Continuing Mounjaro...part 7

[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. Also below you can plot the effect of your doses.
https://glp1plotter.com/

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.

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
further 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 2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169. Use code STARTNOW. Ask for other codes if that doesn't work.
• The Family Chemist 2.5mg and 5mg -£149. 7.5mg £169.
• Simple online pharmacy - £159 2.5mg £179 5mg
• Bolt pharmacy 2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189
• Asda 2.5mg and 5mg £184. 7.5mg £189
• Boots £219 +
• Chemist4U £179 +
• Superdrugs

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

6th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5057916-continuing-mounjaropart-6?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out:

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

I've been with MedExpress from the start and I've not had an issue with the needles at all, they've always sent the 5mm ones and always been fine. You do have to twist them on to the pen, not just push down if that's an issue?

Luft thanks for that I'd had forgotten that all the relevant info was on the op.

Yes I have but then I’d been having them for a week or so before MJ so not that

@FutureFeelsBleak I've been having mad dreams from the start. Mostly just odd but some quite scary.

Hey, try MedExpress

Codes: MED20P
or STARTNOW

Think it's either 20% or 15% off

Good luck

Not got a chance to read all messages now. Will catch up later.

But @BlackFriYay wanted to say, sorry you're having a tough time. I agree with daily weighing. I assume you have made your weigh day Monday, maybe Monday might be a bad day to weight as after the weekend sometimes I feel I am a few lbs up from the previous few days. Generally due to me eating a bit more than usual, because it's weekend etc. Hopefully with daily weighing you will see some losses etc.

But keep doing what you're doing. That woosh will happen eventually

I'm definitely having weird dreams. They decreased as I got to week 4 on 2.5mg but came back with 5mg.

The other night I dreamed that my husband threw a plate at me and normally I don't remember dreams at all.

@ihatecoffee that's good to know, and great that they replaced the pen. It could well be a faulty pen. I'll see how the next one goes.

@KeepingUndercover I'm definitely screwing it on, but maybe I slightly threaded it. Going to be very precise and careful on my next jab.

Think a 5mm idea needle would certainly make your eyes water😂

Did the plate have food on it?😂

Re needles...I had 4mm from Bolt and they were fine. I bought my own identical ones from Amazon to do the bonus dose. Also fine. My MedExpress 5mg came with 5mm needles and they have bruised me! Think I'll use my 4mm ones from now on...it's definitely the needle. First 5mg jab I wasn't sure had gone in then accidentally scratched myself next to the jab so had a bruise and blood! 2nd 5mg into belly not thigh and still bruised despite being super fleshy.

And crazy dreams? Yep! I slept amazingly but had vivid dreams on 2.5mg, but on 5mg I have disturbed sleep, waking multiple times a night and lots of dreams but less crazy.

It's funny you've said that, I've only had huge red marks at injection site since using my MedExpress pen. I'm due jab 4 of my 5mg tomorrow and I will also use one of my backup needles I ordered as I had to problems when I last used one, or when I used the needles with my first pen from Bolt.

Yes my 5mg from Voy expires end of June

That's interesting about med express needles. I noticed that the plunger wouldn't go down easily first time I used the pen. Thought I might need to report the pen to medexpress, but the next time using it, it was fine. I think I used an Asda needle on the second time. So maybe the medexpess needles are dodgy then.

I might buy a pack of 100 needles at some point.

These are the 5mm needles that MedExpress sent me. I haven't used them yet as still finishing my 5mg pen. Are they the ones people are having problems with?

I don't have any other needles left but do have syringes from taking a bonus dose so one way or another I will get that Mounjaro out!

They look familiar @Choux

For those who mentioned it earlier, here's the whoosh effect again.

And these are the ones Bolt sent me which I have used up until now with zero issues in terms of the pen being stiff, the injection hurting or my skin bruising.

This is them @Choux

https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/shop/products/glucorx-carepoint-pen-needles-32g-4mm-0150489

I thought it was these ones as they say FinePoint. Although whether that makes a difference who knows. Perhaps Gluco rx needles are just better suited to the pen.

https://www.chemist-4-u.com/glucorx-finepoint-needles-4mm-31g-pack-of-100?gl=11hkw8y0y0upMQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzbq4-6jnhQMVtZVQBh03LQZPEAQYASABEgKlCPD_BwE

The ones I quoted are actually the "Ultra" which are finer than the Fine Point.

The number relates to the needle thickness, the higher the number, the finer the needle. So a 32 is actually finer than a 31.

I needed some extras so I've ordered some 4mm and will be interested to see if I do notice a difference.

I have ordered from the family chemist for my 5mg pen, can't justify the cost at boots. You can buy swabs and 100 pack of needles from family chemist which I liked, other places it just wasn't clear what comes with the 5mg pen. Hopefully it gets approved though.

Interesting about the needles from MedExpress. The ones they sent with my 2.5mg pen were absolutely fine but the ones they sent with my 5mg pen were different and I reached for the CarePoint ones I bought from Chemist4U instead.

I also noticed the alcohol swabs MedExpress sent me are the same ones I bought on Amazon…