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

I got there in the end, NextPM. The info I had sent hadn't all been uploaded, so it might be worth giving them a call to check of that is the case with you.

I moved from my requesting cancellation to my order awaiting despatch yesterday.

I’m going to change from boots to med express I think. I do still have 3 doses left of 2.5 so will be wanting to order 5mg. How soon should I order if coming from another provider?

@DownWithThisKindOfThing I ordered my 5mg from MedExpress after I'd taken my 2nd dose of 2.5mg from another supplier. My 7.5mg pen has now arrived and I've only just had my 2nd dose of 5mg so I'm well stocked. I've just timed it with payday to be honest!

@FlappyFish that's great that you are no longer thinking of numbers re weight.

I feel so much better for finally losing the baby weight - not health wise particularly, just that I feel more like myself. I think being so obese has affected my confidence and mood more than I thought it ever could.

@FlappyFish great news!

I went out with DH for his big birthday dinner last night. I was quite nervous that I might find an expensive dinner too much and cause an awkward evening but I jabbed two days early last week and found it all OK. The food was delicious, I had one small glass of wine and frankly could have had none happily but I still think I ‘should’, which I need to unpick. I was very full at the end and had none of the bread but coped. I did show a 2lb gain this morning which I know isn’t ‘real’ but I’ve stalled this week anyway. Have jabbed again today and think I’ll definitely move up to 7.5mg in a couple of weeks.

I’ve got another very posh and expensive dinner in two weeks (extremely luckily not one I’m paying for this time). I absolutely love eating food like this - it’s my hobby and a massive treat - but again am nervous about how I’ll be. As it’ll be at the end of my 5mg month hopefully it’ll be OK like last night. But after this I’m staying clear of these things until I’ve really lost a lot more weight!

Hi, just wondering if those who’ve started 7.5 have found the side effects to be better/worse or no change?

@EsotericMnemonic I hear you. I guess I just still equate no food or less food as a healthier choice. It’s not of course but I suspect it’s going to take a while for me to change years of crappy diet thinking. I struggle with what to buy so trying to stick with simple protein and salad/veg. Plus as much liquid as I can handle!
My diet was nutritionally shocking before anyway: I could live on toast, tea and biscuits.
I don’t feel confident with the proper needles so twisting would be my best bet and it’s hard to know what’s left in the pen until you count the clicks. Maybe I’ll do that if the “digestive issues” continue this week. I can’t imagine that I’ll get 60+ clicks out of the bonus amount but if I do it’ll serve as a transition dose.
Thank you for your insight.

So operation “Hide The Mounjaro From Everyone” has been a success.

Got the order delivered to the post office at the end of the road. Collected and stored in the fridge behind the potato’s in the salad drawer. Hubby is on low card so won’t be reaching for those lol.

@TheOverweightFortySomething thats hilarious! Now you have to plan the covert operation to “get Mounjaro from fridge to where I’m injecting” 😆 when the time comes.

Thanks, but only good at describing things that happened. The ADHD means I have zero imagination!

Those of you who aren't telling your DH's about Mounjaro, are you planning to say something eventually? I told mine because I wanted someone to know I was on it in case I got sick (either from this or just a random thing) so they could let the doctors know I was on it. He's been very supportive and is impressed with how well it's working. I'm not sure I could have hidden it anyway when my eating habits have changed so drastically.

Well done to everyone with losses, especially after a plateau. Always a relief when the scales start moving again.

I'm meant to inject tomorrow but I'm having a hair cut on Tuesday and I really don't want to risk the burps in the salon. I did think about doing it today instead as worst side effects seem to be the day after. But I realised I might as well just play it super safe and do it when I get back from having my hair done on Tuesday.

I toyed with keeping it from my H as although he’s a loving and supportive man he doesn’t really “get” morbid obesity and that for me with 12 stone to a healthy BMI a little eat less and move more is not going to help and it wouldn’t stop him lecturing me about that. But in the end I decided I needed to be up front and at the end of the day this is my health and I wouldn’t keep other health related stuff from him. So he’s been pretty supportive really he understands it’s not just snake oil or a miracle cure but a proper medical tool that’s been through clinical trials.

Anyway only 2 days in I’ve realised I’m an addict and get a hit from food so I’m now looking into how to address my addiction to help me keep the weight off when I come off it.

This is great news!

I have to be 8st 10, which I last saw in 1992 😅However, I do feel confident that after years of trying that I could get there this time thank to MJ.

I’m due to inject Wednesday. Hubby will be at work.
Its worked a treat so might keep the next delivery to the post office lol

Hey everyone 👋 hope you Dont mind if I hop on this thread. I'm due to take my 3rd 2.5mg dose on Wednesday. I've lost 6lbs to date 😀

I started with Voy, but they are quite expensive. Does anybody know who else doesn't share with your GP if you don’t want to? I’m too embarrassed, incase it’s another failed attempt 😳

@NextPrimeMinister I had a similar experience. It would really help if you could upload info to your account like Zava and then it notifies prescribers that it has been uploaded, rather than sitting in an inbox waiting for someone to find it. Just give them a call. It did the trick and I got it the next day once prescribed and didn't pay for next day delivery.

It seems a bit of a clunky way of doing things. I guess you do get what you pay for and they are cheaper for these reasons.

So, after gaining and losing the same 2lb for nearly four weeks, I lost 2lb this week! I also may have had a woosh last night, but that could equally be to do with me changing the batteries in the scale this morning (surely cannot have lost 3lb overnight).

For those interested in how the stall was broken, the only thing that has changed is that I started taking psyllium husk capsules, which seems to have stopped the three days of violent diarrhoea/four days of constipation that followed each injection.

Also, top tip - try your swimwear on! Took the DDs swimming today and my swimming costume was all of a sudden noticeably too large. Still look whale-like in it as I’m only 5’2’’ so will take a lot of weight loss to make me slim, but still. NSV!

Afternoon everyone - congrats everyone on not only on their losses but on any stalls or whatever. We All know that this is not an easy journey - just keeping going is hard work!!

No loss for me today - I’m 4lb up on my lowest MJ weight - I know it’s not diet because I’ve not eaten enough calories! But I know it will go.

NSV today - my husband has noticed my weight loss and is super supportive. Yesterday’s frock was truly magic it seems!!

I might do. My husband is good at keeping in shape. Has done all his life so he knows when I do eat I’m eating clean.
I have also got back into running and go out at least 4 times a week so he thinks that’s helping.
We did have a chat last summer on holiday about going on Ozempic but found it really hard to get hold off so didn’t bother.
He got me a treadmill for Christmas since January I’ve been consistent. I did lost over a stone before taking Mounjaro but this has defiantly helped with the sugar craving. That was my downfall. I was reading up about insulin resistance and think I have it.

@KeepingUndercover i’m 7 doses in and told no one in real life.
I was openly dieting for 6 months before mj - calorie counting with nutracheck, weighing food, water, steps, gym. I was 1600 cals a day. Barely lost anything.
On mj I’m going exactly same but more water as I’m thirstier and cals 1200 as I can cope in smaller portions and have ditched most snacks as I’m not hungry in same way. Lost a stone!
The actual food I’m eating is same (high protein/veg/low fat/no alcohol) so dh knows I’m dieting but not on mj.
@FlappyFish well done - massively positive to be in next stone bracket mentally. I’m 1.5 lb off mine and will share when I hit it. My bmi is 27 now. Feeling like healthy bmi is doable.

Odd question I guess? But when the parcel is out for delivery. Can they leave it in the porch if instructed? Or can they only deliver to a neighbour if you aren't in?

I've read that it needs to be kept cold and I'm concerned if it's delivered on a day I'm at work all day

I think they have to hand it to you. Don't think they will leave it on the step or with neighbour etc.

Yes! It's calculated differently for white people! I would be in the overweight range if I was white but my ethnicity makes me obese!

Has anyone had emails/texts from MedExpress telling them to order even though you've recently ordered? They keep emailing me and messaging me saying order! My account is locked from ordering anyway.

I've recently started and have signed up with Voy, if anyone would like a sign up link for 50% off your first pen (£114) I can share (I will get 50%) off aswell 😊