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

Hey ladies - congrats to everyone on their losses today, maintains & NSV.

NSV - I went into work today and immediately a colleague said ‘oh my god. You have lost a LOT of weight!’ I said yes I have, thank you so much! None of my other colleagues noticed! Ah well. My uniform is too big. That’s so strange to me.

I’ve got a lack of suppression today on my 4mg so I’m going to go up to 5mg tomorrow (injection day).

They definitely do contact your gp as someone on here saw the letter on their medical records and I also got told by med express that my gp didn't know who I was as I'd accidentally selected the wrong surgery.

There's definitely a letter from MedExpress in my NHS app. And on my consultations page my two prescriptions so far seem to be recorded as me being seen at a diabetes clinic. It completely threw me until I looked at the dates of them.

My GP hasn't contacted me about it though, so it's no big deal.

My usual pharmacy has no supply of 5mg. Any ideas where I can go to get my prescription filled? Thanks

What’s the hard twist for the 5th dose please?

Literally that!!!

@CormorantStrikesBack

The pen has a "stop" on it to prevent it being twisted out again after the 4th dose. But if you grip it tightly and twist hard you can get past the stop and twist it out to take the amount remaining in the pen which is usually a full dose, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less (so it won't quite twist out to 1) depending on how much priming has been done.

Sorry, I mean do I just twist it to 1 again, or do I need to twist it further?

Xpost. Thanks.

@lurkylurk I’ve suffered with diarrhoea from about three weeks into starting MJ. Currently having 1 x rehydration sachet daily to keep salts/sugars up, going heavy on the Imodium and using co-codamol to bung things up entirely if it’s affecting work (teacher, can’t go to the loo except at lunchtime).

Good luck!

I keep hearing about compound from American tiktok and I'm still none the wiser after reading that! Are they always dodgy then or can it be a legit version of the drug

Phew, it's taken me hours but finally caught up on the thread.

I slunk off for a couple of days as on Monday I had a serious diet set back, or at least tried to. I ate a two chocolate bars and a big slice of cheese cake and I'm supposed to be keto!! I know exactly what triggered it as it happens every time I diet. I lose 6-10lb in the first couple of weeks and as soon as the loss stops my brain goes 'what the hell' and comes up with any excuse to fall off the wagon. The difference this time is that mj seems to have tied me to the wagon and dragged me along behind it.

I stopped eating the cheesecake mid slice and physically couldn't eat anything for the rest of the day.

I've been trying to reframe week 3 as 'catch up' week. I've lost 11.5lb already and my body needs time to process the difference. My 3rd weigh in I'd tomorrow and I'm expecting to stay the same and I intend to be grateful about it!

I experiment with my pen and discovered I have nearly a whole bonus dose left after my fourth jab. I used up the last 'real' clicks yesterday which was about 10% more so about a 2.75 dose. Next week I will do my bonus dose plus a quarter dose of my 5mg pen to get 3.75. will probably do a second 3.75 after that before doing the 3 remaining 5mg doses (as I like round numbers).

Anyone else having stiff joint the day after jabs?

Evening all. Well done on the losses so far. This morning I was 1oz away from the next stone bracket down lol. Maybe tomorrow 🤔

Does anyone know why some companies let you order if you’ve had a gastric bypass and some don’t? Anyone got any thoughts/data about using MJ after a GBP?

@QuiltedHippo No idea. But it's really bad that they are selling them under the Lilley branding.

So will be moving to my 5 mg pen next week and planning to split it into 5 doses so

2.5
3.75
3.75
5
5

so I have a couple of qs please

I I tried counting the clicks for my full dose tonight and I am sure it seemed more than 60 to get from 0 to 1. So now I am worried if I do 30 it will be less than 2.5. Did I just miscount maybe?

Also will I be able to get all these 5 doses out of the pen and it won’t just stop working as it did tonight after I had taken the last dose?

Also - does anyone know what expiry is on MedExpress 5 mg pens just now? Thinking of ordering another one to build a wee stock but don’t want to get another one with June expiry

I think you’d have to be very careful using these drugs post bariatric surgery.

There is a lot of data about malabsorption post surgery & in particular chronic B12 deficiency. I would imagine you’d need to work very carefully with a dietician and an endocrinologist perhaps.

I’d also question why you’d want/need MJ post op. I mean I know why you’d need or want it but it would indicate a lack of engagement in the post op process which would also be a concern.

lots to think about.

@DownWithThisKindOfThing

When I counted it was 61 or 62 so maybe you miscounted?

The pen will keep working until you've met the total of 4 x 5mg doses, even if you do it in 5 doses, someone else confirmed this earlier on the thread as they had had the same concern but it worked fine.

Because of the high prices in the US if people can't get a prescription on their medical plans a lot of people turn to compounded drugs as they're cheaper.

The companies making compounded drugs have the formula and they can create a copy (a bit like using Valspar paint at B&Q to mix a Farrow & Ball colour). I think they have to add additional drugs like B6 or B12 so that it essentially becomes a different drug to the original formula.

I believe if there are shortages drug companies legally have to allow compounding to happen but just like paint mixing you can't sell it using a trademarked name.

It does open up huge problems and issues surrounding safety and regulation though. It gets harder to tell what has been produced safely and what hasn't.

My advice to anyone seeking out compounded drugs in the U.K. would be to avoid like the plague. There are so many dodgy replicas floating around. Your health is not worth the risk.

Week 3 of 5 (so week 7 of MJ) and I feel so sick. I have however lost around 9 pounds. I am finally in the 14 stone range. All good. I am such a believer in this medication but I do feel so ill.

My sciatica has disappeared after 4 weeks. I want to start running again. I feel like myself in my body. I just need to work out how to stop feeling nauseous.

@lurkylurkhey it won't let me remove this tag! 😁

Hi Everyone! I've been reading these threads for a while now and finally bit the bullet and took my first dose yesterday. Feeling okay this morning, so no major side effects! However, I'm having a little freak out about the risks with thyroid cancer this morning... my dad had cancer around 10 years ago in his neck and it's just occurred to me that this could have been thyroid and that might be a risk I should be considering 🤦🏼‍♀️ Unfortunately he passed away a couple of years ago (due to a second and different diagnosis of cancer) so I can't ask him. I'm wondering if I am better to stop now to avoid the risk? Or would the doctors give me any information if I asked? It looks like they are only worried about a certain hereditary type of thyroid cancer (which I like to think he would have told us about... but as you can see communication wasn't our strong point), which is the more rare type, but I am wondering if I am clutching at straws to be able to continue...

Weekly weigh and I've gained 2lbs this week. Gah!
It's ovulation week and the same thing happened last month. Annoying but it surely can't be fat as 5mg is working crazy well and I've been under calories every day.

7 weeks
SW: 263.6
CW: 247.6

Total lost 16lbs. (Was 18 last week. Grrr)

Oh well, onwards and downwards!

Have attached the little graph from the scales if anyone is interested in overall progress.

@KW1987 there's been no link between mounjaro and thyroid cancer in humans. There was a link in rats, but rats have a glp1 receptor on their thyroid, whereas humans do not.