Continuing Mounjaro...part 17

[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! Make sure the needle is twisted on tightly. Priming will help confirm if the needle is on securely and not faulty.
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 - 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 - Taking Mounjaro can stop birth control from being effective. If you are on birth control, consider extra protection if you aren't planning on conceiving anytime soon!
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. Try and drink at least 2ltrs a day.
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
15th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5107426-continuing-mounjaropart-15?page=1
16th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5115015-continuing-mounjaropart-16?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:

Thank you so much! I've got a few resistance bands (straight and loop) lurking from a postnatal programme I did ages ago. Also some unused (except by sensory seeking children!) 1kg and 2kg dumbells and a 6kg kettle bell I bought because it was in the sale but haven't done anything any with...

@montysma1 that made me chuckle. I went to Pilates the other day for the first time in a month or so and was dreading it when the instructor said to do a plank but the weight loss mitigated the fact I hadn't done it for a month.
@OnInstagramAsMounjaroJourneyUK that was fascinating. Are you a scientist/medic? Or just interested? I have PCOS so have always understood I am more than likely to be insulin resistant but didn't really know what it meant. One way that MJ has been useful to me is that, when tired, I have been able to resist reaching for Diet Coke or sugar, when emotional, I have been able to resist reaching for carbs or chocolate etc and, in doing so, have realised that it isn't just that they don't help but that they make things worse as I then spiral into chasing the next hit. I didn't have a Diet Coke habit but I'd have them a couple of times a week. I haven't had one since I started this. I'm still eating some chocolate & carbs but am much more fussy as to which I eat and feel as though I am making an active, considered choice to eat them rather than reacting or mindlessly eating them.

Regarding periods, mine have been regular as clockwork since starting MJ, but I'm only losing just over a pond a week, I know from past experience faster weight loss used to affect them.

I've just found out I have clearly lost weight on my lower legs. I was using my Phillips IPL for the first time in 4 weeks and realised my legs are no longer chubby enough to use my normal technique! There is an oblong window on the front which has to be completely covered by skin. This has never been a problem for me, as I would just press it in to a soft bit of flesh. Not enough soft bits now, so had to change my technique. It doesn't count as a NSV because it took longer than usual!

I use clear whey for protein as the milkshake ones fill me quickly

For strength I do pilates with weights... I say do, I haven't, but that's what I enjoy doing, when I do!

Just realised I've been commenting with my new username 👀🤣

Oh well

I am stuck at exactly 14 stone! Really wanting to get below!

I have found that 12.5 isn't working as great for me??? Very weird. I have been able to have a couple of glasses of wine and eat more than usual.

Anyone else dread the inj? It’s more now I associate the smell of the alcohol wipe with feeling nauseous. I have such an aversion to the wipes, need a fruity one or something.

This was my experience with Zava, and then I posted about the debacle where they wanted me to send it back at my own expense, then prompt them to find out if they'd received it, and only then would they post a new one out. In the end I kept it, even though it will now need using within 30 days.

I'm thinking of going to Med express.- is there a referral code for them at all, please?

@Soulstirring I am the opposite and I look forward to the injection as I love the feeling of no food noise and the lack of self loathing that I used to feel after overeating and another failed diet.

Do you know you only need to swab the end of the pen, not the injection site so, hopefully, not too much smell. I'm surprised how many people are swabbing their skin when it isn't essential (NHS don't do it any more for subcut injections)

I'm not remotely medically trained (I can barely manage the squeam to complete First Aid courses 😆) and no not a scientist either. I have a mega driving commute twice a week for work and when I first started Mounjaro I was on such a high I just wanted to hear all about it so I asked for podcast recommendations on insta to listen to on those drives and I kept hearing these same messages coming through from Dr's and experts talking about how GLP1 and GIP meds work and how they fix 'insulin resistance'.

I've never suspected insulin resistance in myself so didn't pay much attention at first until I realised how it's so woven into obesity even if you're not diabetic and as I found the diet I stuck to the easiest and lost weight fastest on in the past was keto and fasting it made sense that this was because of my body having less sugars to process and the fasting process allowing for autophagy (Definition: When you fast, you deliberately withhold food from the body. This causes the body to go into a “survival mode”, which allows it to conserve energy. Autophagy is crucial for this conservation since it breaks down and recycles cellular components to generate energy.)

My first introduction to all of this was actually when I read Dr Michael Moseleys Fast 800 book and lost 3 stone in 5 months and realised carbs were not good for me!

Even though Diet Coke hasn't got sugar in, the sweeteners still have an effect on raising insulin levels so this would have made your battle harder in the past too! It all comes full circle and I'll say it again...if you tried to eat better and lower cals but struggled, it was not because you were greedy or lazy!

I have another post which I won't direct to this time coz I've done enough of that today(!) but I pulled a few 90s ads for to demonstrate how those of us growing up in the 90s had those slimming ads as our background noise and convincing our parents what a healthy diet was! Slim Fast's main ingredient was sugar! The NHS 'Eatwell' plate continues to be heavy carb. Because insulin resistance isn't enough to contend with, let's throw in a diet industry feeding obesity with 'low fat' diet products filled with sugar which in the longterm fed insulin resistance's fat storage 🙈

Sorry for yet another long post 😅

@GreyFinch @wonderingwhatsnext

I was another one who had low losses on 7.5mg and thought that maybe it was just slowing down from my average of 1st per month from previous 3 months. Had fine suppression throughout.

I'm on second dose of 10mg now, used my bonus 7.5 which was a bit more than 10 and a regular 10 this weekend and I have definitely had a big whoosh in the past week, which has now got me to 4 stone loss in just over 4 months. Long may it continue!

I love the no food noise and can even cope with the nausea and tiredness itself. It’s a weird one, it’s the actual wipes that kill me. I’m like pavlovs dog at the thought of them.

Evening everyone!
I have been following along each thread but never actually posted anything. However, it's all been massively helpful and very inspiring!

I started back April and have lost just over 2 & a half stone which I'm very happy with( still around 5stone to go!)
with no major side effects other than a bit of nausea/indigestion if I eat anything a bit too rich.

I have noticed a couple of other things though so wondered what others experiences were?

Firstly, in the last month or so I seem to have started losing a lot of hair in the shower, similar to my post partum hair loss which stopped around 10 months ago when my little girl turned 1. I feel my diet is fairly well balanced so wasn't sure if it was maybe hormone related?

I've also noticed my period now seems to come every 26 days rather than 29 days. Nothing major but wondered what causes this?

Sorry for the long post!

I have one @Forevafatty pm me if you want it. Someone pointed out earlier that you're not supposed to post them publicly. I think we both get £40 credit.

Actually I've worked out how to pm you.

Thanks @MJqueen it seems the consensus is it's time to move up. 10mg here I come.

Oh damn yeah I forgot about this! My bad. I'll have to try and remember to not in future 😂

@QueenGoo I’d share anyway, I believe Zava also says similar however everyone posts them. Not sure about other sites that offer discounts/ referrals.

@ShyUser yeah I think that must have been my thinking as referral codes fly everywhere for zava. Oh well if they catch up with me they catch up with me 😏

Just thinking ahead to the next few weeks as, with it being the school summer holidays, we're away quite a bit and I'm trying to work out the best way of continuing to jab without actually taking a pen with me at any point. I could take a pen if I wanted to but it will get complicated.
I was due to jab tonight (something like week 14) but am going to wait until tomorrow (so 8 days since my last one). Next week, I'll take it on the Tuesday (8 days again). Then I'll take it on the Wednesday (8 days again) but then won't be able to take a dose until the Saturday a week later (so 10, possibly 11 days). I know this is allowed under the terms of the prescription as the policy talks about this process but I lit doesn't mean that,djsjjjjdjj

Thank you- this is reassuring

I'm sorry, this post will come across as begging and cheeky, please ignore if needs be. This isn't something I usually do, so apologies if it upsets anyone. Those of you here who know me will be aware this isn't something I've done before! 😳

Any new patients to Med Express wishing to receive a discount code worth £40, please just ask and I will forward it to you. I'm sorry, Med Express say I cannot post the code publicly.

It must be your first order with them, and you must be spending over £110, and your £40 will be discounted from your bill before payment.

To be completely upfront, I will also receive £40 towards my next order for each person that uses my discount code. I haven't publicised codes that would benefit me personally before, but am only doing this now as many of you know I'm disabled and still in hospital at the moment. MJ is working such wonders with my conditions, I really need to be on it long term, but am surviving on disability benefits. If anyone here would be kind enough to use my code, this would really help me hugely going forward as money is very tight.

Thanks for your understanding, you really are such a fabulous bunch and I wouldn't have got through this without your support, and wishing you the best of luck wherever you are with your own journey. 💐

Have a look in Boots I got some antiseptic wipes from there and they smell of apples!

Weigh in today and am 1lb up after a long weekend away and drinking and eating more than I have done since starting Mounjarno.

In the past it would have been a 3-4lb gain and I know the 1lb will come off very quickly. I have not felt deprived at all over my time away so am hopeful for maintenance that this is sustainable on a low dose.

My suppression wears off toward the end of the week so plan to take next dose on day 6.

I can’t remember who asked and scrolling back is hard - but whoever asked how high I got on dose the answer is 7.5. I did two months on 2.5, 2 on 5 and 2 on 7.5. With bonus doses just over a grand to lose 4 stone.

I have a 10 and a 7.5 pen that I’m using to reduce down.