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.

Going to need a new thread soon, these pages are flying by!

@Sye I had one really bad evening with my stomach, I found massage really helped with the trapped wind. Google stomach massage for trapped wind. Also peppermint is meant to help if have peppermint tea. Or a warm bath?
I was really, really uncomfortable but it's only been that bad once.

@WoolyMammoth55 thanks will give the magnesium a try. Had a disco nap after work and feel human again. Hopefully will sleep tonight

Home bargains have electrolyte tablets with magnesium you add to water, they don't take too bad

@Sye I have found that if I eat fruit, veg and protein with minimal healthy carbs then I don't really get any stomach discomfort. As soon as I add in something sugary or fizzy drink I get burps and if I eat anything mildly junky get tummy ache. Quite a good easy to teach me to eat better.

I had dinner at a restaurant (order starter plus salad only) and had terrible reflux and burps last week on holiday

Well, this is interesting! I got a phone call from my surgery - when does your GP surgery EVER phone unprompted? - wanting me to come in for a height, weight & BMI check. Makes me wonder if they have got contacted by on line pharmacy.
I am with Health Express, & back in March when I got my first script I thought they recommended that I inform my GP, but did not actually do it themselves. I could be wrong, & I never let GP know.
Appt not til middle of next month. If I do see a GP for this, I will discuss MJ. Will report back on outcome. All being well, I should be down 20+ lbs in total by then

If anyone is switching to The Family Chemist I found 3 codes that work for Mounjaro, the others I tried didn't exist, expired or not applicable for certain products:

SOCIAL5 (Gives £5 off)

TheFamilyChemist (Gives £10 off, may only be for first time customers)

SARAH5 (Gives 5% off)

Be aware they charge £6.99 for postage and it says signature required.

This is the second injection and after both I’ve been really bad with the runs.
Not great 😔

Just can’t stay off the loo after both injections and not eaten anything that would cause this, if anything at all, as I feel so bad.

@sye I had one horrific night with trapped wind. It woke me up and was agony. The wind was trapped by constipation. TMI but I had to manually clear and then did a massive motion and was fine again. I promptly started daily aloe vera tablets and haven't got impacted since. I'm now in my 11th week I think, and this was maybe a month ago. I would add I do have nerve damage to my rectum following a spinal problem so am prone to constipation as I don't feel the urge to go. The aloe vera and plenty of fluids is keeping me regular now and I think I'll take aloe vera for life as far more gentle to prevent than treat constipation with laxatives.

@Sye just seen updates re runs...guess constipation is not what's causing your tummy ache then, sorry 😔

No, trying to get off the loo is my problem.
Thank you anyway 😊

Thanks for this. I am week 6 of MJ and whereas I’ve had little in the way of side effects over the last 14m with the other meds… but I’ve gained a few pounds this week and feel very -erm - backed up/uncomfortable. Read that you can gain 5lbs if constipated… will try the senna/aloe vera method but have a conference event over the next few days so worried about getting caught short (whilst also wondering whether the discomfort of the alternative is much better 😭)

@Sye senna tablets and aloe Vera tablets. For trapped wind and stomach cramps, try windeez or boots IBS relief mint capsules. They're brilliant. I'm 8 weeks in and still need to take these sometimes. Always sorts me out quickly though!

I had awful trapped wind in my first week, had to stop an outing and go home as i was convinced i was going to either vomit or shit myself. gentle walking, and abdominal massage, left to right helped. I would also recommend not eating large quantities of 'farty' veg. Broccoli, cabbage, legumes etc.

all of the trapped wind talk is why I don’t really have carbs now.

and the thread is 12 posts until the end… so here is new thread.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5085436-continuing-mounjaro-thread-11

Unfortunately i have been informed that my mother in law is cooking lunch for us tomorrow and as this is only the 4th time we have met i don't feel able to complain/explain etc so i think i'm just going to try to make the best of it whatever it is and hope that i'm wrong about my expectation (stodgy carbs). I have a festival over the weekend and a baby shower too so may just have to have zero expectation for this week. Wednesday next week is my first 5gm after two 3.75 doses so hopefully this will kick start the losses again.

Glycerin suppositories too can give prompt predictable relief which may help.

Thank you. I changed needles and it worked straight away. Phew!

I've also ordered some insulin syringes as I’m now 1 needle down but can also get the bonus dose.

🙏Will pop to the chemist in the AM - don’t have to be at the event until 12, so will try to get things moving beforehand.

Thank you, I’ve looked back in the link, but can’t find anything to help with the the runs that are so bad it’s taking a full day or so out of my week.
Hardly eating due to feeling unwell, and unfortunately too much weight is coming off too quickly.
Not sure if I should take Imodium

@Sye maybe delay taking another dose by a few days and see how you feel ?

Thank you, I think maybe best for me to leave it a little longer, next one is only Monday 😔

@Sye ive had the worst diarrhoea every week (sometimes all week!) Imodium has worked brilliantly for me, so has reducing dairy. Cheese/milk/yoghurts in particular really cause me issues now :(

You really wonder if the side effects outweigh the outcome.
All the threads have positive support and uplifting stories, not seen any that are really struggling and looking at finishing.
Maybe I’m just going through a rough patch and being hard on the process.

Oh but avoid oat milk. I’d literally rather shit myself (again!) than drink that stuff! Awful!