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

Your GP will 100% repeat it for you.
They get paid for every single HbA1c blood test they perform!

I'm 53 on HRT and have no gallbladder. On week 6 of taking MJ and have had no issues. I do stick to mostly protein and veg though. Haven't had a take away or much dairy since I started it. I had some double cream once and some hollandaise sauce another occasion and both times I ended up on the toilet. So I stick to low fat high protein foods and drink plenty of water and I'm been fine.

Hey, I’m a bit behind on this thread but I had the same issue-medexpress told me it was time to re order but I ordered early so still had 3 doses left. I ended up re ordering the 5mg again, but be aware that the expiry date for the 5mg is the end of June

@MelissaLouRocks aren't scales funny things? Your weight hasn't changed yet clearly your body has. I can see a clear change in the shape of my stomach and yet the scales are being stubborn! That's why this thread, particularly those before & after photos @NCfor24, is so helpful. That's an amazing change, NC!
I have no idea why I had the blues yesterday morning. I had a chilled hour on the sofa and then had a productive day sorting various things out. Not that the list of stuff to sort ever seems to get any shorter!

@Beyondbeliefsometimes I'm sure they will want to repeat it. Generally, as long as your last test wasn't less than a month ago, they're happy to check again. Especially when the result can be so important for your health. Don't be afraid to ask before you shell out for a private one.

Morning all… for any reading the Johann Harri book - a caveat: he was sacked from his high profile journalist job (the Independent) for inventing quotes (lying) and plagiarism.He’s known to have altered people’s Wikipedia pages as well. read his splash piece in the Times last week & was curious, but now having read the review in the Times I am cautious. The reviewer rightly calls out why so many of his anecdotes are uncredited and has fact checked his claims about various things (not least his famous KFC anecdote) & he’s used it several times over the years in different guises. I think the man May be a fantasist and his publisher clearly doesn’t care.

Anywayyyyyy NSV saw a friend last night who told me I was ‘looking trim’ hum.

Amazing! Well done. Like you I’m short 5,3 and a stone makes such a difference but also seems to take longer 🙄

@ObsidianTree thank you for sharing the link, that was exactly what I needed to hear.

She's great, talks a lot of sense and has some great advice. I've gone down a rabbit hole watching her videos.

Weighed in and have stayed the same which is disappointing as I’ve had a really good week. However, I’ve also not been to the loo for a couple of days that’s not helping.

just taken doses 4 of 2.5mg. Have bonus dose for next week and 5mg on order.

SW 11.1
CW 10.7
GW 1 by end of May 10 stone (looking difficult now)
GW 2 9.7
GW ideal 8.13

Haven’t been in the 8s since 2016. Haven’t been 9.7 since 2019.

I feel ill today. Was at a wedding yesterday. Didn't eat much but really feel the sweet, sickly non-alcoholic drinks I had yesterday.

Had an interesting chat with someone who is developing drugs like Mounjaro and it was fascinating to hear the science behind it.

Good to hear about people's losses. Also remember, it's a marathon not a race!

Just checking in

week 1 done

no symptoms for first few days. Was tracking. I work shifts so hard to tell what’s normal for me as my body is so out of wack from working nights etc

SW 12.5
CW 12.0
GW 10.7

loss to date in week one - 5lb

have just taken second dose 2.5

Ah yes good point! I hadn’t even thought of that! I might just order the 7.5 and if the 5 is too much I can always count the clicks and just take 5mg from my 7.5mg pen

@Ghilliedu you can also leave it a bit before ordering. MedExpress want me to reorder and I'm just going to ignore them for a bit. I feel like they've started offering me the chance to reorder earlier than they used to. I ordered on the 26 April and they've already said I can order again. I'm planning to leave it until closer to 4 weeks from my last order.

Ooo that's interesting. Just finished the book. It's good and obvs took it with a pinch of salt as a lot of it is personal experience and opinion. But some of the scientific and medical interviews were really interesting and apparently you can listen to them on his website so assume he hasn't missquoted them. I actually found his experience interesting to read as I haven't heard anyone talking about it in quite so much detail. There's a lot about doing the emotional work to untangle food from feelings which I really resonated with.

Given what you said it puts a different spin on it but I still think it was an interesting read.

@AgathaMystery it also got a bad write up in The Guardian too 😬went off to do some digging! Shame.

Congrats on the NSV! Lovely when people start to notice

He’s still an interesting character though! I wish he was less fantasist because he sure can write.

I’m sorry you’re feeling down. I read that MJ can cause low mood so perhaps it’s a whole combination of things! I too have an under active thyroid and although my levels are fine I know as you age and enter peri menopause you might need an adjustment (sorry don’t know how old you are).

cant really offer advice re weight loss, but I had 2 back to back trips away, one in UK, one in Spain and came back having gained 3 pounds and it’s taken all week to take off and being exactly where I was 2 weeks ago so I feel your pain! This week I plan to be on it, food, water, exercise, walking!

It’s also absolutely ok to have a couple of days on the sofa watching Netflix or whatever if that’s how you feel. However, as a kick up the bum, if you want one, try and get outside this week and move your body, pain allowing xx

@KeepingUndercover Yes they used to lock it for 3 weeks after ordering, now it seems to be 2weeks. I am hanging on till the last minute to see if they get 10mg in .

Just taken my first 7.5mg. Feeling nervous as 5mg made me feel terrible for the first 3 weeks. Couldn't even brush my teeth without heaving and had serious food aversion. My losses seemed to slow right down too, until this last week. Maybe because I was able to eat more and had more energy?

I'm 22lbs down overall though which I am super pleased with! And able to fit in jeans I haven't worn since lockdown started!

Well done to everyone for their losses and NSVs. This thread keeps me going when I feel like giving up 😊

Awful upset stomach this morning, I'm not sure if it's jab related or the HelloFresh chicken we had last night as I had similar Thursday morning after having it the night before as well.
Bit of a headache as well, but not as bad as last weekend's migraine, yet. I have taken some painkillers and having a lazy afternoon.
Managed most of a slice of toast and peanut butter and had a CBD drink.

Anyway, I'm glad I didn't decide to up my dosage yesterday, as I had been considering it. I'll see how this week goes and either continue taking 3.75mg or move up to 5mg depending on side effects.
My 7.5mg is here now, but I don't think I'll be going that high for a while! I'm going to build up quite a backlog if I'm not careful. I can't leave it too long between orders, I think someone said 6 weeks?

I did think about this but I also kind of want to always have a few weeks in reserve just in case I ever reach a healthy bmi and they cut me off! Not that it’ll be happening any time soon! I do just need to keep an eye on expiry dates.

think I’ll do my first 5mg jab, see how I feel, and then order my next

@MelissaLouRocks just checking in to see how you’re feeling today?

My Husband all weekend -

Why don't you want some crisps
Why do you only want 1 egg
Why are you full up after 3 mouthfuls
Why don't you want wine

🤔🤷🏼‍♀️🤣

How are you feeling @MelissaLouRocks ?

I had a period of low mood a few weeks ago. Probably not as severe as yours. It did pass, and I put it down to a hormones and MJ cocktail.

I can’t comment on whether the morphine reduction is contributing but it sounds likely. Either way, just be kind to yourself and keep talking.

We are all here for you 💐

I actually vaguely knew Johann Hari at Uni 20 years ago - he was a really slippery, narcissistic, toxic little shit, avoided by everyone.

After all the sacking and disgrace it's mad that he's gone back to the drawing board and written ANOTHER book with anonymous sources and unverifiable anecdata...

Not to say that it might not be helpful in some ways! But the rumour was always (even back then) that he's got mega-rich parents who are constantly paying people to give him YET another chance to fail upwards... So just on principle I won't be reading anything he writes.

On other topics - day 10 of my MJ journey! Still feeling good and have good suppression.

@MelissaLouRocks sending you good vibes - but there's zero shame in having a duvet week IMHO! Be kind to yourself, you're doing great in tough circumstances, we're here for you