Continuing Mounjaro...part 15

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro will only be be prescribed initially if your BMI is above 30. If you have additional health conditions you can get the medication with a BMI 27. (Prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart problems)

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 - Some people find that they don't need to go up a pen dose each month if the current pen dosage is working well for them. If you are unsure when to go up, speak to your prescriber.

8 - The move up from 2.5mg to 5mg can be quite a shock to the system. Some people chose to take 3.75mg dosage for a few weeks to ease the transition.

9 - If you are having bad side effects after titrating up or you are struggling to eat your calories each day, your dose may be too high so should consider lowering your dose. Speak to your prescriber if unsure.

10 - 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

11 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.

12 - 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

13 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss.
Some natural sources of protein:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

14 - 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.

15 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

16 - 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.

17 - 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
further reading about injection sites and the effects: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618

18 - 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.

19 - 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.

20 - Some of the places you can order from are:
MedExpress:
2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169.99, 10mg £189.99. 12.5mg £209.99. 15mg £209.99 Coupon codes no longer working!
The Family Chemist:
2.5mg and 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £169, 12.5mg £194, 15mg £199
Zava medical:
2.5mg £139, 5mg £139, 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. 12.5mg £204. 15mg £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, 15mg £199
Asda:
2.5mg and 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189, 12.5mg £204 15mg £204
There are others not listed.

21- You will still be prescribed Mounjaro when your BMI falls below 30. However, it may be harder to move suppliers once you BMI is below 30 if you wanted to move.

22 - Worried about your supply being cut off when you get to a healthy BMI? Below is some info on some places maintenance plans.
The Family chemist :Would consult you as approached healthy BMI to discuss maintenance under close supervision(if you started with family chemist)
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 and does offer maintenance
Zava:Once healthy BMI will stop prescribing this treatment
Med Express: BMI 25 and cut off.

23 - 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
14th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5102149-continuing-mounjaropart-14?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out in July:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5101435-mounjaro-july-2024

Video on how to inject:

Adding onto the conversation on the last thread regarding clothes sizes.. I think clothes sizes are so triggering for fat people! In my irrational mind a size 8 or 10 is what you are when you’re skinny and when I just read other people my height (5ft8) being 11st but still being in a size 14/16 I had the thought ‘what’s the point’ (in MJ) as that’s still plus size. And to get to 11st I will have lost 8+stone in total to only be in a size 14/16?!

I’m in a size 22 still now at 17st8 and whenever I thought about being skinny I imagined myself fitting into these tiny size 8 clothes. The conversation I read has really made me sit and have a word with myself about why my brain automatically went to making into a negative. Why is being a size 14/16 a bad thing?

I’ve realised that this is something that has been pushed on young girls and really women of all ages through clothes websites, magazines and tv. Not to mention clothes sizes being different in each shop and lack of plus sizes in high street stores. I always felt shame going into a shop and having to look at the very back of the stand for the biggest size only to realise a size 18 was the biggest.

Yes 11st May be a size 14 but I will still be 8 stone lighter! I’m finding that MJ is allowing me to be more patient with myself and a lot more rational. As this mindset has been one which has made dieting be unsuccessful for so many years and get to the ‘fuck it’ stage after a few weeks.

this thread is so encouraging, helpful and motivating, even to hear others struggles and battles and to finally know we’re not alone in these thoughts. Life hasn’t been fair to me and it certainly hasn’t been for some on here from what I’ve read but I’m so proud of myself and you all for taking this plunge in doing something kind for ourselves after so many years of being hurtful to ourselves

sorry for the long message and just feeling particularly reflective tonight

I suppose the app version of Mumsnet is quite fiddly. It's hard to get to page 1. Well if there is a way I haven't figured it out! I used the web version as it's easier to navigate.

That is a great feeling! To actually want to dress up! Enjoy the event ☺️

@GreyFinch I'm just under 5 foot 9 and when I weighed 11 stone 4 I was very much a size 10. Yes there would be some variation as shops do vary.

What I've always found hard, probably more so at my smallest is that variation. When I was at my smallest I would have been overjoyed to be in a shop where I was an 8 and upset to pick up something small fitting that was a 12 to the point I wouldn't have bought it. I find now I'm a bit older and wiser I just wear what fits me and try to ignore the label. It is very hard to change that mindset though, really bloody hard.

@GreyFinch I agree. Since realizing I can get to the weight I want to be at with mj, I've been wanting to be slim. So it is a bit triggering that even if the lowest I can get to is a 14, I would still be deemed plus size by sociality standards.

I will work on my way of thinking! Although would be nice if they had sizes based on height bracket so we can be a size 10 at 5 foot 8🤣

@guestusername yes sorry I was just wondering if there was something negative making you think 3.75 was too much for you.

@easterbuns1 thats exactly my thinking, we have put so much emotion into these numbers on a piece of fabric rather than concentrating how we feel in our bodies, how we look and how much progress we have made. Moving forward I'm definitely going to have to tell myself this daily as like you say it’s so difficult to change these mindsets after so many years. I’m going to try find some more NSVs!

No, purely the level of suppression. I wasn’t expecting it to be this strong

@ObsidianTree yes please 😂 it just comes back to the comparisons we make with others without even realising we’ve done it half of the time

@guestusername yes it basically makes you not hungry so you can prioritise good quality meals to ensure you are getting calories and nutrients without over indulging or bingeing.

I probably have about half an hour each week where I feel slightly hungry on jan day morning. The rest of the time I could just not eat at all but I'd probably pass out or something I've not tested it, I make myself eat approx 1000 calories a day. I was eating up to 1400 cals but not losing much.

Today for example I've had 2 slices of buttered brown toast for lunch, chocolate almonds as a snack, a chickpea and rice tikka thing for dinner which I managed half, some mandarin segments and a clear protein drink.

What I have found is anything requiring more than about ten forkfuls I just get bored of eating it. So I try and bear that in mind when making my meals.

@imnottoofussed thank you. I’ve been on MJ since the beginning of April. Up u til last week I stayed on 2.5mg as it was working for me but I felt as though it was time to make the jump but gradually as my various side effects lasted for about a month and didn’t want to have them again. I have eaten this evening and all is well 🙂

Sorry to lower the tone but has anybody else noticed their baps heading down south?

They weren't amazing to begin with after 4 pregnancies but fucking hell after losing 3 stone... 😵‍💫 #flatlined #deflated

Not lost enough yet but I'm definitely expecting it

@guestusername excellent

At this point I'm honestly bored of thinking of what to eat and bored of actually eating half the time.

Mine have always been crap, my weight going up and down hasn't helped...so yes...I think getting to a healthy bmi will have me literally rolling them up and just using a bit of tape!

Hello everyone I've been reading your threads for a while now. I've been on MJ since 1 April, and lost 3st 1lb and not really suffered from side effects.
Still have another 3.5 stone to go but feels amazing to be almost at the half way point.

The biggest change for me has been the quietness of the food noise. I'm just not bothered about cooking or eating

On a non food related thing, my summer sandals are way too loose for me, can't believe I've lost weight on my feet 👣.

That's good that you have eaten. Did you feel hungry or was it more of a 'I should eat'?

It sounds like you are very sensitive to it. I'm not - I'm losing about 1.5lbs a week but have moved up with every pen. Currently on 10mg and I will try 12.5mg when it's time for a new pen.

If you are having no appetite it doesn't mean you couldn't eat at mealtimes. Even if you have something small. Maybe think of yourself as a toddler - you get given food, you might eat well or you might pfaff around with it and only eat a bit.

@BlackFriYay yeah I've put my membership in for the saggy tits club sadly. Also don't think I'm shifting my horrible overhang belly. Lush.

I was hungry. Not a surprise really. Yesterday was a write off anyway and today I've just been busy. I’ll be meal planning tomorrow! I’ll persevere and make a dosage decision on Wednesday when next jab is due 🙂

Ditto the overhang.

I'm finding comfort in the fact that atleast it's easier to disguise by clothes once at a lower weight. I'm not winning any prizes in the buff but it's only me who has to look at that for now 😂

Thanks @ObsidianTree!

Anyone finding other things outside of weight loss changing? I've been on mounjaro for about a month now and have lost a stone, I've been eating much healthier and exercising and doing strength training for the first time in years, I've also started meditating. I notice now that I am also doing other things like tackling jobs I've been putting off for ages (years in some cases), or doing things I would have felt too anxious to do like booked tickets to a once in a lifetime concert that none of my friends nor my husband would enjoy and am going myself!

I still have loads more weight to lose before I am a healthy BMI or bodyfat percentage but I just have a lot more get up and go now. I just feel like it will take months to a year to lose the weight and so why not just start working on being who I want to be right now its also helping that I am not obsessing over the weight loss partly because the mounjaro makes it much easier to stick to my planned deficit.

Anyone else finding this?

@BlackFriYay 😂 very true. I'm going to get some m&s shape wear I think. Some industrial bolstering.

So apparently Coke Zero helps with sulphur burps. Might be worth a try if you are struggling.