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:

In other news... I've just easily slipped in to a pair of brand new size 14 jeans! I bought them over 2 years ago to slim in to and they still had the tags on.
I'm bloody delighted and could cry happy tears.

Hi all!!! I realise I didn’t post on Thursday to confirm yes, I’m at target. 10.7. Over three and a half stone lost.

Many congrats @Soukmyfalafel and I’m doing the same on reducing. I’m also getting interest back in food in a good way and it’s nice to have an appetite again instead of thinking I better eat.

My weight loss is very noticeable. If you have seen the photos I added to our FB group you know. I’m tall so whilst I got away with “carrying it well” I am now slim. I’m a 10/12. I don’t want to aim lower.

Now I am ready for the exercise. Lots more walking. New trainers here and I went a bit nuts in the Sweaty Betty sale. I have to convert buying to doing. Now I’m not lugging round excess weight exercise is actually fun and gives me a buzz.

I will keep posting and reading anyway. We are a team. I’m so glad we are on this journey together.

@NCfor24 I was drinking at that level too. The reduced alcohol is my joint favourite effect with the weight loss. Lifechanging.

I definitely have had some hormone related hunger. The last few days are the first time I've really felt that since starting MJ. This morning's jab has put a stop to it though.

As for the fat shamers, it seems to me that if the fatter people get thinner then the slim ones will not have as many reasons to feel superior. How dare we improve ourselves at the expense of their egos. I bet we have better personalities too.

That's a really good point! Must remember it.
I think most of those people have never been in a close, loving relationship with an obese person (parent, child, partner, best friend) and are simply unable to empathise with the reality of our lifes. They have no experience of watching someone close up, repeatedly struggle and fail to lose weight. They may have managed to lose a few lbs every year, after Christmas, or to get beach body ready by starving themselves for a week or two but have no idea about the difference between that and lifelong, chronic disordered eating and its underlying causes and effects.
My partner of 20 years (eats and drinks like a fool and has maintained a weight of 11st 7lbs throughout) has seen the effort, pain and failure repeatedly. He's gobsmacked by the hard work still needed to lose weight on MJ - the tiny meals, the endless calorie counting, the refusal of favourite snacks, no alcohol, declining of invitations to meals out, GI issues, financial costs, etc. He thought it would be as 'easy' as it was for our mothers who were prescribed amphetamines by their doctors in the 1970s and who basically starved themselves while they bounced off the living room ceiling.

Wait, we have a Facebook group? 😂

@FlappyFish that's incredible, congratulations and well done! Must feel absolutely amazing.

10.7 is also my GW, and also have around 3.5 to lose to get there! Just wondering how long has it taken you? Any other tips??

Posted on the July thread but will say again here, had a really great (unexpectedly big) loss in week 1 of 8.4lbs which I was thrilled with, even if I know it's really just water weight!
I was going delay my second dose a couple of days because I was supposed to be going to see Stevie nicks but she's postponed 💔 trying to look on the positive sides, I can now do the second dose on schedule and hopefully I'll be slimmer by the rescheduled date!

I’m glad MJ has made me more Zen so I can post patiently on that thread. I don’t care about the fat shamers but if one person reads it and realises that it’s ok to use this medication to help if they meet the criteria then we’ve done a good thing.

Congrats to everyone on their losses.

Same. I am loving not wanting a drink.

Regarding people commenting on weight loss - my very close friends my age are not commenting AT ALL. My neighbours are all over it 😂 every time they see me. Colleagues also very vocal. It’s weird isn’t.

My very closest friend said last week ‘you don’t eat anymore’ as we were sharing a platter of lovely fresh seafood. I was def eating!! We have always been the same size. Got fat together. Lost weight together. Regained the weight together. Now I’m on a solo journey.

So lovely to hear of people who have reached their goals. Please keep posting though, it'll be useful to see how maintaining goes.

I've lost weight x10 or more in the past, it's the maintaining that eludes me every time.

This medicine is life changing in that it's switched off the noise. I'm a binger due to my childhood. This is the first time in my life I can think clearly around food.

If they could isolate just that part of the drug so I could stay on it for life that'd be grand.

Also.. fb group?

I had my 1st 7.5mg injection yesterday and I’ve been absolutely freezing. I know it’s not exactly warm up here in the northwest but I’ve had to turn the central heating on and am under my duvet!

Doesn’t help that I’ve also got hypothyroidism 😓

Well done @FlappyFish. Amazing achievement 😊 definitely stay here 😊

Anyone with Asda, they sent me a 10% off code to go back to them! Im not going to use it but if anyone interested code below

WLAS10CH

Part of me doesn't want to educate them as they might want to come steal all our flab jabs 😂

@snickleback i took my first injection on 17th February, back when we were on thread one. I saw the thread and my Dad had a heart attack about a month before. I had a now or never mentality as I’ve hovered round 14 stone for about 4/5 years. Prior to that when I was in active alcoholism I was over 18 stone.

Tips! Don’t rush up. Take the dose that’s working. I never got above 7.5. Take supplements and make sure you get protein in. As soon as you feel able up exercise. I have a fair amount of sagging and my boobs have vanished stage left. Don’t rush to buy new clothes! I started at a 16 and missed 14 entirely. It will save money. Be careful with laxative use. MJ bungs you up, but it slows digestion. Keep drinking water. Lots of water.

The biggest bit of advice is that if you feel hungry, eat. If you have no appetite, make sure you have protein shake or something as it can be easy to ignore the cues we have as MJ surpresses. I fainted in Marks after giving plasma and having not eaten that day. School girl error.

I can send the FB link on DM if anyone wants.

Thanks for all of the advice @FlappyFish and yes please to the FB link!

Please may I have the Facebook link? The support on these threads has been amazing

May I have the facebook link too?

Link isn't working for me 😢

Does anyone else have the occasional hot flush? I passed the menopause years ago, but I've had a few hot flushes since being on MJ. I'm wondering whether it's connected.

Also, I'm on week 3 having got my MJ from Lloyds Pharmacy but the price has now shot up to £186!

I'm searching around for another provider. I want one that accepts photos rather than videos as evidence. And that has reliable deliveries. Any tips on who I should avoid would be very welcome.

Today I have broken the 2 stone barrier! I am delighted to have weighed in at 10.7.2 😀

I know that I may bounce back up a pound or so over the next few days before official weigh in on Thursday, but that's what the scales said this morning.

I celebrated by walking up Pendle Hill - last time I did that it was snowy and I weighed around 32 lbs more than I do today. Was still bloody hard work though! I was hoping to really notice the difference, but no, still had to stop and catch my breath on the way up.

Next goal is Pen y ghent sometime this year.

Well done to those that have hit target, that's amazing! I've got 7 lbs to my interim target, would love to hit it by the end of the month, but I'm not holding my breath.

You can pm message me also and I can give a Facebook link.

Yeh, quite likely some moron will respond something insane like “just drink less.” Or “have they thought of drinking water or juice instead “.

@Gazelda I've always found Voy reliable, good delivery etc. they accept photos. They are expensive but first one is £80 or £85 off with a discount code, so good enough for a month and then switch again.

I tend to use them when I have built up some discount, and then move providers and go back to them again.

Let me know if & when you want a code x