Continuing Mounjaro...part 16

[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.
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 - 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.

9 - 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

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

11 - 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

12 - 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

13 - 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.

14 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Try and drink at least 2ltrs a day.

15 - 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.

16 - 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

17 - 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.

18 - 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.

19 - 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.

20- 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.

21 - 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.

22 - 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

15th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5107426-continuing-mounjaropart-15?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:

Just had and email from habitual stating they have updated their eligibility criteria.

Doesn't say what exactly, but i am wondering if they have decided on maintenance?

They are very expensive though.

How long ago was it the poster used? It took well over a week for me to get a code when a poster used mine.

Well I just had an email from health express inviting me to "go back to my weight loss journey" with a 10% off code. A 7.5 pen came to 171 with next day free delivery. I will confess I had to amend my weight slightly to a bmi of just over 25 as I'm not sure they prescribe for maintenance and I had given up on managing to get one more pen. No judgment please !

No judgement here @CiderJabs i did similar. If an effective maintenance plan or even info was forthcoming we wouldn’t do it.

@SilverHeels Your post really resonated. I’m pretty good in most areas of my life, but the fact I couldn’t lose weight made me feel a failure. It’s visible. Like we are wearing our greediness or lack of control. A lot of achievements or just being had to be said. I felt I wore my failure as my own fat suit.

I know our self worth shouldn’t come from our weight. But we are all conditioned to it as women from a young age. Thin = good. Fat = bad.

Thank you @FlappyFish I knew my Mj twin would understand 😍

They haven't approved the order yet but I assume they will. I'll keep you posted.

I'm also wondering if that code works more than once. 171 for a 7.5g is not bad (I think?) - if anyone wants to try it let me know

@FlappyFish its so true . I am seemingly ‘successful’ in other parts of my life but I could not stop over eating leading to much self hatred .
I have another 2 stone to lose but I already notice how differently people respond to me now I am not as fat as I was . Our society is very judgemental about many things .

also - my glasses keep falling off my head . Did I have a fatter head ? Is that a thing ? I need to get them tightened as I look like a middle aged loon when they fall off . It’s not a good look (I am on a train and had to retrieve them )

I got that email too! Have they asked for any info? Can you let me know what they do ask for?

No judgement @CiderJabs . If you were with bolt you could be maintaining and still buying pens

Switched it up lunch today, a salad wrap with a tin of sardines in it and a boiled egg on the side.

The most I've eaten for lunch in a month and now I'm struggling to stay awake

@Flapearedknave nope - just what dose I was talking and my current weight.

@ObsidianTree yep I know. Don't like the idea of lying but the comfort of having one more pen in the fridge is worth it!

My goodness, unexpected and very inconvenient attacks of the trots yesterday and today, including waking up for emergency small hours dashes, just from going up 0.4mg for my 2nd pen bonus dose! I prime so there was only 5.4mg in the pen, I haven't had bad side effects since week 1, so I really wasn't expecting to have this kind of reaction to it!

I've got my 7.5mg pen waiting in the fridge but no way will I be stepping up to the full dose now. I think I'll count clicks to 5.5mg until this all subsides.

On less gross matters, I completely resonate with the discussion about wearing the only non-terrible option and feeling like you have an external badge of shame and failure at a higher weight. My professional confidence has shot up in the last couple of weeks, just from being able to wear a shirt tucked in and a jacket that closes, rather than frumping around in make-do outfits.

This made me weep @SilverHeels !

With JOY as I hear you loud and clear and never again do I have to feel that sense of failure and shame simply because I can’t lose weight!

For those suffering with exhaustion, some tips from Chaz the American on treziptide. Basically, have electrolytes, eat more carbs, make sure you're eating enough.

vm.tiktok.com/ZGeGoMd74/

I just realised it’s meant to be weigh day.

SW 14.1
CW 10.4

I am below goal and coming off MJ slowly. Just shy of 4 stone in 5 months on it.

I am still losing but I don’t want to lose much more. I’ve been pretty open on the threads and FB I don’t want to chase numbers but I’m finding it hard to not see if I can get into the 9’s.

For total transparency I will. I just want to say I’ve done it 😅 but the scales don’t rule my life as they did in earlier weeks.

@CiderJabs MJ twin will always get it. It shows how much these threads help us as we experience the highs and lows together.

@SilverHeels You definitely lose weight from head. My OH’s first sign of realising he needs to cut down is when his glasses cut in ;)

@ObsidianTree oh queen of our thread

@30not13 i had a ham and cheese toastie in Costa. Wouldn’t have done that for the last few months but I’m making myself widen my food now. I need to or I will keep losing.

Absolutely no judgement from me.

I had to amend my BMI from 29 point something to over 30, to enable me to switch providers to save £.

I wouldn't admit it on here again though as some drama kicked off the other week and a couple of people were saying how irresponsible it was etc. I took a break from the thread as it made me feel like shit.

You do what you've gotta do 😉

A little NSV from me today - my beautiful winter Barbour Jacket that I wore when I was slimmer a couple of years ago, and could BARELY squeeze into just a few months back (super tight on arms/butt/stomach/boobs) now fits perfectly/is nice and loose!

Wonderful to see so many of you moving into Mounjaro Alumni territory! Congratulations to all. Just promise you won't disappear off, it's so useful to have your experience and hear about your new maintenance journey.

I'm about four months in and 32lbs down. Slow and steady. Still got a lonnnng way to go.

I had two NSVs this week.

My first was that I found my old Fitbit with the metal strap but when I put it on it was too big and was hanging off my wrist. I honestly didn't realise I had fat wrists before!

My second was that I went for an ice-cream and really enjoyed it and didn't feel worried, stressed or even remotely guilty. I simply just enjoyed it. Sounds daft I know but I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't feel shame or guilt for enjoying food. I also didn't then get the urge to go crazy and eat a whole host of other sugary foods, I just enjoyed the moment and moved on with life.

NSV bought myself leather knee high Dr Martens 18 months ago. Could barely get my foot in them. I have just zipped them up and they fit. So happy.

Weigh day for me, 2.5lbs down, quite pleased with that as I had a whoosh last week as well so I was half expecting a maintain!

SW: 22st 3.5lbs
CW: 21st 0.5lbs (annoying!)
GW (for now) 14st 10lbs

It’s my first week on 5mg, I took it yesterday. I’ve been so nervous because some report horrendous symptoms in the jump, but so far so good. My pen was a little faulty and I had trouble injecting so now I have a bruise and a lump 🙄

I totally agree with going with the “least bad” option, I also find that I don’t have many “outfits” as such, mainly simple tops and trousers or a dress, I think it’s because I don’t want to invest in extra things because I always think I will slim down even though I never have!

New pen ordered from Zava, should have arrived yesterday but it still hasn't arrived despite it being a 24hour tracked cold delivery.

Did manage to speak with them and they advised that now the 'cold chain' has been breached, the pen can still be used but will only last 30 days from day of despatch, which was the 9th. I'm not due to take it until next Friday as I'm.still finishing up my previous 2.5 pen, last dose tomorrow and not used any of the bonus dose.

Does this mean I'm going to have an out of date pen by 9th Aug ? I'll be injecting that last dose on that day if my calcs are correct.

@butterfly0404 30 days is 8th August and your 4th dose will be 9th. For one day I would be ok. But if you want to use the "bonus" dose I would tell them you are not due to use the pen until a few days later and ask for a replacement.

Thanks, yes I will.
To be fair it's a Royal Mail issue, when I ordered from Simple Online Pharmacy it was next day via courier. Wish I had stuck with them now.

According to tracking its due today but we'll see. I'm not impressed that I'll be losing a dose whichever way it's taken.

Oh I have winter boots I could try on to see if they now fit!

I also have started wearing a bracelet again which I got 5 years ago and has sentimental value. I think my wrists are a bit slimmer but mainly I am just feeling better about myself and wanting to take time to dress myself better in the clothes that now fit again after several years of not wearing them and to wear more accessories.

This encouraged me to go find my Barbour boots that I bought a few years ago and they didn't fit. Couldn't fit my foot in and no chance of them zipping up.

Tried them on and they fit! Woop!