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:

@QueenOfHiraeth my worst side effects were after injecting into my tummy. I’ve stuck with right thigh since. It’s big enough for me to use a different part of it every week 😂 I’ve only had slight side effects when I’ve moved up a dose

@DesparatePragmatist that's very interesting. I'm stuck on a previous weight - though sadly not at anything like 15% less than my starting weight. I read a bit into set weight theory and it seems many scientists now think that we have various 'settling points' rather than a single set weight.
Hopefully you will get past this soon but there maybe a lower settling point to come!

@AgathaMystery yes it’s incredible what a difference a small increase has made and I understand there is a cumulative effect also so that may be playing a part.

I am hoping to see some scale movement this week !

Turns out it's first orders only, but thanks very much for the offer - maybe one of the newbies can benefit from it

I've just started.

What do you all do with the 5th dose please?

I've got £90 discount code for Voy so let me know if you want it.

@DesparatePragmatist yep, I'm stalling at a weight I was at for about a decade. I'm trying to lean into it and try and use it as a learning experience with how I emotionally deal with the numbers on the scales.

It's hard not to deprive myself further to try and get results but that is not healthy or productive.

Instead I'm focussing on maintaining my healthy habits and learning to be more Zen about the journey...totally failing at times and getting very frustrated but nobody is perfect!

Well, ISN'T this interesting. That makes 3 of us ( @Fromthesidelines , @MountKilimounjaro and I) all stalling at a previous set point. That does suggest that these points are quite strongly programmed in. I can live with it and try to channel my inner Zen as you suggest if it's just the time needed for the programme to be changed, and even quite like the idea of working down various settling points if that's what we need to do, although I'm going to need to tell myself that it means it'll be easier to maintain at goal if my body isn't trying to claw it's way back up to BMI 28...

Well done everyone with losses and NSVs

Just if anyone is taking the travel scales eith you on holidays, take it out like a laptop. I got pulled aside and had to explain what it was.
🙁

Welcome newbies - you won’t regret it ☺️ and loving all these NSVs. I definitely need a bra fitting at some point soon but they can be so expensive that I am biding my time!

Gulp, make that four. I’m waiting patiently to hop into the 11s and I know from ohhhh DECADES of weight loss attempts that I park here for ages. Every time! Set points are definitely A Thing.

Thanks. I am going to buy some tomorrow

First 7.5 mg injection today - what can I expect? My weight hasn't reduced for the last two weeks, despite not eating much. 17lbs off overall. If you have good suppression on lower doses, what more can 7.5 do?

@DesparatePragmatist @Ifyounevergiveup I'm trying to think of it like a check point in a computer game, I'm just saving my progress before I make it to the next level.

I've been having mini stalls followed by flurries of weight loss since I started but this stall is very stubborn, my body definitely feels comfortable here.

I feel like our bodies have been through a lot in the past few months so perhaps they deserve a short break hanging out where they feel comfortable...I'm sure we'll be on the move shortly.

Took my first 7.5 Sunday morning and so far, no problems. I found 5 a bit brutal in terms of appetite suppression for the first 3 weeks, then it tapered off in weeks 4 and 5. It's not a big jump, strength wise (unlike 2.5 to 5), so if you were good on 5, in terms of adverse SEs, hopefully, 7.5 will be OK too.

Med Express unchilled pen update.

My 15mg arrived after 48 hours ; normal due to where I live).

Pen and ice packs totally at room temp; Absolutely not normal. They have always been icy cold before.

So this is a Med Express issue, not a Royal Mail delay issue.

My first email prompted a generic " it's all fine " reply. Pretty much ignoring what I had said.

My second email went to town on their responsibility to supply meds in a chilled condition per manufacturers instructions. I am an excellent complainer.!

I stated that the pen would only have 2 useable doses as I am not using it for 2 weeks. ( I am not actually using it for longer than that but didn't want to come across like a stock piler!).

In response they have credited my account with £108. Which is half a pen, 2 doses! So I have slightly diddled myself. But it's better than nothing.

Along with the price match credit that's £128 off my next pen.

I am really pissed that it arrived warm though. We have literally no way to know how that has affected the " potency" or anything else.

Upshot is, if Med Express send you a warm pen, keep complaining!
At the very least it might make them sort out whatever is going wrong with their dispatch that's causing all the unchilled meds.

Hang in there ladies… it’ll come. Mine did today too. Just enough to tip into the 11,s but it’s been 6 weeks stuck with just 2lbs loss over that period I was on the brink of giving up and settle where I am - it’s a hell of a lot better that 17st LOL.

You guys can do it!

Amazing losses and progress well done all

I would love your code if you’re able to share it. I’m patiently waiting for my 5mg pen from them (it’s taking its sweet time) and I’m going to order my next pen a lot earlier in the month to avoid these kind of anxious waits again! Thank you - such a wonderful supportive group xx

So, 4 of us stalling at set points. I actually feel less frustrated about it knowing that. I like the idea of 'saving progress'.

Disclaimer: I still wish it would bloody well save faster. Its one thing having the MJ demotivation and antisocialness counterbalanced by losing weight - at the moment I'm just a grumpy person wearing the same size trousers and doing sulphur burps...

Mumsnet have said we aren't allowed to share codes on posts anymore.

@BellaCriesAndThatsAlright can you PM your code to @Peggy148 😊

Thanks

I can PM it to you @Peggy148 although it seems it is for first time customers. I'll sent it now.

Those wanting codes.. they only usually work for new users.

I'm annoyed at the NHS vs flab jabs thread. I knew I should've just ignored it 😒 why can people

1. Not see the difference between mj, Ozempic and insulin

1. Not realise that we are mostly all self funding

1. Look it up and see that mj for one has been around at least 20 years

1. Just generally... get it!

Arghhhhhhjjjjjj

Swear I put in numbers there ffs

@30not13 I had to unwatch it now as it was winding me up. The same bollocks spouted again and again.

The one that annoyed me to most was someone saying that in 10 years time we will suffer long term effects that we don't know about yet.

Funny how these people don't care so much about people on other types of drugs or drugs for diabetes, but as soon as it's weight loss, the consequences will be immense!