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.

Ps not really of course but I was amazed how many people, ordinary people like me, are on the injections. I sort of thought it was for celebrities and the glam types who get Botox and all that.

Good for you @Rulay - that's the kind of pettiness I love to see! 😂

NSV over here! I have completely lost interest in fast food.. McDonald’s used to be my vice and I’d stop by at least every week when I could justify it to myself for some reason like ‘I’ve worked so hard I deserve it’/‘I’m too tired to go into the tesco next door and get other food’.

Today I had one for the first time since starting the injections (due my 6th jab tomorrow) as I forgot to pack my dinner before going to work tonight.. and I didn’t enjoy it one bit! Completely turned off by the chips I only had a few before binning them and ate the burger but wow I didn’t get the usual hit of dopamine I was expecting, in fact I feel quite grumpy and wish I’d had my prepared salad instead as I wouldn’t be feeling as crap as I am now!

It does work, but you need to consider your delayed gastric emptying.

I have to take anti emetics regularly because of my condition, but they were taking a lot longer to work so I'm now on (yet another) injection.

You may be better off using it as a suppository, the absorption and effect is more guaranteed that way.

Hi all newbies, there are so many of you, welcome! 👋👋👋

Congrats on all the losses. 🎉

ENORMOUS congratulations to @Rainbowl on your news, I'm so delighted for you! Please don't leave us altogether, we need updates. 😄

Sorry I've been so quiet, I've been struggling again. Pain consultant has confirmed it's probably a side effect of the opiate reduction, but the good news is I'm now down to a quarter of my original dose.

I go to Krakow for a week on Friday, but will try to keep up to date.

I see someone mentioned Ashwagandha earlier, but I can't find the post. Ideally it should be taken at bedtime on an empty stomach as it helps promote sleep.

Hi all, new to mumsnet and Mounjaro. I took my 2nd 2.5mg dose on Thursday but started to feel really hungry yesterday and finished off a full roast dinner. I have Endometriosis and take norethisterone to stop my periods, however, I am now having a period. I have read previous posts here from people saying Mounjaro has messed with your cycle and pills. I'm wondering if the hormones are what are making me feel hungry again? It's a little frustrating but hoping it won't affect any losses. If any of you are planning on taking Norethisterone for a special event, be mindful that it may not work with Mounjaro x

I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying the lack of food noise. It is so liberating. I think I am even happier about this than I am about the slow weight loss. I am fortunate as DH and DD do a lot of the cooking. When they put a meal in front of it, I am happy to eat it and make a good job of doing so but I haven't spent the three hours leading up to it wondering what it is going to be, when it is, if I have enough calories left to have a snack too, what that snack should be and hoovering up a few biscuits just because someone has opened some and they're on the counter.

A warm welcome to all the newbies! How many of you are here from the weight loss meds bashing thread? 😜

Don't worry if you don't feel any different after your first jab. I got through week 1 on sheer willpower alone, it was about 24 hours after my second dose that I started to feel any appetite suppression. The medication is designed to build in your system.

Hi all. Longtime lurker first time poster.
Due 3rd jab on wed of 2.5 but thinking of going day earlier. Find it wearing off a bit and hoping next pen will be a 5. Due to go away on holiday the 7th but don't want to be ill either if I was too take 2days before so might go Tomo am?
Down 10lbs so far. Have a bit too go! 6ft 0.5 so can hide it well 😭

Most of us find that the hunger does return towards the end of the week especially on the lower doses. Take it as practice for after stopping MJ. If you have had decent suppression for half the week then that is often enough to see a loss for that week. Just don't allow that hunger to turn to extreme 'bad' eating if you can, focus and hold on until your next jab. I took my second and third jabs a day early as the hunger was getting to me, this might be an option for you. Later on when the drug builds up in your system it might not be as necessary.

I was very unless on Saturday, this lasted all day, mainly running to the loo, until I was sick quiet unexpectedly, I panicked thinking it was MJ but my dose was over 6 days when it happened.
Now staring with a sore throat, I’m sure this is a bug or even the dreaded Covid

Oh wow- lucky you being so tall! Fabulous!

Unwell 😄

Ah I didn’t even think of that. Feel so deflated tonight thinking about it all. I really wanted this to work for me. I’m desperate to get to a healthy weight

Thank you @Cerialkiller I take my jab on a Thursday evening as I work from home on a Friday and then have the weekend to see if there are any side effects, so I was only 3 days in yesterday :( I'm trying this as a last ditch attempt at losing weight as I do weightlifting, gymnastics and other workouts but my weight just keeps going up. Like most of you, I'm keeping this to myself for now due to all of the negativity surrounding the meds. I'm having greek yogurt with a scoop of banana protein powder as I don't want to lose muscle, I lost 4lb on my first week which I'm happy with. We will see on Thursday if I have lost anything else. I think I have between 40 to 50lb to lose, so a long journey ahead. I have ordered a 5mg pen already from Zava as I think they are the cheapest for the lower doses. If anybody would like 15% off at Zava, they just sent me this code REFKDB4G. They said it would also get me 15% off, so if anyone does use it, thank you 😊 x

If I recall I started taking my ashwaganda in the morning for anxiety and calmness rather than at night for sleep. I take magnesium bisglycinate at night for sleep and anxiety.

NSV! I have just filled a wheelie bin bag with clothes that are too big for me now. Going to donate them tomorrow.

I don't have any work trousers or jeans that fit at all though. Need to go shopping.

Just a quick reality check for newbies shocked at the cost of Mounjaro. Yes it’s expensive at £150-200 per pen but thanks to the market here (NHS dominating) we are paying far less than our American counterparts who appear to be paying upwards of €1,000 per month.

Yes many US Mounjaro (zepbound) users are getting it on insurance if they have T2 diabetes, but most people still need to contribute a fairly hefty excess and lots of people who are obese with no medical conditions have to pay the full amount.

I have no idea how much other countries are paying, but I’d expect a lot. When I tell my European cousins we pay 50p for ibuprofen and paracetamol they can’t believe it. Our medicines are extremely cheap compared to other markets. I know I wouldn’t be able to afford it if I did my job in the US, so I feel extremely grateful for living in the UK when it comes to healthcare thanks to the purchasing power of the NHS!

The downsides of our market is we are less attractive to global pharmaceutical companies and so we do risk supply issues.

Yeay! This is the BEST feeling! M&S have so many great options for trousers right now, they seem to have raised their game recently.

Wow. Just found the new thread after being away for a few days and it’s already on page 20 something

@MrsBurtMacklin I have found the NSV of clothes shopping start to be more meaningful now than the scale numbers. I completely skipped a 14 and have been straight into a 12. I keep catching myself in our full length mirror and going oh.

My head has not caught up with my body in the slightest.

I’m the same. Had McDonalds last week for the 1st time in ages and it really didn’t agree with me.
Been away with the family for a few days and hardly eaten as it was take out most days.

@GloriaBunniford that's a great 'side effect' for you 🎉

Week 7 and now lost 18lbs. 0.75lbs off the next stone bracket so hope to see that next time. Currently up to 4mg and reordered another 5mg pen to get a full month doing that dose properly.

After paying £180ish for my first pen getting it for about £130 with a code feels a bargain!

NSV that I could zip up a raincoat that I've been wearing open for a while!

But those are 12.7mm long???