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:

With strength training. It’s now really obvious why the scales are slower than what I’d hope but makes complete sense as to why my trousers and bras are baggy as hell!

Well done! This is just brilliant. May I ask for a bit more detail on your strength training program? How many times a week? Are you lifting heavy or lighter with more reps. I know I must restart my strength training (and asap) but can’t quite get the impetus!

I am planning on coming off this for a holiday. Can anyone tell me how quickly the effects wear off please?

I am a few months into this, now on 7.5mg. I took my time - and really worked up to this slowly as lots of my friends dropped so much weight from their faces as they lost weight too quickly, and I wanted to avoid this.

I seem to be shrinking everywhere - I hadn't fully appreciated that you don't lose weight from one area, but everywhere, so my clothes are now hanging off me.

Shall I go up to 10mg?

That’s seriously impressive! I love strength training

Of course!
I am a member at a fab gym and have been taking advantage of the classes. I’ve been strength training 2-3 times a week. Heavy as possible. 3 rounds 8-12 reps.
I’ve also been doing a bit of swimming and as many aqua classes as I can fit in when I’m not working.

Thank you that’s really helpful! Going to book myself in to my local classes gym next week and try to get back into weights. I love them just absolutely out of the routine

Me too and if I fall off track I quickly forget how much I love lifting until I pick up again.

I’m not sure it is.

We (HCP) don’t advocate swabbing for sub cut or routine IM injections at all. It disturbs the natural flora of the skin. I def wouldn’t put hand Sani on a vial or injector pen either.

The instructions don't say use the swabs on your skin anyway, it's to clean the red bung of the pen. Agree with you about hand sanitiser on the pen.

My pen just stopped injecting half way through the dose so I had to get another needle and inject the rest in a new location. That was one of my extra needles that I bought too so not a medexpress one although one of theirs was clearly bent at the tip last week which I noticed before attempting to jab thankfully

Re the thyroid chat. I'm another one who just doesn't do well on levothyroxine alone. For several years I used privately-sourced Natural Dessicated Thyroid (like Armour, although I used a different brand), got my own tests etc. I got uncomfortable with going it alone and really tried to work with my GP, but as OP has said, the NHS is working with outdated guidelines and too little time and training and I spent a year feeling ghastly and barely able to function on too low a dose, too infrequent blood tests not followed up, and no T3. In Feb this year I threw in the towel and went to a private functional doctor who's prescribing me NDT and regular tests. Everything is massively changed and in fact I credit getting my hypothyroid under control with being able to start MJ in May, no way would my mojo have been up to this otherwise. It costs a fortune to do both privately but I'm viewing this year as the year I get my life back.

Anyone thinking of adjusting your thyroid treatment with T3, I recommend doing as much research as possible. Thyroid UK, StopTheThyroidMadness and The Invisible Hypothyroidism are all good sources to get started. Exactly like with Mounjaro - don't just get something off the Internet and take it, unless it's on prescription you have to do all your iwn research.

I can't think of any serious problem in life I've ever encountered, where the only solution doesn't lie in becoming your own expert and taking matters intoyour own hands. Thyroid and weight loss are absolutely cases in point!

(Edited to make last para make sense)

I am so happy for you, stall sister!!! Fantastic, well done (and me next please!)

Just wondering how many people here have had to start buying a whole new wardrobe, and if you have....how much weight (roughly) did you lose until you needed to buy new clothes?

I'm two sizes down from starting, 22 into an 18, and starting to get into 16s now.

About 10kg/size for me.

I got a few new (to me) things on Vinted but at the moment I am mostly shopping in my own wardrobe, fitting back into things from 5+ years ago.

It's genuinely shocking to put something on from six months ago and see how huge it is on me now. I tried my winter coats the other day, I could just about get another person in there with me I think! I really hope I can keep it off...

On my first dose of 10mg I had terrible anxiety. It did clash with that worldwide computer outage, which made it a stressful day regardless, but I definitely lost my MJ calm.

Had been squeezing myself in clothes a size too small (18/20s) and lovely 😝 middle-aged one-size clothing from the garden centre when I started. Eeked those out for first three stone before moving into ancient size 16s. When they started falling down (🤣) I finally bought sone size 12 as I was going on holiday. I don’t think I’ll ever been smaller than a 10, so will wear those a size too big if necessary.

however, I do have a sad, collection of size 10 stuff that I’ve picked up in sales or on Ebay (BNWT) and stock piling. At the time I thought it was a tad pathetic, but am rather excited I may actually fit in the in a few months after all.

I am reminded of the Micheal McIntyre sketch where he talks about his wife’s collection of clothing in the loft - the retained size 10s in case she ever fits in them again and, 🤣, because when she dies she wants the world to know she was once that size!

Took my second shot this evening and had a very large spot of blood at the injection site. Same area that I used last week - my thigh - but didn’t bleed last week. Any thoughts on this?

@SlimforXmas - I occasionally get a drop of blood, I think it just means you might have hit a small vein or capillary. But I have not experienced any follow on bleeding. I wipe it off and then nothing more. Have been injecting for 6+ months now. You should be fine.

@spottydogsarethebest - I started out 6 months ago, and I was in clothes that were a size 18/20 in Uk sizes (I live in the US, so have a mixed wardrobe of US and UK clothes).

I now am in 16s (US 12s) and they are starting to hang off me. When I wear a few older pieces, like some much beloved white jeans, they look ridiculous by the end of the day. I am going to have to buy some more pieces, although much of my current wardrobe is cast offs from my mom and my sister - very eclectic, but fun cause I am wearing things I would not have bought for myself. I am down 44lbs.

Same as @MJqueen - 10kg stuff started to look silly and at 15kg I put all my nice size 16 clothes on vinted and repurchased them all in a 12. I liked my clothes and I don’t buy a lot but try to buy good quality so was happy to repurchase. I sent a few bits to a lovely lady on this thread too.

I didn't need new clothes until I was about 2.5 stone down. I had a range of 22s and 24s originally and I basically grew out of my 24s and generous 22s and wore my more straight size 22s. Took about 3 months before I bought some 18/20.

Still wearing those, but I noticed today that my wide leg size 20 trousers are now very wide leg. I probably could fit into the 18 of them. They aren't falling down at the waist yet though. I don't like keeping clothes so sadly I don't have an endless smaller wardrobe to slim into.

I’m getting close to 3 stone loss now and my old clothes are definitely super baggy and sliding off me.

I got these super lightweight trousers from H&M and was wearing XL before starting MJ. They were very comfy; not tight, not lose - perfect for the warmer weather. Now they fall off me. I got the L - which is perfect. I also got them size M - I can put them on fine, but the legs are too tight for my liking so holding onto them until I lose a bit more.

This morning the scales greeted me with another half a pound off, which I did not expect!
In other NSV news, I am now the weight I was when I got pregnant with my little peanut! So officially back to pre-preg weight!

@DesparatePragmatist sending you all the whoosh vibes!!

Also, I noticed (sorry if TMI) but I’ve been weeing SO much more the last two days! I’ve not drank more, so thought it was interesting. Maybe this has something to do with the whoosh too

Morning all, 2lb loss this week.

Currently sitting at 12st 11lbs. BMI 27.2.

I am 1st 1lb to BMI 25! I expect the last stone will take a long time to get to with lots of stalls along the way. Do want to aim for BMI 23 ISH eventually. But getting to BMI 25 is a good goal to start with.

Hope everyone has a good weekend 😊