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

Im still on the lowest dose and only on week 5 but have found so far that injecting in my stomach works best for appetite suppression. The week I did it in my thigh I was hungry all week.

So my appetite suppression lasted from about 8.30 pm last night until about 3am when I woke up really hungry and then was kept awake by the thunder & lightning!
A PT session this morning followed by ham & poached eggs on toast and I am hungry. And weeing a lot as usual have had over a litre & half of water already in an attempt to feel full!

Medexpress have sent me complimentary needles when I emailed them. They should arrive today. Not sure how many I will receive.

I didn't notice any difference when I injected in my stomach compared to thigh.

Fingers crossed I think this 4th 5mg dose is the one where my body has adjusted more. So far I don't have the side effects I had the last few weeks. No burps. No feeling sick or exhausted.

Is this your first dose? It needs to build up in your system.

For those who have extracted the 'bonus' dose from a 5mg pen - how much have you gone for? I don't think I fancy a 10mg double dose!

I'm just using mine as a dose by itself, get an extra week out of it.

Hi All

I've had a lovely celebration weekend away and been away with work too the last few days. Was apprehensive about stepping on the scales this morning - only gained 0.5kg and am still under 92kg (my first goal) so I'll take that as a win!
My face is looking slimmer which is lovely, I feel like I look like the much younger me again despite the great hair and wrinkles. Hopefully I will shift that 0.5kg over the next few days, will start my second 5mg pen on Friday.

I did mine in my thigh for my first week, was planning that for doses 2 and 3, then stomach for 4, then back to thigh for 5 mg until I’m more used to it.

Working well for me still jabbing again tonight and although the desire to eat crap is starting to creep in it’s manageable

I've moved a day earlier and a day later and it's been no issue.

@BlackFriYay I tried the back of my arm once and I felt I had no suppression that week at all! Won't be doing that again!

I did my first dose in my belly and had some horrible side effects but I’m not sure if that was because of the injection or site. I’ve done it into my thigh since and it’s been much better. I’m going to carry on with my thigh. Bonus dose this evening 🤞

I’m going to bring mine forward a day each week between now and my holiday in a few weeks. Still trying to decide whether I want to do a 1.25mg maintenance dose while I’m away

Mostly that I’m worried about side effects while I’m on holiday but also that I want to be able to eat and enjoy the food while I’m there. What do you suggest about spacing doses because that’s not something I’d thought of doing

to be honest, I find this thinking troubling. Surely the approach should be to alter eating habits consistently. That means eating in moderation at all times, and learning to enjoy holidays but still eating moderately. The kind of " oh, I am on holiday, so I will pig out", to my mind is part of a dis-ordered way of eating. Should we not be learning how to enjoy life holistically? And take dis-ordered eating off the table entirely?

Is anyone on the 7.5 dose? I'm moving up next week. My weightloss so far has been very slow and involved a lot of willpower, so I'm hoping this will give me a boost. Having lost no weight but all the side effects going on Wegovy it's been a great move to Mounjaro for me so far.

It feels like such a waste doesn't it?

For the first time in 6-7 weeks I've really had to stop myself thinking "sod it" and going to Greggs or McDonald's as I pass them.

I've bargained with myself that if I don't cave and do that, I'll reward myself with a couple of slices of garlic bread lathered in lurpak garlic butter later on with my dinner as a little treat.

I think I'm going to have to take my next injection a day or two early.

I agree that stopping a dose to enjoy food on holiday is potentially dangerous. It would be for me, and that’s what I’m basing this post on.

I could choose to eat more on MJ than I am. I choose not to, because suppression is there and it makes me feel unwell.

If I was to stop a dose for a week I order to “enjoy” the food there I’m not sure I would enjoy it. I’d be thinking well, I will gain and I’m undoing all the work I am putting in to train my body to have more normalised patterns.

For me, it seems a way to continue disordered eating. Take MJ. Good. Don’t. Eat whatever and manage it later. It’s no different to the “on a diet, can’t have this” and then binging and feeling guilt and shame and then having the eff it moment. Then trying to get back on track whilst feeling despondent that “nothing works.”

I can eat whatever I want on MJ. I just don’t want to as it’s a tool.

Again, just my opinion and I’ve said all along the psychology behind this is the hardest part.

Agree with taking as normal on holiday. I'm taking a pen with one dose in and will be having that on injection day. I don't want to take a whole new pen away so my next injection will be a day late but hoping that won't affect me too much.

Means I'll be injecting on holiday- on my birthday no less 🤪 we're on all inclusive and not normally too but needs must!

Apologies if this has already been mentioned as I have only skim read the whole thread. I started last Friday and luckily no side effects apart from a slight headache on the first day. I have noticed however that I am really cold all the time. My hive says it's 19.5 in my house but I am in a jumper and still freezing. Is that a thing??