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

You're in Sri lanka! I'm going there towards end of the month!

How many doses do you have left in the pen? Why do you think it's bad?

I think it's fine up to 30 days outside the fridge

@ObsidianTree

Probably because it's over 30 degrees.

Oh true!

Was there information on what heat the pens were ok in after being tested? Maybe a few thread back somewhere.

@ObsidianTree

It says in the leaflet that comes with them that they're ok out of the fridge for 30 days at room temperature not above 30 degrees:

Sorry if this has been answered… I haven’t read the whole thread… I’ve just taken 4th dose from my first pen and there is lots left in there… do I just throw away?

I went up to 3.5mgs with my bonus dose yesterday. Weight loss had stalled last week but I'm really feeling some side effects today. I had a dry tingly mouth yesterday and today I'm so so cold and struggling to eat anything.

I went to the gym this morning. I've had a small bowl of soup at lunch and tried to eat some protein and a really lovely fine cut salad this evening but I just couldn't force it down. I think I managed about 5 mouthfuls.

I don't think I'm ready to go up to 5mg next week.

How many clicks is a full dose (I can then titrate)

Sw 13st5
Cw 12st6
Gw 9st 7

This mirrors my experience. I inject on Friday nights and the suppression lasts all week. I felt a bit peckish on Thursday so I’ve titrated up to 4mg yesterday. Will see how that lasts. The bruxism, which I had a bit of relief from last week, is back with a vengence.

@youngestisapsycho the patient leaflet tells you that the pen is now finished and should be discarded. But what's left in there is over another dose so, if you want you can buy either extra pen needles or insulin syringes and use it as a bonus dose.

I used the bonus dose of my 5mg pen this morning with an insulin syringe.

It might have been me that was talking about a plateau after a certain amount of weight loss. Here is a graph. It shows a 22.5% weight loss on the maximum dose.

I did my "bonus" dose yesterday. I'm a clinician so comfortable with drawing solution from vials to inject.

Clean the top of the syringe (where the needle usually attaches) with a swab

Insert an insulin type syringe and draw out the fluid.

Turn it syringe so the needle is at the top, flick it at the top and any air bubbles to collect at the top. Squeeze the syringe up slightly so the air bubbles are out.

You should get a slightly higher dose than 0.6mls (I had 0.85)

Inject.

There are plenty of you tube videos on how to do this process.

Mine lives in salad drawer in fridge wrapped in kitchen roll, pen 3 and not been spotted by my family.
In terms of eating with family and them noticing I was dieting anyway so wouldn’t eat anything greasy or too rich.
I’m just eating sensible portion of dinner, less carbs so I’m still eating. Snacks have gone as I’m not hungry. My snacking tended to be on my own so it’s not been noticeable.

Thanks @RunningAndSinging V interesting graph. I know a lot of MJ users say to stick to a dose for as long as possible while it's still working - I guess doing this and then going up to the next dose once you plateau might help keep things moving.

@MrsLeavemealone

I believe a full dose is 60 clicks.

@MrsLeavemealone

@youngestisapsycho i just watched one of the videos here, in case it helps:

Well I'm still feeling like shit, but in better news...

I AM NOW OFFICIALLY OVERWEIGHT!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

I can't believe it, the nurses were a bit worried when they heard a shriek from the bathroom! Now exactly 184lbs and BMI 29.8 .

I haven't smiled like this in a very long time. Those of you having doubts, go for it. You won't regret it!

Congrats @MelissaLouRocks. That is great news! I know you're getting so many side benefits from this that you said losing weight would almost be a bonus now. What a good feeling it must be to have lost so much and have all of the side benefits! I think there was another poster who said today that they were now overweight rather than obese but I've forgotten their handle.
I've had a surreal day today after last night's meal out. I just wasn't interested in food all morning today, had some lentil soup, cheese & bread followed by a protein bar for lunch, went out for the afternoon & there was afternoon tea type thing on offer so I had a glass of Prosecco & a slab of lemon cake then and then, about an hour ago, I had an apple. And that's been it other than a few grapes. This is very unlike me!

Help! Lost a stone on the jabs and feel great but most noticeable of it lost from my face. My neck is shrivelled like a turkey. It looks horrific- loose skin. Is there any miracle product

I'm buying this next payday, great reviews!

www.boots.com/prai-beauty-ageless-throat-and-decolletage-night-creme-with-retinol-15ml-10310682?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Skincare&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwudexBhDKARIsAI-GWYWWR4b4mDoiuB3eefZBJp_YPG6xyAqy2rb-xoS5DVsuUeJESkZmCP4aAhnJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks for the advice and perspectives. I will probably say I'm giving up wine and white carbs for a bit and getting fitter. I have DC who are intuitive eaters and I'm conscious of not wanting to model restrictive eating to them - hopefully most of the changes will fly under the radar as no-one will notice if I don't eat much during the week.

Dermaneedling or dermarollering!

@MelissaLouRocks

YAAAY!

Is anyone on the Mounjaro/Wegovy support FB group. I was but had enough of the stupidity. Talk of reusing needles, faffing around with dosing, and throwing sharps in the household waste was the final straw. I appreciate that admin on these groups hadn’t maybe known it’d grow so big but it’s such irresponsible nonsense

@DownWithThisKindOfThing avoiding FB groups for that very reason.

I've gained so much from these threads. Very grateful for the levelheadedness and support.

I took my third 5mg shot today, brought it forward a day. A few hours after taking it I experienced huge hunger and craving pangs, really powerful. I don't know what came over me but I ate a lot of cake...it was like the self-sabotage version of me had broken to the surface!

Been a frustrating week with zero movement on the scales.

Lying in bed wide awake now and feeling crappy.

I got barred from one of the groups for calling out the admin - very politely and factually I may add - as they kept promoting non sterile needles from Amazon. I know in the privacy of their own home people will do what they want, I'd just rather they did so with sterile, safe equipment. I contribute very little over their now, as it'd more use just to pee in my best Sunday hat really! 😏 There's no helping people who aren't interested in helping themselves.