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

@Losingmymind85
Some hunger is normal, or you may be getting used to it. When you did your last dose, what makes you think it might not have worked?

It could be that the bonus dose you got was more than 2.5mg? So now you're back to 2.5mg it doesn't feel as strong.

But if you're happy to feel hunger etc then stick with the 2.5mg if not maybe be a bit over 2.5mg to build up a bit more.

Just had two emails from med express one saying no 7.5 please order another 5 pen then seconds later one saying they have 7.5 in stock!
im nervous as 5 works well for me but then it does wear off by day 5. I kind of miss feeling like eating at times ! Also I worry about coming off it. I’m going to try and do some cbt or similar I think around it , even if just online, jsut to try and sort my head out a bit ahead of not being on it , I would hate to regain it all .

Received these two emails within 20 mins of each other not that it matters, they've not responded yet to me saying I can't fill in the sodding form

I've not received any emails from MedExpress today. Maybe they have removed me from mailing list because I keep messaging them with too many questions 😂

@Stickthatupyourdojo did you say you managed to order in the end?

@ObsidianTree these are the first emails I've received from them. Like buses!!

No not yet, that was another poster, they said they tried on their laptop and it worked so I'll give that a whirl later. Still not sure on going for 5 or 7.5mg.

Actually, reading that email they've said to do a new consultation so hopefully that'll work rather than the "reorder" option I was trying before.

checking back in today, i started on 13/3/24 and am now in week 2 of 5mg. i'm 5ft 1, sw 11 stone 11.3lbs, cw 11 stone 0.25lbs 😊

i definitely found myself getting more hungry at the tail end of 2.5mg, on the other hand now i'm this far into 5mg i am actually struggling to eat. my tummy will rumble but i just don't fancy anything. i've also learned that coffee will mess my tum up and make me nauseous! so a mixed bag but good results. i'm going to stay at 5mg for now i think as the step up was quite challenging.

Did it on Sunday. I had real trouble getting the dose to come out during the priming phase. It looked to be working but who knows?

I find it takes about 36 hours after injecting for appetite suppression to kick in, so when I inject Fri mid day, I don’t get appetite suppression until late Sat or early Sun. I think learning to resist hunger is a useful skill to develop

Anyone else with anxiety? Hoping it’s a hormonal thing but wondering (anxiously 😬) if it’s since I’ve been up to the 5mg and if 7.5 will be worse

Yes same as me , I inject in my thigh and might try tummy this week (out of interest as much as anything !)
I am doing it today in fact . Definitely hungrier today but it’s still there , it’s the first couple of days post injection I’m most hungry .

I've been strength training and although I've lost 10lbs so far (in 3.5 weeks), my skeletal muscle percentage has increased by 1%. I haven't lost any muscle (if the scales are to be believed)

I just received my pen from medexpressn and this is how it arrived 🙁 do you think its ok? The box was perfect not bend or anything, can’t even tell if the pen is full as its clear 😔

You may still have lost a little muscle, but as your weight and amount of fat has gone down the amount of muscle has still increased as a percentage of your total weight, I've no idea what your starting weight or percentages are so this is just an example after losing 10 pounds, 8 of them being muscle and 2 being fat:

Start weight: 190 lbs
Percentage Fat: 36% (68.4 lbs)
Percentage muscle: 36% (68.4lbs)

Current weight: 180 lbs
Percentage Fat: 33.55% (60.4 lbs) 8 pounds fat loss
Percentage Muscle: 36.88% (66.4 lbs) 2 pounds muscle loss

So some muscle has been lost in this example but has still gone up as a percentage of total current body weight. It's virtually impossible to lose weight without losing SOME muscle but so long as your percentage of muscle is good for the weight you end up at it doesn't matter though and, even after some muscle loss, it can still be a much higher percentage which is good news!

It just looks like the box got squished a bit, maybe a heavy parcel got put on top of it. The pen should be fine, they are made of hard plastic but if you have any concerns just email MedExpress with the picture.

@Sabblue

I'm trying to remember if the box for mine was sealed though?

Dont worry my box was squished when it arrived but the pen was fine. They pack it all together really well so it doesn't move in transit

@lurkylurk can I please ask what scales you’re using to measure fat/muscle?

@lurkylurk thanks I emailed them straigh away, the issue is that the outer box was perfect no bends or anything, taped, then was the white plastic bag sealed, then wool and ice pack and then the box, even if smashed why its open? I don’t think it would open if you press it? Im just scared that maybe its used/empty? 🙁 but they wouldn’t do that? I don’t know, its my first order from them

@susiedaisy1912 thanks! Was yours open as well? The outer box was perfect no bends so couldn’t really be becouse of that, it had be before being packed in the box

I'm not using one that does, but for those that do, I was just trying to explain how mathematically you you can use a little muscle while losing weight but still end up with a higher percentage of muscle!

Think mine only do fat and water, not muscle.

My status on MedExpress has changed to awaiting despatch. So they must have the stock now in.

Good news for all waiting for it!