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 am a little bit worried. My dizzy brain can't remember what week I am on. So I'm not sure if next week is my week 4(I think it is) or if it's my week 3. I don't want to reorder too soon and don't like the idea of forcing doses.

I also wondered if anyone could suggest a Chinese dish that won't make me feel too ill? I do have to have a Chinese. So not having it isn't an option.

Thanks.

How about some fairly plain chow mein? Not if you’re low carbing of course, but if not, it’s quite plain and easier to stomach. Ditto rice. (Basically blander carbs!)

Absolutely no effect so far from my 7.5mg this morning. And I easily ate lunch.

Has anything in particular been making you feel ill since you started? I would personally avoid anything deep fried.

I’ve had a couple of chicken chow meins since I started seven weeks ago and I’ve not had any problems but I’ll caveat by saying that I’ve not really had problems with any foods or side effects at all.

I meant to say, you can tell what week you’re on by looking at your pen. There are lines marked on there for each weekly dose.

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'll be ok and should be finished by the time we arrive hopefully.

So second week of my second month on 7.5. It was a challenging week, because I was on business travel in Sweden and EVERWHERE I went there was a tray of cinnamon buns. And lots of other pastries and sweets, and food that I have always loved.

However, I managed to eat very much on target, with calories around 1,200 to 1,400. I stuck mainly to sparkling water and a glass of Prosecco in the evening, which I did not manage to finish. I took my pen with me and did my jab Thursday morning rather than Thursday evening when I got home.

I had a small slice of Princess Cake, but the cream was too rich and I did not finish it. Oh, and I did not poop at all on the trip, which is unusual for me, but I decided to go with it, as it is part of the way MJ works.

Got home, WI day (and poo) yesterday and I am down 2.0 pounds for the week, and down by 27.6 since Jan. Also, I am now no longer obese, just overweight.

@GlueNoGlue were they special swimming period pants? I have some period pants as back up to my cup, but I think I'd like to get them for my daughter for swimming and as a back up for me as I'm not always confident with the cup. Thanks x

@spamm well done on resisting the pastries! And congrats on being just overweight now...that's a decent milestone to achieve.

Thanks @NCfor24 - I am still struggling to believe it, because I don't think I have been this weight for more than 20 years.

@Baldatbirth - when I have had Chinese on MJ, I have ordered steamed veg and chicken and stir fried veg. Our local places have a healthy option, maybe you have something like that? Otherwise, chicken and broccoli is always a pretty good option - usually the sauce is not too rich.

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa

I don't have PCOS, so I don't even have a logical reason for my slow loss! 😂

Although I am perimenopausal and have been for about 2-3 years so I think that's got something to do with it.

I'm finding the appetite suppressant really weird. I was at a conference this morning, got the free coffee and packet of two biscuits, and never ate the biscuits even though they were on the table in front of me. Usually I would eat them and then wonder if anybody would notice if I got a second packet - I feel quite liberated.

My first dose was on Monday and really the only symptom I've had has been slight heartburn.

(I posted this on the wrong thread but don't know how to delete!)

Thanks for all your answers. Nothing seems to make me feel ill apart from the next today. It's like I'm hung over. Tends to be if I've had too much.

Will attempt to order sensibly lol

Also thanks to the poster that told me it tells you how may doses you're on. I'm off to check!

Thank you for this. I think I’ll follow your example. I don’t mind how long it takes and would rather take it easy than go through that again!

@NCfor24 my daughter wears the modi body period swim wear (bikini bottoms and swimsuits) and they are excellent!

@Baldatbirth chicken foo yung is a good Chinese option that's also low carb

I'm on week 6 of 5mg and have been feeling really dizzy these last few days. Really bad this morning and I nearly fell over when standing up from crouching. I'm not eating a lot due to decent suppression (so far today I've had a protein shake, grapes and some sushi).
Any ideas what I can do to help?

@Pigriver check your blood pressure. What you’ve described is exactly what happens to me when my BP drops. I’m told by Dr Google that dehydration can cause it and a lack of salt, both of which have been a thing for me in the last couple of days

When I had this, I had to eat more. I needed some carbs. It was a big wake up call not to starve myself (even by accident.) try to eat a sandwich or something.

Hope you feel better soon.

Not been on here for a couple of weeks. I was away so injected day early (bonus) then started 7.5mg a couple of days late.
I’ve not been tracking on nutracheck and eating more but have managed to maintain which is a positive, normally when I take eye off ball I gain.
I could tell it was wearing off as my 💩 was more regular presumably food moving through me more quickly and my mood was awful. The mj definitely keeps me on an even keel.
Appetite suppression is good and I’m feeling well no side effects so hopefully get back losing.

Same. I’ve been gardening a lot last weekend and today and almost keeled over each day. Suddenly realised it was 2-3pm and I’d eaten nothing and been really grafting in the sun.

Do all providers notify your GP? I’ve just looked at Lloyds chemist to order my first dose and they insist on notifying your GP. I know I shouldn’t think like this but I don’t want it on my records.

To be honest @Alwaysoneoddsock your post (and others who ask the same question) does concern me. Why don’t you want it on your record? What’s the worry?

This is a strong and serious medication and I honestly can’t think of one good reason to want to hide it from your record.

I tend to agree. I’ve got to have some repeat blood tests done shortly and I’m sure the results will have improved, and MJ will be part of that reason. I’d rather my GP knew the full picture so they have a better idea what’s going on with me. If people have GPs they think might disapprove of the medication then I can understand the worry but ultimately there’s nothing they can do given that you meet the prescription criteria.

Some days I'm finding it hard to eat first thing. The worst of the dizziness was this morning when I was trying to force down a shake (I add banana,,berries, almond butter and flax so plenty of calories). I did drink alcohol last night and have struggled to drink enough water this was few days so will try and up that too.
One of the reasons I stayed on 5mg was because the suppression was so strong although it has died of a bit to a much more acceptable level.