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:

Thank you @ObsidianTree So many great comments from you and others here!

Obviously if anyone does get a physical lump on side of neck then they should definitely get it checked out!

@WannabeHealthier thyroid thing as @DreamingofGinoclock has just said. I'm pretty sure that isn't new as it's part of the theoretical thyroid risk. Info on thyroid lumps here: NHS thyroid cancer info

Bad morning here. I have not pooped. I weigh 0.5lbs heavier this morning than last week.

I must persist

I've had two people who imeadatley asked if I was on WL injections, but neither (men) were people I am remotely close to, so just said no, I'm eating less, no snacks etc etc.

I'm really torn, as I have friends who would benefit from MJ, and I do feel a bit of a fraud as although I know I'm doing all the right things re exercise and food, it's MJ that is my secret weapon.

Also, because I don't know how I'm going to maintain this, I can't face people knowing I've spent hundreds to lose weight, to only pile it back on afterwards.

Katie Hopkins is in da house!

She's been on the wine again 😂

I have the worst upset stomach today. This week was my first 5mg dose so I may have to drop to the 3.5mg as I can’t function at the moment.

Thanks for clarifying about the lump - mine is definitely a sensation and not a physical lump so I’m ok!

Weighed in this morning ahead of my third (2.5) dose tomorrow- I’m 6 lb down which I’m very pleased about given my period started today.
If anyone would like to use my voy code I’d be very grateful so I can get a discount before I reorder :-) you get £85 off and I’ll hopefully get 50% off
https://joinvoy.com/r/U-s43exPb2y3

@Notsuchafattynow I've told some of my colleagues, 2 who I thought might benefit - one is now on MJ and one is too scared to try. The other 2 I told because they know me enough to know I couldn't do this alone and it wouldn't have been believable to say I'd overhauled my life. They are both losing weight without help as they aren't obese.

Other than that I've only told my mum (and DP of course). I'm expecting to be grilled by my SIL when I turn up to a family christening in July but won't be telling her as I don't want the probing questions into how I'm affording it.

I've just checked my neck after reading this and I can feel a tiny (smaller than a pea) lump 😬It's under my chin which has gotten slightly smaller since loosing weight so it could always have been there and I've never noticed it. I've never really felt under there before and I have to search for it so it really is tiny! I'm slightly panicking now (have mild health anxiety anyway). I'm going to try to get a doctors appointment just to be on the safe side. Should be fun trying to get through to them as my surgery is in a mess at the minute😞

@DDisnotnormal the thyroid is at the bottom of your neck, not under your chin if that's at all reassuring. Although I think it's worth getting anything you're not sure about checked out.

Update on Curate 12.5mg order.
My pen didn't arrive for 4 days, not their fault, it was the courier, but still I wasn't happy to accept meds if they werent kept cold.

After some strop on my part, they have dispatched a replacement.

The original pen finally arrived yesterday. They told me to reject delivery if I was in, or else discard.
Anyway, I opened it, and against the odds, it's actually still cold😳 after 4 1/2 days.
Ethical dilemma.......will I just keep it?
They can't resell it if send back. And chucking it out ........I dont think I can do it!

Packaging wise, it comes in plastic bag type packaging. One ice pack and all within a wooly insulated inner envelope. Swabs and needles included.
It looks kind of like a clothes order from Shein rather than meds!

So, all in, despite delivery delays, I have found Curate pretty good and responsive to messages. With code, they were the cheapest I could get for 12.5mg.

Would use them again......although with 2x 12 5mg pens in my possession I might not have to! Defo worth considering if you are shopping around.

@montysma1 keep it! Tell them you disposed of it!

Just make sure you use that pen next just incase

Also, I think as they support maintenance it's worth you staying with them as you are close to maintenance

I knew you would say that😅

Yes, will defo use it first.

My little "Cat medication" tupperware container is getting awful full though!

Thank you, I'm probably just being silly and it's always been there!! Can't get through to the GP so I'll try again after 10 x

@montysma1 I'd keep it, use it and be thankful the Mounjaro gods had smiled upon me!

🤣 lol it's an expensive pen to throw in the bin!

Hopefully it will pass for you.

There are a few of us that seem to have had reactions moving up to the 5mg dose. Last week was horrendous for me, ended up spending half a day in A&E unable to keep anything but water down for 5 days. Yesterday was the first day I could actually eat small bland meals. Im not going to jab this week and will go back down to 2.5mg again and titrate very slowly up to 5mg over the next few weeks. Not going through that again.

What is the expiry date on the 5mg pen you used @susiedaisy1912?

Lump in neck aside this has always been the guidance re: barrier contraception, has it not?

@sweetpickle2 yes it has, when I ordered I had to tick a box to say I'd read that guidance and understand it.

Dear lord. Someone on Facebook saying they are buying illegal vials for 2.5g and now they don't have evidence to move to a reputable pharmacy on 5mg. I just get how people can be so stupid?!

Which group?

Apparently lots of idiots around!