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:

Med express now showing 12.5mg in stock. Don't know if anyone plans to buy from them now tho 😂

So I have Curate Pharmacy ready to go for 12.5 but on back order. Have email to ask when they will have it given that it seems to be appearing everywhere.

Has anybody used them? Can't remember where I found them or the code.......if it was here or darkest Facebook .

Also ........have we found anywhere cheaper than £170 for 12.5?

Sorry to be lazy but having to trawk through assessments to get to an actual price does my head in! I lose the will to live. See previous rant.

Further rant......I work in a school with a cracking gym. I train like a psychopath every lunch time.
Our lovely cleaner has been observing this with horror for a while. Asking is it really worth it..........to be fair I look horrific staggering along the corridor afterwords.

She is also aware that I am losing weight.
"Stop losing weight now lassie, you are going to far and wasting away"

To be clear, I am 5ft 5 and 10 stone 6 so hardly wasting by any measure! ( Ironically she herself is a tiny wee skelf of a thing).

Why though? Why do folk do that?

Hey all, had a very stressful week this week so have not eaten well (1st anniversary of my fathers passing). My weight remained the same this week, it's a little frustrating as it's only my third week but as I said, my eating has not been good! I'm hoping the higher doses will prevent stress eating. I'm wondering if I should increase to 5mg already? My only worry is possible side effects. I have a wedding next weekend and don't want to be ill 😮‍💨 I'm also wondering if I'm just overreacting to things because I feel stressed but my anxiety is through the roof.

I'm the exact same

Just took first dose

Really hoping I have success this time

You are not seeing what you have achieved. You had a massively stressful week (sorry for your loss) and you didn’t put on weight. That is amazing.

I mean this kindly, you can’t switch off stress eating with medication, you can use the medication to give you the headspace to replace it with a more sustainable alternative. Would a meditation app like Headspace help? What else makes you feel calmer that isn’t food.

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude
I know, the first two weeks I lost 4lb, so 8lb in total. I think I am just overreacting due to stress, so will take my 4th 2.5mg as planned tonight and see how it goes and hope I don't feel the need to eat as much. I may start having a well needed de-clutter to keep my mind occupied.

Zava is £204 for 12.5mg. see this for some other prices. Although click isn't that cheap

@ObsidianTree So all looking dearer than 170 for 12.5.
I think I may risk Curate then......

Blimey these threads move fast!

for anyone who has had no or slow results on 2.5 according to posters on Reddit (both U.K. and US) that’s completely normal and more usual than not it seems - which makes me feel better as I’ve lost a grand total of 3lbs after 5 weeks 😭

I went up to 3.75 on Monday after taking my last 2.5 on Friday, have had decent appetite surpression this week and a bit of indigestion but nothing major so am hopeful for 5mg and up. Under normal circumstances I’d risk going up to 5 tomorrow but am away at the weekend sharing a room (and bathroom!) with a friend so don’t want to risk it, will wait till next Monday.

I’m staying with medexpress for now as can’t be bothered with the faff of changing for the sake of a few £ may reconsider once I’m up to 10. Agree with PPs who said their needles are rubbish, I’m using the carepoint ones.

@montysma1 don't think anyone is as low as £170 for 12.5mg

If you sign up to Zava with a 15% off referral code, that would probably be the closest.

@montysma1 this code hasn't been used for Zava yet

@CiderJabs and @ObsidianTree I haven’t tried to reorder. I’ve been with Asda since the start and they’ve been direct to others who asked on not below 25. I won’t lie and it would probably take them a week to return my money.

Yes, I have a stash ;)

Here is a NSV I actually want to cry laughing about. I got two summery dresses on Vinted from ASOS. Size 12.

They are both too big 😲

Oh here you all are! I thought the thread had gone quiet today I'm a bit downhearted today, took my third 2.5 yesterday and suppression is good but the food noise is unreal. My brain is screaming at me to get a takeaway for dinner and I deserve it because I've had a shit day and all the usual guff.

Thank you!

I wonder what their base price is on 12.5 with code.

Also are there not posts about them rejecting transfers who are below 30 even though they have proof of previous prescription?
I guess I could tell a wee porky pie .......

Mainly been lurking but I’d be interested in people’s views on calorie counting while on MJ (or after). I’ve been on it since start of April, first month was pretty good, nearly a stone lost, since then more of a plateau.

Well a bit up and down, I’d had tons of travel, for work and a holiday, so lots of meals out and quite a lot of booze (I’ve not found it’s done all that much to reduce my appetite for that!) .

Anyway, trying to be more determined in the 3 weeks I’ve got coming up, where there are fewer excuses! I have always tended to count calories (though not on holiday) but I’m just wondering if I need to shift away from that kind thing of mentality.

I’m just thinking I’ve been dieting for more than 30 years and is MJ a chance to listen to appetite (or lack of) and build healthier patterns where everything isn’t totted up?? I think the calorie counting can make me a wee bit obsessive but without it I’m not sure I’d feel in control.

I do tend to eat fairly healthily at home, chicken/avocado salad lunch, fish and veg tea, or veggie curry, fruit and nuts for snacks. Nights out and travel are a bit different. Sorry this is a bit rambling but the excellent posts about mothers and attitudes to diet rang true for me and I’m just wondering if it’s time to take a step away from calorie counting … or if that’s top risky. What do others reckon?

Their price for 12.5mg is £204. With 15% off that would be £173.40 plus postage.

I calorie count as i want to be sure of deficit. It's so easy to go over if you aren't logging. Like, one little square of butter is 90 calories, daily milk in tea is 100. They soon mount up and i think get ignored if you don't log. So you think you are in deficit but aren't. It's calorie creep.
Logging personally keeps me focussed. But it's not for everybody

I'm not calorie counting - been there, done that, didn't find it helpful for me. Days of sticking within my limit with no loss, whilst feeling VERY HUNGRY ALL THE TIME, just led to frustration and giving up (couldn't shake the idea of 'shoulds' - ie I should be losing weight when I've reduced my intake this much).
I am upping protein, focusing on healthy fats, loads of veg and berries, largely avoiding UPFs (apart from protein powder) and largely avoiding refined sugars. Also have taken a long hard look at portion sizes and eating much smaller amounts. All the right stuff, just that MJ means I'm actually sticking to it without difficulty.
Suppression was a bit different this week - was hungry on day 3 and 4 when I'd usually feel strong suppression, tomorrow's jab day and the food noise is usually back by now but I'm not bothered about food today at all.
Felt like I should have lost weight these last 2 days yet have gained 0.2kg - still waiting for my whoosh!
7.5mg jab tomorrow, week 16 I think, 9kg lost so far, 21kg left to go.

Thanks. That was kind of my thinking at the start but then the travel tripped me up a bit. I think with the exception of the recent trips my lifestyle isn’t too bad - low carb, pretty active and been recovering from injury so will be able to increase that with more running and gym. Don’t really have to rein in chocolate booze is still a bit of an issue, especially on holidays etc. So hmm. Husband suggested I might do better just trusting myself to look after myself and it made me think - but can absolutely see both sides of it!

Yeah and I also see it this way! I will keep mulling. I think I would ideally like to escape from thinking about diet so much, and MJ has given me a taste of that

Yea I think this is what I’m aiming at, I just didn’t quite let go of the calorie counting, and now I’m thinking maybe it’s time. And sorry I’m not that good at navigating Mumsnet, realised my replies to the other ladies aren’t posted properly below the comments. But all of these are really helpful!

Evening all! Any recommendations for tasty protein yogurts? I tried one earlier and it just wasn’t worth it. Thanks x