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

When I switched to them I heard no news until it was dispatched (which happened within hours of that email you just got) but I did check the online portal and it switched to approved awaiting dispatch

@MelissaLouRocks

I have pelvic and bladder prolapse after DD2 and they offered surgery (this was in 2009), I refused it in the end as had read too many horror stories, I had no urinary incontinence and not too much other symptoms (apart from needing to wee a bit more often than others, particularly if walking around a lot).

When all the information about the problems with the mesh came to light I really felt I'd dodged a bullet, as this is probably what would have been used, they were even talking about possibly giving me a hysterectomy too, which also helped in putting me of surgery.

I'm still holding out, although it will likely get worse post-menopause (very peri at the moment) and have since discovered I have a rectocele as well, just to add to the fun.

Anyway, so sorry this happened to you, have you been able to get compensation?

Apologies for all my pretty off-topic posts about jaws and prolapses 😂, back to Mounjaro!

Just ordered from MedExpress. I’m really hoping prescription will be granted quickly and it’ll arrive Friday or Monday! I’m really ready. Email said demand is high so I might have to wait 2-3 days to be prescribed. Any recent first time orderers with MedExpress? Did it take long?

@RagzRebooted Not calorie counting, tbh I don’t actually have much of an appetite, eatting a lot less. Weight just ain’t coming off. Exercise is walking the dogs in the evening. Very disheartened

My experience was I ordered on a Thursday evening and got it on the following Tuesday.

I'm the same! I was originally on Ozempic and the weight fell off and the appetite was well suppressed. I lost three stone and looked great!
When I could no longer get hold of Ozempic I also had some tragedy in my life and the weight started to go back on. I tried Wegovy but it just made me ill and no weight loss

Now MJ and my appetite is neither suppressed nor am I really losing weight (I put 2lbs on this week!!!) no side effects either - none at all!
I am eating a lot less though as I'm trying to be aware of what goes in my mouth...not because I'm not hungry. I am starving!
I'm six weeks in and have taken my second dose of 5mg last Monday...

For £150 a month I really thought this would work

I need to order my next pen from Asda but I can only be in on Monday next week. It's not been an issue so far so I'm trying to work out of I should order tomorrow or Friday to get a Monday delivery....can anyone make an suggestions as which day would be best?

If you get home before your local post office closes you an have it redirected to there if they use Royal Mail?

No compensation, as I've been fighting severe endometriosis for years, and they put all my problems down to that. I only discovered mesh was the issue when I came across a random article in 2018. Too late to sue the surgeon and manufacturer, although many people don't get problems for years, so there's lots of us campaigning to overturn the statute of limitations on that. I needed two major surgeries to remove it, have been left with major nerve damage and nearly died I lost so much blood.

We received a public apology from Matt Hancock a few years ago, and promises of compensation, then they reneged. But there's been more parliamentary discussions because tens of thousands of us have been left crippled by it. They're proposing a fund, with interim payments hopefully starting next year. I lost everything when I had to stop work, and disability benefits are a really bad joke.

I'm glad you managed to avoid it, really wouldn't wish it on anyone! When I had it done we were told nothing, it was the "gold standard", 20 minutes and I could go back to running apparently! My second removal op became an emergency because they couldn't control my infections anymore and I had sepsis. That's why I still have to regularly go into hospital. I hate the state I'm in now, I used to be a county swimmer and triathlete, and now struggle to walk upstairs.

But thankfully I'm still here, because it's actually killed a lot more than people realise. And the bastards are talking about allowing it to be used again!

@rainbowsandinfinitesparkles

I was hoping for a Saturday ot Monday delivery so I ordered my 5mg dose from Asda last Thursday (about 6pm) and it arrived on the Saturday.

That's awful @MelissaLouRocks

Now that my 7.5mg is coming, I'm wondering about getting in epas soon as I can for the 10mg. I've not checked when it's due to come but I don't want to have to order another 7.5mg pen if at all possible (assuming I'm going to keep increasing the doses). It's annoying enough having had to buy a second 5mg pen

Thank you @Femeia 😊

@MelissaLouRocks how appalling to have this happen to you. I’m so sorry.

My news today is apart from having a very very bad day at work, I came home and tried on a dress I have always been a bit too fat for. IT FITS. With room in it. I’m overjoyed.

Thank you, I guess it just is what it is, at least my children still have me. You just have to develop a really bizarre sense of humour!

Congratulations, it must feel wonderful to fit in your dress! I can't wait to be able to (hopefully) be able to fit back in the clothes I still have stored from before my surgeries.

Sorry to read about what happened to you @MelissaLouRocks shocking how many women have been affected. I hope you get your compensation soon.

That's very kind, thank you so much. 😊

Numerous comments on my weight loss this week. Lost 26.5lb in total this year. 19.5 on MJ in 8 weeks.
It's finally looking really noticeable. Going away in Friday and the goal I set on Jan 1st was a stone loss. I've almost doubled that.

@MelissaLouRocks
That really is terrible. The lack of accountability on the whole subject has been truly awful.

I know compensation won't make up for all that's happened, but I really hope some does come your way to at least make life easier now.

If I ever do have surgery (which may become inevitable at some point with so many points of tissue failure) there's no way I'll let them use mesh, that's for sure, even if I have to go private for an alternative.

@AgathaMystery @Pigriver

Congrats to both of you, I am soooo looking forward to being able to fit into the 3 different sizes of clothes in my wardrobe (even have 3 different sizes of underwear). I put on weight over about 3 years so hadn't got rid of anything, holding out hope I could fix it.

I won't need to buy anything but it will still be like having a whole new wardrobe!

@MelissaLouRocks
p.s., if there's a petition to parliament I can sign or anything like that, do let me know.

Took my third 5mg last night and have woken up with horrific heartburn 😐

I have nexium in, so take one of them, but ouch!

I got rid of almost all my too small clothes a few months ago as we're moving in the summer. Which is annoying, but because I'm tall it takes a lot to drop a dress size, so won't be an issue for a while and I can just wear dresses over summer.
I did buy some new knickers though, because my old ones were really tatty and I thought I'd try 16s and they actually fit okay (stretchy!). I won't be a 16 in actual clothes for a while. Was 18-20 (probably more like 20).

4 weeks in, just taken my bonus dose. Got 0.75ml out of the pen. I could only get 0.5ml syringes though, so had to do it in two goes (with 2 syringes and new needles). I ordered the 1ml ages ago, with plenty of time, but the order kept saying delayed so I cancelled it on Tues, and ordered what I could. Will get 1ml for next time though, who needs 2 jabs?

I didn't think I'd lost much, been counting calories on the terribly named fatsecret site. Not quite as good as nutracheck, but a freebie, so going with that for now.

Weight and measurements after 4 weeks:

SW: 12.6.6
CW: 11.11.0
GW 10.0.0
9.6lbs off, it hasn't really felt like I've been losing much so to add it up is awesome.
Measurements:
Waist 36"
Hips 42.5"
Bust 41"
Thigh 24"

Now:
Waist 34"
Hip 40.25"
Bust 40.25"
Thigh 23"

My jeans aren't down a size yet, but they are looser than they were, so I am really happy with that.
Also just noticed writing that down that I'm a perfect hourglass - if a rather larger hourglass than I want to be!

Edited to correct website name.

@MelissaLouRocks that sounds terrible. Hope your health can improve.