Continuing Mounjaro Thread 10

[FlappyFish]

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

9th thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5074054-continuing-mounjaropart-9

Thread for newbies just starting out:

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

Courtesy of Flappy, deputising for the wonderful Obsidian.

Just got latest order from Asda, like someone mentioned, only 4 needles this time so maybe trying to make 5th dose more difficult. Luckily I have a few extra still but would like to order some more for the future.

@lurkylurk I'm half way through third week of 2.5...have had only a little suppression so far and this week barely none, so I decided to do another 2.5 dose last night (4 days after previous) and today I have full suppression and now know what everyone has been talking about 🤣🤣 I had a small latte this morning and was stuffed after...currently trying to get a collagen protein smoothie down and it's slow progress!

So, I'm thinking of going split doses for a while and see how it goes..depending on how I'm feeling will do another 2.5 on Sunday eve and so on.

I wondered this when I received my 5mg pen this morning with exactly 4 needles in too. I appreciate it's all a cost and we don't like to waste but. I'm always the overthinker of.. what if one of the needles are damaged or I accidentally damage one (which I managed to do on my last injection 😂) putting in a couple of extra needles into an order that people have paid hundreds for as "backup" really wouldn't break the bank in the grand scheme of things. Maybe IBU.

I’m with Boots and haven’t had to send any pictures (apart from ID) but I’ve seen here that some people have had to submit pictures and even videos. Are there any other providers not requiring pictures / videos for a consultation? It’s just that I think it’s a faff having to record myself.

@Madferitchick

Think I might try the same, might even out the side effects and the suppression! I get both and then both go at the same time with a couple of days of the week left to go but if I try a bigger dose side effects too much.
The reason they switched to a weekly rather than daily dose like Saxenda was to make it easier and less hassle for people to take but I’m willing to be a gunea pig and try split doses too!

On meals, I do fish in a foil parcel a lot. Choose your veg well and you don't even need to soften it first. I do courgette ribbons (just use a peeler on a courgette), asparagus is in season and is great, long stem broccoli, sugar snap peas and baby corn. They'll all cook nicely in the foil parcel along with your fish.

The Roasting Tin series of cookbooks are great for one pot meal ideas that are properly tasty. Maybe the Quick one if you want stuff that's super fast. It's all pretty healthy options.

Hello lovely and wildly motivating people! Huge congratulations on everyone's journey and results!!! Do you accept one more?

I'm 33, had a baby nearly 2 years ago, and have a chronic weight issue, where I can get motivated and disciplined, lose a good chunk of weight, only to maintain it for 6-12-18 months and then gain it all back again and then some by going back to my old bad habits (major sweet tooth, love for wine, and little movement).
My issue is not that "nothing works", it's that it works for a little bit and then I lose motivation and revert to my old ways. Because I know I could do this "on my own", I was umming and erring about this whole Mounjaro thing for a few months. But I've been reading your posts here, spoken to a few friends who have had amazing results, and have decided it will give me the kick-start I need....again!

Anyways I finally got the balls and placed my order with MedExpress today. Waiting to see what they say?! Hopefully, I am approved and it arrives in time for next week!!
To be frank, my weight has been the worst it's ever been, and my motivation/discipline is non-existent at the mo. I know it's probably a cop-out, but I am still finding my groove with life with a toddler. I still have sleepless nights and little time to myself, and finding the motivation to eat clean and exercise has been extremely difficult. A glass of wine and a Netflix show has been much more my preferred method of relaxation.

I am so looking forward to this thing arriving - for those of you who used MedExpress - how quickly were you "approved" and received it?

My starting weight is 107 kg / BMI 37, which is horrendous. So, I think I'm pretty safe in terms of them "approving" me.

I'm so far in the Obese category (how embarassing!!) that my goal is literally to come down to Overweight. I cannot even conceive going into Normal. That would be absolutely wild.

Just wanted to say Hi, and Thank you for sharing your stories and tips! These are so reassuring for newbies like me!

Welcome @3wDavid, MedExpress can be pretty fast, you might squeak in with a same day approval and get the meds tomorrow. But if not you'll probably need to wait until Monday for approval as a lot of the providers don't seem to approve over the weekend.

Small pleadon't be too harsh on your weight. Some of us started heavier than you currently are! I think it's important to always be kind to ourselves when talking about our bodies. Yes they're bigger, but that's a fact not a value statement.

Good luck with your journey!

I understood that the prescribing protocol has changed - when I first applied to have Ozempic in March/April last year, so evidence was required. There was a big media expose about unscrupulous on-line pharmacies prescribing with few checks, so the British pharmacology regulator changed the rules. By the summer there were loads of complaints on forums like the one run by Juniper, that people had to share photographs (obese people are often camera shy, as was I, 😭) with the prescribing team, and I was asked to do so after about 4-5 months if I wanted to continue receiving my meds.

So… if your prescriber is NOT asking for evidence, I would be very suspicious because it means that they are not doing the proper checks, may not be qualified… and there is a risk that you are not getting the genuine Novo product.

Welcome a board. I was 106kg when I started, lost over 4 stone in the last year (would have been quicker but plateaued for 3-4m on low dose due to drug shortage) now have a BMI of 28.9.

I feel much better and so will you. You will find it does change your eating habits, which will hopefully stick afterwards. I posted elsewhere that 80-90% of people (who lose weight by the usual means) regain all their weight within 2 years, but with Mounjaro and Wegovy it’s been shown in recent studies only 17% put it all back on. Hope this is encouraging!

@KeepingUndercover aww thank you!!

Btw, i didnt mean to sound rude or offensive to anyone (but myself!) - it's just that for me it's been a constant yo yo struggle all of my adult life; and this is rock bottom, like the highest I've been. However, you are so very right! I will try to speak gentler to myself. It's so ridiculous, I would never speak like this to anyone, friend or stranger, but I can absolutely berate myself, no problem. Thanks for the gentle reminder! x

@BusyMummy001 Hello!! Oh wow, amazing, well done you!!! What a brilliant result you've had! Very very very motivating and inspiring! And the studies - yes, very encouraging too! That's the other thing that I was dilly-dallying about - I want to take the medicine short-term, but use it to jump-start my weightloss and create longer-term good habits - and I was freaking out that some people make it sound like you have to be on it for life or something, otherwise you go back exactly where you started. So yes, super helpful to read this, thanks for sharing!

Oh F ME!!! My order has been approved and dispatched, arriving tomorrow!!!

@3wdavid great news it’s arriving tomorrow! I’ve yo-yo’d for 14 years so I’m hoping this time it’s different. I know how to diet, but MJ is keeping me focused and stopping me from overeating. I’m 4 weeks in and I’m so pleased I did this. I started as obese too, you are not alone!

Appetite suppression back on 5 mg, yay!

Mounjaro has had so many weird side affects and one for me is I have been so much calmer. It's like water off a ducks back.

But today at work I lost it and went home. I have been crying all day. I am so hungry I am going out for a dominos. Suddenly, it's like all the great effects aren't working anymore and I hope I get it all back.

Hope everyone has a great bank holiday.

Just checking in from Egypt and haven't been able to read all the more recent posts.

I've been over indulging but no where near as much as normal. Then I got the dreaded tummy bug and I've hardly eaten for two days- hoping for a loss Thursday when my next weigh in will be!

Also- never been a big drinker and non existent on Mounjaro but had to go to bed for an hour after three small cocktails on the first day

@RagzRebooted fingers crossed the discounts are honoured! I forgot to mention earlier if you go through TopCashback they usually add a discount on top.
Sometimes that way is cheaper and sometimes the app is cheaper.

I dread to think how much I've spent with them over the last few months 🫣

Can you link to a source for that stat? I've been looking and only found information saying that the trial group that was switched to placebo regained 14% if their weight (it isn't clear if that's 14% of their new weight or old weight) its still better then regaining ALL the weight and still better then any other weightless method which seems to only have 5-10% success rate.

I suspect that this drug or one of the variants that is expected to come out in the next year or two will be used as a lifelong drug similar to statins. I wouldn't mind taking a pill or weekly/monthly jab to maintain this for life personally. The health benefits just mentioned on here are completely extraordinary!

Addiction suppression including food, smoking, shopping, drugs?
Blood pressure and blood sugar lowering
Less pain medication needed over time
reduced inflammation
im sure there are more

So today I did an "assessment" with Manual. Not that I was buying , I just wanted to see the prices ( see my previous rants).

I intended to put in 13 at 13lb, which I'm not any more! Just to put something in over 30BMI.

Somehow I accidentally put in 2st 3lb🤦!

Back comes the reply, congratulations , you are suitable for our GLP program. In 6 weeks you could weigh 0 stone 9lb!

So much for their assesment and all the medical questions!

@Cerialkiller

The study that figure comes from also showed over 50% either maintaining or losing further weight (although note that the minimum amount they had to lose to be counted in the study was only 5 pounds), it’s here:

https://www.epicresearch.org/articles/many-patients-maintain-weight-loss-a-year-after-stopping-semaglutide-and-liraglutide

😮😮😮

Welcome to the club! It’s always tough when you have had a baby- it takes time to get yourself back.

I think you need to commit to changing your lifestyle permanently if you go down this path, so you don’t put the weight back on. You need to get out of the habit of eating sugary foods, treating yourself with wine at home (save it for special occasions) and you do need to start exercising. If you think you’re ready to change for good, MJ is a great tool to help break your bad habits.

I’ve been on MJ for 12 weeks and I’m losing interest in food treats. Eg I went for a Nando’s last week- had a burger (under 500 calories, so pretty healthy) and I didn’t really enjoy it. I could have cooked myself a more nutritious and tastier meal at home with lots of protein and vegetables! A sweet tooth is hard to crack but MJ will give you the best chance.

I am kinda past eating out / treating myself with food now- I feel flat afterwards and don’t get the dopamine hit I used to. I prefer some fresh berries or mango for an indulgent treat.

My advice would be to cultivate a healthy hobby or interest and try to phase out your reliance on food and alcohol for your dopamine hits.

My prescriber is Boots…
nothing dodgy

@WannabeHealthier

I think the hobbies and interests is a great one.
I realised recently that I don’t really have any hobbies. I had bazillions when I was a kid (reading, swimming, crocheting, knitting, baking, collecting marbles, collecting ribbons, yes really!, roller skating, cycling and more) so not sure what happened but struggling to find something that interests me.

I used to read a LOT my whole life but stopped when I gave up smoking as the two were very associated, I’d go out in the garden to have a cigarette and bring my book for company, so stopped reading for a bit as it made me miss cigarettes and then struggled to get back into it for some reason. Will try again on that one but I need some more! Any ideas?