Continuing Mounjaro...part 9

[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.
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. 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.
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:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
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: 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:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5007744-mourjano-starting-soon?page=1

2nd thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5028495-continuing-murnjaropart-2?page=1

3rd thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5037623-continuing-mounjaropart-3?page=1

4th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5044316-continuing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

5th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5048290-continuing-mounjaropart-5?page=1

6th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5057916-continuing-mounjaropart-6?page=1

7th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5062935-continuing-mounjaropart-7?page=1

8th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5068850-continuing-mounjaropart-8?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out:

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

I ordered late last week

@pinktransit i still have a bruise from my jab with a Medexpress needle done 8 days ago!

Wouldn’t the bruising happen if you hit a blood vessel which could happen with any needle? I have had the occasional bruise over the nearly two years of using these types of medications but I don’t think the needle type has been a factor.

Thank you @guestusername That makes me feel a bit more confident about ordering another 5. Hopefully they come back and confirm!

Day two of my increased dose, still not feeling the usual suppression. At the moment I’m on a course of Provera to trigger a period (I have PCOS and haven’t had one since September so my GP wants me to take it) and just googled it and apparently Provera affects your insulin and sugars and reduces the effect of tirzepeptide! What an effing waste of a week of medication 😫😫

@CoolRanch healthexpress.co.uk let you order without informing your GP and also allow you to buy multiple pens at once for less.

I can totally relate to the judgy GP issues. I've had nothing but criticism and cynicism from my GP about everything weight related over the years, yet whenever went to them to ask for sign off to do a weight loss program they always refused!

Possibly, but the last 2 jabs in different places on my thigh really bruised, whereas the first 4 hadn't. The needle didn't go in as smoothly either, I hardly felt anything from the first batch, the second batch I definitely felt.
But, I will see in a day or so if there's any difference.

@tunnellights76 not tea but coffee for me and it’s practically killed it dead! I could happily get through 5-6 cups (with coffee mate 😩) in a morning and now I’m struggling with 2! I’m on my second week. Think of all those creamy calories saved!

Thank you, that great info! I’ll look at them for reordering.

I’ve just had some bog standard cheese and crackers for lunch and I had to remove the cheese as it made me feel sick. Half an hour later I still feel sick

@Feelingslightlyuneasy I just did my 5th dose of 3.75mg (45 clicks) from my 5mg pen and it worked fine. I don't think it will continue to work past the level it would get to after the 4th full dose amount, if that makes sense, but until then it seems fine.
@Soulstirring my black coffee habit has died. I'd usually drink 5+ cups a day!

act it's crazy @Soulstirring! yes to saving calories. I'm on water instead... not exactly the same! all best with week 2 :)

I got a bruise on my last abdo injection, I pulled the needle out at a slight angle and managed to snag myself with it, it bled slightly and looked a bit red, then bruised the next day. Same needles.

I brought my 5th 3.75mg injection forward to yesterday to help ease the transition to 5mg so if that's all ok over the next few days I'll go to 5mg next week.

@Eyesofmistyblue that's interesting and probably explains why the Depo-Provera injection causes weight gain.
You may find the Mounjaro helps the PCOS and triggers a period anyway.

@RunningAndSinging

Yes, if you hit a blood vessel that will do it whatever the needle and I also once took one out at a slight angle which did it but the needles I started with (the GlucoRX ones) didn’t make me bruise, the MedExress ones made me bruise every single time, bought some of the GlucoRX ones and no more bruising so pretty sure it was to do with their needles.

@Eyesofmistyblue I'm on depo provera and I'm about to take my 4th dose tomorrow and I've had great hunger suppression. Note I'm using MJ for weight loss not diabetes management.

Just wanted to suggest if anyone is looking for exercise they can do at home the YouTube workouts on the “Roberta’s Gym” channel are good. When I lost a stone last year by changing my eating to healthy whole foods I looked up on YouTube “easy no jumping no running workout” and I found that channel came up with lots. It looked kind of naff at first but I actually really love it!

It’s all computer animated and you don’t get an annoying person telling you “harder, just one more” lol. I hate that. Also you can look up “no repeats” too on there if you don’t like doing the same thing over and over. They have 15, 20, 30 min and longer options, tons of choices of types of workouts, beginner, harder etc.

It’s maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but I find them good. And if going somewhere or taking an hour or more is two daunting I always say “well I’ll just do one of those quick YouTube videos right here”. And as you go on over time they get easier and I started wanting to do longer ones. I notice a difference when I regularly do them, definitely makes me in much better shape! Hadn’t done them for a while due to unrelated hip problem, started back this week and already feeling more fit!

https://youtube.com/@robertasgym?si=oGIyUEO91BgfIjjL

I took a selfie and noticed that I can see my cheekbones again after my 29lb loss.

That is my little win for today!

There is no going back to bloated face.

I recall watching a lady on YouTube say "Whatever you do NEVER TRUST A FART" 😂

Or sharts as they say.

I think it’s more to do with the technique than the needle, I’ve had massive bruising sometimes, but that when I’m rushing, when I’m sitting calm I don’t bruise.

@CoolRanch I have also ordered with HealthExpress for similar reasons of them not contacting GP directly (I really like one GP at my practice but have had bad experiences with others, so am happy to tell that GP when I get an appointment but don’t want it sent to potentially any of the negative ones!). They’ve been really prompt and had no issues with any orders so far. Someone posted earlier on this thread about using CloudPharmacy who also don’t contact GP who look cheaper than Health Express so I’m going to try and switch to them for my next order but can’t comment on the service myself!

Thank you, that’s very helpful. I’m
going to jot these down for when I’ll hopefully be reordering in a couple weeks all going well.

Interesting. Loads of Americans use "compounded" .

https://www.reuters.com/legal/eli-lilly-reaches-settlement-with-spa-selling-mounjaro-zepbound-knockoffs-2024-05-14/

@lurkylurk i was really struggling with diarrhoea for about a month. I got advice on here at the beginning of the week about reducing dairy and it’s worked for me! Hasn’t completely fixed the problem, but I’m so much better than I was!

@CoolRanch yes I moved from Voy to Cloud Pharmacy as they don't contact your GP. The form has an option to not contact the GP. I placed an order with them on the Monday evening which was approved Tuesday morning and arrived on the Wednesday so very efficient. You just need to upload a photo (though that is also optional but they say recommended) and a photo of your last box if already on the medication.

Also good to know about health express will keep an eye on prices.

I know they say they will contact your GP, I don’t think they do.