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.

@Infinity234 @BusyMummy001 @GingerNugget

I have ADHD too and have been umming and ahhing about starting his for a while now. I think I’ve gone down a bit if a hyper focus rabbit hole researching it all and almost burnt myself out before I’ve committed to taking the plunge. I need to lose 65 lbs- I really need to do something as my bmi is 31.
i asked further up the thread about what people with adhd do for a dopamine hit if they’re used to using food, I’m a bit worried I’ll feel really flat and lost- I spend a lot of time planning meals, thinking about food etc. but I guess I could easily spend the time looking at nice outfits and planning bikini holidays instead!
I’m a bit worried about taking the plunge because I have a history of spending money on stuff I don’t end up sticking to that I’ve sort of resigned myself to failure before I’ve even begun.
This thread is so inspirational and supportive though, I think I will go for it.

Wow @Rainbowl what an update!! Congratulations!!! 🎉

We'll miss you! So so happy for you though!

Congratulations @Rainbowl that's a wonderful reason to be stopping. ❤️

Go for it. If you've researched and you're happy with the potential side effects/weighed up the pros and cons - just go for it.

I got dopamine from food too... But now I don't. I just don't need the hit anymore. I don't feel flat, I haven't got addicted to something else instead, I'm just good without it. It's hard to explain.

@Rainbowl what lovely news! Huge congratulations to you.

Well done you! I usually partake in a Diet Coke (if I want to be healthier then it's a water) and a kids fish fingers and fries 🤪

I think it's about 300-400 calories all in.

I'm similar, lowest I've been in about 18 years is 16 stone. Starting weight was just over 21st and I'm hoping to get to 14 at least although NHS says I should weigh about 12 st. I'm on holiday at the moment so not sure where I'm at but I lost 45lbs in 80 days.

It's been a game changer!

Congratulations, @Rainbowl ! Good luck with everything.

That’s amazing, well done you!

Congratulations @Rainbowl! What lovely news - wishing you a happy pregnancy and continuing good health

Thank you everyone for the scale recommendations- I will look into buying the Renpho ones

Congratulations @Rainbowl what wonderful news after a difficult time for your in law family. Good luck with it all x

A kind of NSV for me yesterday. Went out for a long-awaited theatre trip yesterday which included a pre-theatre dinner. I wanted to enjoy it but didn't want to sacrifice my losses so far, so decided to actively manage it instead. It was a fixed 3 course menu so I just... didn't eat anything yesterday until we got to the restaurant. Joked with DH that the starter was breakfast, the main was lunch and the pudding was dinner. It was a French restaurant so mostly protein/veg based anyway, didn't finish any of the courses, didn't eat the frites and didn't have any ill effects. I know it's a bit of an extreme approach but I'd like to get to a maintenance phase where I become one of those people who eats less ahead of a foody event to balance things out (as well as in moderation at the foody event), rather than somehow being at the mercy of them.

Congratulations x

Does any feel that in addition to appetite suppression they also have dulled taste? My food is tasting very bland after by 3.5mg dose today!

My taste buds aren't dulled but I do get a slightly bitter taste in my mouth following my injection for about 3-4 days. Also, I've gone off some foods that I previously liked - they just don't taste good anymore.

@Baldatbirth Co-codamol should bung you up. It doesn’t matter how clean I eat, I still get diarrhoea as I have IBS-D. Co-codamol is the only thing that works.

Piece of advice for anyone who hasn’t been drinking on MJ; don’t start in the daytime. I had one glass of Prosecco at lunch today for FIL’s birthday and I feel SO dizzy now. Lovely teenage babysitter was shooting me worried looks when we got home, and DH had just sent me for a lie down. He doesn’t know I’m on MJ so probably thinks I’ve been spiked or something!

So I took my very first injection yesterday lunch time, and…I’m struggling to get even 1300 calories yesterday and today. I did not expect it to work so quickly or efficiently. Like I have been making myself eat today, and unable to finish my plate, even though my portions are much more modest, and I’ve eaten really clean. I want to be healthy and sustainable with this, so really don’t want to not eat but it’s been a bit of a struggle. Otherwise, no side effects to report. Yet. Other than my purple bruise that appeared after I injected the front of my thigh. Maybe I pushed it too much? Or just managed to do it closer to a muscle hence the bruising. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Congratulations @Rainbowl !
What a lovely surprise, wishing you a healthy pregnancy.

I feel like this too! First injection was Friday, and have had zero appetite since yesterday. Couldn’t finish dinner even though it was a smaller portion than usual. Wasn’t even tempted when picking up a subway for the teens and that’s saying something. Maybe it’s just the body adjusting?

Congratulations @Rainbowl.
Cals wise first few days after injection I can struggle to eat 1,000. If you aren’t eating much make sure it’s high protein. I sometimes have a shake.
I miss sensation of eating sometimes so have started chewing sugar free gum.

I’m going to be extracting my bonus dose with an insulin needle tonight (the ones linked on page one) but I’m stuck for how to work out how much was in the dose. They syringes are marked in units of 10 so a standard 0.6 dose feels like it would barely touch the sides of it?

I took my first one on Thursday and felt like this Friday and yesterday, but today I have some hunger back.

@Bananabuttons I'm another one who suspects I have ADHD, used to get a dopamine hit from food and now just don't need it. It isn't just that food noise is gone, so much noise is gone. I am better able to focus on things too, whether it's reading or dull domestic tasks like clearing out cupboards (which I have been doing this afternoon).
@Rainbowl congratulations!
@GingerNugget I have taken VitB12 & VitD for years plus a general multivitamin. I now take bovine collagen 2x a week and marine collagen 2x a week. I also take physillium husk when I take the collagen. It makes it a truly vile concoction but it gets it out the way. I'm also on HRT.
@Exitstrategist well done! That's brilliant news. Are you our second "graduate"? Does your user name refer to how you're planning on managing this from now on? If so, please share!
@montysma1 that is so frustrating for you! Fingers crossed for a whoosh! What is your plan once you get there?

For those asking about side effects, not all of us get them! I'm losing slowly (5lbs up to the end of week 4 on 2.5mg) with little appetite suppression but, other than pooing less often, I have no side effects. I haven't had any particularly spicy or greasy food as I don't tend to anyway but I've had chocolate brownies, a couple of slices of dominoes, champagne, wine & G&T. Not all on the same day I hasten to add! Even with the poo, I'm not actually constipated. It's just everything moves through more slowly. It makes me appreciate how regular & efficient my bowels were previously!

Now that sounds interesting! Has that lasted throughout?