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:

I think Curate pharmacy

Ah bugger. I got excited and thought MedExpress was honouring codes again 😂

I think the best deal someone mentioned on the last thread was e surgery with the code RETURN15 for 15% off. I am tempted to switch.

.

@summerlovingvibes i use pliers to grip so I can hard twist to 1. The plunger works as normal. It’s just a bit hard getting it to 1!

@QueenOfHiraeth i hadn’t considered the implications. Ignoring the unofficial 5th dose I’m not massively stock piled and the 2 week ordering helps me schedule when I can be home to receive delivery.

Apologies I should’ve made that clearer. Curate Pharmacy. So 2.5mg was £123

First 24h done ✔️

No side effects other than a bit of a gurgling tummy and extreme thirst last night.

Fri - jabbed at 3pm, had salad for tea, felt like I had had a large roast.

Today - thought about 2pm oh I'd better have something.. fruit, Greek yogurt, all bran. Finished it but I could have easily stopped. Felt disproportionately full again.
7pm - we were out and had already planned a chippy tea. I didn't order my own though, shared OH - had 6 chips, 2 chicken strips and a bit of mushy peas.

Had an orange at 8pm.

This is a very odd feeling not being bothered about food.

Like I said, I'm not aiming this at anyone, I feel happier getting my next pen with a bit of leeway so I'm not panicking about it too!
It just struck me when people were mentioning this 2 weeks with MedExpress that there is a potential for abuse of their system there. I know it's different in the NHS as we are not only auditing the prescribing decisions but trying to maintain some cost control which does not apply here as we all pay anyway.
I'm more cautious than some prescribers but would be concerned if I thought I had made a prescribing decision today but the medication was not going to be used until months down the line when things may have changed and I might have made that decision differently (if that makes sense)

I've just realised I'm out of antibacterial wipes and won't be likely to get any before I'm due my injection on Monday morning. Does anyone have any suggestions on how else I can sterilise the pen?

@BlackFriYay
maybe hand sanitizer on a cotton wool pad?

Good idea! Thank you 😊

@ThirdStorm thank you. Unfortunately I'm in Turkey at the moment on holiday with no pliers! Hence me bringing an old 2.5 to use up. But now you've explained I'm fully prepared to do whatever it takes to twist if - haha! Thinking I could use the door to act like pliers - my Gramps always used to open stuck jar lids like this! Thank you.

@summerlovingvibes some people have used their teeth! If you have an elastic band, wind it around the top so you can get a grip to twist with your hand? Can’t think of anything else. “Pliers” in Turkish is “pense” !!

Question for those using protein supplements: clear whey drinks, protein shakes etc.

I was absolutely fine on them for the first three months but I'm finding in the past week they are causing me to have an upset tummy very soon after drinking.

Has anyone else found this? I'm feeling really disappointed about it as it's such an easy way to try to keep my protein levels up for few calories.

I've never had issues with lactose/dairy before. I do have sensitivity to some preservatives like MSG and the reactions are similar. I always know within 20-30 minutes if I've eaten something my body doesn't agree with.

I watched a video on Youtube about how to get the bonus dose out and they just forced it by hand - didn't look that hard at all, so hopefully you'll be fine.

I forced the pen by hand for my last bonus dose and can confirm that it was perfectly easy!

I usually feel really fatigued the day after I've taken a dose and i spend most of the day pottering ariund the house or just lying on the sofa. Today though, it's like someone has wound me up. I went running this morning, scrubbed the house, then on a hours bike ride and I'm still bouncing off the walls like a hyperactive toddler. Dh has sent me out with the dog as he wants peace to watch tv.

I have my first weird feeling stomach tonight. I had my dinner which I gave often and is low fat high protein. DH and DC had chippy. I pinched TWO chips. I also had TWO fizzy jelly sweets. Surely it couldn't be that? I feel like I've got a really bad attack of the acid tummy. Just had to take gaviscon. I'm on my second week of 2.5. I'm now a bit worried I'll be poorly if I eat anything a bit fatty or sugary.

The twist thing I managed to do it by hand but then couldn't get it to plunge on my first one. Second pen again by hand and it worked as normal to inject.

@AnnaDor Can you give the link to the video as I can't find it by searching... just how to inject the first dose.

There's a video link in the very first post in the thread about how to inject

@diian

Are the proteins you're having 'clean', or do they contain artificial sweeteners, fillers etc.? It could well be these you're sensitive to.