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:

@Slimstar13 awesome, well done! Great you're finding the 10mg so good. I've got a 10mg lurking in the fridge and am currently on my second 7.5 as for some reason I'm worried about moving up to 10 (was an excited pup about moving to 5 and 7.5 previously).

@Mounjaroooooh it's week 1. Just focus on how you do an 2.5mg injection and leave all the clicks and bonus doses for another time.

Watch a video or two and get the leaflet out of the box. It has diagrams and notes to help you know you have done the right process. You have time turn a long way to get to 1 on the plunger.

I just hold the pen against my thigh and let gravity push it in. It's completely painless. I also wait 10-20 seconds after injecting before removing the needle so the Mounjaro disperses a bit. I rarely see medication on my skin when I take it out and gave never seen any blood. Good luck!

Thank you, I wanted to try and read up on everything but I don't think that's helped! You're right, focus on week 1 and go from there...onwards and downwards!

@spamm you look great. Very noticeable difference. Well done.

I am far too shy to put my pictures up. Mainly because of the awful mismatching pyjamas I had on for my application pictures. I wish I had taken more fat pictures now as I too struggle to believe I lost over two stone.

Well done to all the amazing losses this week!

I’ve weighed in a day early this week because we’re off on holiday later today and I won’t have my scales - lost 1lb which I am baffled by as I really enjoyed myself at the wedding last weekend and haven’t noticed much suppression at all the rest of the week. But I’ll take it.

Going to do a jab before I go and when I’m back I’m going to focus on trying to move up the doses. I’ve been on 3mg for quite a few weeks but have had lots on so have been too scared to try to move up again after last time. Now we are in the school hols (I’m in Scotland) I feel like it’s the time to try as I’ve got less on my plate.

hope everyone has a great week!

Ooh and just realised that 1lb loss takes me under 200lbs - just! That was my first mini goal so I’m pleased with that!

SW 223.8
CW 199.8

still feels like I have a long way to go but determined to get there

@Ghilliedu wow done on getting out of the 200s! It's an amazing feeling isn't it?

I'm having a dilemma. I normally inject on Sunday morning but am thinking I would like to move it to Saturday as I always feel crap the day after and I would rather not feel crap at work. Last injection I used the bonus dose to have 3.75 and my next is due to be 5. Should I move to Saturday this week or am I going to regret that?

Just popping in to see all the successes and get some inspiration.

I’ve plateaued for 2 weeks and am a bit despondent as am going on holiday next week and had hoped to loose 3-4lbs before going. Trying to focus on NSV (can wear wedding rings after 6 years; bought some new clothes in size 12, had to buy new bras etc) rather than feel hacked off that I still have 1.5stone to go before I get to 25BMI. Am already on 15mg of Mounjaro so nowhere to go on that!

I was looking forward to my holiday for the first time in ages, as am always overweight/unfit/self conscious - but am now worried that if I can’t lose weight on 1000cal/day, I will have to not eat while away which will cause tension with the family (esp with DH who expects me to be able to drink prosecco but the bucket, when these days 1-2 is all I can tolerate, and certainly not every day). There is a gym and lots of opportunity for walks/to be active, and I’m thinking I could try to change things up by doing keto (it’s Italy, so loads of salads and fresh fish/meat). Just feel a bit down :(

I've moved a day back before, no issues at all.

Thanks @KrankyKumquat I think I'll do it. If I feel crap at least I won't be at work.

-2lb this week which brings my total loss of the last 5 weeks on 7.5mg to 5lb. Which is less than half my losses on 2.5mg and 5mg. But I haven't given up so a NSV for that I guess.
I've tried to eat a bit more to wake up my metabolism, not sure if that is even a thing. I'm well suppressed and not struggling to make sensible choices at all. Even my alcohol is massively reduced now and it took a while for MJ to effect that but now I can take or leave it. I habitually pour a glass of wine most evenings but don't always finish it and very rarely go for a 2nd. I used to easily drink a bottle a night!

Anyway I'm hoping for some magic to start as I move to my 10mg pen today but it will have to come from metabolism or insulin effects as I can't healthily eat less than I am now...I'm around 1000-1200 calories a day.

I need to order again, MedExpress are reminding me and it's probably nearly 6 weeks since I ordered from them. I also have a 15% off Zava after buying an extra from them last month. From a maintenance point of view I think MedEx is a 25 BMI cut off so there is no advantage of me reordering with them, is there?
I do have an extra 7.5mg pen but I'm saving that so when I get to 25 BMI I'll still have 1-2 months of MJ to use.

I am thinking that water may be the issue, now you mention it! I’ve noticed I sometimes gain weight in the heat/hot weather and think it may be fluid retention - which I think you’re supposed to solve by drinking more! I am crap at drinking.

Will go and fill up a water bottle now and see if that helps! I think, as I have been on this for over a year I may have slightly hit a bit of a wall. I’ve lost nearly 5stone, but still have that final 1.5 to go, and I know the last bit is the hardest, just like in any ‘marathon’. Just hoped to have got there by now.

Thank you for the pep talk!

I started injecting on a Sunday afternoon but think Friday night is a better time for me so I've moved back by about 10 hours over the past few weeks and it was fine.

Because of the possible side effects and wanting to avoid them I'm finding that there are certain things that I feel I NEED to eat each day. E.g. a high fibre cereal in the morning, a protein packed lunch, some fruit, lots of water. By the time I've done all that I'm pretty full so I'm not in anyway feeling 'deprived'. It's a great feeling. I'm also going to start having a bowl of miso soup a day as there's good anecdotal evidence that it helps regulate hormones. Which as a member of the 42 club can't be a bad thing. 😂

If you have done 4 weeks on 2.5 and 1 on 3.75 so already titrating up slower than official recommendations I would just do 5mg a day early.

A lot of people who have side effects from moving up a dose post on here for advice so it feels like side effects are really common. But everyone coping fine isn't posting here to say they are fine so it skews how common side effects are. A minority of people have side effects so chance are you will be fine.

@PlantyPotts I have a cup of Itsu miso soup made from sachets most days. Some days it's because I feel like a snack / want to taste something and often because I am cold in the evening and it's nice and warming.

I love it but haven't found another brand I like other than Itsu which is 40p a cup. I tried a miso paste but it wasn't anywhere near as good. What brand do you have?

For all those here who use My Protein, they have free P&P until 3pm today.

Are you definitely in a deficit and not absentmindedly having extra? Please don't lose hope though, they say the lower dose is for your body to adjust and most people I've spoken to notice a drop after 3 months onwards.

Thank you for all those earlier in the week who sent me ‘whoosh’ thoughts when I popped up complaining about a 3 week stall! (Sitting at the same weight +1lb sometimes when I stepped on the scales). That was 2 days ago and since then I’ve stepped on the scales again and lost another 5lbs?! I haven’t done anything different from last week but clearly my body just needed the extra time to readjust at this point in my journey - usually I would’ve given up after a stall but I’m thankful to MJ for making me keep going!

Thanks @Flowersandbubblegum . While I'm hoping not to calorie count and check macros going forward, I am at the moment with the idea of eventually not needing to do this. That said, like most on here, after many years of various forms of dieting, I have a very good sense of calories. While twice in the last five weeks I have been unable to fully log calories due to being out, I have made the best choices I could (eg salmon and salad), avoiding carbs and desserts and sticking to a single glass of wine. Also compensating by eating little the rest of the day. Calorie intake is between 1250 and 1400. I don't really snack anyway and haven't since starting. I plan all meals, batch cook and portion up etc. to avoid too big portions.
I'm hopeful that higher doses will make a difference. I have minimal side effects so far (tiredness and thirst) which may change as I titrate upwards so it might be that V and D does the job, though not sure how healthy that is!

That's fantastic and gives me hope!

It's the Itsu ones I've bought too

I’m also in the camp of not strictly tracking what I’m eating - I’m aware of the general calories in food after years of dieting and am fed up of logging them in my phone so just trying to eat less processed food/make better choices. I’ve never lost more than 1-2lbs in a week on my journey so far (on dose 2 of my 2nd 5mg pen as I have good suppression and few side effects so didn’t want to go up to 7.5mg even with the stall) so I think this is my biggest drop on the scales which is very surprising as it’s come out of nowhere!

I’m hoping the longer/slower it takes me to lose the weight means my body will get used to being a lower weight easier and reduce the chance of regaining it all when I eventually reach maintenance!

@giraffetasticc good points. I think if I can get to an average of 1-1'5 lbs a week I'll be happy. As you say, the aim is sustainability long term.