Continuing Mounjaro... Thread 12

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro will only be be prescribed initially if your BMI is above 30 until you get to a healthy BMI of 23 to BMI 25

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 that 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, vomiting, headaches, aches, are side effects. There may 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. https://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.
https://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.

Some natural sources of protein:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

11 - 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), psylum husks(fibre for constipation), electrolytes.

12 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

13 - 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.

14 - 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
further reading about injection sites and the effects: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618

15 - 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.

16 - 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.

17 - Some of the places you can order from are:

MedExpress:
2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. Coupon codes no longer working!

The Family Chemist:
2.5mg and 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £169

Zava medical:
2.5mg £139, 5mg £139, 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. Zava offer refer a friend discount of 15% off. Ask for a code on here.

Simple online pharmacy:
£149 2.5mg, £149 5mg, £169 7.5mg £189 10mg

Bolt pharmacy:
2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189

Asda:
2.5mg and 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189

There are others not listed.

18 - 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:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5007744-mourjano-starting-soon?page=1

2nd thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5028495-continuing-murnjaropart-2?page=1

3rd thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5037623-continuing-mounjaropart-3?page=1

4th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5044316-continuing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

5th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5048290-continuing-mounjaropart-5?page=1

6th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5057916-continuing-mounjaropart-6?page=1

7th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5062935-continuing-mounjaropart-7?page=1

8th thread:
https://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?page=1

10th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5080755-continuing-mounjaro-thread-10?page=1

11th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5085436-continuing-mounjaro-thread-11?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out in June:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5082791-mounjaro-june-24-starters

Video on how to inject:

Good morning!

It’s weigh in day for me and week 2 complete!

SW: 107.2 kg
CW: 101.5 kg

Week 1 total loss: 4 kg
Week 2 total loss: 1.7 kg

A long long way to go but I am pleased with my results so far and feel committed to continuing!

I’ve also ordered my next pen and opted to go for 2.5 again. I figured that if it stops working, I can just do two jabs. It will end up more expensive but not the end of the world. Just didn’t feel ready for 5 yet.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

I've had no appetite suppression on week 2 and I'm absolutely starving so this week will be willpower alone.

Congratulations @RunningAndSinging and @KrankyKumquat such a big milestone 🎉🎉🎉

@MelissaLouRocks just wanted to check in on Melissa Lou, hope all is okay lovely.

Stayed the same this week - week 14 - 199lbs - which is a 34lb loss in total. Very happy with this!

I’m feeling upset today as I saw lots of friends & family last night I’ve not seen for ages before a family wedding today. Not a single person has said anything about my 2.5 stone loss - not even my (lovely) MIL. All my friends have said absolutely nothing. My DH said it’s really obvious as I look very different and much better.

I’m not sure why I care so much as I did this for my health initially. I had this wedding in my head as a big milestone in my journey and wanted to feel good about wearing a nice dress. Now it’s arrived I don’t feel any different really!

I feel so stupid thinking losing weight would magically make me feel better. Why do I even need this external validation? What is wrong with me?!

Sorry to hear this- in my experience people are petrified to say anything about weight as often insult unknowingly and cause offence. I’ve had my head bitten off before when complimented someone so now just keep silent and say something like “you look nice”.

@WannabeHealthier I bet you look amazing. I'd be annoyed too but I think people sometimes just don't like mentioning weight.

I found this on reddit which might be useful

https://new.reddit.com/r/mounjaromaintenanceuk/comments/1d73w1g/pharmacy_maintenance_spreadsheet/

It's a list of which pharmacies will go to which BMI.

Article in the Times today saying Wegovy / MJ is the answer to losing weight in middle age, and goes on to emphasise protein and weights, and using the drug as a window to reshape eating and reward habits. Do nothing this thread isn't already focused on, but useful to see it out there. This sort of coverage might help normalise the idea that these treatments aren't a new-fangled craze and are actually a health breakthrough which should be mainstreamed.

https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/midlifers-need-to-know-weight-loss-ozempic-v69nnfm8s

I totally understand. If it helps - if I had noticed someone had lost weight and wasn’t aware they were actively trying - I wouldn’t comment… as you never know why they’ve lost weight. plus for me I always find it super triggering (no one ever compliments weight gain do they lol)

massive congratulations on your weight loss - 2.5stone is amazing x

Morning All

Well done on the losses, I look forward to posting my own again one day!
A 0.1kg gain again this morning, that'll be the 2 glasses of wine and popcorn I had last night. Really really felt like stuffing in some chocolate at around 9pm, I went for popcorn instead but goodness that old urge was strong. I was trying to watch a film I was really enjoying, the thought of chocolate just kept intruding. If I had some in am not sure I could have held out.
Still haven't broken the 89kg/BMI 32 barrier but am not giving up. Wish my weight loss was as quick as some of you but trying to remind myself that 9kg in 3 months is still pretty good going and I just have to accept that having been obese for 20 years it's going to take my body some time to let go.

Thank you for your replies- it’s really helpful and makes a difference xx

I’ve noticed the packet of needles that Zava have sent me state they are 4mm/ 32g but the individual needles are labelled 6mmx0.25. What’s the difference apart from it being a longer needle? A quick google seems to say these needles are compatible with the pen (just as well as I’ve just used one) but all my previous needles have been 4mm so wondering if this is not an optimum needle? Or does it not matter?

ADHD CLAXON!

Has anybody on medication noticed a difference? It not working? Working slower?

I feel like mine isn't working and I'm wondering if it's the slower moving transit, if that makes sense!

@WannabeHealthier I understand. I think we want people to acknowledge we have lost weight as external validation tends to subjugate the internal criticism. It silences it for just a moment. We can’t believe it ourselves, we need people to tell us.

Well done on all the losses 🎉🎉

Doing my weigh in a day late as I didn't take my scales on holiday. I have eaten at least an extra 500 calories per day for the 5 days I've been away, so my weight today was a surprise.

Starting weight 15st 11lb 8oz
Last week's weight 12st 6lb
Current weight 12st 4lb 2oz

BMI is now 30.1 down from 40.

I echo this completely. One of my colleagues actually suddenly lost a large amount of weight and I didn’t say anything, because I didn’t feel I knew her well enough to be sure there hadn’t been illness/an ED etc. on reflection she’s getting married this weekend so I’m fairly sure it was deliberate but just wanted to show how I think people are more conscious about commenting on weight loss these days. If it was someone in my family who I knew would have been trying to do it on purpose (or knew well enough to know nothing underlying) I would compliment them but no one beyond very close friends and family.

The medication for ADHD?

It affects the pill so would make sense.

Mounjaro can interact with insulin, sulfonylureas, and glinides. It can also make birth control pills less effective and may affect how your body absorbs oral medications.

Yeah, ADHD meds.

Doesn't seem to be working at all. In fact it seems to be doing to opposite at the moment!

It was the pill thing that made me wonder. This is the fast acting too, so don't think I can get any that would work quicker if that makes sense.

I'll have a chat with my Dr.

Hmmm... Mj or ADHD meds... What a choice ☹️

Someone at work asked me if I was taking Ozempic yesterday 😅I said (truthfully), no. Shows how much it’s in the public consciousness.

For anyone who hasn’t had family and friends comment on weight loss - not have I. My in laws said not one word when I saw them all 2 weeks ago. I was baffled. They don’t usually hold back!!

My family haven't shut up about it, all very good humoured.

But I am very lucky in that they are very supportive. And they know I have struggled with my weight for years.

Nobody at work have said anything

There was a big thread about people commenting on weight loss a while back where the general consensus was that it was rude to do so, so it might be that they have noticed but don't want to offend.

It’s a tricky one, I know my in laws will comment when I see them next month (they live abroad and we only see them once a year) and the thought fills me with dread as I hate any attention being brought to me whatsoever. If someone close to me lost a lot of weight and I thought it was an intentional loss I’d say ‘you look great’ but wouldn’t explicitly mention the weight loss.

Hello all! I’m looking for some advice please.

I had my 1st MJ 5mg on Tuesday and then had 48 hours constipation followed by 48 hours of diarrhoea.

My appetite suppression is major and I’m having to physically make myself eat (sticking to high protein foods and plenty of fluids)

Has anyone tried postponing their next MJ dose to longer than 7 days?

Yes, I have gone 9 days.

You could also count clicks and take a lower dose. The pens are 60 clicks, so for half you'd do 30

I need some advice- I’m due to take my 4th dose of 5mg this coming Tuesday, but I’ve had to unexpectedly leave my home and travel to the other side of the country for a family emergency. In my haste I didn’t pack it!

Obviously it’s far from the most important thing on my mind right now, but as I’m likely to be back home after Tuesday I am wondering what would be best to do. Is there any point taking a dose late? Or should I just go straight to 7.5mg?