Continuing Mounjaro...part 18

[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)

Mumsnet does not allow promo codes. Please do not post any. If you want one, ask and someone will PM you a code or there are now threads on the promo page that have codes for Mounjaro.

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.
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 - 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.

10 - 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

11 - 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!

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

13 - 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

14 - 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

15 - 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.

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

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 your 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: Now saying they support maintenance upto 2 years.

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 to 9th thread, get link from thread 10

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

17th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5122095-continuing-mounjaropart-17?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 @ObsidianTree for the new thread!!!

Day 10 of the Great Stall for me.

I am seriously tempted to jab today instead of Wednesday. Although don’t think suppression is the issue (I’ve not been hungry or naughty with food), so not sure it will do anything. I am just desperate to see the scales moving again!!

Rant over!

@3wDavid Im the same! My suppression is great too and not been naughty either so not sure what is causing it.
I have lost 1st 9lb so far & just had my 9th jab. Which is a great loss but it’s disheartening not having any movement for a while. Most of my loss was in the first 3 weeks and then very steady from there. I’m hoping it’s just my body adjusting 🤞🏻

I have lost 2lb overnight!

Hang in there guys, your whoosh is coming!

Finally looks like I'm out of my stall!

Onwards and downwards to 13 stone!

Well done @Flapearedknave I’ve been stalled for a long time at 12st and 1/2lb. Went on holiday and weight corrected back to that a few days after I returned (I tend to retain fluid in the heat and was definitely eating a bit more so expected a fluctuation)… but finally woke up this morning to a weight beginning with 11!

Have found that I tend to lose steadily/regularly for a month-6weeks, then seem to pause for a month. This time I thought that rather than reduce calories even more, I would I’d just enjoy my holiday and accept the fallout (still watching what I ate, but aiming at 1500-1800 cals a day as though on maintenance). I think it may have sent the signal I am not in a famine and my body has started shifting the weight again.

No idea if that’s scientifically sound, but I do think that if our bodies/metabolisms think they’re in starvation mode it can slow down weight loss, so perhaps it is a good idea to have a couple of relaxed days every now and again?

@3wDavid and @Time4changeagain I've also been stalling for a week or two and this morning have put on 2lbs. Way past menopause so assume it is water weight perhaps due to heat as I've definitely been in deficit. Hopefully things will change for you soon.

Despite me offering encouraging words to others in this situation, it's hard not to be disappointed and frustrated. My losses throughout have been slow (lb a week, which I know objectively is fine) and I have never ever experienced a whoosh when dieting, not even at the beginning. So I know I will probably spend the next two weeks grinding these 2lbs back down again.

Just had the bonus dose from my 5mg and on to 7.5 next weekend (though that is the warm pen from zava so will have to see how effective it is by the end).

Thanks for the new thread! I popped over here as I reckon the othe4 will be full before I finish typing all this!

@slimstar massive congratulations, you're such an inspiration

@krankyKumquat we have all been there, keep the faith! You need to keep going

Flappy fish and cider jabs...... Congratulations again, love reading about your journeys

@montysma1 you've done amazing but I genuinely think you won't change to the shape you want without lifting. Caroline Girvan on you tube will transform your shape. You will be able to eat a bit more too! All out cardio is unfortunately counter productive,you will have lost your muscle with the steep calorie deficit and intense cardio.

@BeautyPageantDropout happy to hear that as I'm really anxious about starting 5mg this week as it gets very bad press!

Jimmyneutronsforehead - what an incredible NSV!!

Nice unusual different - that's really interesting, imagine the health benefits!

@youvegotafastcar - are you tracking what you eat? Don't get me wrong, there's no chance that you've gained that in a week - it will be hormonal water weight or something! But you do need to track. It's also not great to eat no dinner (I'm assuming that's what you meant about no tea, or is it actual tea you've gone off??) - it's best to try and eat something!

Hope everyone is doing well and has a wonderful week!!

After my upset yesterday about diarrhea - thankfully it was just the twice - the weight loss has stayed though! Hoping it was due to the clear out, I was constipated before!

So happy as I was surprised at home slow my loss had been.

I think this is great advice - I definitely ate more calories on Friday and Saturday and had a massive whoosh - as per previous post, the resulting diarrhoea will have helped 😂 but I do think cycling calorie intake is a good idea

Well the baby food prune pouch partially worked 🫣

Making a concerted effort to stay away from white carby items now because the 3x I've had constipation always follows having had some bread, pasta or white rice. Clearly it just does not agree with me which I've long since suspected.

Ahhh interesting! I'm definitely more constipated when I reduce carbs and increase protein - shows how different we all are!

@Fromthesidelines Im peri at the moment (I think 😂) Since starting MJ I haven’t had a period, I’m happy about this because I have pcos & the pain was unbearable. I suffer with water retention too so 🤞🏻it could just be the heat. I’m sure we will get back to the losses soon

It will be 10 weeks on Thursday for me, so flab jab 11 then. . Went away for a few days this weekend and definitely ate more, to my amazement a 2 lb whoosh in the scales this morning so that’s a surprise. 2 stone down and 2 stone to go to be a normal weight, well it’s one I have not seen since I was about 10 years of age.
Always been overweight, so wonderful to slip into a size 14 dress

Morning all!

I don't know whether it's the result of getting back to decent food after hospital, but had a very welcome 3lbs whoosh overnight, which puts me only 3lbs from my second goal.

It also means I've dropped an incredible 8.8lbs this week! Other than being in hospital, I've done nothing different at all, so it's a very welcome and pleasant surprise. I've really got to start doing some shopping now as nothing at all fits, but am loathe to waste money when I still have a little way to go. 😕

But I really mustn't complain, I may have to try out Vinted. Is it easy enough to use, I must confess to being a Vinted Virgin! 🥴

checking into the new thread - thanks @ObsidianTree

I haven’t weighed this week yet as I was away again at the weekend with no scales and didn’t weigh this morning to give myself a day to get back to eating normally - fingers crossed I haven’t done too much damage!

this week should be my first ever 5mg jab, after spending 2 months titrating up (am I the slowest titrater ever? Probably!) but I’m off work all week and have somehow managed to volunteer to look after my nephew and one of my daughters school friends for the week. Could be fun if I have side effects!

Morning. Thank you for the new thread!

This mornings weigh in is 106.20kg.

I can't find my last post on the last thread but I think it was 107.70kg and that's not even a full week ago.

There's a noticeable difference in the tum and bust area because I didn't need to suck into my dresses and I could do the zip up on my own easily with room to shift.

I am a bit peckish this morning so I'm going to start the day with some protein.

One big difference I've noticed between ozempic and mounjaro is ozempic gave me sugar cravings, but I did still manage a small loss on ozempic whereas mounjaro has got rid of all sugar cravings but I am struggling with a bit of fatigue so all my protein grabs are quick grabs like a peperami or a boiled egg.

Annoyingly friend ordered from Zava after me and has received their injection, I'm still awaiting for my ME injection.

However I've just watched that video in the first post and am now really scared of the needle and injecting myself, help :(

What the best Psyllium husk folk are using?

Thanks for the new thread @ObsidianTree!

I have received my pen from Voy this morning - it's hidden in the back of our 'second' fridge - behind drink cans so hopefully no one will see it - I want to keep this to myself to start with at least. Sadly I can't get away with saying that the cat is diabetic!!

Well done to everyone on your losses so far.

I think I will probably start on Wednesday - DH is off work today and tomorrow and we will be out and about and I want a clear day when I start.

My stall lasted about 13 days ish! Just managed to lose a lb on the 2nd week weigh day!

Hopefully yours will break soon!

Well done @Flapearedknave! Glad the stall finally shifted 😊

Don't be scared! The actual injection is easy, the needle is short and extremely fine, so when you push it into your fat layer you really cannot feel much if anything. It's really not anything to be worried about. None of mine so far have even stung a little.

Are you taking any fibre tablets? I swear by them now. Not been constipated since I started taking 2 a day. I use the psylum husks sogar brand

@ThirdStorm - could you put a link on please to the psyllium husk you use? Thanks 😊

These ones

Solgar Psyllium Husks Fibre 500 mg Vegetable Capsules - Pack of 200 - High in Soluble Fibre - Vegan https://amzn.eu/d/0h8hPIph

Well done @MelissaLouRocks. Great woosh!