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:

@Choux
its a medium size brown box, larger if you order a sharps bin. It says refrigerate. But maybe say it is a delivery of food (pies from Chunk of Devon come in a similar box).

I barely ate on 2.5 as didn't feel hungry at all, but now on 5 and I'm starving all the time. Felt sick at times and achey on 2.5 but feel nothing on 5?! Worried it isn't working!
I've barely lost anything in 5 weeks though, a few lbs if that

@RagzRebooted many thanks. It didn't seem to go to 1, so perhaps a little less than 2.5mg. I topped up from my new 5mg pen (12 clicks) so hope the total dose is higher than 2.5 as I am moving onto 5.0.

The way I read this is that once a pen goes above 9 it has to be used up within 30 days (doesn't matter if its open or unopened). Its annoying though because a lot of us order pens earlier so don't want to use them straight away. Hope you manage to get it sorted x

Could you do that for me for a 5.0mg pen please? Maths is not my strong point. I'll be going from 2.5 to 5 in the next few weeks and would like to increase slowly as impossible have time off work. Thank you in advance and sorry to be a pain.

Had a yuck start to the week!
Shitty depressing weather, got my period, my hayfever got really bad , haven’t been sleeping comfortably as nose so blocked, feel swollen all over my face because of sinusitis.
Weigh in day is tomorrow and I’m sure I have not lost at all and even put on some weight but don’t mind.
It’s weird but I felt I needed some sugar in my body, it wasn’t a real craving so had some sugary things and it has made me feel better and my mood has lifted today.
Also help!!!!
I’m panicking because all this week I have something like a sore throat but it is not. It’s a bit uncomfortable and hurts a tiny bit when I swallow. I thought it was the hayfever but never had this before. Read about MJ and thyroid and now I’m scared. I can’t see/feel a lump but can’t understand why the pain now.
Anyone else??

Thanks @ObsidianTree!

Place marking 🙂

Second week of 5mg. Only lost 1lb which I was a bit disappointed at as haven't changed anything from previous weeks.

For everyone counting clicks - here's a table someone on another forum prepared about how many clicks you need of different size pens to get the dose you want.

Find your pen size across the top, look down for the dose you want and the first column tells you how many clicks you need.

It was not produced by me so if you find an error I am sorry. But take a screenshot if you are a click counter and think it will help.

I've ordered my 7.5mg pen from Medexpress, just because it's convenient for now. I emailed them asking about discount codes, saying that they are no longer in the same price range as other, cheaper suppliers, so could they price match/give a discount code.
Got the worlds most generic response, not answering the question. Still, I need a pen in a couple of weeks, and don't want to faff around with a new supplier and the risk of getting refused.
I will go for Zava I think though as well, and get a small stock in so that I can titrate down if/when needed (not for a while though, still a way to go), but would like a bit of a reserve.
Heading back home tomorrow, almost looking forward to weighing in on Sunday. I've only been home for 3 days in about the last 3 weeks!

Thanks. I'll add to the starting info on next thread

I did exactly the same with my 7.5 pen a few days ago. Not worth the faffing to save £20 although in a few weeks things may change. My BMI is under 30now in fact (goes and checks) its now 27.6 and i have read all the issues some of us have had switching.

Thing are changing so rapidly i want to wait as long as possible, expecting prices to go down at some point in the next few weeks!

@pinktransit I ordered from ZAVA and, due to it only having one ice pack, it arrived at room temperature so I don't think they are a good supplier to build up a stock with. MedExpress use two and they were still hard in the middle when my order from them arrived so the pen was colder.

I don't know what the answer is - perhaps we should all tell ZAVA to use more ice packs. And send swabs!

ZAVA code for anyone who wants it. REFAKK3M

Maximum discount value: £30

Ugh. Zava have just cancelled my order. Apparently I'm not suitable for Mounjaro and should try moderating my diet and doing more exercise instead!!

I've double checked that I inputted my height and weight correctly. I have no idea what's going on. I'm not on any medication and don't have any medical issues. I'm nowhere near a healthy BMI so definitely not that.

This is just so frustrating.

Sorry for the rant. Needed to vent.

I love this explanation of food noise. This is so true and my head was like this before taking mounjaro.

I also love this lady. She's great

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeba5bBg/

Oh no! Is your BMI under 30?

Maybe message them and ask why? As it sounds like it must be a mistake

Hmm well I’ll hope for glad tidings from the hypothalamus in the coming days 🤞

@MountKilimounjaro maybe try Curate? @montsyma1 used them and said yesterday they accepted her and they are pretty good price wise with their 15% off code.

https://curatehealth.co.uk/mounjaro/?gl=119mrpyayagaMTQ3NzkyNDg0OC4xNzE4MzYzMDkyygaa_V29SM4XRDJ*MTcxODM2MzA5Mi4xLjEuMTcxODM2MzEwOC4wLjAuMA..

If I was going to complain to Med Express I've always found the line, I look forward to your response before I write my trust pilot review, very helpful in getting somewhere!

@tusktusk I’ve got to decide quite soon if my next pen (3) will be 2.5 or 5. A week ago I was certain it needed to be 5 but this week, whilst on holiday I’ve felt 2.5 has been fine.

Thank you very much.

@Cerialkiller oh I wish my BMI was under 30! Very definitely not. But appreciate the suggestion.

@ObsidianTree I do hope it's a simple mistake so have messaged them to find out what is going on. Nervous I'll be stuck in a relentless 'computer says no' situation.

Thanks @choux for the Curate recommendation, will take a look.

Wouldn't have any of these issues if MedExpress showed some loyalty to their pricing promises they made originally. With this being such a long term thing any saving is vital and makes a big difference.

@MountKilimounjaro apologies Zava turned me down so you won't get that credit. BMI of 27.5 down from 31 at the start of MJ. Has anyone successfully overturned a Zava refusal when BMI under 30?

Will repurchase with the Family Chemist using thefamilychemist £10 off code 10mg is £165.97 including postage