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

So I did my 7th jab today. My 3rd at 5mg.
Since day one I've still only lost 8lbs!
I just cannot shift from 12st 11lbs. My scales have read that for three and a half weeks now!
The week before that I was 12st 10lbs!

My SW was 13st 5lbs.
I'm just not getting any appetite suppression at all.

I was on Ozempic for six months from January to June last year and I lost 3 st. The side effects were horrible though!
I had to stop as I couldn't get Ozempic any more however I did try Wegovy which just didn't touch me!

I put on 1.5st since.

Started MJ in March but there's been no suppression, nor weirdly any side effects other than a bloated tight stomach and the shivers/cold.

I'm not drinking alcohol (I tried it once but the headache was immense) and I've upped my water.
I'm really trying not to eat much and am eating nowhere near what I normally would.

Unlike when on Ozempic though, the suppression just isn't there!

Help!!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️🤔

So are body aches all over and feeling cold actually side effects ???

I've just been reading this thread a bit and have seen this being mentioned.

I thought I was coming down with something !

I took my first 2.5 on Wednesday and was in widespread body pain and cold on Thursday and Friday. It then went away. I didn't have any gastrointestinal symptoms, which is what I expected !

I googled it and couldn't find many people reporting to have felt like I did.

@ihatecoffee I feel your pain. I have no appetite suppression and still have the 'food noise'. It's willpower that keeps me going plus knowing the cost. Also I have high blood pressure that I'm really trying to fix.
I just keep my thoughts very firmly on the fact that where I don't have a loss for weeks (eg 3 weeks with 1lb loss in total) it's better than putting on weight and any loss, no matter how small, adds up.
It's easy to get dispirited but I've also found that having ordered pens in advance, I feel that I have invested so much in this and to waste the money spent so far is something I can't justify. My doctor is very happy with my weight loss even if my BP isn't playing ball yet, and I don't want to see him again and tell him I've not lost the weight I hoped to lose.
We can keep each other motivated if you like!

I had my first 7.5mg today and have been cold, tired and struggling to shop in the supermarket as I didn’t fancy anything. Hopefully good signs. Went to Costa with DD - I didn’t order anything bad but they gave me two brownies for free - why? I then ate 1 1/2 and now feel sick. Very silly. Old habits die hard.

Yes it’s normal. I ordered before on a Friday and it was approved on the Tuesday and delivered on the Thursday

If anyone needs a link for Voy I have one, for 50% off 🙏 I’ll get 50% off too

https://joinvoy.com/r/U-8joZNPeU6e

I’ve moaned a lot recently about some of my more unpleasant side effects but have noticed some good ones too. My knees are nowhere near as noisy as they were pre-MJ, or my joints generally. My sleep is a lot better apart from one night in the early days waking up actually singing Edelwiess 🤣 I don’t want to vape as much as I was. I’m not getting the menopausal hot flushes although that’s not always a blessing when I’m freezing my tits off! I’m not as anxious and mood swingy and my thinking is a lot clearer. This stuff has done more for my menopause symptoms than HRT/my GP ever did!

Thank you sooo much!
I guess I expected the weight to fall off like it did before and I was so preparing to be thinner again for my summer holiday!

I'm not expecting 6lbs a week like some are doing....but a 1lb or 2lb a week would be perfect!!

Yes...let's keep one another motivated!!! 💉💉💉

I've had an absolutely terrible day today that I'm not sure if it's mounjaro related but at about 1pm I started getting feint feeling like I was al fluttery inside. I have struggled with water today which doesn't help and also Posibly sugar.

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa I was diagnosed with inattentive adhd last year. I'm slightly sceptical about the diagnosis because I paid privately and don't rate the company that I used...that's a whole other thread!! I definitely think my binge eating/emotional eating is caused by a need for dopamine.

I didn't binge once during my first 2 weeks and my mood in general was the most stable its been for a long time. I didn't feel like I was chasing dopamine once (I'm not medicated for the adhd). However since I ovulated I have binged. My mood has been more up and down but I think I was mostly just hungry when I did it rather than after a dopamine hit. When I have binged I've eaten nowhere near what I used to and for the first time ever I've recorded everything that I've eaten so I feel more in control.

I've come on today (few days early) and I'm due to move up to 5mg on Wednesday so I'm hoping that the stable mood and full appetite suppression returns! I've lost nearly a stone (hoping it'll be an actual stone by my 4th week weigh in on Thursday) so I've still been loosing even when I've eaten over my calorie allowance but the majority was lost in the first 2 weeks. I think my cycle is going to affect me every time so I'm going to work hard to shift as much weight as I can in the first 2 weeks of a new dose!!x

AND … 6 months ago I bought an expensive jacket that was nowhere near fitting me. I’ve just tried it on and not only does it fit, it does up and leaves room too 😀

I've just seen someone online do the 'bonus' dose with the same needle... has anyone else done that?? I'm not sure that seems safe but would be keen to know if it is ok?

I would not re use a needle they are cheap enough to buy online in the hundreds.

I have followed a girl on social media who's in a wheelchair with minimal use of one arm due to a nhs doctor reusing a needle

Medexpress have approved my 7.5 and it's arriving tomorrow. Its very good timing as my first dose of my second 5 pen has left me feeling quite hungry and appetite is back.

I'd like to use what I've got to move up to 7.5. But can't work out how!

I've got 3 x 5 and the bonus dose. Can anyone help me work it out. I think I can do 2 x 7.5 and would have a bonus left too.

How would I do the extra 2.5?

Or is it a terrible idea!

So you have 20mg left. You have 2 doses of 7.5mg and 1 of 5mg.

I took 7.5mg out of my 5mg pen. Turned to 1 for first dose then 30 clicks for the 2nd dose. I change needles for the doses.

I feel fine after doing it. It's working and feel my appetite is back to being suppressed.

It's a bad idea because you could introduce bacteria into your body. Also the needle blunts and it really bloody hurts. I believe they also caution against it because blockages can happen and you might find the dose doesn't come out.

Maybe low salt too. Electrolytes is good for this.

When I was doing keto I would drink a half a spoon of Himalayan salt and spoon of apple cider vinegar with water.

I'm ADHD and ASD, and have stopped taking my meds, I think MJ is far more effective. It's also made a huge difference to my pain and inflammation, and with my doc's agreement I've reduced my morphine this week by a third. My pain levels just haven't been able to deal with this before, so I'm fascinated at what MJ is doing in there!

I've never really been a binge eater, but am sure the bottle of red 5 nights a week was definitely dopamine related; just the thought of the stuff makes me shiver now, and my diet coke addiction has also vanished.

The weight loss is almost just a bonus at this point.

@ObsidianTree thank you.

What would you do with the bonus dose? I tend to have about 0.6 when extracted with a needle. Im not sure how much that actually it. Could I add that to my 5?

I've done this too, this week

Also new needle for both doses

I think I've seen debates about whether the doses need to be used within 30 days of starting the pen... I've still got the bonus dose from the 2.5mg pen which was opened more than 30 days ago but doesn't expire till the end of May. That would mean I could take the bonus dose from my 5mg pen alongside the 2.5mg, to move to 7.5mg. But if it's not safe I don't want to do it. Thoughts?

The 2.5mg pen has been in the fridge the whole time btw

Sounds like you've taken a dose already, so you have 10mg left including the bonus dose. So I guess you could either take 1 more 5mg dose then 2 of 7.5mg doses?

The bonus dose is maybe a bit more than 5mg, so might be 6mg ish? So maybe you can take that last?

I'm not sure. Some people say it's ok as long as it's in the fridge, some say it's not ok. So tough call! I think if the liquid is cloudy then it's bad?

How many days over the 30 days?