Continuing Mounjaro...part 13

[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
furthet 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, 12mg £204. 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 £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £179, 12.5mg £199

Asda:
2.5mg and 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189, 12.5mg £204

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

12th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5090788-continuing-mounjaro-thread-12?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:

BMI 21 my arse

🤣 yeah you're probably right!

After being on this for nine weeks now, yesterday for the first time I got the full low blood sugar shakes that I used to get when dieting. It was only 11am, and I'd had breakfast, but really needed to eat and I was out for the day. Not sure where that came from. Next time I will put a protein bar in my bag.

Having bagged up all my size 20 clothes, I have come to the realisation that my bras no longer fit. I really need to sort that out, but don't want to invest in getting many new now, when I would hope I will carry on losing the weight.

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright

A few ideas:

• Aloe Vera tablets, I take one every day and it has really helped
• Generic laxatives from the supermarket for if it gets uncomfortable. I haven't needed them for a few weeks but was taking one a week for a short while.
• Adding more fibre. Since eating rye crisp breads with my lunch (2-3 with ham, salad, cheese, apple as a meal) I haven't had to take the laxatives. I don't have them every day, maybe 3 times/week?

Good luck, it's miserable to be blocked up.

Hello, this is my first post. I’ve been following everyone’s story and am due to start my second month on Mounjaro on the 5ml pen tomorrow. I’ve been ordering from medexpress but thinking of swapping to zava for the discount. How easy is it to swap and what proof of dosage do you need to send?

A long post here...
I have had a quite scary week.
I did 4 weeks on 2.5, the bonus dose from that pen was about 3, then a week at 3.75 and then last Monday I went up to 5.
Tuesday I had complete appetite suppression and was really forcing myself to eat but did eat. I started vomiting about midnight and had D&V all night, getting scarcely any sleep. Wednesday I didn't really eat anything and scarcely drank anything either as the thought of food & drink was so off putting, I think due to a combination of appetite suppression from the MJ and psychologically. Thursday, I made myself eat and drink although the only things I really ate were plain carbs. Thursday night I had D&V again pretty much all night. Friday, again, I scarcely ate. I made myself eat in the evening and felt much better for it. Saturday I had appetite suppression but could eat. Sunday was almost a perfect day as I ate healthy, nutritious meals at meal times and had no food noise in between. Today I woke up hungry and was very ready for lunch.
What really concerned me last week was that, for three days, I had pain in my lower back which I think may have been kidney or possibly even pancreas related rather than lower back and due to my incredibly low calorie & liquid intake. I knew I needed to do something about it but just couldn't face putting anything in my mouth. I was also massively sleep deprived from two nights with D&V. I have a high pressure role, spend 90 mins driving to work & back each day and have DC and the usual household stuff. I did the very basics but really wasn't in a good place.
Despite all of that, I only lost the 2lbs I'd gained whilst away the previous week! In the 4 weeks I was on 2.5ml, I lost 6lbs. In the following 3 weeks, I have lost 4lbs.
Given the extreme reaction and the fact that the suppression is completely wearing off by the end of the week, I'm going to drop my dose back to 3ml and consider splitting it. I was really conscious last week that I was essentially starving myself when I want to use this to build good habits. This is supposed to be a positive not a form of self harm.
I am going to stick with it. I may have only lost 10lbs and, like others, am surprised at how little difference it has made to my clothes but it certainly has made a close as I am looking less sausage like. It has cleared the food noise and a lot of the other noise which used to fill my brain. I am also feeling a lot less like a failure. I used to wake up every day planning on that being the day I made good decisions about food and every day I'd end up eating more calories or sugar than I should, whether just one biscuit or binging, beating myself up and feeling lesser for it. That just isn't a factor at the moment.

Sorry you're going through a bad time @thehousewiththesagegreensofa

Hopefully it settles down soon. I also am struggling with my dose. Second week now I have reacted to my lose dose and that was a reduction. I might have to reduce again for next dose.

I also have struggled to eat. Been trying to drink a lot though. Although I'm sure I'm still pretty dehydrated as it feels like everything is coming back out! What a mess aye! Hope it settles down!

Have you tried psylum husks? Fibre tablets? They keep me regular.... When I'm not suffering from diarrhea that is!

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright i was also going to recommend the psyllium husks (I get them via Amazon, the solgar ones) but @ObsidianTree beat me to it! They are brilliant.

I second the solgar ones. Easy to swallow

Thanks all. I have been taking those Solgar ones for a couple of days but no luck yet. Do they take a while to work? I’m going to see the Foo Fighters this weekend and I don’t want the great unblocking to happen then 🤣

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa i have complete sympathy for you as your experience sounds very similar to mine when I tried to move up. I had 4 days of D&V the first week and 3 days the second. I just couldn’t take the risk of another week like that so I went down to 3mg and I now take 3mg every 5 days. The suppression isn’t as strong as the higher dose but it still keeps me from bingeing and I still get fuller quicker. I might try to titrate up again slowly once the schools break up and I dont have to worry about the school run. For now this is working ok!

Are there any other vitamins or supplements people would suggest? I take a generic multivitamin but am aware that given I’m sometimes struggling to eat much I want to make sure I’m covering the basics. Going to look for psyllium husks in Holland and Barratt tomorrow. I hate swallowing big tablets though which is why I have childish gummy vitamins- probably need to get over that!

People are starting to notice my weightloss and I don't know how to handle it. I've only told one friend and my adult kids about using Mounjaro. I know it's controversial with some people and I just can't face the conversations.

Any experiences to share?

I see Zava are also doing two packs of pens now too, which works out nicely if you only have one 15% code.

I've decided I'm going to wait until closer to needing my next pen in case the prices drop.

I haven't seen that the 15% vouchers have an expiry, does anyone know?

Just say thank you and move the convo on. If they keep pushing just say that you e been watching what you eat/calorie counting/stopped eating chocolate etc. It wont be that far from the truth, you’re just not mentioning the flab jab 🙂

I am honestly so disgusted and shocked by not only the absolutely revolting fat shaming going on but also the sheer volume of misinformation being spouted on that other thread! And just when I thought it was all dying down we got the icing on the cake "MY MIL/MATE CANT GET HER INSULIN COS FATTIES CANT PUT THE BISCUITS DOWN"
Like really. Aside from the fact that that statement is completely incorrect. The shame that some people feel by their weight and worrying what strangers think of how they look (this is very much me) to the point they (I) decide to better themselves and that's still wrong. And to see all that fat hating shit and downright nasty comments just confirmed everything that I felt about how others perceived me. Genuinely ashamed to be human right now.

That's what I did the other day when a friend asked and I felt really bad for fibbing as she was then talking about her weight issues. I ended up messaging her afterwards and being truthful and said I'd be happy to discuss my experiences with MJ.

I don't want to make other people feel bad for lacking my "willpower". Maybe I should lie without shame to slim friends and share away with the plump? 🤔 But what about mixed groups???

Interesting to see that you are doing the same @Ghilliedu.
Where are being getting the swabs from? I have spare needles but not the swabs.
I'm sorry to hear you've been struggling @ObsidianTree. It's a shock when you've been fine previously, isn't it. I am lucky and rarely pick up stomach bugs. I don't think I've been sick for 5 if not 10 years!

@Abigailandthefoxes@FastGoose I know. It's pretty shitty. I don't get why these misinformed people feel so strongly about it. They don't go around questioning whether depression or anxiety is real, but the question of obesity being a disease is fair game to question and deny existence!

Sorry Abigail. Can't untag!

@Thebaldprimadonna I think when it's friends that suffers with weight then it's probably easier to be truthful. But these things get out so easily!

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa was definitely a shock. I felt like I'd been coping on the meds so well! Now have to eat my words! 🤣

In my experience people want to know how they can get some of what I’m on.

with my sisters, I said I’ve lost x weight and the first thing they said was “are you on ozempic” 😂 I think it’s prob just assumed these days