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

Yes, I downloaded loads from Zava. Seems to have finally moved forward now with Medexpress, so I am hoping that Zava will cancel as requested.

@ObsidianTree have you ordered from Med Express a second time yet? Do you need to supply all the evidence again and photos? I'm just wondering if it will be a ball ache again.

I hope next month it's just a quick reorder of the 10 or the 7.5 with nothing else required.

Rest assured, after the first order it's relatively quick and easy!

I meant to ask @Soukmyfalafel did med express send you another sharps
Box? I got a second one as I forgot to tell them I already had one. I doubt I will need to use it as the needles are tiny and I estimate I'll be on Mounjaro for c6-8 months so unlikely to fill the first.

Yes I got another one. I had one from Zava/Asda so won't even use it. I initially thought they didn't send needles but had. I don't even know what to do with it when finished!

I'm glad it's easier next time. I really didn't like sending them pictures with my face in, but I get why they need to verify it's you that is ordering.

I know it may be a pain, but I'm actually finding it really reassuring. Unfortunately I've been on the receiving end of medical negligence, and I think they're doing everything they can as a distance seller to ensure they're adhering to the prescribing rules. I know there will always be some imaginative idiot who manages to circumvent said rules somehow, but even if they went up in price I don't think I'd move now. It's given me more confidence he something did go wrong, they would do everything they could to be on top of it.

Yes, I completely agree, despite it being a pain for me this week.

I'm always impatient when ordering - partly due to the cost of it and anxiety about something going wrong with the order and having the stress of getting money back, and partly because if I decide I need to do something I like to just get it done. I'm probably a bit of a control freak in that respect 😊

I think if you've lost some weight on this there is always going to be some anxiety about supply issues.

Today there was a thing in our village where all the local voluntary groups have stands.
There was also a FREE cafe dripping in sandwiches and home baking.

I didn't have anything! My brain was going "Cake! I want cake" but my belly was "Nah, not hungry"

I even declined the goody bags they were trying to give me to get rid of stuff!

Result!

Well done! Free food is my absolute weakness. I can't imagine getting to a point where I decline free food! Though I was very restrained at the last work lunch. I only had one whole sandwich worth of sandwich triangles and I split things with colleagues instead of having a whole bag of crisps or a whole double twirl. That felt quite virtuous.

Well done to all the weight losses today 😊

Hey,

I have ordered a second time. It was easy the second time and no extra info needed.

7th weigh in (end of 3rd week on 5mg) and I’ve lost 4lb this week.
Total 21lb lost in 7 weeks. Feeling really good on 5mg, some issues with sulphur burps and vomiting if I eat too many carbs in the evening but appetite is suppressed and food noise still gone.

Mine arrived today and I got excited and did first injection. But then saw expiry date is 05 24. Which seems to be cutting it a bit fine! Will it be ok to end of month now I've done first dose which is still in May or have I screwed up and should have sent back? I'm not sure with just month year if it's first of month or end of month

This thread has moved so much since this morning!

Thanks for all the nice messages 😊

It is great being a few stone down since Jan. I have some size 16 jeans I need to try on to see if they fit again. I might give that a go today or tomorrow!

I am going on hol towards the end of May. So about 3.5 weeks left. When I started the year I was aiming to be in the 14s for my hol. Now that I'm here and actually getting close to my holiday I'm thinking it would be nice to get to the 13s before my hol! Not sure if it's possible! But maybe close!

Have also decided to have a break from MJ on my holiday. I will take my last jab a week before my hol then taken the 10-12 days off. I don't want to go on holiday and be unable to eat or drink much. I'm not going on a big holiday again for a few years, so want to enjoy a few drinks and a meal without feeling so stuffed full if I eat a bite more than my body wants. I will probably still be suppressed a bit while away anyway, but don't want to feel like I can't eat much at all. I will probably start back at 2.5mg when back and maybe titrate up weekly from there.

The expiry date is to the end of the month so it'll be fine. Plus there's a few batch numbers that had their expiry date extended by the MHRA. I can't remember which ones they are but @MelissaLouRocks
might.

Well done @Lunab18. Great loss 😊

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa
@greencrab the date is fine. They recently extended the end date from what's displayed.

The MHRA has now extended the use by date on some batches of 2.5mg pens, which were originally due to expire at end of May or June.

Batch number and new expiry date:

D712074 10/2024 (October '24)
D720751 02/2025 (February '25)
D720957 02/2025 (February '25)

This is currently only these three batches.

Sorry the house with green sofa! Accidentally atted you

Just a thought but would they accept the GP letters that Zava/Asda send. You can download them from your account

Thanks all, had a mini panic

I sent those. I suspect that the stuff I sent hadn't been uploaded to be reviewed. Hopefully, it's moving now and Zava accepted my cancellation, which is great.

Oh gosh a new thread! No stopping you guys. Was wondering why I wasn't getting any notifications 😂

@Thebaldprimadonna that's good, finally sorted! Definitely worth it to save £40, that's over a week's worth of medication.
@ObsidianTree I think your holiday plan sounds very sensible, that's exactly what I'd do.

Due my 7th (wow, how did that happen?!) dose today but going to take it tomorrow. Food noise/hunger hasn't returned as quickly after going up to 3.75mg last Saturday and I promised DH and the kids a Burger King tonight (I should have enough calories spare to choose almost anything) so don't want to do the shot and then not be able to enjoy mine!
Had a protein bagel with dairylea for breakfast (under 200cal) with a single Viennese biscuit thing (69cal) and then had a bowl of homemade coleslaw for lunch as I felt I needed some veg! I try to aim for 1500cal a day as that's a reasonable amount.

Being able to eat a single biscuit and not spend the next hour thinking about a second (third, etc) is quite a thing.

I've ordered a few interim bits of clothing as I really needed some tops and a pair of joggers, but gone for cheap and cheerful to tide me over. Annoyed at myself for getting rid of all my too small stuff now as I didn't expect to have lost weight before we move (August) but that was before I had even heard of MJ.