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:

Oh gosh that's not good. I did feel super tired at one point. But it's ok now. Have electrolytes, eat your calories and lots of protein. Hopefully you feel better soon. Worrying about the hair. I don't know what to advise apart from protein! Not sure how well suppliments work etc! But maybe get some biotin /collagen etc

Oh and I have some creatine, but haven't used it yet. Apparently good for when your working out, but I don't go gym yet so haven't started it yet!

I keep going "Ooh, what's that?" And realising it's a bone that's been unearthed 😂

😂 Brilliant NSV!

It's funny you should say that about clothes, @Moanranger. After my self indulgent moan this morning and having ordered various things from John Lewis this week and not liking any of them, I went on what turned out to be a bit of a spree in Sainsburys, H&M and Mango today and how have a selection of wide legged trousers and cropped, boxy jackets. I have been very slow to accept this style as it was so unflattering on me but it looks a darn sight better now than it did three months ago when I was a stone heavier. With all of the things I took into the changing room, I ended up in the smaller size and, with some, had to go back out to get another size down. I'm actually slightly gutted as the one thing I did keep from my JL haul was a denim jacket and, whilst I really like it, seconds after cutting the label out it occurred to me that I should have tried it in a 10.
It is a while since I have bought any new clothes as I was just refusing to accept what size I was. It's fun to go shopping; it feels good to be wearing more current clothes; it's much more comfortable to be wearing clothes that fit rather than squeezing myself into things that are too small.
It also made me realise that there are some advantages to losing slowly! If it takes me another three months to lose the next stone, these will be my uniform for the rest of the summer and I'll get plenty of wear from them, especially if the weather stays like this. I'm also conscious that I'm only a couple of pounds heavier than I was in my 20s so, if this turns out to be my set weight, then I'll get even more wear from them. If I was racing down through the stones, I'm not sure I would have bothered buying at this stage.
Those photos were amazing. I noticed earlier that I have an indent on my wrist that I had completely forgotten about. It's odd seeing bits of my body reappear.

@Buffypaws oh your poor thing. I find electrolytes helps my tiredness. I use high5 zero via Amazon. I’m terms of hair I’m now taking biotin to encourage new growth. I lost quite a bit before MJ.

Thanks @ObsidianTree and @ThirdStorm

I suspect the electrolytes thing is a good shout as I really struggle to drink water on this. I just forget about it like I do food! I might try and up protein somehow. I am too reliant on carbs still… need to go back to my omelette diet.

Lol @GlueNoGlue. Missed your NSV 🤣 I also have that as something I want to be victorious at! Not quite there yet! 🤣

I've been double-whammying in that respect. After my morning cup of tea, my next drink is a clear whey protein drink with an electrolyte sachet or tablet added in to it. My clear whey is orange and mango and it goes well with the citrus High Zero tabs mentioned upthread, or with a tropical flavour ViDrate sachet. I do add extra water to the clear whey (usually about 850ml instead of the recommended 500ml to counteract the sweetness. I find everything extra sweet since I've been on MJ!

I mix and keep this in an insulated bottle or cup with a few ice cubes, I find it much easier to get it down if it's ice-cold and stays cold.

You look lovely 👏

Thanks. I'm at my event at a castle, and slightly drunk...two bread rolls down.

I also take the fizzy magnesium tablets that home Bargins do in lime they really help me with tiredness and focus. Cheaper than the high5 ones, which I also use after exercise. If your keen to save money honestly a 1/2tsp sugar and couple of pinch of salt in water makes equally good hydration drink. I used to mainly drink that many moons ago when I was long run training as it didn’t irritate my stomach.

Also my swaps in my diet have been buying turkey meatballs and turkey burgers in Sainsbury’s instead of beef and I find they digest easier & healthier plus kids don’t seem too bothered either. Good protein hit too.

Glad to see you return @Slimstar13

Nsv- my towel now goes all around me without leaving an unladylike gap

It's great to see that even when there are disagreements in this group everyone can come back together and discuss things rationally and with understanding and empathy and the ability to move on. Not something you see often on the internet!

I think anyone coming here will find a tonne of information and support and most importantly all of experiences and expertise people share here will give people the ability to make informed decisions.

Speaking of informed decisions, yesterday I did the absolute opposite of that. I took my bonus 7.5mg and there was still quite a bit left so without properly thinking I put a new needle in and took the rest....I'm due to move up to 10mg so didn't think it would be too bad. Today I've had horrendous D&V...soooo so bad. I believe this is what the kids call 'fucking around and finding out'.

Don't worry, as am I 🤣

The last sentence in your post... I shouldn't laugh, but I really did - proper belly laughing, too!

I hope it eases off quickly and that you feel better soon x

I find them very sweet too. It puts me off a bit. I need bigger glasses!

Do you blend the clear whey protein, or do you manage to get it to dissolve? I like the clear collagen power as it dissolves itself, but the clear whey protein seems like it won't dissolve so I put it in a blender. But would prefer not to blend if it does dissolve eventually!

Feeling vaguely human again thanks @MounjaroMunchie

It was a pretty stark reminder that this is serious medication and dosage is not something to be taken lightly.

I'm glad I made you laugh though! That's cheered me up.

@MountKilimounjaro I did the exact same! Thought meh fuck it... and yeah .. similar aftermath to you! Lol!

Ouch! Get well soon 😬

@ObsidianTree not a pretty way to learn a lesson but very effective. Oof.

Sorry you went through it too, but it's good to know I'm not alone.

I'll be more respectful of the titration gods going forwards, don't want to anger them again!

@MountKilimounjaro going up a dose is always going to be a roll of the dice! It's definitely made me more cautious about titrating up! Slow and steady from now on for me! Lol

@ObsidianTree I make mine up in a shaker with a wire mixing ball. It goes really frothy but if you leave it 2 minutes, it all disappears and goes clear so you can see if it needs further mixing.

@MounjaroMunchie thanks. I will give it a go without a blender. I have a shaker somewhere