly less at each meal. Still ravenous by day 6 and reliant on extra protein to stop me from overdoing it (and on some days I did end up having a chocolate bar or pack of crisps).
Going up to 5mg was when I really noticed the food noise reduce. My side effects are very very minor (bit cold, loose tummy at night if had a heavy or greasy meal in the evening).
Have lost 5kg in 8 weeks so think I might stay at 5mg another month.

Yes. That was me on my first 2.5 jab.

I got through week 1 on sheer willpower alone. Don't worry, the more you build in your system as you go through the weeks the better it will work.

I am well impressed with your losses @Femeia , hoping I can follow a similar pattern as your starting weight was only a couple of kg less than mine (and a weight I've maintained at for years previously) - would love to be sub 90kg already but am pretty content with seeing a number under 93 this morning for the first time in a long time 😊.
One of my motivators is a big family party at the end of August - if I can lose 0.5kg per week between now and then I'll be out of the 'obese' category. Unlike previous attempts over the years, including when on saxenda last year (when my lowest weight reached was 92.4kg but I was starving and couldn't maintain it), I genuinely believe that it could be achievable this time.
I have a few friends who also struggle with their weight, if they ask me genuinely how I'm achieving it I will tell them, but so far only my DH knows. I agree it's not something we should be ashamed of, but unlike nearly everything else a person can do make the changes they want to see in themselves, there has always been this assumption that fat people are greedy and lazy - ie moral failings - and anything other than their 'approved' method to address the issue is seen as yet another moral failing, ie 'cheating'.
I quit smoking years ago cold turkey, after being on 30 per day. I could say it's easy (because for me it was), anyone can do it if they just try, no one needs to buy fags or to smoke, no one needs help to quit, people should just try a little harder. But I don't say those things because I'm not a dick. It is well established that nicotine is a very hard drug to quit and I'm just lucky that I didnt find it difficult, it doesnt make me superior to people who have tried to quit and failed. In my experience an insatiable appetite is much, much harder to overcome (ie I haven't without the help of jabs) but we're all different.
I do wish I'd bought shares in Eli Lilly - this stuff really is going to radically impact on the obesity crisis over the next decade as it becomes more accessible (ie not just for those of us with a credit card to chuck it on - am still paying of the saxenda and wegovy jabs 🫣 ).

Yes, I have one on order from Bolt, they say they will update me this week as they expect stock from 22nd. I have another 5mg pen to start next week as I didn't want to risk having nothing.

Unfortunately the issue now does seem to be with the speed of manufacture of the medication, as so many people have started it. Eli Lilly are building new manufacturing plants (including one in Germany) but that takes time.

They were saying there'd be issues until April, now saying there will be until later in the year, so it is possible it will affect here too as it's not just the pen issue.

It looks like the 2.5mg and 5mg pens for the UK were manufactured some time ago, as Eli Lilly were hoping it would be approved for treating diabetes on the NHS here but it wasn't approved (cost/benefit issue when there were already other medications).

it was later approved for weight loss but it took a while which is why the dates on our pens are so short (the expiry dates are usually a year or more), so those pens were already made ages ago but the manufacturing issues are what's causing the delay on the higher doses.

It has been approved by NICE for type 2 diabetes as of 20 March.

That is according to the diabetes uk website.

It's why I asked my GP for it and had it approved.

The approval for weight loss on nhs is still under review though I believe.

Yes for sure! I was peckish on Friday morning. Friday night is injection time. I woke up this morning and had appetite suppression. It’s not linear by any means. Also 2.5 is NOT a therapeutic dose. I also believe the placebo effect is absolutely a thing. Not a bad thing, but a thing

In America it does seem like those on it don't want to come off it again. So the numbers of users go up and up and probably doesn't reduce. So that might contribute to a causing a shortage also.

There are a lot of people that take the compound version in America. Not sure if we might get that option at some point down the line.

I got 120g on around 1000 cal yesterday. Cottage cheese & smoked salmon, 1/2 Lidl protein bar, 2x collagen powder, fish soup, Aldi high protein vanilla mousse.
BTW, wouldn’t get too hung up on protein, I try for 100g + per day but once or twice a week, I don’t achieve that, but I don’t worry about it.