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

@Nooneknowsbutme MedExpress 5mg is £149 but these codes may give you a discount as a new customer if you decide to order from them.

CONSULT-BLOOM
STARTNOW

I wonder if Voy are awaiting new stock which has been delayed. Can you contact them this morning to say you need it to be sent today or you will need to try to source it elsewhere as you have run out.

@Choux i do, but I don't have any needles?
Thinking I could get some from Amazon for delivery tomorrow....

Could you go to a pharmacy for either the pen needles or insulin syringes?

I used a syringe for mine bought from Amazon - make sure it's listed as sterile. If you are going to take each bonus you will need some anyway.

I asked in a pharmacy a couple of weeks ago and was told that I couldn’t get insulin needles without a prescription

Oh I didn't know you needed a prescription. I got mine from Amazon.

Weigh in day today. I was working away for 3 days this week and didn't really have access to healthy food as was rushing everywhere. I ate at Nando's, 2 x McDonald's, Leon and chipotle. All of the meals were better than the choices I would have made pre MJ. While away I put on 8oz.

I found it strange that while I was away I wasn't as hungry as usual and had no treats. I got home late last night and ate a huge egg fried rice with stir fry chicken that DP made and then went a bit mad for crisps and chocolate 😕

Starting weight 15st 11lb 8oz
Last week's weight 13st 5lb 5oz
Current weight 13st 3lb 8oz

It's my DP's birthday today and I've just realised that it never occurred to me to get him a birthday cake seeing as haven't eaten cake since starting MJ.

Re. chocolate, just out of curiosity, anyone here peri-menopausal who has gone off chocolate, desserts etc.?

I used to have a bit of a sweet tooth, didn’t take much to satisfy it, a few pieces of chocolate or a dessert every now and again but it was there.

in the last year or so I’ve gone off it and now hardly ever have chocolate as I just don’t fancy it, rarely eat any desserts too, even if offered/others are, as just don’t want it. This was all pre-MJ.

The only sweet thing I still like are jelly sweets (like Haribo etc. though prefer the ones from Lidl!), though only have a few and not often.

My older sister (2 years older) is exactly the same, gone off chocolate or desserts but likes jellies!

Not true! They simply might not sell them - but they are not prescription only. if you mean 1ml syringes, most pharmacies won’t OTC them as they are ever so hand for heroin use you see. Pen needles you can get anywhere.

kind of me. I can eat a bit of dark choc but not anything like a choc bar or jellies or Haribo. I had one jelly baby yesterday. Jesus it tasted like shit. I wondered if it was menopause too.

@AgathaMystery

Thank, it does seem coincidental with the hormone changes so I was curious if others have had same.

Any cravings I have now are for savoury things, I don’t think I know anyone else that has cravings for Parma ham!

@Choux @guestusername @Nooneknowsbutme
syringes and needles aren’t prescription only but pharmacies may be cautious or have an internal policy that you need a prescription for obvious reasons! If they have insulin pen needles they will happily sell you this though so could @Nooneknowsbutme use those and the hard twist method to get the last dose?

I did mine the other day and it actually was quite easy to get the pen to twist past the stop point.

Did you inject in the same area you previously have? The reason I ask is because I switched to my arm for my last injection (for the first time) and I've felt exactly the same as you all week, ravenous. Obsidian had the same problem.

Different injection points do make a big difference in my experience.

I've always alternated different sides of my stomach - may have to try my thigh next week x

First weigh in - 4 lb off

pleased with that

I'm not a big tea drinker, but I have noticed my 'essential' morning coffee is no longer essential and if I do have it, I am leaving half.

@DownWithThisKindOfThing

Yay! Glad you’re doing well

Me too. I have a nespresso machine and I’m now having to resent the buttons on it (that I’ve customised to the sizes I want for 10yrs) to my smallest mug. I just can’t face it.

4th Jag, 7th full week. 22lb down .
I am ( just) into the 150s and 9.8lb away from BMI 25 target!

If I hit the 150lb target, in the last 2 years I will have lost a total 71lbs😳. How did I even walk about?

( First 20lb not sure how, 25lb on 4 Ozempic pens last year and so far currently 2 MJ pens....7. 5 pen getting started next week)

That's incredible, well done

Thank you

Does anyone have any recommendations on learning to cope with stress without eating our feelings? I am having a stressful day and crying at my desk. I feel like I dont know what to do without burying my feelings in food!

If you can, go for a walk, listen to music.

If you can't leave your desk, focus on your breathing and close your eyes. Keep taking slow deep breaths and counting to 5 as you do it.

If you are stressed because you are too overwhelmed with activities, write them down in a bulleted list and prioritise them as much as you can. Block off time in your calendar for these activities so you know you will have time to see to them next week.

Are you at home or a work?

this was me (very badly) last week. First - even though the work was overwhelming, I did a few fire fighting tasks to make the immediate problem bearable.

then I booked my calendar out with a ‘dentist’ for 90 mins. Then I went upstairs and had a very hot shower. Then I got out and laid on the bed for a good 20 mins. No phone, no room scrolling. Just a much loved audio book on.

Then I blow dried my hair, got re-dressed, make up on, made a coffee and scrambled egg on toast and got back to it. I cried 4 more times that afternoon.

if you’re at work in an office/ward/factory, put your coat on, go home and do the above.

I am working from home