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

10mg update. Bolt website says pre-order for delivery week commencing 13/5th so next week. I think from memory places started dispatching the 7.5mg in the middle of the week they were saying they had it so by next Friday people could have 10mg pens. Not sure about other suppliers taking orders yet.

Bolt also say they expect to have 12.5mg and 15mg pens by the end of May so perhaps all strengths of pen are going to be finally released.

Well done all the 2 stone and 11 stoners!! Great work.

I’m still in the 12 stone club & haven’t hit 2stone loss yet but 11 looks increasingly doable.

Scales stayed the same today but NSV is another size 16 item sold on Vinted overnight so that’s another item I can re-buy in the correct size.

Ok since Sunday I’ve lost 6lb

SW 12.5
CW 11.13

Wow this thread moves fast, can't get over some of the amazing results, well don't everyone.

I injected for the first on Wednesday evening. Didn't feel any side effects except a metallic taste in my mouth and a bit of a sore leg.

Yesterday was so strange, I could have taken or left eating but at around 1pm I felt a bit lightheaded so had half an egg sandwich and I was full
For dinner I had spaghetti Bolognese but half my usual portion was enough, and I had an apple and some beetroot last night as a snack. 2l of water and an electrolyte drink too.

Headache this morning on day 2, tummy is fine, was able to go to the toilet ok but I do have a bit of bloat.

I do feel like something in my head has shifted though, I'm so determined that this is going to work. I want to wear the lovely summer dresses!!

I injected yesterday and woke up today feeling like I’ve got a hangover sick and headachy. It’s nothing I can’t power through but I’ll be glad when I’ve finished work.

Morning everyone. Solidarity with those with a newly wrinkled neck, I think I posted a few threads back that mine was quite keen to appear after modest weight loss. Boobs look great. Until I lean forward and suddenly they are wrinkly 😩

The posts about being able to see their, um, more "private" parts of anatomy I cannot relate. Even at my smallest years ago I couldn't look down and see where I was brandishing a razor without gymnastics being involved.

I'm now 10 stone 10, which is a milestone for me as it's 2 stone loss when I had a BMI of around 32 (lost a bit of this before starting MJ) and one stone exactly to go before that illusive healthy BMI of 24.9. It's starting to feel really possible 🤞🏼

Well done for all the losses 😊 everyone is doing well regardless of in a stall week or not.

That's interesting about the 10mg @Choux

I still have my 7.5mg pen! Starting this weekend!

I'll probably try a few months on 7.5mg before going to 10mg. I'm sure by then MedExpress will have it. I'm finding the 7.5mg I've taken with the 5mg has been working well this week. Back to great suppression and no naughty food thoughts! Wish this feeling lasted forever and not wear off! Interestingly I haven't had any side effects from the 7.5mg. Even the coldness has gone, but that could be the weather!

I don't have that issue with seeing my bits. It's one part of me I think will be eternally obese. It swelled up in pregnancy and never went down. I will always be a shorts/swim dress wearer at the beach, unless I want people covertly inspecting my neck for an Adam's apple. 😁

There are lots of great losses here today. Very encouraging given I've gone up a lb this morning.

Just started a new pen today and there’s an air bubble in it? Is it still safe? I primed four times and can’t get rid of it?

8 lb off in 2 weeks for me! Chuffed

Still BMI over 49 so long way to go.

Hi everyone! Been here since thread 1 and checked in occasionally :) I'm now week 8 and on my first 7.5mg dose.

No bad side effects, have been eating little and often with a focus on protein but not counting calories or protein intake.

SW (13th March) - 229lbs

CW - 194lbs
GW - 165lbs

So my total loss is now 35lbs.

This is truly life changing!

Braved the scales this morning and I’ve lost 2lbs in the last two weeks which I’m delighted with considering the circumstances.

Takes my total loss to 16.5lb after six weeks 🙌🏻

Did you flick the vial a few times before priming? Helps to bring the air bubble right to the top. Also, if you are injecting with the needle pointing downwards the bubble will be at the top rather than the injecting end.

Air bubbles are not as much of an issue for subcutaneous injections, it's injection into a blood vessel that would cause a real issue.

https://www.nyp.org/healthlibrary/articles/common-questions-about-giving-yourself-shots

Added the link ot the above post but won't let me remove this one.

@Wonkypictureframe thank you for the welcome a couple of days ago.
Glad the antibiotics kicked in and your kidney infection is under control. Would you mind me asking if this is a recurrent problem you have or just happened to you now while on MJ.
At the back of my mind I’m always a bit afraid of side effects.

Jab three was yesterday but weight in day is today as I moved jab forward a day. 4.5lb off this week. I weighed before bed last night and was confident i would make that extra half pound but oh well can't complain as its a great second week loss for me who usually stalls at this point. I can sense things are slowing down however and im sure the next few weeks will be closer to 1-2lb so i'm bracing myself. I might stop weighing daily now and just do fridays.

Ive also just had an email from med express who are expecting to deliver my 5mg pen today after they said monday!

@Greentrilby
@AgathaMystery

I was reading your posts and thing 'huh that's interesting about the cuticles' then looked down at mine and realised i hadn't chewed/picked at mine for days. Its so strange its like fixing this one hormonal imbalance has fixed a whole host of unusual problems for lots of us. Menopause symptoms, anxiety, pain. For me my head feels clearer and I feel more motivated and proactive but this is a symptom of keto for me too.

I'm hoping that the research in this area moves at a rapid pace now and soon we will have very cheap options and maybe things like patches or pills.

SW 14st
CW 13st 2.5
GW 10st 7

Week 1 7lb down
Week 2 4.5lb down

Total 11.5lb lost in 2 weeks.

Well done to all of you who've lost this week 🙂

Those who haven't, keep on keeping on and don't lose heart. I didn't lose anything last week and probably won't this week as I'm due on tomorrow, but I know the scales will move eventually as I'm doing the right things.

Hi @izzy2076 you mentioned you are following the MJ american maintenance group, would you mind sharing the link or the exact name please. I would love to follow too. Thanks!

@ObsidianTree that’s interesting about the research! You should be happy to know that talking about your experience will help many more that will come behind us. Let us know how it goes.

I’m now 2 weeks in, 3rd dose taken this morning so I thought I’d share an update. I’ve not had a big problem with negative side effects although once I did overindulge and suffered with the runs. I’ve seen a really decent loss so far, more than I have seen on previous attempts without. The thing I’ve realised is it really is about the diet. I still have to make the sensible choices and put in the hard work. MJ is helping me with the food noise suppression which makes my willpower much stronger. I keto, weekly weighing, meal plan and track calories as that is what works for me. My second pen is due to arrive today and I’ve stayed at 2.5. MedExpress will let me order each fortnight so I do plan to buy the 3rd pen then. Bit of a stockpile but I can’t always be home for deliveries so trying to coordinate around my schedule. I may go up to 5 on the next order but will wait and see how 2.5 continues to work. Well done to everybody on their progress.

@lurkylurk i did, I primed and flicked and tilted it all the way up and still can’t get rid. I’ve done the injection but was so busy making sure the bubble stayed at the other end of the pen, I’ve done it badly and now have a lump in my leg 🤦🏼‍♀️ thank you

I am feeling much more confident in general but now my jowls are starting to look droopy. I had some electro tightening thing last time I lost weight (with saxenda before it bloody ran out) and it made a difference so I think I'll do that again

It probably just means it was a bit closer to the surface, it will all get absorbed anyway.

@BigBessie
Tell us more about the electro tightening thing, I’m worried about my jowls too!

We are at exactly the same point! week2 weigh in was today for me as well 3rd jab done and I also keto. I'm going up to 5mg pen though so it will be really interesting to see what our different experiences are like.