Continuing Mounjaro...part 14

[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.
https://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:

Zava medical:
2.5mg £139, 5mg £139, 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. 12.5mg £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 £149, 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £179, 12.5mg £199

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, 12.5mg £194

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

There are others not listed.

18 - Worried about your supply being cut off when you get to a healthy BMI? Below is some info on some places maintenance plans.

MedExpress: Once at healthy BMI continue on maintenance dose for 6 months and then step down medication and monitor loss
The Family chemist :Would consult you as approached healthy BMI to discuss maintenance under close supervision
Curate: up to 2 years
Cloud: up to 2 years
Boots: Cut off at BMI 23
Asda: Cut off at a healthy BMI
Pharmacy2u: Will supply for maintenance
Bolt:Individual assessment once BMI 22
Zava:Once healthy BMI will stop prescribing this treatment

19 - 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

13th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5096704-continuing-mounjaropart-13?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out in June:

https://www.mumsnet.co
m/talk/weightlosschat/5082791-mounjaro-june-24-starters

Video on how to inject:

@WannabeHealthier good to know. 50g is a good day for me so now I feel a bit better!

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright thats really disappointing.

Which sub was it on?

Did the person question them? I thought someone on Reddit asked and they said they'd support for 6 months! Maybe the person needs to email them and question why they were rejected.

I need to do some strength training as I'm worried about losing muscle, but don't really know where to begin. I don't have time to get to a gym, and really need something for short bursts. Is that possible, or wouldn't it be enough, please?

It was on r/mounjaromaintenanceuk in the thread at the top with the spreadsheet. The most recent comments from people who have emailed them have said they will stop at 25.

I have an NSV!

Ive been wearing my Apple Watch on the 3rd hole since I got it three years ago. Today I’ve been wearing it on the 2nd hole 😀

Nice one! My ring just slide off when I was washing up....a slightly disappointing NSV as I really like that ring.

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright
That's really disappointing as I was gonna stick with Medexpress, despite the higher prices, just so I'd be with them all the way through and on into maintenance. I might email them about it - no incentive to stay if that's the case.

I'm not surprised by the BMI 25 thing from MedExpress. Didn't we suspect a few threads back that their BMI 23 thing was just for people from ethnic backgrounds where you're considered overweight at a lower BMI?

I'm currently thinking of switching to Bolt for my next pen. Their prices seem ok and I feel like they've given some considered answers when people have asked questions from what I've seen reported back here. Haven't 100% decided yet though. I'm so far from maintenance that it isn't really an issue for me.

Yes. I feel like we had already established that med express wasn't going to prescribe once you get to a healthy BMI. I think someone might have asked them at that time.

Ah I hadn't thought of that. Very disappointing. I might get my next one from somewhere else in that case. I was originally with Pharmacy2u but they are more expensive. Not sure they will take me back as my bmi is now 29.9 and it seems to be more providers are rejecting people even though they started over 30. Hmm...

Well it's definitely made my mind up not to return to med express!

I might have to move to bolt also.

But will email them before hand and double check their stance on maintenance first!

Report back on what they say @ObsidianTree!

I wish the difference in taste was only negligible 😄

I have just emailed them! Will report back what they say

I haven't enjoyed any of the protein yogurts/pudding things I've tried, if much rather greek yogurt with honey and fruit, but realise that not everyone feels the same.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGepYR63Y/

I do like this guy, he's quite funny. Might not be for everyone though 😆
This video isn't comparing like for like though. I am trying to find the guy who did!

Body weight training is good start point things like plank, squats, lunges, press-ups in different forms. Find a person you like on you tube 20mins and try it 3x a week. A few years back I just did Jillian Michaels The Shred dvd 3x a week and I was so toned after 6months. You can add in weights later. If you want to lift heavy weights best to get someone to show you as so many bits to tweak technique to get it right.

Sadly Royal Mail have failed to deliver my Zava package today. It was dispatched yesterday and now when they deliver tomorrow no one is going to be in, thoughts on it being in transit for so long and not in the fridge? Ice packs will be well melted by now

I don't aim for 100g either - I have a PT who told me to aim for 1-1.5g per kg of body weight. I'm now roughly 64kg so I aim for 70-90. I like the fruity shake and take collagen but the rest is real food.
I've changed my exercise routine and have reduced the amount of cardio and increased weight / core / strength training. I feel like the shape of my body is changing and I'm toning up so it must be working.
My weight is still stuck at 10st1 and I'm feeling rough at 7.5 😢

If you want a gentler strength I like yoga with Adrienne yoga for strength video it’s 40mins long I do that to mix it up on easier days. Plus Joe Wickes has some stiuff for older folk now which is a slightly slower version of some of his key body weight moves.

Thank you! This is absolutely my ethos (do not get me started on Zoe). I am struggling to hit even 40g but like you, don’t eat UPF and cook from scratch.

sage words - thank you!!

I've been getting really bad dizziness when I stand up after sitting down. Google tells me it's called orthostatic hypertension and I probably need to drink more water. I was starting to get a bit worried, fingers crossed more hydration does the trick. I used to get it sometimes but it's really ramped up.

@KeepingUndercover

My first thought was are you eating enough? If I ever get a bit lightheaded I can usually pinpoint it to having not had enough that day.

@KeepingUndercover please check your blood pressure too - mine has tanked since MJ and it was already at the lower end of normal. But also make sure you are eating and drinking enough

I'm pretty sure I'm eating enough. I get it on my less suppressed and more suppressed days. I do think it's hydration.