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

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

You do know, @AgathaMystery, that this is total la la land for the vast majority of people?

If someone is in such distress that they cannot continue working, then they can hopefully talk to their manager. But walk out? As a SEN teaching assistant I worked through some awful MH times, pain etc. Walking out simply wasn't an option unless an accident or similar totally incapacitated me. I'm not saying this is good, but it is the reality for most people.

Signing out of work for a fictional dental appointment, having a rest and a blow dry is unthinkable for most people. They would lose their jobs.

I have days like this around my period. It all feels overwhelming.

To centre myself I use the five senses tool. Concentrate on hearing five things, then seeing five things, touching three things etc. This helps me get grounded.

To be honest though the only thing that has helped when i am really overly anxious and have physical symptoms is beta blockers. Just taking the physical out of control sensation away helps me carry on. I appreciate it doesn't help you now, but it has been of huge help to me. I only use them couple of times a month when needed.

Another thing I have learnt is to separate out hypothetical (not happened yet and might not happen) worries from task related over whelm worries. Hypothetical can be dealt with later, task related you write them down and work out best solution and prioritise them.

That said,I hate the new work wellbeing culture where they just hammer you with websites, signposting etc which basically tells you their unrealistic expectations are ok. That is not accountability for the wellbeing of your staff. It's laying the blame with the employee. I work in public services and they are very good at this.

I used to work for the nhs and always said that their well-being talk was just that, talk. They never actually did anything to back it up. My new job, on the other hand…

Worse or better? Public services tend to hide behind workplace policies,without realising they are not actual laws 😂I'm looking to leave in the next couple of years. I have seen it all before with others who say they are struggling with workload and take time off sick - they do this weird passive aggressive fawning!

I have a child with significant needs and I'm sure that will eventually result in them pushing me out in some way as he places huge demands on my time and don't offer a huge amount of flexibility. They have the typical British trait of thinking they are much more progressive and advanced than they actually are.

@Soukmyfalafel so much better!

Well done for all the losses from the last few days 😊

My go to when overwhelmed is a walk if I can. In an office can you go and at least make a cup of tea.

Thanks for your feedback on my post. You’re right - some people would lose their jobs. Not many, as it’s quite unusual to be fired from a desk job on the spot, but some.

I used to be an NHS midwife but it broke me. I don’t think I will ever be the same again. I’ve sort of reinvented myself (I am 10 months into it) and now I have 4 jobs, it’s hard. I’m very tired, I think I cry more but it’s a different crying. If that makes sense?

It was just a snapshot of what I managed to do last week, I suppose, I was quite low and was in a situation where honestly, I compared it to doing post mortem consent for a stillborn baby and it (work last week)was worse. Truly. if I’m delving deeper, I wish I’d walked away from the NHS years earlier. Wish I’d had that ‘dentist’ appointment earlier.

Anyway.

Thanks for the feedback.

Thank you x

I am feeling much better now and having a nutritious lunch.

Agatha your job sounds extremely traumatic, nothing like that in mine, just demanding clients and IT issues. However I’m convinced my descent into eating addiction started due to difficult work times in the past and led to my now workaholic tendencies, I’m aware I don’t have healthy coping strategies for work and hoping now I am not burying my feelings in junk food I will learn some better ones

This is me! I prefer salty things nowadays

@FlappyFish I've had similar worries. I've always eventually regained with extra weight too.

My plan is to be quite strict calorie wise 6 out of 7 days a week and then have one day a week where I don't track and I can eat the little things I've been fancying during the week. There's only so many calories I can eat in a day so I'm hoping the strictness during the week will balance it out overall.

I'm also trying to cut down on ultra processed foods so making a lot of my own bits and I think this helps too. Don't get me wrong I'll still have the takeaway occasionally though.

I’ve done my fourth 5mg jab this morning and am a bit worried as I’ve got an ache down my left side. A bit like a period pain but I don’t have a period. I’m hoping it disappears - it’s not painful enough for painkillers - but I’m being all paranoid that it’s the start of a kidney or gall stone. Silly of me.

I think we now have the same job 😁

I firmly believe all jobs can have equal stresses. Honestly.

Healthy coping strategies is a huge thing isn’t it?. I’m trying to learn them too. It’s very easy to flick the kettle on and reach for a bar of chocolate.

we go again tomorrow! Injection 7 for me tonight.

Week 3 and I have went up by a pound the last few days. I’ve totally stuck to it, so just need to keep going. It’s annoying though.

Yes keep going @GingerLemonTea. That's the best thing you can do.

I am not a super loser either. Today I'll be doing my 5mg bonus dose and I've lost 13lbs. Some people have managed to lose double that with starting weights similar to me so I think my metabolism must be through the floor. (I am older than James Cracknell for those talking about his metabolism a few days ago.)

I am realising that I need to do weights and resistance training to try to up my resting metabolism. This will help both in terms of my weight / fat loss now and my future maintenance. Plus help my bones as I know I have osteopenia. Another plus is that muscle is denser than fat so I will look slimmer when I get to BMI of 25 or whenever I get my Mounjaro taken away.

So my bank holiday includes a weights session or two.

@Choux

Thanks for the discount code, signed up to Medexpress, used the code, got approved, and my 5mg is being delivered tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

However, Voy has also just sent tracking to say they are also sending tomorrow!!

Any idea how long the medication lasts in the fridge?!

What industry are you in now?

I'm having a very strange new side effect - my teeth are very sensitive. Anyone else getting this?

I'm assuming Voy have already despatched so you can't cancel it?

It lasts in the fridge for as long as the expiry date if it has not been used yet. However, the expiry date for all 5mg doses so far has been the end of June this year.

If Voy were waiting for new stock then it's possible that it will have a longer expiry date but it's been June on everyone's so far.

As you're using it straight away that may be fine as there are 9 more weeks (including the dose you take straight away, there's 8 weeks, but as you take one tomorrow there's still 8 more weeks if you see what I mean) in-between now and the end of June, but not enough weeks for you to use both the bonus doses, only one of them.

You could use the last 3 doses of the second pen to move up to 7.5mg though, have one and a half doses for the last 2 weeks?

Check the expiry dates when they arrive, if one is longer then obviously use the shorter one first.

Civil service. And yes, I’ve had super sensitive teeth too 😳

Also, from about 2-3 weeks from now, anyone ordering 5mg early (before current pen runs out) will need to check with their supplier if it's end of June expiry!

On the end of my 2.5mg so planning to take the 5th dose today. Can I clarify I'm hard twisting the pen without a needle on and then adding my needle and injecting?

My first pen has arrived from Med Express and is safely in the fridge! I'm... not exactly excited, but hopeful. And feeling like good health might be within reach is an incredible feeling even though I know I still have to put on the work. Just not starting with the expectation of failure is such an incredible thing

Can I ask how many lbs are people losing before going down a dress size?
I feel my clothes are getting baggy on me but don’t want the disappointment of trying the next size down and finding they don’t fit 😂