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:

@MelissaLouRocks that does sound scary. I hope though that the next surgery works well and helps with the infection problems you are having.

Well done on getting into a healthy BMI 😊

Well done on meeting your target weight. Excellent news.

I agree the neck fat seems to be persistent! Hoping eventually it it will leave and I won't look so much turkey neck!

My Zava delivery came today too . Ordered Wednesday. Still frozen icepack when opening .
Phew.

Anyone got any ideas, collagen tightening cream, if that would work, for the neck fat as although I’m slowly loosing weight, my turkey neck is dreadful still! Makes me feel so old!

Great work on all the losses, it’s really motivating to keep going. I had a few stall days, but so pleased to see that at the end of the week I had still lost 1.3kg, phew! A long way to go but I’m pleased it’s working.

Medexpress delivery today. Ordered Weds evening and delivered this morning. Well packed as usual and still very cold.

Well done on your BMI update, @MelissaLouRocks! That is awesome! But I'm sorry to hear about the ongoing infection issues.

@MelissaLouRocks congrats on your losses. Sorry to hear you may need more surgery. Hopefully it will be straightforward x

@Sassenach85 DP weighed and he's still quite a bit less than me 😓.
He's 67kg and I'm 71.5kg.

Hi I'm halfway through the thread and would appreciate some advice please. My first pen arrived this afternoon, I'd been hoping for Thursday or Friday delivery so I could start Friday and have first side effects over by work on Monday.

I don't know whether to inject this evening or tomorrow morning? Will it affect my sleep if I do it tonight? Does it matter that I have already eaten junk today? I read that side effects are worse if you eat junk - would that affect me tonight and I should inject in the morning instead? I could wait til Friday and do it then to have the weekend at home. I am extremely overweight ( I have 8 stone to lose) so I'm hoping that might dilute the side effects a little!

Any advice would be much appreciated.

That sounds bloody horrific @MelissaLouRocks :(

Out for lunch today to a local coffee shop by the sea, had a cheese and tomato toastie, trying to track on mfp so have found a takeaway toasties from Costa to log it as, can't imagine it's much different really?

Totally stuffed still 4.5hrs later.

Nsv went swimming last night for first time in about a year I guess, didn't tire out as fast (ie after one length!) Was really noticeable to me!

@Watchinghockey it shouldn't make much difference whether you've eaten badly or not today and you want to start. I ate a double chicken fillet meal from KFC the day I started and I didn't have any effects.

In your position I'd do it as soon as possible. Doesn't matter if you do it morning or night though. Some people (me included) have issues with sleep but it's unlikely on your first dose as 2.5mg is just to get your body used to the medication.

Just be aware that some people start with side effects a few days after they take the medication so taking on a Friday is no guarantee any side effects will have passed by Monday.
Severe side effects are thankfully quite rare so don't worry too much about that and they're even rarer on the low doses.

Good luck :)

I've never found it makes any difference.
I just injected as soon as it arrived.

No side effects till week three, then there was very mild diarrhoea.

Thank you Pissedoffneighbour! That's very helpful. I am keen to get started while also a bit nervous. I've never injected myself.

Thank you TheShellBeach. I'll gear myself up to doing it in a couple of hours then, once the kids are out of the way!

I promise you that you won't feel it.

Honestly you can’t even feel it x

@Watchinghockey i started last night with the same concerns! I had a Thai takeaway for dinner and then took the first injection about 3hrs later before bed. No problems sleeping. I’ve had a bit of diarrhoea but I think that’s just nerves 🤣.

I’d just do it now. There’s no way of knowing if you’ll get side effects, or when, so might as well just get started!

SlimforXmas - that's great to hear, thank you. Hopefully I don't have a problem. If I do, well over time it's better than the problems the weight is causing.

You'll be amazed how easy the injection is. When you put the pen against your skin, if you release your grip slightly the needle just goes in. It's so fine gravity takes it through the skin so you don't actually need to push it in at all.

I would take it right now if I were you. Most people have no side effects from 2.5mg.

@MelissaLouRocks what @ObsidianTree said! But seriously you sound like you are going through so much I admire your resilience. What an inspiration.

@Beeble21 lucky! I also ordered Wednesday eve but prescription still pending (and no price match). Im keeping my fingers crossed it’s approved Monday and it’s delivered Wednesday.

@ThirdStorm i think it’s a bit hit and miss this week.

@MelissaLouRocks congrats on the good! You’re doing brilliantly 👏

Sorry to hear about the not so good though. I used to work with mesh patients and know both how difficult it is for women with them but also how difficult it is from the surgical side too; not just the technical side of it but the red tape part of it too. Sounds like you’ve got a good team on your side

Yep, I have IR PCOS and fully identify with being bombarded with comments like "eat less, move more" and "it's just a matter of calories in and calories out". Neither of those things are true for women with PCOS (especially IR) and those comments get my rage going even more when they come from medical professionals.

Anyway. Week 4 weigh-in on 2.5mg

SW - 12st 7.0lb
Wk 1 - 5.2lb
Wk 2 - 2.2lb
Wk 3 - 1.6lb
Wk 4 - 2.2lb
CW - 11st 9.8lb

Total loss 11.2lb. I'd have liked to have lost a stone in those first 4 weeks but considering I'm still not on a therapeutic dose and that's reasonably steady weight loss, I'm pretty darn happy so far!

@Tireduk I'm about two weeks in to using Prai throat cream and I can see a slight difference in skin texture after I've applied it, and after an hour or so the skin does feel a bit firmer. Reviews are good for longer term use but I'm not expecting huge miracles, seeing as I already have turkey neck from previous weight loss!