Continuing Mounjaro...part 8

[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

Also there is a 5th dose in each pen. To extract it you can either try a hard twist or use an insulin needle.
https://medbasic.co.uk/bd-micro-fine-30g-1ml-syringes-needles

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
furthet 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

Thread for newbies just starting out:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/5057475-mounjaro-and-wegovy-newbies-april-2024

I forgot to say earlier, the poor chap who died, he had a stinking cold apparently, so probably couldn't discern the difference between his normal meds and the morphine. Apparently it was the only thing he had in a big bottle, so would just fumble about for it and knock it back. Sadly there are lots of long term patients like this who assume everything is as normal, and don't realise the awful mistakes that are sometimes made by prescribers. So if I could ask everyone, even the smallest mistake please flag it. I wouldn't want to think it would happen to someone we know. 😥

You're going through a tough time yet have done so brilliantly. Don't beat yourself up, but love yourself as we do. 💐

Thank you so much. This thread is ridiculously supportive ❤️

I’m also experiencing unexpected beneficial side effects. I don’t know if it’s from the drug itself or it stopping my blood sugar / hormones from going nuts. I feel a lot calmer, with less up & down emotions. I was never a particularly anxious person but I feel it has calmed my mind down? My food obsession seems to have been replaced with an internet MJ research obsession but that’s the only negative so far 🤣 the initial boost of energy / focus I feel it gave in the first two weeks has worn off but the calmness has remained. Curious if this will continue over the coming months.

@MJer I only started MJ on Monday so on my first dose of 2.5 which is why I really hope I’m not tempting fate saying how great it is!!

I was on Wegovy for 3 months, I’d got up to 1mg. It didn’t suit me from the start but I kept going as I was still on the ’therapeutic’ doses so kept hoping it would get better. I was still hungry but almost all foods gave me indigestion and reflux so I ended up mainly eating bland beige carbs and snacking on stuff like toast and crackers. Unsurprisingly I did not lose any weight..!

@ObsidianTree yes I did a good bit of googling/research before I ordered and most seemed to be in favour of MJ over Wegovy, though we’re all different so guess there will be people who tolerate Wegovy better.

This reminds me, Boots once made a mistake with a prescription I had for a short course of steroids. They didn’t give me enough tablets. The script said 21 tablets or something and the label was right, but the strips had been cut and I was about 8 short.

I popped back to explain the error and they were so so apologetic. Couldn’t stop saying sorry. I was very relaxed about it but I guess I didn’t appreciate why it was such a big deal until now.

Isn't it? 💝

@Rainbowl not everyone gets that magic feeling straight away. Sometimes it takes time to build. So don't beat yourself up. Hopefully once you build up into 5mg you will get that feeling of non interest in the bad foods etc.

I definitely struggled on 2.5mg and a few weeks into 5mg. But by the 2nd/3rd dose of 5mg it kicked in and I just didn't feel like eating bad food. It does come back sometimes tho, the cravings and wanting bad things. I can't say I have ever felt repulsed by a burger etc! Sometimes I decide that if it fits in my daily calorie amount then I will allow myself a treat now and then. I think it keeps you going and not trying to abstain all the time.

A while back I had a bad day where I ate rubbish and I felt I ate too much of it. Decided to get on the scales the next day expecting a gain, but was down a lb! So sometimes you think you're eating too much etc but maybe not as bad as you think.

Glad you are feeling more confident 😊

Thanks @ObsidianTree and as someone said upthread, it’s a marathon not a sprint! So I’m okay with it. I know it’ll work so that in itself brings confidence. I’m not going to give up. I’ve had two 5mg now so I’m hoping I’ll get back on track again soon.

Brought forward this week’s dose by one day as I am out tomorrow evening. 1st 5ml dose! Wish me luck

Going to bring my injection day one day forward for my second dose and do it on Saturday. Where’s best to inject. First one I did in my thigh and had very little hunger suppression.

also I got my first pen from my London pharmacy online. It’s expensive in comparison from what I’ve seen on here - so is it easy to swap providers?

@fucknuggetsandchips from what I gather it’s not very difficult to swap providers as long as you can send the new providers a photo of your box with name and dose showing. I started with injecting in my thigh but have now moved to the stomach area.

@fucknuggetsandchips from what I gather it’s not very difficult to swap providers as long as you can send the new providers a photo of your box with name and dose showing. I started with injecting in my thigh but have now moved to the stomach area.

I went through the menopause when I was 39 and started HRT a few years ago (MN members were SO helpful it was incredible really). Anyway, I quickly found the right HRT for me (Evorel 75 patches) & feel pretty great on them. I feel like MJ really ramps it up a notch.

My hair and skin look pretty good. I’m losing weight, I feel great. I’m even feeling mostly sane after a truly hideous couple of weeks with work. I have noticed weird things. When I am very stressed, I pick my cuticles. I’ve realised that’s stopped. I’m obviously not stress eating either. I guess I just feel more free?

no NSV today… saw two old friends that I’ve not seen in forever & neither noticed anything different about me. C’est La vie!

The morphine story is horrendous and I’m also so sorry to the poster who now has no medication after Boots gave her the wrong pen.

Injection day tomorrow.

I’m currently looking at boob jobs and skin removal. I felt more confident naked when I was bigger. My boobs have shrunk so much and are loose flaps. I’ve lost all upper volume.

Sure it will adjust a bit. Just a bit weird at present.

On the plus side I had my my Botox redone and it’s made a fantastic difference to my face with weight loss. What is they say about face or bum? Mine seems to be face improving and boobs making friends with my belly button.

@FlappyFish similar here. I’m going to have to buy new bras next week. I’ve held off for ages but needs must. Im going to need some sort of augmentation in the boob area. I can’t live with these for the next, I dunno, half century?!

Be kind to yourself, Rainbowl. I don't think there are many of us who haven't slipped up here and there. I know I have, and I haven't just suffered a bereavement. You're doing much better than you think.

@Rainbowl

I don't want to be banging on about it but I might have a slightly different perspective on this as I'm 48 and have not been overweight for long, been putting weight on for last 4 years (thanks peri-menopause and lockdowns and then giving up to some degree!) but technically only even overweight for 2-2.5 years out of 48. I am obese now, started at BMI 32.

When I was normal weight I generally ate healthily (loved vegetables and salads anyway and cooking from scratch) but regularly ate small amounts of things that were "bad", crisps, pizza, takeaways, a little chocolate. I'd have a bit until satisfied and then that was it, no further thought about it, no compulsions or inhibitions or anything else really. You know, the people I now envy!

My point is, that that's where we want to get to, generally eat healthily, occasionally not and not worry about it, like the 80/20 rule.

In the last 6-9 months I had stopped putting weight on and was maintaining at my "new weight" in a similar fashion.

I always felt that if I could just lose the extra I'd put on for whatever reason then I could return to a life of maintenance without tooo much attention (I'm not delusional though, I am expecting that because of body adaptations to a higher weight and then to losing weight that it will take some effort for a couple of years).

I just couldn't lose the extra as my body was always trying to maintain it's new weight and appetite would kick in and then I'd feel bad about it as I didn't have the "discipline" to ignore it.

On Mounjaro, I now can lose the extra as I'm not so hungry and there isn't the physical need to eat the calories to maintain the current weight, but I'm still pretty much eating what I want, just smaller portions as I'm satisfied sooner. What I want is actually generally "healthy" but not always.

As an example today I had a less "healthy" brunch as I was hungry, I had a protein bagel thin with a little butter, a poached egg and sausage (pretty unprocessed one) and a little gouda, didn't finish it and had some cantaloupe melon. That did me all day until dinner time when I had a thai stir-fry with a small amount of rice noodles, LOTS of veg, and chicken, even the smaller portion I served myself had leftovers though, then later had a glass of red wine with 2 very small slices of vintage cheddar and a couple of small Italian crackers (those crackers are the only thing that handles the heartburn side effect I mostly suffer from in the evening!)

Mostly healthy, some would consider not so, as not low fat as such, but I don't go for that, I'd rather go for less processed. We didn't evolve on low fat. I'm keeping a vague eye on calories. But I had small portions of each, enjoyed them and was satisfied.

Yes, I could lose weight quicker if I really "dieted" but really I just wanted a way to be able to eat less, so as to lose the excess and then go back to how I was before, with added portion control for a good while after losing to get over the bodies rebound effect.

That's my essay for today, but mostly, don't beat yourself up, you're doing great.

@Rainbowl

P.S., glad to have you back! 😃

I know from past weight loss, after pregnancies, that I am most definitely and in this case more so, going to have golf ball in a sock syndrome and am going to have to think about how I deal with that! 😂

@lurkylurk Mine are more like socks full of custard. I suppose I could just sling one over each shoulder.... 🤔

Over the shoulder boulder holders!

I didn't just make that up, it's a thing. Why am I still awake?

More like over the shoulder batter splatters! 🤣

No idea why you're awake, but normal for me. I don't sleep much with my condition. Ho hum.