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:

so motivating to see everyone getting into the 12&13st brackets...can't wait to get there myself.

4 week weigh in today...lost 4.5kg or 10lb. Not the fastest especially as I put on 7kg in the last few months so had hoped it would come of pretty quick. At least I have stopped the upward trend!

Just increased my dose this week to 3.75 planning on going up to 5mg next week. If I stay losing at 1kg a week I would be happy with that

Just another 25kg to go....
First mini goal is to get below 90kg, currently 96.kg

@NCfor24 I’m doing this longer term post MJ (hope the link works): www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/052H1SXYMxZNdPB1Z2Z8l4aZA#Screenshot_2024-07-07_at_13.25

@NCfor24 I'm sorry to read your post. It very much resonates with me. We tend to have a conversation (which is usually me building up to it, talking, him listening and making noise in agreement but not actually contributing anything meaningful) every six months or so but I think MJ has made it more noticeable to me. I feel life is passing me by. I'm bored shitless. I do the grunt work at home and also win the bread. Anything fun we do is because I've sorted it, paid for it, got us out the house. Now I'm more self confident I feel more able and less self conscious and I want to live life even more. He'd be happy if we just got pissed 5/7 nights when the kids are in bed and listen to his music while he talks at me. I don't want that.

First time I’ve posted on mumsnet. I’m on MJ and today finished the 2.5 dose. It stopped me eating fast and I’ve lost around 5kg since starting, great, but this week, nothing. I’m starting to feel really tired and have the increased dose to take, 5mg today. I’ve heard people say they don’t lose weight on this. I’m eating very little, around 800 calories although with my daughter’s Birthday this week did have a small glasses of wine over two nights. Does this impede loss? I’m going to try to walk more as does this help with tiredness? Sorry another question on the ‘extra’ dose left in the pen, can you keep that refrigerated for a few weeks to use when you want to slowly come off MJ? I’m terrified of loosing weight to then put it all back on . I have to say, being menopausal and struggled with weight over the last five years, it’s such a relief to think that I can hopefully go back to being reasonably slim as I just want to be a healthy weight! It’s great to read so many helpful comments as like many, I haven’t yet told anyone about this.

@NCfor24 wise post.

I was chatting to DS1 about weight loss meds and how the treatment of obesity is changing. He has a relevant degree. He said that there are other companies (not NN & EL) that are having successful clinical trials of similar compounds to semaglutide and terzepatide so I think there will be increasing competition in the market.

I suspect that treatment of obesity in this way will become the norm and that we are in the vanguard. I am hoping with the increasing volume of research Nice recommendations will catch up. For example, I saw reference to a study the other day where people were taking semaglutide for over 3 years with full follow up to protect against cardiovascular events. They also lost weight and maintained the weight loss. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563

Week 19 weigh in and going back to 5mg. I seem to be putting off injecting each week, going up to 9 days between jabs…. Sometimes longer. I am feeling pretty confident about maintaining as it really has changed my relationship with food and hunger.

I’ve now hit the 40lbs lost milestone 🙌💃
Which feels like a big accomplishment. Almost 3 stone

I’m losing very slowly and surely, if it comes down slow I feel I should be able to keep it off.

I still have a round protruding belly and wonder if it will ever go- I might need to accept it won’t!

Well done to all on here… we’ve achieved so much together 🙌🙌

Eat more, that’s far too low! Work out your tdee and subtract 500 calories.

I'm 7 weeks in and 1 stone down. Ive titrated up to 3.75mg which I know is not recommended but I don't want full suppression. I want to feel some hunger to learn to eat better and hopefully maintain in the long term. 3 stone left to lose. I've set up a timeline and I'm happy with my progress.

@Stickthatupyourdojo I think we married the same man
Tbh my DH doesn't often join us for family days out because he doesn't want to do whatever it is. And I'm like well, seeing a cartoon at the cinema isn't my thing but I enjoy making the kids happy so that's why I do it. We go camping without him. Theme parks. I do most of their hobby stuff. He opted out of presentation evening/bbq at cadets last night. The sad thing is the kids expect it and don't even miss his absence.
Last week though, youngest son got man of the match at football and proudly showed dad and he said "I wish you'd been there to see it". Sadly DH had been working but when he has a choice he doesn't often choose the one that's right and supportive of the kids.
But anyway, if decisions need taking further down the line, I feel strong enough, yet zen enough(!) to take them and own them.

@NCfor24 you sound like a lovely mum and a very clear headed person. I wish you all the luck for decision making if/when it comes.

I have a confession - I’ve royally buggered up a sodding vinted parcel and my item is now sat in a convenience shop in Southampton city Center (don’t ask) when I live 300 odd miles away….. does anyone on these lovely threads live in Southampton?! Im absolutely baffled how to fix this.

@Slimstar13 I've been using this St Ives Skin Renewing Collagen Elastin Body Lotion since starting MJ in April and my skin looks and feels soooo much better. Lots of positive reviews on Amazon is what made me buy it.

Welcome! I was a MNs first timer when I joined an earlier version of this thread too (don't tell anyone but I actually haven't got any kids).
First, it's generally recommended not to keep a partially used pen for more than 30 days due to risk of contamination - the pen is 'open' once you use it the first time.
The occasional glass of wine is OK if it's in your calorie allowance.
800 calories is low and will probably be contributing to tiredness. Having said that I rarely eat over 1000, I'm 58, post menopause and know I don't lose if I eat much more than this. Many will disagree with me on this but it's my experience - low calories work for me but i also recognise that my lifestyle is quite suited to general lethargy!
5mg also worked well for me and for many others. You tend to only see the horror stories on, for instance, FB.
My weight loss is steady, 2st in 9 weeks, and I'll go up to 7.5 in a week. If you haven't experienced any of the more extreme side effects at 2.5, I wouldn't worry too much about it, although tiredness may be a bit more pronounced the 1st week.
Good luck and come back with any more questions.

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa I follow this thread with interest but rarely post (hard to keep up!). However, I had to reply to a fellow slow loser…I average a pound a week, but have been 13st 4lb for A MONTH now. Infuriatingly, last night we went out for a friend’s birthday and I had one glass of wine and some rice with my grilled chicken. Now I’m 13st 5lb.

So, solidarity from another slow loser. Hopefully it gets easier at some point!

So much to catch up on, will do it later, but just wanted to post this:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGetk8P23/

Ahhh that sounds hard. For what it's worth you sound brilliant and your kids will always remember you were there for them. I agree about feeling more zen if decisions have to be made further down the line. I kick myself as my confidence was through the floor when I met my husband. I love him so much but as awful as it sounds I know if I met him even 5 years later I'd have been in a better place to either ensure my needs were met there and then or to walk away before feelings really took over.

Hey, I feel bad that I've not been able to keep up with the threads - work has just been crazy. I finish for the summer next week (teacher) and I'm going to have to go for lots of walks to ensure I keep my level of activity up.

I'm just coming off a 10 day plateau - partly ovulation related, and partly weekend city break family thing where I had no control of the food - I made the best choices possible but I feel like it set me back a bit. Every month when I hit an ovulation plateau, I do my measurements to cheer me up. Thankfully I have another inch off my waist, bust, etc and 2 inches off my hips!

Another nsv - the clothes I bought when my pre-mounjaro clothes got too big to wear are now also too big to wear. Nice (if expensive) problem to have.

I love reading about everyone's scale and non-scale victories, it really keeps me motivated when I don't lose as much as I like!

@GeorgiePorge hey goal twin! My next goal is also 90 kg, currently sitting at 94.75kg. Started at 107.2 kg on May 25!

@Slimstar13 I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think I read somewhere that loose skin is more or less genetic. Collagen and creams, exercises are definitely not going to hurt but whether they make any actual difference… 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Just read the funniest question on a MJ FB page. Person was thinking about starting on MJ but was worried about what she'd do when she started to lose weight and her knickers got too big. Looking for ideas about how others had coped. After a few answered with variations on the theme of 'buy new pants', she closed comments so presumably was happy to have got the answer she needed! Might have been a wind up I guess, but if not, makes you worry some people are injecting themselves without medical supervision 😂

Thanks @ObsidianTree

I may be in for an extended period this time. They're struggling to find an antibiotic that works, and this is what's scared me all along. I'm in a side room without a TV, bad phone reception and crap WiFi. Feeling a bit woe is me. 😢

End of week 5 for me and first week on 3.75mg no side effects apart from exhaustion for the 2 days following injection.
Only lost 1.2lb but I feel this will be the pattern for me. I have a short 21 day ish cycle so 3 weeks of better losses and the 4th week, when I'm on, only a small loss.
Total loss 12.2lbs so happy with that. Going to stick to 3.75mg for next week and review each time. I'm only managing 900 to 1100 calories a day so don't need more suppression.

Off the catch up on the last few days.

Hi everyone! So I wasn’t sure whether to post as I wasn’t sure how many of you would still be around from when I was very much involved in these threads. But I see some familiar names so I thought I’d go for it!

For those who don’t know or remember me, I was taking MJ earlier this year when I fell pregnant with our third child. It wasn’t a contraception failure although it was a bit of a surprise. Obviously I stopped taking MJ straight away and said goodbye to the threads. I had intended to keep an eye on how everyone was getting on but I’ve been a bit… tired to say the least!

Well, I thought you’d find it interesting to know that last week I found out we are having TWINS! I am still in complete and utter shock and mostly just wondering - why me?! How did this happen? We have no twins in the family, no IVF, I’m only 34 so not exactly an ancient mother.

DH is convinced it’s the MJ and I suspect he’s probably right! We know it can affect cycles and the twins appear to be non identical so it looks like I released two eggs. Either way, we are feeling well and truly blessed if a little terrified.

I’ll definitely be back in the new year. I’ll have tonnes of weight to loss by then 🙈